The One That Got Away — WHICH Car Would You Have Back If You Could, And WHY?

1. 1979 Jeep CJ-7 Renegade with Levi's interior. So many great memories in it. 2. 2002 BMW M5 Black with Red/Black two-tone interior. Intoxicating experience every time. 1976 Mercury Capri. Orange/black stick. My first German Car ownership experience. Awful reliability but I loved the feel. Changed me. 3. 1978 Dodge Monaco 44- Police Interceptor. My Dad knew a dealer...wasn't supposed to sell but somehow he snuck one under the radar to him. 4. My best friends mom's 1978 Mercedes 280SEL sedan. White/Saddle. She gave me the keys and said take my lovely niece and show her the town. I showed her that and more. ;) 001

I had one of the first 450sel 6.9s - and that car was a complete game changer. It was SO far advanced beyond ANYTHING that had come before that it simply always impressed the driver = the passengers = and the knowing public as well. It is hard to understand today - when there are so many competitors almost instantly in a segment - just how far ahead this car was. I remember still the sequence for changing a tire with the HydroPneumatic suspension. 1 - Set the suspension on the HIGHEST setting - which rose the car off the ground. 2 - Put what was essentially a wood block under the car - and 3 - set the suspension at the lowest setting - and the flat tire would simply raise itself up off the ground to be changed - no need for a Jack.

THere was nothing at all like the 6.9 engine as well - it could ride for days at insanely high speeds - and never felt like it was running out of power. I was lucky enough to have to go on a road trip through an area of no speed limits- and it was a BLAST. The car was as rock solid as a car was then. Driven sporty - or driven for Luxury - they never made a car that was so far ahead of its competition - and it is unlikely they ever will again. I inherited that car - and will always miss it.

And you cannot get a car today that is leagues above its competition like the 6.9 was.

Great story, Tom! Love it!

Too many, 70 Z/28 sold in 78, BMW 3.0 CSL sold in late 80s in Germany, 2000 M5 sold in 2012, 70 Corvette 454 4sp sold 2014... I just bought an old BMW 850i 6sp to bring back to life. I think I may keep this one forever, but who knows...

Congrats on the 850i.

Are you going to do a complete overhaul or just ride her out as she sits?

This one needs bringing back to,life unfortunately. So far, new cats, new GSM, next rebuild front end, shocks & springs, then new paint & some minor interior work (I want to add gray inserts into the front and rear seats). Finally I will look at what I can do in the engine area maybe a year or so out. It does have the Dinah stage 2 chips! some nice M wheels similar to the M3 CS wheels and the CSI front, rear and side panels. Should be fun... maybe :)

Aside from trim pieces, the rest of the car should be easy to find parts for. If you haven't already done so, I would get friendly with BMW wreckers that part out cars as well as people knowledgeable with what goes wrong with an 850. Are you going to tinker on this in your driveway or turn it over to a remanufacturer?

Thanx Matt, exactly what I have been doing! It has the door handle problem on the drivers door (piece of tin breaks and you cannot open door from the outside). It looks like BMW no longer makes the door handle in parts or as a whole assembly so been searching a bit for that. They just did not make enough of them to have a good supply of the unique bits of the car. There is a lot in common in the drivetrain with the 750i of the same era so that helps. I will end up doing some of the simpler work like the door handle when I find a one and then have trusted mechanics (BimmerHaus nearby) do the more complicated work.

None. I always got what I could at the time. I don't ache for any past "missed cars." But recently I'm hankerin' for a hot new 911 (991.2), Turbo, Turbo S, or C4S... well appointed, specific configuration. I might regret missing that in the future, if it doesn't happen :-/

1986 Mecury Topaz -my first car and taste of freedom. I couldn't afford auto insurance at the time and this really made me a superb driver as you have to avoid all accidents and moving violations so you don't get busted by da man.

2000 XJR British racing green on tan. Most saleproof car ever but I loved her. It took me over 1 year to sell this car and I sold it on Ebay to some guy from Phoenix after getting 0 interest in over 1 year of advertising it in Fort Lauderdale.

1988 BMW 325is I couldn't afford a M3 at the time and just had a kid so a 911 was out of the question. I drove this car for 6 years and beat her like a red headed stepchild. I racked up the miles and used to roll my odometer back just so I could feel better about my car.

1999 Z8 I didn't actually drive this car as I flipped mine for a $55K profit but kind of regret not keeping it for a while as they still are one of the coolest looking cars and a timeless classic.

2000 M5 I had to sell this beast before I killed someone or myself as it was too easy get all Norman Bates in this car and it really brought out the inner dick/douche bag in me. Good thing I had 3 drivers licenses at the time (FL, NC and Ontario) as I racked up tickets and terrified passengers.

Agreed on the M5. It would make you act like you were 18 and having Mario Andretti dreams....

2006 Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTS first car I bought while living abroad, styling is still amazing and the interior was beautiful.

My first car (back in 1970, still in high school), 1963 Impala SS, 327 300HP Corvette engine, Borg Warner T-10 with Hurst shifter. I'm sure it would be a real tank to drive today (no AC, or power anything), but I just saw a 409 version identical to mine for sale for $75,000.

My other one would be my 1970 Buick GS455 Stage 1 (had it in 1973). Defined the word "sleeper". Looked like a normal Skylark, except for the huge tires I fit into the wheel wells and the subtle hood scoops. But man that car was powerful. Broke into the 12s at the local strip. Got about 11 MPG regardless how I drove it, but since gas was only about 50 cents a gallon at the time, it was alright.

My first car was a 1971 Mustang Grande beater with mismatched gold/avocado coloring for the exterior and interior. I think it was a diesel given how much smoke came out of the tailpipe and how the engine shook. It always started. It always ran, but it was worn out when I got it. I truly miss it.

The two best cars I owned. The first was a 1997 Nissan Maxima, I am so fond of this one probably because it was my first car with some balls. The second one, and the one I wish I could have was a E39 (2002) BMW 540i...that car felt so right in every way from handling to comfort to acceleration.

The E39 was a very special car, indeed.

The two best cars I owned. The first was a 1997 Nissan Maxima, I am so fond of this one probably because it was my first car with some balls. The second one, and the one I wish I could have was a E39 (2002) BMW 540i...that car felt so right in every way from handling to comfort to acceleration.

The two best cars I owned. The first was a 1997 Nissan Maxima, I am so fond of this one probably because it was my first car with some balls. The second one, and the one I wish I could have was a E39 (2002) BMW 540i...that car felt so right in every way from handling to comfort to acceleration.

The two best cars I owned. The first was a 1997 Nissan Maxima, I am so fond of this one probably because it was my first car with some balls. The second one, and the one I wish I could have was a E39 (2002) BMW 540i...that car felt so right in every way from handling to comfort to acceleration.

Any of them, if they could be restored to pristine state...and that includes my Hondas - perhaps especially those old cheap cars.

My first car, one that I needed to get to my summer job after high school. A 1958 Edsel Ranger hardtop, because it was cheap. It had the "small" engine; 6 liters, 4 barrel carb. A hell of a machine and today would be a collector. My first new car purchase a 1970 Corvette Convert, Marlboro maroon and and saddle. Last year before the horsepower died. Wish I could find one like it.