WHICH Vintage Ride You DISLIKED Or FORGOT About Made You ABOUT FACE In 2018?

It's funny catching up with Agent 001. Every now and then he'll ask me, "So, what's the weather look like?"

Living in the New York Tri-state region in December, it's not particularly exceptional. Take, for example, the next couple of days. It will be partly sunny and in the low 40s. It will never come close to the "72 degrees and not a cloud in the sky," weather typically seen in San Diego.

Given the nature of the northeast, it's not particularly kind to temperamental, vintage autos. Thus, coming across one is a rather special happening.

One of the local municipalities I spend time in is home to big wig executives, Hollywood's A-list seeking refuge from Manhattan and local artists. It's a real mixture of movers and shakers, as well as hippy dippy creatives. It turns out that this sort of demographic is keen on vintage autos. And while there's a smattering of MGs, Triumphs, Land Rovers, Ford Broncos, Jaguar XKs and E-Types, I ran across something this summer than caught my eye.

It was an old-school Ford Thunderbird in a flat gray with a red interior that popped.

Following that one-time event I spotted several more by the time fall wound down. I am not sure what it was about that first run in but it totally changed my perspective on the Thunderbird. If only I could fit I would prioritize it in my list of vehicles to own before I kick the bucket.

Even if it were only for six months of the year, boy, a top down Thunderbird is a lovely thing to take in.

That said, Spies, I've got to ask: Do YOU have a vintage ride you originally DISLIKED or FORGOT about that turned you around over the past year? Let us know in the comments below.

MDarringer - 12/22/2018 11:33:35 PM

+1 Boost

Jensen Healey

I've had nothing but scorn from a distance for them. I located a rough, but complete Jensen Interceptor so I went back east to check it out in person. The price was right, but the seller had a condition and that was that I take the non-running Jensen Healey as well.

Flipping an Interceptor is a lot of work and a Jensen Healey even more so. The Interceptor was ready a year before the Healey.

The Jensen Healey was a parts bin nightmare, so in went a 2.3 Ecoboost, automatic tranny, and new wiring harness. I still prefer the TR7, TR8, 2500M, and Tasmin from the cheap Brit cars, but the Jensen Healey is such an oddball that it gets all sorts of attention.

There really is no point to doing a 100 point restoration because no one would want it. So it's a Frankenstein like the Iso Grifo I bought when I was too young to know better.

My crew rolls their eyes when another Britcar rolls in, but we're into a Jensen Interceptor at the moment with a TVR Tasmin on deck, but out back are two Jensen Healeys that make me want to renovate them every time I see them.

TomM - 12/23/2018 6:48:14 AM

+2 Boost

I do not know if it is the CARS themselves that cause this over the years - but I do know that the PERSON changes over the years.

As much as some would like NOT to admit -as we get older - our needs change - and for manny - our ability to afford goes up as well.

So - when I was being brought up in the shadow of Raceway Park In Englishtown NJ - straight line performance meant everything. Handling was for the underpowered British road race cars - who were always in the way if they got in front of you. Eventually - you get to appreciate a well made car overall - for all types of performance that YOU CAN AFFORD. Yes - I did buy an Edsel really cheap when no one else would - because I got more car for the money then. I've had my 67 Mustang - and my 450SEL 6.9 - and the reality is that I could not have afforded the 6.9 when I bought the Mustang. Dreaming is nice - but it doesn't get you there.

Today - I can afford all but a few really really exotic new cars - But I also am no longer a young death defying drag racer either. WHere I once bought crashed cars to rebuild - I have outlasted that too. So - I can say - without a doubt - that that 67 Mustang - with a Big Block Ford in it - was a HORRIBLE CAR - on virtually all things a car should be - but it was a looker!

However - Another "horrible car" - has become one of my dreams. I would love to have a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible. When it was built, it was the HEIGHT of Prestige in the American car market - but as a car - at best it was something to be seen in Parades going 5 MPH. AND today - I just love it

Vette71 - 12/23/2018 9:25:08 AM

0 Boost

Performance for an affordable price. An apt description of my first car a 1958 Edsel Ranger hardtop, black with a pink cove. Had the "small engine" 361 V8. Needed a car for my summer job in '63. Bought it for $350 and sold it at the end of the summer for $375. Wish I would have kept it. For a late 50s ride I'd take a 1958 Impala ragtop.

PUGPROUD - 12/23/2018 9:51:02 AM

+1 Boost

Been to Englishtown drag races many times, may have saw you there or maybe having a burger, fries and shake at the Circus Drive In. Love the choice of '59 Eldorado Biarritz Convertible...with you 100%, one of the greatest and most elegant rear ends ever.

mre30 - 12/23/2018 11:11:20 AM

+1 Boost

I just turned 50, so the classic cars of my past are from the 70's and 80's.

The three that turn me on the most are the 1990 BMW M3 the 1981 BMW M1 and the 1983 Audi Ur Quattro. I don't have the time or lifestyle to have one (I sold my E30 325iS in 2006 (45,000 miles on it, 5 spd, original owner)) because it no longer fit our lifestyle in NYC/NY Metro (no airbags and got nervous driving my then 5-yr old son around in it among a sea of Escalades and Navigators). Now that I have the garage space, I will likely pick up one of those in the next few years after kids goes to college.

skytop - 12/23/2018 12:40:58 PM

0 Boost

The muscle cars of the 1960's are fun to view or dream about but owning them offers little rewards. Being over half a century old make them clumsy, poor driving candidates. Prices have leveled and frequently are trending downward now.

MDarringer - 12/23/2018 1:04:50 PM

+1 Boost

Someone got up and drank a gallon of bitch sauce. LOL

PUGPROUD - 12/24/2018 12:03:39 PM

+1 Boost

My '65 GTO bought new and seemed fast at the time was great fun but couldn't stop worth a damn. Loved the low monthly payments back in the day and as I recall the Tri-Power (three deuces) option was only $29 more.

MDarringer - 12/24/2018 12:58:52 PM

+1 Boost

The brake issue is easily fixed.

ricks0me - 12/23/2018 5:24:32 PM

+2 Boost

TomM Pugproud: with you on the 59 Caddy !!!