My 20 Favorite cars...

that are not normally on everyone's top XX list.

The big problem with lists like these are that they are all the same. Chalked full of Ferrari, Austin Martin, Lamborghini, Corvette and whatever number of typical, can't argue against their awesomeness, muscle cars.

This list, however, is going to be a little different. So essentially this is a list of most of the cars I love that I usually have to defend in one way or another for loving them. These are the kind of cars where you say you like them and your "gearhead" buddy says "yeah, but for the money you could just get a 5.0 mustang that runs an 11 second quarter". So this list is for all the guys who thought that something a little different and a little harder to work on wasn't necessarily a bad thing.


20. Acura (Honda) NSX



















-Yes, it's a super car, and yes a lot of people love them; but these things get about the least respect in the super car world and can be got for around 30,000 bucks. Find me another super car for 30k that will run everyday and spank a corner without thinking about it and I'll eat my shoe. Until then this kicks off the list at #20-

19. Porsche 911 Targa (1st gen)



















- Yes 911's are always cool, and yes they are always dangerous (especially the early years), but Targa's are the MOST cool and the MOST dangerous of them all. Open roof and no weight tends to make for an exciting ride. But everyone likes Porsches, so this little gem is relegated to #19.-

18. 1971 Chevy ElCamino




















-It's not a '70 and it's NOT a Chevelle, but it's damn cool and totally pointless. And that's all I ever really want in my cars.-

17. Datsun 260z



















-I know it's a 240z but a little bigger. I know everyone and their mom loves a Z, but I seriously like the 260 better than the 240. And I think it deserves a place on the list simply for being less loved than it's smaller, older brother.-

16. Chevy Malibu (late 1970's)

















-So they take some work to be cool, but they CAN be cool. Grocery getter they are, but they are light and the engine bay is huge.-

15. TVR Sagaris
















-I'm a child inside, you are too. So stop being embarrased and admit you love it.-

14. Caterham 7


















- Top Gear made it pretty obvious to everyone, but these things are awesome. "Motoring" seems to be the only word that can do this car justice. These cars ARE the embodiment of motoring.-

13. Subaru Impreza 2.5RS

















-The WRX is great, and everyone with a trust fund and a new pair of Oakleys has one, but the 2.5 has presence, the 2.5 is dangerous and most importantly, the 2.5 gets respect.-


12. 1964-1967 Oldsmobile 442












-I know, the Olds crowd will say "you picked the WRONG years" but these were some of the coolest cars. The recipe was simple. Big inch Olds V8, Hurst 4-speed and posi-track. Simple is good, and in this case, simple is fast. Who wouldn't like that?!-


11. AMC AMX


















-The forgotten muscle car, these things are just cool. Never caught on, because AMC was just too small.-

10. Volvo 142































-Ok, so this is my current car and I might be a little biased. But come on, this is the vehicle that invented the "boxy" Volvo look, and admit it, Volvo started out with a pretty sound design scheme. It's not their fault that a once cute and pretty good looking design took a back seat to size and function...-


9. Alfa Romeo GTV

















-What can you say about an Alfa, especially this one. It's just good looking and all I want to do is get in and drive it.-

8. Volvo 122



































-I saw this particular 122 at the Route 66 rendezvous in San Bernardino. While it ditched the ol' B18 four cylinder for a radical (and amazing sounding) Chevy 2.8L V6, it retains much of the original 122 body. It's beautiful.-


7. Ford Escort MK1

















- I don't know why Ford insists on making some of the world's coolest compact cars...and releasing them over seas only. But the MK1 started it all, rally cross, cup car, off-road rally, name it, this car raced it. -

6. SAAB 96

















-The SAAB that invented the "quirky" Saab trend. A two-stroke later replaced by a V-4, this thing never had a "conventional" power train; and it didn't matter. It still dominated Rally racing for years and revved it's little cylinders off without throwing a rod for thousands of miles. So cool, so weird, slap on some studded tires, find a frozen lake, and do your best to lose control.

5. VW Type 3 Notchback




















-Charm. The little romancers over at VW tried to win over Americans with cute Beetles and free-lovin' buses, and it worked. But for whatever reason, the most charming car ever to come out of Wolfsburg, never really made much of a release in the US. Some things are a mystery.

4. Buick Grand National/Turbo Regal/GNX




















- As the license proudly proclaims on this GM High Tech Performance feature, this RTegal makes it into the 8's. The stockers could pull 12's, but they all looked a lot like grandma's car, which is exactly why I love them. Owning a car that can blow the doors off anything on the street and still not get a second look from the uninitiated, is a joy I can only hope to have one day. Anyone can be Flashy...

3. 1961 Chevy Biscayne




















-You can shove your Bel Airs and Impalas, Bubble Top? who needs 'em? The Biscayne had all the style with a lot more attitude. Eventually a 427 would find its way under the hood in the mid sixties and make this boat into the ultimate underground sleeper (until the Regal Turbo and Grand National, of course)

2. 1953 Studebaker Starlight Coupe




















-Easily one of the most beautiful cars made in the USA, let alone one made in 1953 when most manufacturers were bloating their fenders to accomodate rather bulbous lines. This car was at least 10 years ahead of its time and (to me) defines what it means to turn motoring into a work of art.

1. DeTomaso Pantera (any year, but preferably the early 70's)





















-A 351 Cleveland coupled to a trans axle with gorgeous Italian lines. What's not to love? One of a very few cars that makes me feel like weeping with joy when I see one in public-


So that's the list. Not much left to say other than to keep wrenching (if you don't, you don't deserve to drive) and "be safe".



(All images are property of their respective websites/owners --except for the Volvo 142, that thing is my car and my image-- please feel free to right click away and get the original addresses for the images)