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Journal: What Classic Car Are You Thankful To Have Driven?

What Classic Car Are You Thankful To Have Driven?

By Alex Sobran
November 23, 2017
26 comments

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our relationships, take stock of our lives, and be thankful for all those family members who sat in hours of holiday traffic so they could make it to the table in time to cut the turkey and start the arguments.

It’s smart to have a holiday that’s focused on celebrating what we do have instead of what we wish we had, it’s just too bad that it occurs during the time of year when it’s dark and most of the country is seeing the first signs of serious cold. Thanksgiving comes with casserole and cranberry sauce to knock on winter’s door, and for car enthusiasts this is a signpost, a reminder that the year’s driving days are numbered, if not already passed.

Instead of bemoaning the over-application of salt and other chassis-chewing substances that help your great Aunt keep her Prius pointing forwards when there’s some slush on the street, let’s instead tap into the Thanksgiving spirit and think back on the better automotive experiences we’ve had.

There are some pretty cool perks that come with working at Petrolicious, and I’ve been lucky enough to actually drive some of the cars that otherwise send my thoughts into a fizz just looking at them in magazines. For instance, I doubt I’ll ever own a BMW M1, but I have driven one, and that memory will be a well of happiness that I’ll have forever, regardless of what’s in my garage/parked on the street outside my apartment.

So we want to hear your versions; which classic car are you thankful for having had the chance to drive? It doesn’t have to be a car you used to own, doesn’t need to be an especially long or fast journey, and maybe you were just happy to be riding in the passenger seat of your dream car, we just want to hear your stories. So if you get tired of passive aggressive politics at the dinner table today, come chat with us about that time your dad’s friend let you take his 930 around the block when you were 17.

Photography by Thomas Lavin, Mathieu Bonnevie, Nat Twiss, Ted Gushue, Andrew Golseth, and Alex Sobran

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Donald Compton
Donald Compton
3 years ago

In the late 70s ( Iam 68), I owned a 64 Ferrari 250 Berlinetta Lusso. The engine was wonderful, but the electronics were a total nightmare. You would never drive the car at night. You never knew when the electronics would decide that the headlights should be off.
On the other hand, I had a ’66 912 5sp with the plain painted dash and my wife would drive it everywhere. I took it up to Lake Tahoe one winter and my friend in a Ford Bronco got stuck and my little 912 never had a problem. 912s were wonderful cars. Obviously not much power, but you could really enjoy using the transmission to take advantage of the little engine’s power.

1
Xander Cesari
Xander Cesari
5 years ago

Broadly; any prewar car. Specifically to me, I’ve driven a handful of Bugattis from touring cars (T49, T40) to Grand Prix cars (T37, T37A). While there are cars that I desire more, prewar cars simply have to be experienced. Compared to postwar counterparts their spindly proportions and skinny tires don’t convey much excitement until you can see and feel them turn a wheel in anger.

0
Nick Tooth
Nick Tooth
5 years ago

I was most fortunate growing up in England in the 50’s and 60’s with family connections to the racing world. Our neighbor was Dick Walsh owner of Ecurie Devon team with the drivers Tom Kyffin and Bruce Halford both close friends of my parents. Many famous drivers of the period were frequent visitors to our house. Consequently I have been fortunate to own many classic sports racing cars, but the most memorable ride was in a facrtory prepped Opel Rally car at night on the 1990 RAC through the forrest of Haldon through 3 stages , most enjoyable and scary at the same time.

0
Robert Borsh
Robert Borsh
5 years ago

1964 Non numbers matching Corvette Roadster, purchased in 1982, sold in 1992. When purchased I had the choice of it or a numbers matching 1963 roadster. Young and foolish made that decision for me. Oh to do it all over agai n

0
Rubens Florentino
Rubens Florentino
5 years ago

I worked for two different restoration shops during 7 years of my life so, I drove more classics cars and bikes than I can possibly remember.
The most thrilling experience was a quick ride on a 1995 Yamaha V max, with four straight pipes. Terrifying… unforgettable…

0
Mike Cox
Mike Cox
5 years ago

1969 E-Type OTS, 1973 Alfa Romeo GTV, 1957 MGA all wonderful cars for different reasons. Owned all three, regret selling all three. Had the Jag when I was single. That doubled the fun factor.

1
Paul Ipolito
Paul Ipolito
5 years ago

1969 Z-28 Camaro, 1970 Boss 302 Mustang and 1990 ZR-1 Corvette. I was lucky enough to own the Camaro and Mustang in the early 1970’s.

0
Kevin Lee
Kevin Lee
5 years ago

The most fun I’ve ever had in a car a was when I rode as a passenger in a Sunbeam Tiger when I was ~18 and when I drove a 914. I bought a 914 shortly thereafter.

0
PDXBryan
PDXBryan
5 years ago

My buddy Robin let me borrow his Ferrari 308 for 8 years, back in the day, when I lived in Hawaii. Great driving car except for the fact it seemed to attract strange guys with megaphones and people asking for my autograph for some inexplicable reason………..

T.M.

3
Pey-droh
Pey-droh
5 years ago

The classics I’ve driven include:

’76 BMW 2002
’71 MBZ 280SE 3.5 cabriolet
’63 MBZ 300SE cabriolet
’63 and ’65 TBirds

1
RoverMike
RoverMike
5 years ago

Very thankful to have driven a 1974 Lotus Europa JPS Twin Cam Special. Truly the standard for a street built car that performed at race car level. Seller permitted me to drive his car unattended, assured that the experience alone would seal the deal. He did not accept my offer, and I have regretted not further negotiating with him. My loss. But that drive has stayed with me ever since, nearly 40 years later.

0
Dennis Cavallino
Dennis Cavallino
5 years ago

For me it was driving the BMW M1 at the Nordschleife while I worked for Octane Magazine NL, during three days of 40 Years BMW Motorsport. The rides in the Procars were icing on the cake. It was work, but I would have paid 5 times my fee to experience that! Ok, maybe more… it was awesome.

2
Dan McGuire
Dan McGuire
5 years ago

Been fortunate to drive some pretty cool classics. Couple 930 turbos, 964, 993, 356, 190e 16V, 1977 TA…to name a few. As for owned I really enjoyed my euro 635csi. It was a perfect balance of looks, and driving pleasure. Presently enjoying a gray market 745i turbo.

0
Rick Mahaffey
Rick Mahaffey
5 years ago

Hmmm, Driven: 1935 Bentley 3.5 L, 1937 Bentley 4.25 L, 1948 Bentley Mark 6, 1958 Austin Healey 100-6, 1957 MGA, 1939 Packard Super 8. Fiat 600. Ridden in: 1924 Rolls- Royce Silver Ghost, 1963 Jaguar 3.8s, 1965 Jaguar E type. 1955 Chevy 2 door 12 second drag racer…..that’s all that come to mind right now

1
Gonzalo
Gonzalo
5 years ago

Agradezco si puedo volver a manejar la Isetta antes de fin de año.
El Renault 5 de mis primeros años de manejo.
El Audi 100 que llegue a manejar 4 o 5 veces.
El Renault 4CV que pude dar una vuelta.

Gonzalo.
(www.renault4cv.blogspot.com)

0
Jason Vinios
Jason Vinios
5 years ago

I’m thankful that i owned for 6 wonderful months a FORD escort mkII 1.1 GL

1
Nicolas Gudefin
Nicolas Gudefin
5 years ago

I’m thankful to have driven my dad 1952 XK120 at 18 without a driving license!!

1
Zak N
Zak N
5 years ago

I’m thankful to not only own a 1972 Ford Mustang Coupe, but to have also driven my dads 1965 Cadillac Deville Convertible and my friends 1966 Dodge Charger.

1
Dan W.
Dan W.
5 years ago

I´m thankful to have the possibility to own 4 classic cars, which give me the most pleasure to drive I can´t say… But the smile that my wife gives me when she´s with me for a drive… That works for me…

1
Jack B
Jack B
5 years ago

I’m thankful to have driven a friend’s BMW M1, but I’m most thankful to have driven my own….

Porsche 356 Speedster (x4), 914/6, 1966 911, 1972 911S and 2.7 Carrera RS (x2)

Ferrari 330GTC, 308GT4, 550 Maranello (x3)

BMW 2002 roundie, 530i, 3.0CS

It’s been a great automotive life!

1
Jack B
Jack B
5 years ago
Reply to  Jack B

Oh, I forgot that time my friend lent me his Carrera 2 for a week while he was racing at the SCCA run offs at Road Atlanta. (Yes, I was very naughty with it. Thanks, Tom!)

0
Dave Lyle
Dave Lyle
5 years ago

So thankful my Grandfather Gene planted the dream in me (in 1961) for my favorite car, which was my 1963 300SL Roadster I purchased in 1973 for $5,000. Used it as a daily driver for a few years. Sold reluctantly in 1983 for $16,000 in non-running condition. I would love to locate that same car again.

1
Chris Siebenaler
Chris Siebenaler
5 years ago

I recently had the privilege to drive a 1977 930 Turbo Carrera formerly owned by Magnus Walker.

2
Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
5 years ago

It would be easy to pick my Daytona, but I’m actually going to go with the first classic Ferrari I got to drive a 330GTC. I was expecting it to be an intimidating thing but it was one of the sweetest cars I’ve ever driven. It introduced me to the world of driving old Ferrari’s and I haven’t looked back.

Happy Thanksgiving America.

4
Chad C.
Chad C.
5 years ago

What a nice idea for the holiday : )

For me, I think back to all the Porsche 356 Registry Holiday events in the 80’s that my dad took me to when I was in my young teens. Inter-state drives in his Speedster or B Coupe were fantastic quality times for us, the tiny interiors of these cars make you really get to know someone while on a long drive…

The guys at the Holiday events could see that I knew my 356s pretty we’ll for a boy my age, and I was given full access to some impressive cars. Most of all though, I’m thankful to my dad for teaching me to drive in his Speedster, and for letting me drive his B Coupe in the countryside while he went for a jog.

I’m still surprised that he let me just take off by myself in that car. As most 16 year olds would, I fully gave it hell and found its limits. I made full use of the heal/toe & steering wheel techniques I’d read about in dad’s 356 books and was able to keep the car on the road while doing so.

The 356 Registry Holiday events and my drives in dad’s ’62 Coupe made me the car enthusiast I am today. At 70, my dad is not impressed by enthusiasm for Italian cars, but he’s less ornery about it these days. He’s passed on his Craftsman roll-away with most of his tools to me, and last week I used his synchrometer to balance my recently installed dual carb set-up on my Lancia Scorpion/Montecarlo.

The Porsche crest sticker on the center of the roll-away always makes me smile & give thanks while thinking of the weekends spent at golf course events with so many fantastic cars.

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you : )

1
Juanca
Juanca
5 years ago

daily driven/raced/traveled a 2002 for 8 years =)

1