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For me, being in and watching traffic roll by is often like staring at static. For instance, with the number sold, I’ve probably laid eyes on and forgotten more silver Honda Civics than I’ve seen Porsches in total.
Call it static, white noise, or whatever works for you, but these days, largely uninspiring modern designs and Peak Crossover has left our roads as tasteful as your nearest megamall parking lot.
Every now and then, however, the world conspires to send a bolt of different across your view. A tastefully-modified BMW, perhaps. Or a Nissan GT-R using launch control to humble a cabbie. If you’ve been lucky, maybe you’ve seen one of our video subjects out and about in the “real world”.
I’m a sucker for French cars in general, and the UFO-like Citroën SM in particular. Not many are out there wafting around, but I find that they appear more modern and fresh with each passing day.
As soon as one glides into view, its sleek and measured shape captivates me almost as if I’ve never seen one before. And if I can stop and stare for a bit, my next appointment will hopefully understand.
That said, I’m lucky: here at Petrolicious, being a bit late because of a chance encounter with an SM is understood. What car stops you in your tracks every time you see it?
Image Sources: wikipedia.org, Federico Bajetti, Abhi Chaterjee, Stephen Heraldo
I feel very fortunate…i own so many desirable cars. No ferraris or lambos, but i have a 1998 Porsche 993 turbo s a 1993 carrera 4 1968 mercedes 280sl 1988 500sl 2003 sl 55 amg 1985 230ce 123 1964 mustang convertible 2 1300 gt junior alfa romeos and more. I drive a 2010 smart brabus every day….but i look forward to driving something special from my collection. I live in N.W london. Thankfully i have garages for most of these cars. Rest are under cover. Prefer older…more reliable more individual cars that appreciate in value and interest…
Living in Atlanta, I see some pretty exotic steel everyday to the point that 911’s are almost commonplace (but I still want one). What really catches my eye are the well cared for, maybe mildly mod’d cars that used to be more common but are now getting rare, like a 240z, e21 320i, 2002, 3.0 CSi or maybe a nice TR-6. Something that is still obtainable and can be enjoyed if not a daily driver with the proper care.
Testarossa. In SoCal there’s a lot of everything, even the super rare stuff. But for me it will always be the red head. I see them now and again with that V12 humming at low RPM through the streets of Santa Monica or on Ventura Blvd. in the San Fernando Valley. Doesn’t matter what color, although black is sort of a buzzkill, I just stop and stare silently.
I’m lucky to live in Vienna where some rather rare exotica can be seen at any time of the year. There’s a grey haired gentleman who drives his 275 GTB around town, like a proper car. SM’s always do it for me too, there is a couple of them about. Then the guy who street parks a Mk IX Jag in winter and an E-type in summer always stop to look at those. But the last car to really stop me in my tracks was a couple of weeks ago, first time I ever saw a Monteverdi 375 HS outside of a book.
Just about ANYTHING older than 1980. Here’s the thing, the cars that were the most prosaic from 50 years ago, that we seldom gave a second glance at when they were new or used up clunkers, NOW look so much more appealing. (to me anyway) 1962 Falcon? sure! 1965 Renault R4? YES! Even a stodgy 1973 Buick looks better than the current crop of sneakers they are putting out. Even the high end cars make me yawn. Oh, YES to just about any Citroen SM or DS always makes me stop and stare with my mouth hanging open.
Two cars for each category. Classics: Alfa Romeo Montreal. I found myself staring at your photos for minutes at a time. And the unmistakable Lamborghini Countach. Modern cars: Peugeot RCZ R. I like the design, the shape, how it is well proportioned. At last, the Spyker C8 Aileron. Close battle against the Aston Martin Vanquish, but that interior…
for classics I love an old Porsche, ones that show a bit of ware, usually driven by the original dentist that bought the car new in 1983. thoses 70s and 80s 911s are so cool to me. they represent a different time before 900 hp insane asylums for the uber rich. ur local dentist, doc, lawyer probably bought himself a Porsche and they all got worn differently. for new cars the F type Jag cant be beat, its ungodly and deserves sunday worship all the same. beautiful car a great sound and usually a guy as old as my dad behind the wheel to tip his golf cap at you while he appreciates its disappointing automatic gear box but you guys said stair at, and I cant take my eyes off those