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Journal: Which Cars Are You Just Now Starting To Appreciate?

Which Cars Are You Just Now Starting To Appreciate?

By Michael Banovsky
January 6, 2016

My taste in cars is quite eclectic, but I can say for sure that I’ve only recently started to appreciate Lamborghini’s mid-’70s offerings, specifically, the “entry level” ones.

For cars that live in the shadow of legends, history has shown us that things are often tough. The Lamborghini Urraco is no exception, even though in 2016 “entry-level 2+2 mid-engined V8 Lamborghini” sounds pretty great, no?

We profiled Gene Ondrusek and his Urraco, a film that, once finished, immediately had me lusting after this rare Italian sports car. It also made me wonder how many other interesting vehicles I’d been missing out on.

Are there cars you’ve long overlooked, and have recently “discovered” or been drawn to?

Photos by Jayson Fong, Robert Billam, Afshin Behnia

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rodfmourao
rodfmourao
6 years ago

The corsa coupé Alfa Romeo GTA (“Alleggerita”). What a visceral car!

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Justa Kierownica
Justa Kierownica
6 years ago

R120 and Volvo 200 and 700 series

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Justa Kierownica
Justa Kierownica
6 years ago
Reply to  Justa Kierownica

I meant R129 of course. Bloody screen keyboard

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RIG
RIG
6 years ago

Ferrari 348… I’ve gone form thinking this is the worst car to thinking it’s incredible. Much more restrained than a Testarossa – still with 1980’s scifi styling.. and the sound is unbelievable.

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Jim Levitt
Jim Levitt
6 years ago
Reply to  RIG

348 is THE biggest POS Ferrari PERIOD. For the two years I owned mine (bought new) I dreaded driving it. A surprise at every corner as you would not know what the back end would do. (most of the time it was like an early 911 with snap oversteer), uncomfortable to a fault and almost impossible to drive with the roof off with storing it in the car. They forgot that
most people are not 5’5″ Italians with short legs! You had to move the seat so far forward to have room behind it for the roof.

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Mark van der Meijs
Mark van der Meijs
6 years ago

Well, in my youth I was not that enthausiastic about the Mondial, but over the years it really grew on me and if there is some financial space in the near future, I am even planning on buying one

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Paul Glyde
Paul Glyde
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark van der Meijs

Hi Mark, I own a Mondial QV, you’re making a very wise choice. Paul

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Jim Levitt
Jim Levitt
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark van der Meijs

Still cheap, so not all that “financial space” needed. If you want a convertible, be prepared to have a friend and an extra 30 minutes each time you want to put it up or down!

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CHR
CHR
7 years ago

Lamborghini Jarama

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Frank Ricchio
Frank Ricchio
8 years ago

1970 Triumph GT6+. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, the GT6+ is, perhaps, one of the most under-appreciated of all the British sports cards produced. Beautiful from every angle, it was a great performer in its day. A smooth-as-silk, 104hp 2-litre inline six propels the 1,800 pound rolling work of art, effortlessly. Michelotti designed around 1,200 cars that were actually built, including designs for Maserati, BMW, Alfa Romeo, Triumph, Alpine, as well as nearly 200 designs for a gentleman named Enzo. When Michelotti’s son was asked which was your father’s favorite, he replied, without hesitation, “the triumph Spitfire (and its big brother) the GT6. Take another look – there are not too many that remain.

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Mitko Tenov
Mitko Tenov
8 years ago

Mercedes Benz SL (R129) is a car I have admired as a kid but have forgotten. I saw a silver one the other day an thought it will be the next one from Stuttgart raised in cult. Just a gorgeous grand tourer and a style icon of the 90’s.

1
Charis Theocleous
Charis Theocleous
8 years ago

I began to appreciate more modern cars as time goes by…
Alfa 164
80s Honda Prelude
Peugeot 405 Mi16
Infiniti Q45 (early models)

2
Michael Hammonds
Michael Hammonds
8 years ago

Sunbeam Imp, Any BMC or Leyland Minis, Alfa GTs and MGBs

1
Linda N Brian Schick
Linda N Brian Schick
8 years ago

Porsche 914 Fiat X19 All Alfa coupes MGB’s

1
Samir Shirazi
Samir Shirazi
8 years ago

Fiat X19
Ac Cobra Replica
Thunderbirds
Chrysler 300 coupe
Oldsmobile 98 Ghia is the latest I found

0
Peter Inshaw
Peter Inshaw
8 years ago

Whats not to love about a hand built late 50’sTouring body Alfa Spider?

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Gary Mcgillivray
Gary Mcgillivray
8 years ago

I think I will Hold onto My series 2 Euro spec Espada regardless of where they might go pricewise … I just addicted to the noise

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Peter Inshaw
Peter Inshaw
8 years ago

Alfa Touring bodied spiders and coupes ie 2000 & 2600’s
last of the hand built body Alfa’s and still cheap to pickup vs their contemporaries. granted not the most interesting engines but beautiful none the less. Not cheap to restore which is pushing the good ones up as people realize what they are.

0
Ondrej Rabatin
Ondrej Rabatin
8 years ago

BMW E12 – 1.st generation of 5 series. Especially with 6 cylinder engine 😉

1
Jack Gabus
Jack Gabus
8 years ago

The Porsche 914 6 or 4. Very under appreciated auto. Porsche ruined it when they badged it with VW name plate in Germany. I never understood this in the US. Now is the time to start buying if maybe a little late. In it’s class it had a few victories in Le Mans and this means the 914 needs a little love.

1
Juan Carreño
Juan Carreño
8 years ago

The Alfa Romeo Montreal

1
Jim Levitt
Jim Levitt
6 years ago
Reply to  Juan Carreño

No parts in the US, back then, and for sure now!

0
Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
8 years ago

Having spent a lot of the Christmas holidays playing Forza 6, I now really want a Mazda Cosmo even though I’ve never seen one in the flesh.

0
Christopher Slaw
Christopher Slaw
8 years ago

Shiny cars are nice, but I’ve recently started to better appreciate ratty old pre-war race cars that are still occasionally driven in anger. See http://www.theraceofgentlemen.com/gallery.html

0
Jonathanwcmills
Jonathanwcmills
8 years ago

Wait a minute…I thought you were going to give us the answer!

0
Owen Stride
Owen Stride
8 years ago

De Tomaso Pantera’s have been criminally under valued for a long time. I’d love to own one but doubt it will ever happen. Such a beautiful shape and an incredibly tuneable engine that isn’t highly strung like a lot of exotica.

3
Francois Bozonnet
Francois Bozonnet
8 years ago

Today i like to have a look at a 308gt/4, a mondial qv (the one with the black bumper), and the porsche 944. In the past those cars do not create any emotion to me, especially the first mondial, but now, with some more year, i start to enjoy the idea of owning one. I think that the way the modern car are built with a lot of computer, a lot of weight, is an argument for owning or driving a simple car.
their original body give them a lot of personnality, and finally in a wolrd where every car look the same maybe it’s a kind of happiness!!!

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