We always get around to this, don't we...
1969 Datsun 510 -- what a boy buys when he wants a 2002 but hasn't the price of entry.
1974 Ford Capri -- strong with a 2.8 Cologne V6, almost the same shade of blue as my current e9. Built like tank -- I fell asleep, hit a utility pole, and the pole lost. The car was totaled, all I had was a cut lip from the steering wheel.
1970 Chebby El Camino (a ute, for the Oz crowd) -- I succumbed to the big-block siren. All the worst things about American cars embodied in one, but once the tires stopped spinning it was bloody fast in a straight line.
1974 VW Super Beetle -- bought with the gas money I saved by leaving the El Camino in the driveway.
1980 Yamaha 850 Special -- I was still living at home, so 2 cars and bike was possible. Owned it a year, sold it when I realized I had no innate fear of crashing and was therefore soon to do same.
1978 Fiat X1/9 -- the first flirtation with an Italian engine. About as much power as a well tuned lawn mower, but damn -- what a noise at full song! Learned much about trailing throttle oversteer, too.
197? Plymouth Satellite -- ex-cop car bought at auction. Had a Fiat, still needed to go to work each day. Dubbed the "Flymo" after a late night excursion through an orchard removed most of the "Plymouth" script . Doubled as a ski car, we bolted the ski rack right through the roof and sealed the holes with RTV.
197? AMC Pacer -- Yet another car required by Fiat ownership. Still unrivaled in interior space vs. exterior dimensions.
1963 VW Beetle -- Package deal with fiancé'. Full Cal-look with dropped spindles and 356 wheels. Almost didn't get to have the wedding when we were pummeled in the bug by a 70's Cougar driven by an epileptic with no license or insurance. Bug gave its life for us, they're tougher than they look.
1980 Subaru GL 4x4 wagon – the lil’ white wheelin’ wagon. Great ski and camping car, funky hidden fog lamp in middle of grill (why?). Jessica’s favorite of all time, still gives me crap about selling it.
198? VW Dasher (Passat) – I finally sold the Fiat, allowing the Pacer to move on to a better place. The Dasher was the worst name possible for the car – it had a slushbox, which made a slow car slower, and if you gave in to temptation and turned on the A/C, it wouldn’t go over 50mph. It was quite well built, and I still find them oddly attractive.
1978 Ford F150 – ski boat tow rig extraordinaire. With a full size truck with canopy, I was the pack mule of choice – everyone else would show up, load all their crap in my truck and boat, and off we’d go. Why? Because the Ford would cross the Sikiyous with a full bed and the fully loaded boat on the back at 70mph without even breathing hard.
1984 BMW 318i – Jessica’s “suit and briefcase” car. She was still doing the corporate dance, and this was a good combo of yuppie posturing and gas mileage for her to drive across Tennessee and Mississippi.
1990 Ford Ranger 4x4 – Traded the F-150 and the boat to a friend for this, purely because it had A/C. Believe me, when you grow up in the PNW, you don’t move to Memphis without A/C. Had it in 4wd maybe twice in the 3 years owned.
198? VW Rabbit P/U (caddy) – replaced the Ranger when we moved back to Portland and the remodeling projects got serious. Why trash a nice truck hauling building supplies?
1969 BMW 1600-2 – Finally got my boyhood dream car. Underpowered, rusty, smoked like a steam train on a grade. Kept it 6 years, loved every minute of it.
1992 VW Jetta (Bora) – Bought when we returned from an expat stint in Hong Kong. Got if off lease, only about 20k miles on the clock. Really a good car, although the trim was cheap, broke easily, and cost too much to replace. Drove it for 8 years, sold it with about 150k on the clock, still running strong.
1988 Dodge Raider (Mitsu Montero/Pajero) – The other “new” car after Hong Kong, had about 100k on the clock but had been owned by a preacher who perhaps was worshiping a false idol – the car looked new. Reliable as the sunrise, built like a bunker, slower than grass growing and thirsty as Munich in October. A “real” SUV, with serious off road capability. Now owned by my brother, probably has 200k on it, still running strong. If I ever again decide I need an off-roader, it will be a Mitsu.
1974 Alfa Romeo GTV2000 – as we realized the benefits of property appreciation and I managed to get a raise or two, a toy was in order. Giulia coupes have always been on my list, and this one fell I my lap as I was looking for another BMW. A lot of fun to drive, almost as much fun to wrench on. Should have kept it, will have another.
1970 BMW 2800CS – What to say? Another car on the “gotta have one” list, and another car that came my way as if by providence.
1972 BMW Bavaria – how do you say no to a $300 car? My wife could tell you, but I can’t. All it needed was a driveline and a good mucking out. Drove it for a few months, sold it to a friend of a friend for $700. He’s since dumped thousands in to it with a 5 speed swap, body repairs, FI swap, wheels, etc.
1977 BMW 630CSi – package deal with a 1979 528i parts car, another “too cheap to pass up” deal. Someone else’s engine swap project that needed final assembly. Turned out the engine had been left sitting with no spark plugs and had water in it. Ended up trading the amazing clean rust free shell for upholstery work on the e9. The 3.3 is in my garage in pieces, probably destined to be built into a 3.5 and dropped in the e9.
1980 BMW 323i – Another bargain car. A rusty Euro with a great drivetrain and full Alpina running gear. Drove it for a year, sold it to a friend who promised he would strip it and put all the goodies in a clean dry shell. The bastard now has it all cut up and is trying to fix the rust. His wife won’t talk to me.
2001 Honda CR-V – replaced the Jetta as Jessica’s ride. She loves it, I use it as a parts/lumber/garden hauler, much to her dismay. My first Honda, and I have to say, it may be an appliance, but it’s an marvelously engineered and assembled appliance.
1975 BMW 530i – the current project/daily driver, running a built 3.5 with chipped Motronic, Alpina suspension, 235/45-17’s all around on e39 style 5’s.
Along the way there have been more than a few parts cars, I figure those don’t count since they weren’t actual transpo. I still have an e21 and e12 parts car, and just disposed of an e23 745i that donated its turbocharged engine for eventual install my current 5er.