It’s a question I’m asked often: “What do you drive?” So here’s twenty answers to that question; some of cars and trucks I’ve had over the years, and could find photos for. In no particular order…

1971 Oldsmobile 442

My first car, and one of the great ones that got away. 455 cubic-inch big-block V-8 with a ram air hood and a Hurst shifter – just what every 16-year-old kid needed. The color was called Viking Blue, it was fully loaded, and all original. I pine for Big Blue on a daily basis.

 

2002 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Silver Arrow

I’ve always loved this 1999-2002 SL bodystyle. Tough, chunky yet sleek, beautifully engineered and built. I’ve been toying with getting one for years, but finally pulled that trigger when a friend told me that another mutual friend had one and may be ready to sell it. He did and he was. The Silver Arrow is was a limited edition model run out of this outgoing bodystyle, and has special wheels, paint, and other trick features. No matter, it’s immaculate clean and a joy to drive, and the perfect “old guy” travel car.

1978 Maserati Merak SS

Anyone that knows me at all knows I’m afflicted with Italian car sickness so it was only a matter of time until I had another one. And here it is, a ’77 Maserati bought from longtime friend Gene Ross. It still wears its original silver paint and Maserati racing blue leather interior, all with less than 13000 miles on the odo. Definately a vroom with a view. Ciao!

 

1972 DeTomaso Pantera

I owned this car for 17 years, and it’s probably the one I identify with more than any other. It was amazing fun to drive, got me involved with the Pantera Owners Club of America, and opened the door to a cherished friendship with the DeTomaso family. I’ll have another Pantera, for sure.

1976 DeTomaso Longchamp

See what the Pantera thing started? DeTomaso built just over 400 of these square-rigged luxury GTs, and they were never sold in the US. I bought this one from a hamfist who hadn’t a clue about cars, and then I spent a lot of time and money putting it right. But it was worth it.

1991 Ford Mustang LX 5.0

One of the few cars I’ve purchased new. I ordered it with a factory sunroof, leather interior, and a 5-speed manual trans (duh!). Had a blast with it, and unlike most 5.0s around, it was 97% stock. Sold it to journalist friend Tom Wilson of 5.0 magazine, who still owns it.

1967 Jaguar E-Type

OK, so it was one of the commonly unloved 2+2s, but still an unmolested Series I car that I bought from the original owners with less than 40,000 miles on the clock. Once sorted, it was dead reliable, and would garner the best parking spot at any restaurant. License plate was R P SOUP.

1989 Porsche Carrera 3.2 coupe

One of the current members of the fleet (such as it is) and an all-original 50,000-mile car. I chose this one because it was the last of the original bodystyle, and carries all the updates. Bought it in New Mexico in 2004, and drove it home with that wondrous flat six purring in my ears.

1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Like driving a motorized anvil. A former Truck Trend magazine project vehicle, I bought this with just 13,000 miles on the clock. I stripped off about half the aftermarket stuff they put on it, and it was as neat as they came. Unfortunately, my daughter drove it into a telephone pole. The pole won.

1987 Ford Thunderbird 5.0 Sport

This was a somewhat rare model, combining the T-Bird body, a medium-output 5.0 V-8 motor, four-speed automatic on the floor, black trim, and firmer suspension. I updated it with 15-inch Mustang wheels and a Mustang dual exhaust system. Nice car.

1966 Sunbeam Tiger Mk I

My consolation prize for never being able to afford a small-block Shelby Cobra. A Tiger had been on my To-Do list for years when I found this partially restored example. I finished the job, and loved this little rocket to death. It’s alive and well, living in Fallbrook, California.

1959 Porsche 356 A Cabriolet

Another one of those “what was I thinking when I sold this!” scenarios. Traded my equity in a condo to an ex-girlfriend’s father for this. It was an example of what we’d call now call a “survivor” – original paint, powertrain, and interior featuring lots of patina but too nice to restore. How stupid was I…

1988 Ford Mustang 5.0 Convertible (Number 1)

Bought this thing on the side of the road for $1000, then put another three grand into it making it nice. Was just about done with it when my daughters needed a second car. It was a 5-speed, which they couldn’t drive at the time, so traded it for an nearly identical car with an automatic.

1988 Ford Mustang 5.0 Convertible (Number 2)

A former Mustangs and Fords magazine project car, colleague Miles Cook had done a lot of nice things to this one, plus it had an automatic trans, so my girls could drive it. Traded the white ’88 for this, sorted out some stuff that was kinda mickey, and they drove it for years.

1963 Jaguar 3.8 S

You know how some people just shouldn’t have cars? I bought this poor thing from one of those people. But it was all there, and responded to the budget resto treatment and a lot of detailing. Sold it to a guy who then flipped it to a collector who shipped it to Japan.

1978 DeTomaso Deauville

Even rarer than my Longchamp with less than 300 built, the Deauville was DeTomaso’s answer to the Jaguar XJ6. This car needed everything, so sold it to friend Steve Wilkinson, the foremost resto authority for DeTomaso. It is now black, fully restored, and gorgeous.

1982 Volvo 240 Turbo wagon

The dash cover was embroidered with the name “Jo Anne” so that’s what we called it. Did this up as a budget performance project for european car magazine, and it really responded. Sold it to a friend whom was T-boned while driving it. It saved his wife’s life.

 

1967 Jaguar 420G

This one was christened the Queen Mary, logical enough given her formal yet proud British demeanor. Bought it from its 88-year-old original owner – truly the little old lady from Pasadena, because that’s where she lived. A big car for 14-inch wheels, don’t you think?

1977 Porsche 924

Say what you will about 924s, I enjoyed this car a bunch, and it handled far better than most people gave them credit for. Drove it from Santa Monica to the northern tip of Canada, which was good fun. Yes, that’s me, all hair and big shades.

 

1971 Lincoln Continental Mk III

Built to a standard and not to a price, Big Mark had a wonderful leather interior, super thick chrome, real wood trim inside, and enough torque to tow an aircraft carrier. My folks always had Lincolns, and this was my first. Awfully fast for 5000 pounds.

 

1962 Ford F100

Another member of the current fleet, this little truck was purchased new by my long time friend Dan Newton’s parents. We went camping, to the races, and who knows where else in this thing. It’s been in his family since new, I’ve known it my entire life, and am proud to own it now.

 

2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT Convertible

I have wanted a Shelby Mustang since forever. The original ’65-70 cars have been out of my price range forever too, so when Shelby and Ford got back together on a factory program in 2006, I sensed my chance was coming. It’s Shelby serial number 999, just like Henry Ford’s famous pre-war racecar.

 

Matt’s Dad’s Cars

1934 Ford

This is my favorite photo of my father, taken at about age 18 (1942 or so) prior to his being drafted into the US Army. His ’34 three-window, rumble-seat coupe was painted a light green, ran dual carbs and dual exhausts on the flathead V-8, and check out those rare Appleton foglamps.

1935 Ford

Not sure of the timing or story behind this photo, but it was during his Army stint, so probably taken in 1943-45. This ’35 belong to his brother Lou, and note that it too had aftermarket foglamps. He never owned this car, but must have driving it somewhere for his brother, or perhaps they were out together.

1946 Ford

Dad wasn’t out of the service five minutes when he took his separation pay and put it down on this ’46 five-window two-door sedan. It was his first new car, resplendent in black, and also equipped with a hot-rodded flathead.

1952 Ford

Noticing a Blue Oval-shaped pattern here? My folks replaced the ’46 with this new ’52 Ford Customline, in black and white. It wears a single chromed exhaust tip here, but dad said he replaced the single with Belond duals not long after this photo was taken.

1960 Mercury

This is my mother with their gold ’60 Merc, which replaced a ’58 Ford stationwagon that was a complete yellow, right down to its yellow paint job. Notice mom’s ’56 Ford Victoria coupe in the garage. And, yes, the little pinhead at left is me.

Grandpa Platt

This isn’t my dad, nor is it one of my dad’s cars, but I love the photo anyway. It was taken in downtown Los Angeles sometime in the 1920s. Harry Platt, my maternal grandfather is sitting in the rumble seat. Poppy Platt never drove, but he loved cars, and loved to be chauffeured around, so this doesn’t surprise me. Can anyone tell me what year/brand of car this is?