#1 - 1965 MGB
Acquired: Spring 1980; Sold: Spring 1981
Firsts: 1st car period; 1st British car; 1st inline 4-cylinder engine; 1st front engine rear wheel drive; 1st dual-carb; 1st stick shift; 1st 2-door convertible; 1st 2-seater; 1st wire wheels
1st MG
#2 - 1973 Dodge Challenger
Acquired: Summer 1981; Sold: Summer 1982
Firsts: 1st American car; 1st V8 engine; 1st 4-barrel carb; 1st automatic; 1st 2-door hardtop
1st Dodge
#3 - 1972 Citroën DS21
Acquired: Summer 1982; Disabled: Summer 1983; Sold: Summer 1984
Firsts: 1st French car; 1st hemi engine; 1st semi-automatic transmission; 1st front-mid-engine layout; 1st front-wheel-drive; 1st 4door sedan; 1st leather interior
1st Citroën
#4 - c.1970 VW Van
Acquired: Summer 1983; Sold: Summer 1983
Firsts: 1st German car; 1st horizontally-opposed engine; 1st air-cooled engine; 1st rear engine; 1st van
1st VW
#5 - 1974 Renault R12
Acquired: Winter 1984; Sold: Fall 1986
Firsts: First forward engine layout
1st Renault
#6 - 1981 Renault R5 (Le Car)
Acquired: Fall 1986; Abandoned: Fall 1987
Firsts: 1st 3-door hatchback
2nd Renault
Failed Project - 1973 Volvo P1800ES
Acquired: Summer 1987; Abandoned: Winter 1990
Firsts: 1st Swedish car; 1st Volvo; 1st "project" car; 1st 2-door station wagon
#7 - 1985 Renault R9 (Alliance) Convertible
Acquired: Winter 1988; Sold: Summer 1991
Firsts: 1st transversely-mounted engine; 1st overhead cam; 1st fuel injection (throttle body); 1st A/C; 1st used car dealer purchase
3rd Renault
#8 - 1972 BMW 2002
Acquired: Spring 1989; Unloaded: Summer 1992
Firsts: 1st "second car."
1st BMW
#9 - 1978 VW Van
Acquired: Winter 1990; Sold: Summer 1992
Firsts: 1st fuel injection (multi-port)
2nd VW
Collection 1991
#10 - 1980 Volkswagen Westfalia
Acquired: Spring 1992; Left Derelict: Summer 1997
Firsts: 1st pop-top
3rd VW
Collection 1993
#11 - 1982 VW Quantum Wagon
Acquired: Spring 1994; Scrapped: Winter 1995
Firsts: 1st 4-door station wagon
4th VW
#12 - 1981 Subaru 4WD Wagon
Acquired: Spring 1994; Scrapped: Summer 1994
Firsts: 1st Japanese car; 1st 4WD
1st Subaru
Muck Truck - 19?? VW Bus
Acquired: c.Summer 1995; Left Derelict: Summer 2003
Firsts: No firsts
#13 - 1972 Citroën DS21
Acquired: Spring 1997; Parked: Winter 2000; Hauled Away: Summer 2015
Firsts: No firsts
2nd Citroën
#14 - 1986 Renault R11 (Encore)
Acquired: Spring 1996; Gifted: Fall 1999
Firsts: No firsts
4th Renault
#15 - 1982 Renault Fuego Turbo
Acquired: Summer 1998; Left Derelict: Fall 2000; Totaled: Summer 2003
Firsts: 1st turbo
5th Renault
Lawn Ornament - 1971 DS21 Break
Acquired: Fall 1998
Firsts: 1st intentional "lawn ornament"
#16 - 1961 Citroën ID19
Acquired: Fall 1998
Firsts: 1st column shift
3rd Citroën
#17 - 2000 Volkswagen Beetle
Acquired: Fall 1999; Totaled: Summer 2003
Firsts: 1st showroom new car
5th VW
Failed Project - 1957 Renault 4CV
Acquired: c.Summer 2001; Sold: Fall 2005
Firsts: 1st reverse-suicide doors
#18 - 1985 Ford F150 "Explorer"
Acquired: Summer 2003; Sold: Fall 2009
Firsts: 1st inline 6-cylinder engine; 1st pickup truck; 1st trailer hitch
1st Ford
#19 - 1984 Pontiac Fiero
Acquired: Fall 2002; Parked: Winter 2005; Sold: Spring 2008
Firsts: 1st transverse mid-engine; 1st "wedge"; 1st sunroof; 1st fiberglass body
1st Pontiac
Failed Project - 1972 Triumph Spitfire MkIV
Acquired: Summer 2004; Parked: Ever since
Firsts: 1st Triumph; 1st eBay purchase
#20 - 1982 Renault Alliance 4-door
Acquired: Fall 2003; Parked: Summer 2004; Gifted: Fall 2007
Firsts: No firsts
6th Renault
#21 - 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Acquired: Spring 2004; Sold: Fall 2005
Firsts: 1st V6 engine; 1st hood ornament; 1st eBay sale
1st Oldsmobile
#22 - 1996 BMW Z3
Acquired: Fall 2004
Firsts: 1st dual overhead cam engine; 1st cruise control; 1st power windows;
2nd BMW
#23 - 1997 Geo/Chevy Metro
Acquired: Summer 2005; Sold: Spring 2008
Firsts: No firsts
1st Geo
#24 - 1984 Renault Fuego
Acquired: Spring 2005; Sold: Spring 2021
Firsts: No firsts
7th Renault
#25 - 2007 Toyota Yaris
Acquired: Fall 2008; Sold: Summer 2015
Firsts: No firsts
1st Toyota
#26 - 1993 Ford F150 4WD
Acquired: Fall 2009; Sold: Spring 2010
Firsts: No firsts
2nd Ford
#27 - 1993 Ford F150 4WD take-2
Acquired: Summer 2010; Sold: Fall 2019
Firsts: No firsts
3rd Ford
#28 - 1987 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas
Acquired: Summer 2009; Sold: Summer 2012
Firsts: 1st real wood dashboard
1st Jaguar
Collection 2009
#29 - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
Acquired: Fall 2010; Traded in: Fall 2012
Firsts: No firsts
1st Chrysler
Collection 2010
#30 - 1978 Lotus Esprit
Acquired: Spring 2011
Firsts: 1st true mid-engined layout
1st Lotus
#31 - 2001 Ford F150
Acquired: Winter 2012; Sold: Summer 2013
Firsts: No Firsts
4th Ford
#32 - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
Acquired: Fall 2012 Sold: Winter 2021
Firsts: 1st in-dash infotainment system;
6th VW
#33 - 1993 Ford F350
Acquired: Winter 2014
Firsts: 1st diesel; 1st "dually" (i.e. 1st 6-wheeled vehicle);
5th Ford
#34 - 1991 Volvo 240
Acquired: Spring 2014; Gifted: Summer 2014
Firsts: No firsts
1st Volvo
#35 - 1973 Volvo 1800ES
Acquired: Summer 2014
Firsts: No firsts
2nd Volvo
#36 - 2015 Honda Fit
Acquired: Summer 2015
Firsts: 1st CVT; 1st 5-door hatchback
1st Honda
Collection 2015
Pending Project - Renault R16
Acquired: Spring 2016
Firsts: No firsts
8th Renault (pending restoration)
#37 - 1955 Citroen Traction Avant
Acquired: Summer 2018
Firsts: 1st right-hand-drive; 1st "old timer"
4th Citroën
Kei Truck
1993 Diahatsu Scrum Autozam
Acquired: Summer 2019
Firsts: 1st flatbed pickup truck; 1st cab-over; 1st axel lock
1st Daihatsu
#38 - 1968 Volkswagen Beetle
Acquired: Summer 2019; Long Term Loan: 2019
Firsts: 1st Classic Beetle FINALLY!!!
7th VW
#39 - 1987 Volkswagen Westfalia
Acquired: Fall 2019
Firsts: 1st water-boxer
8th VW
Collection 2020
#40 - 1980 Fiat X1/9
Acquired: Summer 2022
Firsts: 1st Italian car; 1st targa top
1st Fiat
#41 - 2008 Chevrolet Uplander
Acquired: February 2024; Traded in: 7 days 4 hours later
Firsts: 1st Chevrolet
1st Chevrolet
#44 - 2008 Volvo C30
Acquired: February 2024
Firsts: 1st inline 5 cyliner
3rd Volvo
#45 - 1988 Renault 4
Acquired: July 2024
Firsts: No firsts
9th Renault
On The Hunt
Luxury Sedan
My collection isn't complete without a luxury sedan in it, and it's been a gap ever since I sold the Phaeton. These are the cars that I'm considering to fill that need.
Cadillac Fleetwood (71-76)
Checker Marathon
Chrysler 300
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II
Retirement Runabout
When I'm retired I'm going to need something to drive to the gym every day and run errands. It would be a good opportunity to go electric because range won't be an issue since this would only be for local trips. My wishlist car is the Microlino, inspired by the famed BMW Isetta bubble car. They're currently being made in Switzerland for the European market. My hope is that by the time I retire they will be exporting to the USA.
Microlino
Sports Cars
I'm still on the lookout for more cars just to add to my collection. Criteria revolve around performance and driveability in the steep and windy roads in the Finger Lakes.
Chevrolet Corvette C3 (disco era t-tops)
Subaru XT6 Turbo
Bucket List(s)
The following cars are what I would say are on my bucket list. Some are cars that I've dreamed of and still long for. Some are models that caught my eye, and would be something I might take if it fell in my lap. Others are models of notably eccentric distinction. Many are astronomically unavailable, but I list them here because they're the ones I prefer over other astronomically unavailable cars. In its whole, this list is a full-spectrum survey of my automotive tastes.
My Never-Haves
- V12 engine
- Rotary engine
- Supercharged engine
- True roadster (side curtains)
- Electric car
Dream Car Short List
If money were no object, and availability were magically a non-issue, this list is my true "bucket list." It is roughly in priority order.
Jaguar XKE Series 2 (convertible)
Ford GT40 Mk I (homologation)
Shelby Cobra 289 "slab side"
Aston Martin DBS (60's)
Renault R5 Turbo (homologation)
Full Bucket List
The following list of cars represent cars I would actually pursue if I had the time and money, cars I fantasize about owning even though there's effectively no possibility, cars that I would take if someone gave them to me, and in some cases cars that I've always had a cheeky appreciation for and want to recognize even if I wouldn't really want one in my collection.
Alfa Romeo 8C
Alfa Romeo Spyder (early slim tail)
AMC Pacer
AMC Matador
Amphicar
Aston Martin Lagonda
Audi Fox (early)
Austin Healey Sprite "Bugeye"
Austin Mini (original)
BMW 507
BMW 850 V12
BMW M1
BMW Z8
Buick Reatta
Buick Riviera (boat tail)
Bugatti Royale
Cadillac Eldorado (convertible; any year)
Cadillac Limousine (60's-70's)
Cadillac Seville (retro tail)
Checker Marathon Aerobus (sedan-back; cusom limo conversion)
Chevrolet Corvette C3 (chrome bumper; convertible)
Chrysler Cordoba (1st Gen; burgundy on burgundy)
Citroen 2CV (1st gen)
Citroen C6
Citroen Mehari
Citroen SM
Datsun 240Z
DeTomaso Pantera
Dodge La Femme
Fiat Multipla
Ford Ka
Ford Mustang II (notchback)
Ford Mustang Mach I
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
Ford Pinto (1st gen)
Ford Pinto (disco wagon)
Ford Thunderbird (1962)
Ford Thunderbird (1969-70; suicide 4-door)
Hummer H1
Jaguar 420
Jaguar F-Type
Jaguar XJ12C
Jaguar XJ220
(Jeep) Willys
Jeep FC Pickup
Jeep CJ5
Lamborghini Countach (1st gen)
Lancia Stratos Zero
Lincoln Continental (1st gen suicide; hardtop)
Lincoln Continental (suicide; limousine)
Lotus 7 / Catherham
Lotus Elan S1/S2
Lotus Exige
Mazda RX7 (1st gen)
MGA
MGTF
Maserati Bora
Maserati Ghibli
Maserati Mistral
Mercedes 200
Mercedes 300SL "Gullwing"
Mercedes 450SL
Mercedes CW311
M35 "Deuce & a Half"
Oldsmobile Wagon (mid-70's vanishing tailgate)
Opel GT
Peugeot 504 (sedan)
Pontiac Aztek
Porsche 928
Renault 17
Renault 18 (sedan)
Renault Caravelle (convertible)
(Renault) Willys Interlagos (Alpine)
Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible (last gen)
Rolls Royce Phantom (contemporary)
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Cabriolet
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow (1st gen)
Routmaster double-decker bus
Saab 99
Studebaker Avanti (1st gen)
Toyota 2000GT
Triumph GT6 (last gen)
Volvo 164
Volvo 262C Bertone
Volvo C30
(VW) Manx "Dune Buggy"
VW Kharmann Ghia (early; hardtop)
VW Thing
VW Type-2 "Microbus"
VW Type-3 (convertible)
Snow Bird Candidates
- Lexus SC 430
- Mazda Miata
- Mercedes SLK
- Porsche Boxter
Cars I'd Like to Have Back
- Citroen DS (citromatic)
- Chrysler Crossfire
- Renault Alliance (2nd gen; convertible)
- Renault R12
Index | Next Essay -->