There aren’t a lot of cars that evoke enough happiness when I see them to actually make me smile. There are plenty that make me go, “Oh, I like those,” or “That’s a cool one,” but I’m not grinning about it like some psycho. Like, imagine me catching you exiting your Kia Stinger at CVS, and I tell you “great car” while showing all my teeth – you’d wonder if you were about to be carjacked.
There are scant few cars that make me smile (warmly, not crazily), but the ones that do are extremely wholesome and deserving. High on the list is any 20+ year old grandpa/grandma car in very nice condition still piloted by the octogenarian who purchased it. I invent entire storylines for these cars and people, real salt-of-the-earth types who know the value of a dollar and faithfully take careful care of their Crown Vics and Avalons and Chrysler 300s.
In a similar vein, I always smile anytime I see a formerly disposable car just out there surviving. There’s a Beetle I see on the regular, not unlike the one above from Bring A Trailer (where it sold for $5,700), that appears to run like a top but has endured far too many hot Texas summers and fender-bender repairs for its owner to have any concerns over maintaining its paint beyond rust prevention. Anytime I encounter an aged Civic or Corolla or Ford Escort or the like that some frugal person is just not giving up on (“250,000 miles and it still runs great!”), that just puts a smile on my face every time.
Your turn:
What Cars Are You Always Happy To See?
Top graphic image: Ford
There are a few that always make me happy to see and or/hear.
Idling diesel W123/124 M-B sedans probably top my list. The sound of those 5-cylinder engines is so distinctive.
I still have a soft spot for 71 and earlier Peugeot 504s.
The E39 M5s were beautiful.
I had an ’86 Accord that looked cool.
And my ’88 Saab 9000T was probably the coolest looking car I ever owned.
My dad had a Saab 9000t that I used a lot when I just got my license,with the big rubber spoiler. Great cars.
For some reason, mine didn’t have the spoiler. And I didn’t mind. Unless you’re on a track, I imagine their contribution to the overall driving experience is minimal.
And it’s wild/mildly disturbing that it was 40 years ago I got that Honda!
I seem to remember that the spoiler was the pre-facelift one with different lights and the one after lost the spoiler and got more grown up.
I saw a 70’s Chevy squarebody stepside pickup plowing snow in my neighborhood Monday, that made me smile, as do all old trucks still putting in work.
I also love seeing “Mr. Bean” Mini’s running around, I absolutely adore those.
Any car from the 50s or 60s looking tiny between all of today’s big cars.
Tiny? Lots of those sedans were as tall as crossovers.
70’s pickup trucks, Jeep CJs, 80’s Charger, 1st gen Miata.
Anything from the early 90’s that survived and is still being daily driven with purpose. I spotted a cherry 1992-ish Chevy Lumina at the gas station a few days ago and it warmed my heart. I have no idea why though.
What i look for is uniqueness, anything rare on the road, small cars for example are rare here, also many cars from late 1990s to late 2000s.
Suzuki Jimney! (The new ones specifically)
Every time I see one I’m reminded of how tiny and cute they are 🙂
It’s like a G-Wagen shrank in the wash!
And Frogeye Sprites of course, the happiest car in the world 🙂
Anything strange / imported especially very small or large like keis and military vehicles. Scaina trucks. Gen 2 rams. They are getting rarer so Im happy when I see them putting in the work. Utes of any kind. I sometimes go by a place that bike them and I see them driving around or sometimes I’ll see a smyth kit running around. Mexican market cars can be a lot of fu. Especially the Chinese brands or the Japanese stuff we don’t get.
90s Buick Roadmasters
Any old car that looks like it’s a project but is still getting driven.
Another Element is always nice. I’ve had mine for about 6 years now and still not used to getting waved at by other E owners.
I love seeing Camaros and Firebirds too, make me ‘member when I had mine.
I’m not a German car fan, but I will admire a BMW i8 if one is around, I kinda want one.
Avanti.
Fiat 500s make me smile every time I see one, especially in the cool colors like baby blue or mint green. Original or modern, doesn’t matter much. Air-cooled VWs too, also doesn’t matter which one. Anything cool and vintage really.
Absolutely nothing current. Nothing. Not one thing.
Subaru XT
They came out just as I was looking to buy my first new car (complete with car payment and 10%+ interest rates). These were just out of my range
Any ordinary, older car in great condition. The 30-year old sedan or compact or pickup that looks like it just rolled off of the showroom floor. Someone has pride of ownership and takes time to take care of what they own. Anyone can lease a new luxury SUV or crossover; they are all over and don’t impress me. Older cars are special and stand out.
Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback and SAAB 9000 are 2 that always make me excited.
Porsche 914
Pre-2000 VW busses. I’m on my fifth of those, so have quite a soft spot 🙂
Other 356es than my own 😎
Mercedes W123s
Really old trucks
Renault Fuego, Fiat X1/9, Triumph TR7, original bodied Pontiac Fiero. Yes, I’m a glutton for punishment. There’s lots more but those are the main ones I would let beat me up.
Oh man … I love your list and would totally light up for a Fuego!
I see you have a wedge car fetish – me too!
the square bodied Panthers as in the photo are rare birds these days. a mint one makes you think: man, that’s a real car. am also happy to see old Chrysler Conquests with those big fender flares! i suspect that the current Bronco (full size) w/ steelies and regular tires, not the big offroad wheelsNTires, will be considered a “real car” in the future. old Dodge Rams (1994+) w/ 2 doors and short beds are entertainingly stubby looking too!
British cars. The older the better, but anything obviously out of warranty gets a grin from me. Drive safe, masochist.
Ooh, mine should probably come with a trigger warning:
#1 by far is the Murano CrossCab. There used to be one in my area and I smiled and/or laughed every time I saw it.
#2 is the Nissan Juke. I’ll never own one and a person I know had all kinds of electrical issues with his, but those ugly little buggers are the Pug of the car world IMHO.
#3 is (maybe) less controversial, but any car with a smiling grille. That one generation of Mazdas is a common one. I know some people hate smiling cars, but I smile right back.
(Round my way a Pug is the nickname for a Peugeot)
So many, but especially the survivors. The more mundane the better.
And Ferraris, of which I see a fair amount here in Tampa Bay.
pre-2000 Volvos, any Saab, VW Beetles (no where near as common as when I was growing up!). There’s a pink New Beetle convertible that lives near me, that always makes me happy to see. I saw a Bricklin SV-1 last year on the road and had a minor freak out that the other passengers in our car didn’t understand 😀 I live near the Tennessee headquarters of Nissan, so I regularly see older Z cars and Murano Crosscabs, those always catch my attention!
Kei cars! Anything imported, really.
And don’t tell Jason, but Beetles do nothing for me.
Anything competing at the Newport Indiana Antique Car Hill Climb. Indiana’s second biggest motor sports event after the Indy 500, and the best small town festival you’ll ever attend. Uphill drag races for pre-WW2 and orphan cars and trucks.
https://newport-antique-auto-hillclimb.squarespace.com/