Back in the olden days when I was in grammar school, long before the internet or even home computers, there was no way to instantly summon cool stuff you wanted to see or learn about. If you had a burning desire to know more about model rocketry or kite building or slot cars (check, check, and check), your only hope was finding a book on the topic at the library, be it school or public. Along with a bunch of other kids, I completely wore out the school’s one and only book on slot car racing, which I pored over every chance I had to check it out. The only other book that I checked out more frequently was devoted to exotic cars of the late sixties and early 1970s, and I was absolutely wild for wedge cars. I was less wild about wedgies, which I also received. You take the good with the bad.
Anyway, I’ve never stopped being a wedge-car guy, and I probably image-search “wedge cars” at least once a month to once again take in all those wonderful, still-futuristic-to-me shapes. I have many favorites, but here are a few that are always near the top of the list:
The Italdesign Aztec is a later entry to the wedgiverse, and the influence of 1980s science fiction films is highly apparent in the “greeblie” detailing ahead of the rear wheel skirts. I’m not sure any of those geegaws do anything (other than the one that looks like a gas cap), but I love the spaceship energy they give to the two-seater.
And it is emphatically a two-seater, as driver and passenger each get their own wraparound windshield. Another detail I always enjoy is the slot windows in the doors. I have a thing for windows below the beltline.
The Maserati Boomerang is another Italdesign winner, and there are those door windows I like. I’m also a sucker for the windshield and hood sharing the same angle, which is critical for a true wedge car. I’m less into the giant trident on the hood.
And then there’s the super-groovy Ferrari Modulo, for which Pininfarina made the bold choice of hiding the wheels but allowing the tires to emerge seductively from the strangely, wonderfully technological yet organic shape. And again, the windows extend below the beltline (bites lip sexily).
So, it’s wedge cars for me. Your turn:
What Cars Have You Admired The Longest?
Top graphic image: Italdesign
Ferrari Testarossa, Lamborghini Countach, and Porsche 911
McLaren F1, for sure.
I think the OG Mini. Way back in the 1980s, there was a weekend long vintage racing (and concours) that took place in Steamboat Springs, CO. I was fairly young then, but watching them race, punching way above their weight while being functional transportation opened my eyes. Found a link that talks a little about those races.
https://poeschloncars.blogspot.com/2019/01/lost-roadside-attraction-vintage-racing.html
Lamborghini Countach, looked amazing when it was new and still looks amazing today 50 years later. I know they don’t drive as well as they look and they aren’t very practical, but I don’t care.
Pontiac Fiero
December 1987 issue of Motor Trend might have been the 1st car magazine I ever bought because the cover has been seared into my brain ever since.
On the cover was a red Ferrari GTO and a yellow Aston Martin Zagato. For nearly 4 decades both those cars have been some of my favorite. Visually speaking, the GTO will always be the car that I judge other Ferraris to. The Aston Martin Zagato was years before A-M started making gorgeous cars again, and while the Zagato ain’t the prettiest car, its just funky as hell.
Found an issue for sale on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/156537379025
Porsche 911 my beloved <3<3<3
RUF Yellowbird
Ever since playing need for speed 2 on my friend’s console, I’ve loved the ford GT90. The first concept car I had a model of was the Audi Avus Quattro, and I can still draw it from memory reasonably accurately. Real life cars I’ve long admired are the Citroen CX, XM, and DS.
I can’t be sure exactly, but some of the earlist cars I can recall desiring include the Bricklin (my first look at gullwing doors) and the Citroën DS. I also recall being impressed with the vanity mirror light on Pontiac’s Bonneville in the early 1970s. But I was under ten years old, so easier to impress back then. I was older when the Porsche 959 came out, and it really taught me what it felt like to yearn for a vehicle that I’d never own.
I still lust for a DS.
Probably the Mercedes C111 and Citroën SM that were my first Corgi cars in the early 70s. The C111 was the car of the future with a Wankel rotary, gull wing doors, and plaid upholstery. The SM was also very futuristic as befit a descendant of the DS.
If I had the money I’d sacrifice an Autozam AZ-1 to build a replica C111. I’m sure there’s room for a 13B and Liberty Walk would take on the challenge.
Every since my dad bought Test Drive 2 for our old PC, the Ferrari F40. The 959 is also great, but the F40 was faster, so that’s what I drove in that game. All timer.
SL300, 560SEC, 500SL, 850Csi, 911, 928, for the Germans. 400i, FF and Pantera for the Italians. Griffith, Cerbera, Chimaera, Elise, Exige, Evora and Defender for the Brits. SC400, NSX, MR2, RX7, Supra, Miata, S2000, Jimny, Land Cruiser, 4Runner for the Japanese. GT40, GT, CJ7, IH Light Line trucks, Viper, 4th gen Continental, Bronco for the Americans.
Lotus Esprit.
Wedge car that I fell in love with from a Test Drive game for the Amiga. It was probably the last car I tried because of the engine specs, but turned out to be the best to drive. it always felt like an underdog, which I like.
Ford GT40; Porsche 917; Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale; Jaguar D- and E-Type; Aston Martin DB4, -5, and -6; first-gen Shelby GT350 and GT500; Vector W2/W8; Willys/Ford WW2 jeeps; original Mini Cooper; and Lamborghini Miura off the top of my head.
Bug eye Sprite, Lotus Elan, Citroen (Pick one: Wedge, space ship, early 19th Century, they are all there)
Early Jaguar XKE roadster. I probably chose this because it came out about the time that I first became interested in cars. Also, in 1964, I got to ride in a 1964 model and I was forever changed.
Oldsmobile Cutlass and the 442. Of all the GM x-body variants throughout the years, I think Olds always got the designs just right.
(By “x” I just mean variable not only the X body specifically)
A vague childhood memory of a brown 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II idling silently while parked outside Rockefeller Center. So I am weird? I’m am Autopian!
The Fiat VSS concept from 1981, designed by IDEA and Renzo Piano. The design nerd in me always admired the attempt to redefine how a car is constructed and built. It has a bit of the rational Italian product design coolness in the way of Sotsass’ Valentine and Bellini’s work for Olivetti.
For the 9 year old me and I’d like one still today. (-:
The Porsche 904, it looked like a promising future.
Thanks to my aunt and uncle having them when I was a kid, Beetles and Land Rovers are the cars I have thought were cool the longest. They seemed like such fun – and having gotten to drive Beetles and own Rovers – they are. Next were probably Volvo wagons thanks to my elementary school bestie’s grandparents having a ’76 245 with a stick that we got hauled around in. That eventually became his first car! In a lovely shade of light beige.
Yes, I was the weird car nut kid who did NOT have a poster of a Porsche or Ferrari on his bedroom wall. I had that Volvo Turbo Wagon racing a Lambo towing a U-Haul ad poster in my freshman dorm room though.
https://blog.consumerguide.com/1988-volvo-turbo-wagon/
I owned ’89 and ’92 745Ts eventually. The poster pretty much nailed it, especially the ’92 that I installed the APC system out of junkyard Saab on. Weeeeee!
For the wedge lovers Bolwell Ikara
https://www.bolwellcarclub.com.au/mk9/
It’s such a shame only 9 were ever built – I would LOVE to drive an Ikara. Besides being an interesting little sportscar with readily available parts (since they were designed to use a Golf drivetrain and a Gemini front end) almost nobody would have any idea what it actually was when they saw it!
I’m also a wedge aficionado, but the closest I have ever got to a true wedge car is a Leyland P76.
The Matra Simca Bagheera series 1 (1973-76), preferably french racing blue.
Haven’t owned one, or driven one, don’t think I’ve even seen one in real life..
I used to see one sitting unloved in the front yard of a house I passed regularly, for almost 20 years. Presumably was someone’s abandoned restoration project. Some time in the last year or 2 it disappeared and was replaced by another ‘project’ car, a Valiant Charger.
Mmm, probably “neue klasse” BMWs, even though I haven’t owned any myself. The BMW 1500, the classy 2000 CS, and the timeless 02 series.
In that same vein, the GM “Action Line” and “Rounded Line” trucks, along with the 5th and 6th gen Ford trucks, have been persistent favorites for as long as I can remember, though not with the same level of admiration as the BMWs.
I’ve never owned one myself but I’ve always been fond of the Neue Klasse BMWs. In the late 60s my older sister had a 1600 sedan when she was in college. And my Dad had a ’67 1600-2, it was the car I learned to drive a manual transmission in. A nice 2000 CS would be the ultimate…
When I was young my dad had a ’69 2002. It was by far my favorite car to ride in. I remember being really sad when he sold it, and have always hoped to find one myself. Sadly, finding one and also being able to afford it haven’t aligned for me yet.