Asked my girlfriend to name her dream garage...

"Z (ND + Cancer Fighter)" (roadsterzach)
12/28/2013 at 15:44 • Filed to: Ranked

We were chatting earlier about cars while at today's Cars and Coffee. She told me she didn't have a dream garage, just a top ten. I was quite surprised by some and not disappointed a bit with them all. She's turning into quite the little jalop-y gearhead. I think her list might be better than mine. Enjoy her top ten:

10.) Karmann Ghia (Type 14 Coupe 1970-1972)

In her own words, it would be perfect for a "scooby STi silly moving piston" engine.

9.) Chrysler Crossfire (Coupe)

Has to be a coupe, manual, non-SRT, with the spoiler, lowered and without those "hideous, hideous giant chrome rims".

8.) Chevy Imapla Sport Coupe (1967)

With a big, big, BIG V8. All original, classic style.

7.) Datsun 240Z

Lowered on vintage rims, nice interior, fender mirrors with rear louvers. A modern, reliable engine would be nice. (I was told not to mention fender flares or the G-nose, like I want on my Z, or I'd be sleeping on the couch)

6.) Mazda Miata NA1

Turbo, hardtop, lowered a little bit. Nice and simple and to the point. Must handle amazingly.

5.) Ford GT

Metallic shiny paint. No stripe. HRE wheels. Other than that, they are perfect from the factory.

4.) Shelby Daytona Coupe

No stripes, no decals, nothing over the top. Just pure power. Since an original is so hard to find, she said she'd gladly build a Factory Five Racing Type 65 Coupe. With a modern "Coyote Boss" (aka Ford Roadrunner) engine.

3.) Ariel Atom (Supercharged K20A)

Big go-kart? Big go-kart on the street!

2.) 1965 Ford Mustang GT Fastback (289 V8)

Her own restromod project that brought us together. Classic lines, modern engine and suspension, with a classic looking but nice interior.

1.) Shelby Cobra

She can go on for hours endlessly talking about these. She tells everyone she befriends about them and how much she wants one. I know for a fact that she will own one at one point in her life. It's inevitable.

In case you didn't notice the pattern, she loves black cars. Black with a little touch of chrome here and there makes the perfect combination in her opinion. She obviously loves the vintage metal a bit as well.

DISCUSSION (11)

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Z (ND + Cancer Fighter)
12/28/2013 at 16:07

I approve.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Z (ND + Cancer Fighter)
12/28/2013 at 16:07

I approve.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Z (ND + Cancer Fighter)
12/28/2013 at 16:07

I approve.

PS9 > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
12/28/2013 at 16:27

I'm not sure how you feel about this. C'mon man, no need to be so obtuse, yay or nay!?

/lol

ptak appreciates old racecars > Z (ND + Cancer Fighter)
12/28/2013 at 16:31

Awesome.

GhostZ > Z (ND + Cancer Fighter)
12/28/2013 at 16:38

At first my reactions were: "Okay. Okay. Everything seems normal here, all attainable, is this really a 'dream' garage?"

Then I got to Ford GT. Things started getting crazy after that. Awesome pics.

My dream garage would be a single 280Z that was as fast/faster than everything on your list. Plus a Jeep CJ-5 with a 302 swap for the winter.

Z (ND + Cancer Fighter) > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
12/28/2013 at 16:48

I also approve. I'm hoping she makes these dreams a reality, because I would totally love to borrow some of those keys. Especially the Shelbys and the GT.

Singhjr96 > Z (ND + Cancer Fighter)
12/28/2013 at 16:57

Well she definitely has good taste. Be sure to take your time picking out that diamond ring.

Z (ND + Cancer Fighter) > GhostZ
12/28/2013 at 17:01

For some, dreams are more easily attainable. That said, it'd still be quite the investment to buy all of these:

Ghia: $20k (purchase + STi swap). Crossfire: $15k (including mods). Impala: $30k (average cost). 240Z: $12k (purchase + engine swap). Miata: $10k (including turbo conversion and hardtop). GT: $225k. Daytona Replica: $45k (FFR kit plus engine and such). Ariel Atom: $65k (roughly, used). Mustang: $120k (restromod = $$$). Cobra: $35k (FFR kit plus engine and such).

So a total of roughly $557 thousand dollars. Qualifies as a dream garage in my book. :P I'm glad the majority are attainable, since that means she'll probably get them at some point.

A 280Z that would be faster than a Ford GT would be a sight to see. Not sure how practical or usable it would be.

joey-taps > Z (ND + Cancer Fighter)
12/28/2013 at 17:24

I find it suspicious with all these "girlfriends" with good car tastes. Are you sure it's not your dream garage projected onto a Manti Teo?

GhostZ > Z (ND + Cancer Fighter)
12/28/2013 at 17:46

Might I offer some suggestions?

Ford still produces '67 mustang frames and body panels new as replacement parts. It's far more likely you could find a '67 I6 notchback or convertible (~$5000), and then convert the body to a fastback using Ford catalog parts. If you're already changing the engine, interior, and exterior out, don't worry about getting a GT/Fastback to begin with.

12K won't get you an engine swap on a 240Z unless its another L engine from a 280Z/ZX, or a Chevy Small Block, a decent 240Z is about 12K alone right now with low (>100,000) miles.

Now, a 280Z (not ZX, but the 75-77 280ZX) are almost identical to the 240Z except for 3 things: 1. They had federal 5MPH bumpers, which can be easily removed and converted to 240Z bumpers, 2. They had a larger, more powerful engine (145HP Net VS 130 HP NET) with some cooling, L-Jetronic (WAY better and more reliable than Porsche's K-Jetronic) fuel injection and head changes, and a larger, stronger rear differential. The original 240Z differential would wear down and causes noises (eventually breaking) around 60,000 miles. There were some suspension tweaks, tire size changes, and little bits and stuff there, but here's the big thing: A 280Z costs half that of a 240z.

12K would get you a 280z and twice the engine swap budget. For that you could opt for a Rebello Racing motor, a Turbo ZX motor, or an SBC with tons of mods. You're out of luck on the rest of them.

As for a 240z that's faster than a Ford GT... they exist, and they've been around since the early 80s. It can be done for about $50,000 if you do it right, and it will be daily drivable, but you'd have to be very, very careful. They come in many forms: Supercharged SBC swap, Turbo 302, OS Giken heads, RB26, Rebello Racing motor, G-nose, etc. If you get the right transmission, suspension, gearing, and Aero, 200MPH in an S30 only requires about 450HP.