What Cars Would You Collect if You Could?

[Basic]

That a '57?

Yessir

[Carfreak09]

Yessir

Those are rare due to severe rust and quality control issues that year right?

[Carfreak09]

Nice list. I'm curious to know if you considered other Chrysler models.

Dodge Omni & Plymouth Horizon (L body)
Dodge Charger & Plymouth Duster (L body)
Dodge Daytona & Chrysler Laser (G body)

All of which were eventually available with various versions of the Chrysler turbocharger setup, and some were worked over by Carroll Shelby.

Shelby GLHS

I owned a 1987 Plymouth Horizon and a 1988 Dodge Daytona Pacifica and put a lot of miles on both. The Horizon got fine fuel economy for it's day. The Pacifica was an upgrade in driveability and performance while maintaining fuel economy. From the experience of interstate travel with the Horizon, the Mirage is a luxury car.

I'm not a fan of Chrysler styling in the 80s with the exception of the Daytona and Lebaron coupe and convertible and perhaps the Shadow. I felt the Omni ripped off the Rabbit's styling and didn't offer a better looking 2 door. The GLH and GLHS were hot hatches though and I'd like to drive one. Which engine did your Daytona Pacifica have?

One pedestrian Dodge product I'd like to get my hands on is the 1991 Dodge Spirit R/T.

[Eggman]

I'm not a fan of Chrysler styling in the 80s with the exception of the Daytona and Lebaron coupe and convertible and perhaps the Shadow. I felt the Omni ripped off the Rabbit's styling and didn't offer a better looking 2 door.

That was an interesting era for Chrysler. From what I recall, the Omni/Horizon platform had many similarities with the VW Rabbit and even had similar dimensions, but it's 1970s design derived from a Simca. Chrysler even used a VW engine for some early models until the Chrysler 2.2 was ready.

For more reading:
rootes-chrysler.co.uk: The world car that wasn't
allpar.com: The Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon
allpar.com: Creating the Chrysler Horizon: the Chrysler Europe Design Team speaks

I think the body design is interesting from this era. For the most part, the body lines were parallel to level ground. As the vehicle was loaded and their suspensions wore in and sagged, the body lines accentuated the look of a tired old car. New cars these days have body lines that tend to rise up toward the rear, which I think tends to minimize the saggy rear-end look. I have credited that design tendency as avoiding looks of the 1980s. Think Chevy Citation, too.

The GLH and GLHS were hot hatches though and I'd like to drive one.

I was lucky enough to test drive a used Dodge Omni GLHS in the early mid 1990s and boy was that a fast car. I should have bought it but I needed a daily driver, not a garage-kept trophy.

A former co-worker would spiff up Omnis with a turbo package and humiliate Mustang 5.0 owners with it.

Which engine did your Daytona Pacifica have?

2.2 turbo I. I recall it was rated near 150 hp. It felt fast at the time, but soon four-cylinder engines were able to produce that much power without a turbocharger. I really enjoyed driving that hatchback.

[Gnarles2]

Here are the cars that would be in my collection. Eventually some of them will be.

1. VW Split Window Bus


2. Hyundai Scoupe Turbo


3. Geo Metro Convertible


4. Yugo Cabriolet


5. Mazda MX3 V6

[Spadesheart]

The 180D will be my project. I'm keeping the old engine. Modern retrofits will be:

1. Aircon (a must in the local tropical weather)
2. LED headlamps
3. Radial tyres (Well they have radials on them right now, but they're rock hard from sitting 25+ years)
4. Generator to alternator conversion

You're going to be riding in style my friend. Keep us posted! I want to see the progress

[Spadesheart]

I'm loving this discussion, particularly the old Mopar talk!
I just picked up my newest one this past weekend.
Attachment 8244

That's beautiful. How much did it set you back and how much to have it in good running order you think?

[Alpha_One]

You're going to be riding in style my friend. Keep us posted! I want to see the progress

With pleasure. Work has begin, a couple of days ago the cars have been towed away to the shop:




Speaking of Mopars, we're also looking at a 1964 Dodge 440. It's got a slant six and a column shift three-speed. It's been sitting in that same spot for 20 years or so, and is in remarkably good shape even after being out in the elements for so long in the tropical climate. My uncle (who's working on the maroon fintail) will also be working on this one as soon as we get its registration papers sorted out.

[Spadesheart]

With pleasure. Work has begin, a couple of days ago the cars have been towed away to the shop:




Speaking of Mopars, we're also looking at a 1964 Dodge 440. It's got a slant six and a column shift three-speed. It's been sitting in that same spot for 20 years or so, and is in remarkably good shape even after being out in the elements for so long in the tropical climate. My uncle (who's working on the maroon fintail) will also be working on this one as soon as we get its registration papers sorted out.

It's good to know that there are people who are knowledgeable about these things when I want to do it myself. Awesome

My goodness, those really are going to be gorgeous.

By the way, has anyone ever watched the youtube channel petrolicious? They do little mini-docs about people and their cool cars. It's worth watching.

Here's one about an old mercedes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62fwf03xtGs&t=4s