I have simple tastes: I want a Porsche 911 with a stick. Sure, there are cars that are more exotic but, from an engineering perspective, the 911 is a bit too different, a bit too German, a bit too talented for its own good. I’ve always felt the Turbo was the king of Professor Porsche’s 911s, though these days I bet the GT3 is the one that most monied enthusiasts desire. Maybe I’ll have to try both out to see if I’ll jump on that ship.
This week’s AutoHunter Picks include one of these Teutonic rockets, plus a traditional classic, a German sedan that is beginning to be seen as a classic, and a post-Malaise car that brought classic performance to the mainstream. Which one satisfies your mood today?
2014 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe
Ever notice how large Porsche 911s have gotten? I blame the wheelbase, which has grown to 96.5 inches—up from 92.5 from 10-20 years ago. Interestingly, length has remained constant, if not grown by a nominal three inches, depending on the model.
That tells me my eyes are playing tricks on me . . . but nothing compares to the trick this 2014 911 Turbo plays in acceleration.
1957 Buick Century Riviera
With some bemusement, I enjoy watching folks get confused by the “Riviera” name because, in another era, many manufacturers treated hardtops like a sub-model. Since 1949, any pre-1959 Buick model that had Riviera attached to its name was a pillarless hardtop.
However, what I really dig about this car (other than it’s the hot rod Buick model) are the twin pillars in the backlite—that’s style that we seem to have lost today.
1995 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Convertible
Perhaps we may be jaded and don’t pay attention as much as we used to, but this 1995 Trans Am convertible is one of 3,097 built, of which 598 had a six-speed manual, all of which came with the “GU6” 3.42 rear.
It’s also one of 368 Trans Am convertibles built in Dark Green metallic, and one of 624 built with a Light Beechwood top. Another stat: 594 had the Light Beige leather interior. No matter how you look at it, this Poncho is a rare modern muscle car.
1990 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL
My dad lusted after this car, but most likely it was a 420 SEL, which was the same car with a smaller engine. I remember several test drives, including him telling me to listen how solid they were as he shut the door. Alas, he couldn’t afford it, but can you blame a man for trying to dream?
Though I’m more of an SEC guy, they share the same bones, including that incredibly legible instrument panel that I completely adore.
