What Are The Cars On YOUR Bucket List?

At 52 years old, I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time contemplating my mortality. Not in a doom-and-gloom sort of way, but really more on the practical side. Among my ponderings, no surprise, are cars – specifically the cars I still want to own before I move on from this world, whether that happens in a day, week, year, decade, quarter century, or well beyond!

Mind you, I’m not talking about dream cars. Sure, I’d love to have a Gullwing Mercedes or a Ferrari GTC, but as something of a realist, I don’t expend a lot of energy wishing after those – if I win a lottery that can be a happy surprise. Instead, I’ve been cultivating a “bucket list”, if you will, of cars that I like and have a possibility of actually acquiring before I check out of this existential plane.

It’s not for lack of trying: at present, the tally since I started driving is somewhere in the region of 150 cars that have passed through the Hitchcock stable (yes, my wife is VERY tolerant, and doesn’t get attached to cars apart from her “YOU CAN’T SELL IT” station wagon). Nonetheless, there are still a lot of cars that I have yet to plonk down my greenbacks on and bring home. Like many, I have two key limitations hindering the process: available cash and space. While working to overcome these challenges, I continue to cultivate my bucket list of cars. Below are the ones that are top of mind today. Of course there’s more. There’s ALWAYS more.

In no particular order..

1. Volvo P1800

When you picture in your mind sleek, sporty, swept sports car designs from the 1960s, Volvo doesn’t naturally spring to mind. Sure, Volvos weren’t always the boxes they came in – if you think about the PV544 and 122S, their lines were much softer than the bricks that we have come to know and love. Still, show up anywhere in a Volvo P1800, and those not in the know will definitely not recognize this as coming from the conservative Swedish manufacturer of yore. Frankly, it would be easy to mistake the sleek sheetmetal for something out of Bertone or Pininfarina’s design houses. That said, under the hood the P1800’s Volvo-ness is far more obvious, with the venerable B18/B20 “redblock” inline-4 cylinder doing its best to motivate the car’s 2,500 pounds. In truth, with just shy of 100hp and 100 lb/ft of torque, the pretty Volvo is no rocketship – but it can get out of its own way just fine. 0-60 takes about 12.5 seconds, and the car tops out at about 108mph. Windows down and rowing through the gears, there’s plenty of fun to be had. Add to that the fact that these cars are proven to go like the Energizer bunny (what Car Geek worth their salt hasn’t heard about Irv Gordon and his 3 million mile P1800?), and that they are easy and relatively inexpensive to work on, and there are a lot of smile per mile to be had. My choice would be a stick shift/aircon car coupe, but the P1800ES “shooting brake” wagon is pretty darned cool as well. This green 1969 is currently on eBay with reserve not met. I wonder how high it will go..?

2. Mercedes-Benz S211 E55/E63 Wagon

In 2007 Mercedes-Benz let me play with the very wagon you see in the picture above, lamenting that the then-new S211 E63 was likely to be the last of Mercedes’ big-v8 über-wagons. Fast forward to the present, and they’re still making them, although every year the threat is that it will be the last. I am a fan of the 2003-2009 Mercedes-Benz 211-chassis, and my current “around town” car is a W211 E320 CDI – last of the common-rail direct injection inline-6 diesels. I like the fact that they’re still semi-analog, and are not replete with all kinds of technical nannies. As the picture suggests, you can even somewhat defeat the traction control and do dumb things on loose surfaces! Frankly, I prefer the rounded 211 exterior and interior to the subsequent 212-chassis’s hard angles. For what it’s worth, we have one of those, too, in regular, non-AMG wagon form. And that’s really been the key barrier to bidding on one of these AMG wagons that show up with some regularity (despite their limited numbers – one source lists a total of 322 US sales for both E55 and E63 wagons) on auction sites like Bring A Trailer or Cars & Bids: my wife won’t drive it. She loves her 2011 E350 wagon, particularly its heated, multicontour driver’s seat. She also has a lead foot, and experience with past AMGs I’ve brought home (as well as a couple of Boxsters, etc.) is that she will drive a fast car fast, and probably live to regret it. Not only does she like to drive fast, but she seems to attract the constabulary like nobody’s business. Admittedly, with 469-507hp on tap, I’d very likely do the same. So until I can convince myself and the committee that we need multiple wagons – his and hers, if you will – and can control my speed demon urges, this one will likely remain on the list. I can tell you that bombing down the 405 in the greater Los Angeles area in this thing and brutally flogging a Hemi-equipped Dodge Magnum is all kinds of fun. Just saying.

Honorable Mention: Volvo 850R Wagon – In the land of super wagons, the 850R – especially with the manual transmission – was top of its game. They dominated BTCC racing for a handful of years, had gobs of power, and were very much cars that you can wrench on.

3. Buick Riviera Convertible

Having grown up during the American Car “malaise” era from 1974 through about 1992, I have a special fondness for a handful of domestic cars from that period. Heck – one of the cars I drove in high school was a Pontiac 6000 station wagon! It doesn’t get a lot more malaise than that! Anyway, one of my West Texan aunts had not one, but two different 1979-1985 Buick Rivieras, and I was always struck by the eye-pleasing combination of 1980s boxy with the curved “hip” in the rear quarter over the back wheels. It had a high cowl, typical of the big GM cars of the day, but interestingly despite its size the Riviera was front-wheel drive – but with a longitudinally-mounted V8 engine. The bolt-on big chrome bumpers and the wire wheel hubcaps do not scream advanced design, but again, it was a car of its time. Plus, these cars had absolutely cryogenic air conditioners. I’ve always wanted to have a Riviera like my aunt’s, but in the convertible form just to use as a boulevard cruiser – to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of a nice spring or fall day with the low-stresses Oldsmobile 307 cubic inch V8 burbling along. You could do a lot worse in terms of relaxed, period luxury cruising. This lovely 1984 example is available here on eBay with a buy it now price of $23,995 – essentially the same as the car stickered for when new, but that was almost $73,000 in 2023 money.

Honorable Mention:  Pontiac Grandville Convertible – In terms of cruising around, the early-70s Grandville (and other GM cousins) is really all you need: 455ci engine, room for 6, floaty suspension, and the burble of a speedboat. While partial to the Riv for sentimental reasons, the Grandville would fit the bill nicely.

4. Bentley Turbo R

There is something awesome about a 5,400lb car that is bigger than it looks in pictures, delivers 385hp, can scoot from 0-60 in 6.4 seconds, and can top out at 145mph.  When it comes to cars with presence, these offer it in spades. I am partial to the later cars with the upgraded fuel injection with more power and the console shift. I had the honor of driving one of these when a car buddy of mine passed away, and I was tasked with chauffeuring his family in his 100K+ mile Turbo R. The steering and suspension are remarkably taut, and the car has no difficulty getting out of its own way despite its heft. I also once saw a guy who ran one at Goodwood that was almost stock save for a big wing bolted to the back, and he trounced a lot of the cars on the circuit. I’ve come close several times but hesitated to pull the trigger, probably due to their reputation for service needs and cost – but life is short, and I still want one. This super-clean end-of-the-line 1997 model is available here on eBay for $56,000 – but you can get a decent one for less than half that depending on how picky you are.

5. Pontiac LeMans Convertible

My parents bought a 1969 LeMans coupe in 1974 – it was metallic brown on white vinyl interior and with a white vinyl roof. It also had the prolific Chevy 350 small block, A/C, and a console shifter. I have many memories of riding around in the back seat of that car, or pretending to drive it in the garage. I even remember when my mother ran over a rock on West Rocks Road in Norwalk, Connecticut, after which the car made a “thunka-thunka” noise that never was abated – thanks to a big old dent in the oil pan. I loved that car’s big chrome beak, and as a kid always thought it had a kind “face”. I’m partial to the ’69 not only for nostalgic reasons, but they also had an interior upgraded from the ’68, and better taillights that were moved from low in the middle of the bumper to the body seam between the bumper and the trunklid. I’d also like to have the convertible as a bomb-around mostly muscle car with room for the whole family. Besides, you could actually rebuild/upgrade the entire car – or even convert it to a GTO – from a catalog if you were so motivated. This red one is available here on Craigslist for a reasonable $28,000, but lacks AC for those of us who appreciate our creature comforts.

Honorable Mention: 1967-1968 Pontiac Firebird Convertible – The 67-68 Firebird, with its chrome beak, is the smaller brother of the LeMans, and offers much of the same aesthetic and the same powertrain options in a slightly smaller package.

6. Fiat 124 Spider

My first car was an Alfa Romeo Spider. Like this car, it was Italian, for all intents and purposes was a two seater, designed by Pininfarina, and had a sweet dual overhead cam four cylinder engine. I got it from my Dad who bought it as a station car in southern Connecticut, but moved on to better cars in pretty short order. When I was young, Dad had a Fiat 850 Spider, and the Alfa was very much the adult version of the little Fiat. I always sort of thought of the Fiat 124 as the Alfa’s kissing cousin. The design brief was basically the same but the execution slightly different – for better and worse. While the Alfa DOHC had been around since the late-50s, the Fiat’s Lampredi-designed motor developed a reputation for being durable, reliable, and loving to rev. Lampredi, incidentally, was renowned for hos 1950s V12 Ferrari motors. I also always liked the unique angled rear haunches on either side of the trunklid – a unique design cue that was reused for the modern Miata-based Fiat 124 revival. Since I’ve done the Alfa thing a few times (watch this space, I may be doing it again), I figure the Fiat would be a nice but familiar change of pace. Owners are fanatical about them just like Alfisti, so I figure they’re worth a shot. This little red roadster is available in Jupiter, Florida for a paltry $6,000. That’s a lot of design and engineering heritage for pennies on the dollar.

Honorable Mention: Triumph TR-6 – I actually adore the TR-6, but the entry fee is high. Beyond that, I’ve always just loved a revvy DOHC four-cylinder in my little two-seat roadsters, but the TR-6 is a compelling prospect and with the four up-tipped exhaust outlets makes a fabulous rort.

7. Audi Ur-Quattro

Before Lancia had the Delta and Subaru had the WRX, was the Audi Ur-Quattro. If you don’t know, the “Ur” in German translates to “original” – as this wide-hipped coupe based on the FWD Audi Coupe GT was the Original Audi Quattro, followed by countless models adorned with the moniker since. The Ur-Quattro was the first car to take advantage of new rally rules in 1980 that allowed four-wheel drive, and as such it dominated – winning 23 World Rally Championship rallies between from 1981-1985. The fact that Audi sold the Ur-Quattro as a street car for regular folks to channel their inner Hannu Mikkola  just makes it that much cooler. I’ve wanted one of these since they were new – going so far as telling the Audi dealer in Hong Kong – where my family lived at the time – that my Dad was deadly serious about buying one and instructed me to get a brochure from them. Neither was true, and they probably knew it, but they humored 10 year-old me anyway. At the recent 4th Turtle Invitational, a good friend of TTS showed-up in his new-to-him Ur-Quattro 20-valve recently imported from Europe, and gave us a short ride. Honestly, not “yes”, but “hell yes!” It sounded good, smelled good, and was what I’d always kind of thought it should be. His is the same color as this one, but with a darker interior. Frankly, this example for sale at the Classic Car Gallery in Southington, Connecticut for $64,900 ticks all my boxes with the color, services done, and history. Even with the 10-valve 5-cylinder turbo motor the car is more than capable. I look at this car and I want to find a twisty road with some loose gravel on the surface and get sideways on it!

7. BMW E39 M5

We’ve had two E39s in the Hitchcock fleet over the years. The first was a 528iT 5-speed manual wagon that my wife gave up for our very brief foray into the practical world of minivans. I’ll never forget the excited salesman asking her if she loved her new Sienna, to which she replied “I’m replacing a stick shift 5-series with it. I don’t have to like it to drive it.” We lasted about 9 months with minivans before going back to station wagons. The second was a 540i 6-speed manual sedan, not hugely different from the M5 you see here. It was a lot of fun, but not a great car to commute in and out of Washington, D.C. in. It was about a 5/6ths M5 with the stick, sport seats, and sport suspension. It was also a lot of fun to push around the curvy backroads, because it stuck like glue and had ample power. Still, even when I had it I was just a little envious of the M5 with its more powerful V8 (394hp vs. 286hp for the 540), quad exhausts, upgraded interior, and supercar performance. Honestly, I don’t need to go any faster than the 540 – and don’t even really need to go that fast – but it’s intoxicating. Add the other tuning and details that made the M cars special in those days, and yeah, I’m totally that stupid. The best M5s get all the money, and this one listed here on eBay is no exception having failed to meet its reserve at $35,100. If you’re not afraid of miles and can find one that someone has lavished the love on, there are still bargains to be had out there. If it’s been loved that bargain M5 will be at least as much fun as the top-dollar one – arguably more fun, because you won’t be afraid to drive it. Hard.

Honorable Mention: Pontiac G8 GXP – After a lot of failed attempts to build “enthusiast” cars that largely missed the mark, and seemingly having put all of their eggs in the front wheel drive basket – at least for anything but the Corvette and base pickup trucks, General Motors pulled a fast one when they tapped Holden, their Australian brand, for a very capable rear wheel drive chassis. Pontiac first tapped into this recipe for the capable but bland GTO, then upped their game with the G8 – and notably the GXP which could be had with a 6-speed manual and a 415hp version of the LS3 V8. Everyone said it was as good as the E39 M5 – and it even looks a little like it. They were rare, and the brand is now defunct. Will they go as high as M5s? I wouldn’t bet against them.

8. Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR-1

Despite the fact that the C4 is a malaise-era GM car, I always thought they were very handsome and did a fabulous job of updating and taming the (to my eye) overdone swoops and swishes in the design of their predecessor. I still have the 1983 Car & Driver magazine from when the C4 was first introduced. I mean, how cool was that clamshell hood that exposed the fat bespoke Goodyear tires? The interior suffered a bit from a lack of imagination, but that was rectified when it was updated in 1990 around the same time the ZR-1 was introduced. Sure, earlier cars were a little anemic for what were supposed to be world beaters, and the 4+3 manual transmission was, well, unique. Then came the ZR-1 with its masterpiece of a Lotus-designed, Mercury Marine-built 375hp dual overhead cam 32 valve V8 paired with a conventional 6-speed manual – one of the first 6-speeds in a world where 5-speeds were the norm even for supercars. Sure, it was nearly double the price of a standard Corvette, but for good reason. Back in the 80s and 90s – at least where I lived – C4s had a sort of gold chains and capicola  reputation, but these days they are hugely undervalued. Sure, you could have a C5 that does everything better than a C4 for about the same money as a ZR-1, but it just wouldn’t be as special. Heck, even G. Gordon Liddy drove one. Unsurprisingly his license plate was “H20GATE”. Heh. This clean 30K mile example is available here on eBay for $35,000. Templeton “Faceman” Peck from the A-Team (Dirk Benedict) drove a regular C4 and exuded cool. So could I, but I want the good one.

Honorable Mention: Porsche 928S – You could easily outrun Guido the Killer Pimp in a ZR-1, but to do it right a 928 is really what you need. Many say that the automatic is the ticket on 928s, because it’s more of a GT than an outright sportscar. Thanks, but it came with a stick and I like to row my own gears. Prices hover around the same range as C4s for all but the last and best of the 928 line, but care and feeding will doubtless cost more. Worth it? Probably.

9. BMW E24 635CSi

Those of us of  certain age – Boomers and Gen Xers in particular – likely enjoyed the show Moonlighting on a weekly basis for a good chink of the late-1980s. I starred Cybill Shepherd and really gave Bruce Willis his show business break. Shepherd’s character, Maddie Hayes, drove a Bronzit BMW 635CSi. While this wasn’t my first exposure to the E24 6-series, it sort of sealed my interest in them. Contrary to the Euro-spec Mercedes 500SEC in my garage as I write this, the 6er was available with either a dogleg or a conventional 5-speed manual transmission – depending on which version of the car you got. Like my SEC, I like the Euro-versions of the 6-series as well, with their small chrome bumpers and higher-horsepower motors. The 1982 Euro car pictured here looks fabulous on the outside, but the seller indicates a few very manageable needs. You can see it here on eBay with a buy-it-now price of $16,900. My Mercedes is silver as well, and this would be a great yang to that car’s yin.  They are similar on the surface, perhaps redundant, but where the Mercedes was the ultimate Autobahn-stormer of its day, you’d likely want to have  the BMW if you opted for the backroads instead.

Honorable Mention: Jaguar XJ-S Cabriolet – The world wants us to turn our noses up at old Jags – defined here as anything older than about three years. Their reputation for unreliability and expensive upkeep seems to me down to cars that were not meticulously maintained and/or people who didn’t do much of their own work. I think the XJ-S is gorgeous – especially a Cabriolet in British Racing Green over Tan leather. Get a good one and keep it that way, and it’ll be a great car. Abuse it and it will abuse you right back – and you’ll deserve it.

10. Porsche 912

My ninth grade Science teacher had a gorgeous 1966 Porsche 912 that he had impeccably restored down to the last nut – and the car guys among us at my weird little Connecticut boys’ school teased him mercilessly about the fact that it wasn’t a real  Porsche – i.e. not a 911. He took it all in stride, and what I know now is that he understood – even way back then – what a lot of car folks are still learning for themselves: that in its own right the 912 is a terrific sports car, but one that was overshadowed by its big brother. Fast forward a few years, and Motorcars Incorporated, the Jaguar specialist located in Plainville, CT just a stone’s throw from where I went to college, had a stunning 912 in Irish Green. If I’d had any money or any prospects that day, I’d have taken that car home. For years 912 values floundered, but as long-nose early 911s have gone up in value by leaps and bounds, 912s have risen with the tide. What was a $15-$20K car 10 years ago is a $50K car now. What people have figured out is that instead of the 912 being just a “poor man’s” 911, it is a sprightly four-cylinder sports car more reminiscent of the 356 than the oft-compared Volkswagen Beetle. I’ve had an aircooled 911 – a 1988 G-body Targa – and it was brilliant, but for the driving I do around town and on the winding back roads, I never really used the full power on tap. Much like the Alfas and Miatas that I have favored as my sports car flavors of choice, a 912 can be driven at 10/10ths on those fabulous roads – where the driver can be fully engaged and row the gears up and down in order to extract the absolute most from the modestly -powered motor instead of having to hold back in order to avoid plowing into a wall at asinine speeds.  I love the sound of four cylinders working hard, and even more I love the challenge of keeping a car on the cam all while navigating tricky roads  – and not going to jail in the process. As they say, better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. The 912 is one of the best examples there is of this. This pristine example is available here on eBay with a buy it now price of $59,900. It’s a lot, but I’d wager in a few short years it’ll look like a steal. Surely my daughter could find another way to pay for her last two years of college, right??

So that’s my list – at least the one I can think of today – it is constantly evolving, which should come as no surprise. My challenge to you, dear reader, is:

Share the cars on your bucket list. If you have time, talk a little about why the car(s) you chose. I can always use some more inspiration!