6 cars that Hagerty readers hope to find under the Christmas tree
Dreaming about cars is what gets many of us through those times when things like budgets or weather conspire to keep us off the road. We can all swing the price of a dream, so we asked Hagerty Forums readers to tell us what car they dream of finding under the tree—or better yet, in their driveway—on Christmas morning. Sadly, we can’t make any of these dream cars into a reality, but the wide array of vehicles you chose is worth discussing.
1968–70 Dodge Charger
Iconic even before it became the bad guy in Bullitt, the ’68 Charger is long and mean. Add the R/T package and upgrade to a Hurst shifter on the four-speed transmission, which is far and away the most desirable transmission choice. Most commenters didn’t give an engine preference, but we all know there would be at least a small let down if you turned the key and heard a 318 small-block burble to life instead of the big Hemi roar.
1967 Chevrolet Corvette
Readers called out pretty specific combinations on this one. A big-block 427 paired with a contrasting hood stinger color was the popular choice. The ’67 Corvette is part of the class many consider to be the peak of automotive styling and production. This was the last of the years when cars were uninhibited by regulation, and the ’67 Corvette with a big-block sings a badass song from its dual exhaust.
1984–87 Ferrari 288 GTO
The only homologation car on the list, the 288 GTO is Ferrari’s 308 model with the awesome knob broken off from turning it up too high. Quintessentially ’80s, the 288 GTO packs big flairs, a 400-hp 2.8-liter V-8 pressure-fed by twin turbochargers, and underpinnings inspired by the absurdity of Group B rally racing. It is a car worth dreaming about, because with a production count of just 272 cars, the vast majority of those who desire one will never actually own one.
Shelby Cobra
The Shelby Cobra is a car nut’s fever dream, a lithe and sporty British car that has been force-fed 289-cubic-inches of American V-8. Even the early versions with lower horsepower ratings are downright fast, but the top-tier big-block 427 S/C cars command as much respect to drive as they do cash to purchase. Possibly the epitome of cool, but not the most practical, a Cobra fits the definition of a great gift. Beware of bears though.
1970 Hemi Cuda
The Hemi Cuda is an icon. It was the first muscle car to break into the seven-figure sales range, and it packs a massive 426-cubic-inch V-8 that was bred from the racing world, along with styling that captures all the best character of American cars from the late 1960s so well. The convertibles are the most valuable, but they’re known to crush dreams with their flexible-flyer antics. If banging gears is your goal, stick to the hardtop.
Any Porsche 911
The perennial king of air-cooled cars, the Porsche 911 doesn’t just have a cult following—it has a massive global fanbase. Debuting in 1965, the four-seat sports car has gained momentum with each passing year. The air-cooled flat-six engine produces a fraction of the power of the other cars on this list, but straight-line acceleration was not the priority with the 911. Instead, Porsche wanted to create a well balanced driving machine. It succeeded.
If you need to confirm that Santa knows your preference, be sure to leave a comment below. Of course, while you are commenting, also chime in on this week’s Question of the Week. We’re curious: What truck would you take over the river and through the woods to your family’s Christmas gathering?
