5 Cruise-Worthy Cars We’d Take on a Road Trip Before Winter
If you follow this site, you won’t be surprised to learn that our staffers have their hands in many different automotive projects—some glamorous, some not, and certainly more than we have time to write about in a given week! We always keep each other up to date on Slack, and one of the most recent events we celebrated was the return of a rather magnificent Buick to the garage of our managing editor, Eddy Eckart. He recently inherited the car from a family member, has been working on it himself, and enlisted the help of a shop to help get it over the finish line. Stay tuned for a more detailed story on the Centurion, but here’s what makes the car special in his own words:
“I think the Centurion showed up at the right time—I’m not sure I’d have been ready for it earlier in my life. Until now, I liked the idea of personal luxury coupes and convertibles—for others. Maybe it’s the family ties, or that I’m more open to the fact that steering feel and a crisp chassis aren’t the be-all end-all. There’s no rush in this car, and that’s the joy—look out over that long hood, crank the tunes, and just be in the moment.”
It didn’t take long for the rest of us to start imagining the road trips we would take if we had something as magnificently comfortable as Eddy’s Buick, so we decided to make our musings the subject of this week’s staff list. Our discussion started with ’70s personal luxury and meandered into many different approaches to the general theme of luxurious motoring. Take a gander at our choices, and feel free to add your favorite personal luxury coupe (or convertible) in the comments below!
1970 Chevrolet Impala
There is something about the Impalas of the late 1960s and early 1970s that has always captured me and it’s forever been on the top of my list for a trip with three friends. Just start somewhere warm and go somewhere else warm and never put the top up. Cruise back roads, switch out drivers, and do our best to move at 55mph or slower whenever possible. If there was a car for the journey and not the destination, to me that’s a 1970 Impala convertible. — Kyle Smith
1955–59 Bentley Continental by Mulliner
I know the personal luxury car is often understood to be an American thing, but for this dream cruise, you’d find me luxuriating like a boss behind the wheel of a 1955–59 Bentley Continental with fastback coachwork by H.J. Mulliner. They are gorgeous cars from any angle, and equipped with a 4.9-liter six that purrs along at modern speeds, power windows, air conditioning, an adjustable suspension, gorgeous wood veneers, and some plush leather seating, they certainly make a strong case as the pinnacle of 1950s luxury. — Stefan Lombard
1993–98 Lincoln Mark VIII
As an owner of multiple personal luxury coupes (PLCs) and American land yachts in general, I hate to say it, but I need the models from the tail end of the era for a road trip.
Here’s my issue: older PLCs have lost their once-unassailable levels of comfort on modern roads at modern speeds. Time has passed them by. I could lament this handing of the torch all day, but the biggest concern for me is the need constant course correction at the speeds I drive in Texas (i.e. 70mph or more).
All that course correction is not relaxing, not to mention acceleration and braking isn’t terribly great in those conditions either. PLCs from the good old days weren’t designed for these parameters. But the second-to-last holdout of the genre nailed it: the 1993-98 Lincoln Mark VIII.
Everything that a PLC from their zenith could do is done better in a Mark VIII. Highway speeds are a snap with a long bullet nose and a 32-valve engine that accelerates with gusto and verve that can’t be touched by a big block with PLC-worthy gearing or an imported luxury coupe of the era (looking at you Lexus SC 400). Speed-sensitive steering means you set it and forget it, muscles can and will relax. Computer engineering of everything from the rear-wheel drive chassis to the braking system and the fully independent air suspension means its essentially impossible to get a better ride anywhere else. The Mark VIII has many of the technological benefits we appreciate in new vehicles but in a slick, not-CUV package that hugs the road like a true PLC.
An honorable mention must go to the V8 or Supercharged Thunderbird whence the Mark VIII came…but don’t take my word for it, as their marketing tagline said “Drive Everything Else First.” — Sajeev Mehta
1973 Plymouth Road Runner
I suspect I’m expected to pick one of the cars I’ve test-driven over the years, but I won’t. I’d like to have back my 1973 Plymouth Road Runner, 400-cubic-inch V-8 with a so-thirsty Thermoquad carb and a Hurst pistol-grip four-speed and DeeCee, the One Who Got Away, on the other side of the blue vinyl bench seat. Was it really as good a road-trip car as I remember, or am I influenced by the trip we took where she said she loved me? Don’t care, and that’s my answer. — Steven Cole Smith
Lexus SC 400
I’m a sucker for 1990s Japanese machinery, and although I haven’t ever given much thought to the idea of a personal luxury coupe, the Lexus SC 400 would be my pick, hands down.
I absolutely adore the 4.0-liter 1UZ-FE V-8 that the SC came with. That motor is an engineering masterpiece. I had one in a 1997 Lexus LS 400, and to this day, it’s the only car that I’ve ever owned that I would take back in a heartbeat, and possibly at an upcharge.
I’d get the benefit of that dead-reliable engine and the competence of a young, hungry Lexus brand that was laser-focused on nailing every little detail of a luxury car. It would be stylish, swift, and uneventful for years at a time. What’s more luxurious than peace of mind? — Nate Petroelje
1977–90 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
I’m going to follow the lead of Stefan and go the European route for my luxurious cruise-mobile. My criteria of luxury are simple: A richly powerful V-8 complemented by oodles of luscious-smelling leather and wood. Unlike Nate, I will set practicality and reliability aside and choose with my heart: The first V-8-powered Vantage built by Aston Martin (1977–1990). I’ve always thought these cars are incredibly handsome, and I’d love the chance to answer the question: Would I love them as much as I do now after doing a road trip in one? — Grace Houghton
I test drove a Lexus SC back in the day and really preferred my Mercedes 1999 CLK (208 series). I found the Lexus a bit too removed from the road.
The Mercedes is still a summer daily driver.
And a question for the crowd…the ’73 Road Runner is featured, why not the 71-72 which had more performance?
That generation of RRs has been overlooked despite their great “fuselage” body looks.
I’ve had two cars I’d like to get back for cruising. My 1966 442 ragtop I had when young was a blast to drive. Yeah, it had over 130K miles on it when I sold it, but it still ran well.
The other I bought after that, a 1974 1/2 Jensen Healey. I did a road trip from Gilroy, CA to Vancouver, BC up the Pacific Coast. Probably the most epic trip I’ve done in a car.
Driving across the continent diagonally in our 1976 Cadillac Sedan de Ville Brougham in 1990 was a real treat. We were not in a rush and we had a great time. The car was a Tucson original, low miles and just a bit faded, and aside from a transmission rebuild before we left and a fuel pump on the way home (the latter on the interstate in Colorado), the car ran perfectly at all speeds and altitudes, with the AC blasting and no problems running up steep mountainsides. At a steady 55-60 mph, we averaged 16 mpg, IIRC, which was pretty good for a 500 cubic inch engine (8.2 litres!). My 2015 Outback would do the same drive at 80 mph on half the gas, with even less drama, but it would just be transporting us, not *moving* us… I shall always remember that rose-coloured Cadillac fondly, and wish I had kept it.
1960 Oldsmobile Super 88 convertible which I used to love to drive.
Yes, I owned a1960 Buick which was 8 years old. A 2 door hardtop red and white. That car would cruise at 85 to 90 mph all day. I would go home every weekend which was 300 miles on a 4 lane highway in about 4and a half hours. There was less traffic and Cops those days. I loved that car👍😀
I couldn’t agree with you more on some of these older classics which are a dream to drive. I’ve owned my share, however a few years ago I decided to purchase a 2017 Mercedes S63 AMG. I never thought about purchasing a Mercedes before but now that I have owned this for a while I can state that this is one fantastic piece of roadworthy machinery. It rides and handles like a dream. If I put it in Sport or Sport+ mode it comes close to handling like my Porsche 911even though it weighs twice as much. They don’t make these any longer and a new one cost almost $200,000 but a good low mileage one can be purchased today in the $70,000 range which is still a lot of money but you can’t touch anything of this quality today for anything close to that price. In my humble and non expert opinion this will become a much sought after classic and rise in price
They did not build that many of them.
I’ve had two Mercedes – ’87 420 SEL and ’88 560 SEL – and both of them are the ultimate long distance cruisers. Have driven multiple 600 mile trips in all conditions with no fatigue at the end of the day. Sunroof open, cruise control on, radio off, just watching the scenery change. No interstates, just blue highways.
We have an ’86 560 SEL and an ’89 420 SEL both with sun roofs. I always look forward to driving them, even to the grocery store. We recently did a 600 mile back roads trip around Colorado on a fall color tour and as always, reliable, smooth, comfortable and good performance over the mountain passes. Classic good looks also a plus! People always comment: Now that’s a real Mercedes. And it is.
I couldn’t agree more re the Lexus SC400. I still have my purchased new ’93. It was, and still is, my dream car with 45k enjoyable miles. Likewise, the ’99 LS400 that I drove to 240k, traded in, called back the next day to buy back and it was already sold.
That Mulliner bodies Bentley is the one I’d want. Just a beautiful car with classic lines and a loving interior. The Aston Martin would be next. Since they’re not in my garage, I’ll have to settle for my 2015 Mustang GT with 6 speed manual. Makes for a very nice long distance cruiser and more than capable of having some fun on the fright kind of roads. When I was younger, it was my 76 Capri II V6 4 speed.
I would take the Lincoln Mark VII over the 1993–98 Lincoln Mark VIII but I do like them both. Lexus SC 400 is a great car, it sort of still exists in the LC 500 and the RC F today. But their time is shortly coming to an end.
I like VIIs more in many ways, but they just don’t cruise as effortlessly. It’s a tough call, but the 32-valve motor wins out for a road trip in my book.
Finally – the Mark VIII gets a shout-out! My dad bought a 94 new and only drove it for pleasure. I inherited it when he passed, and I have enjoyed it ever since! And it reminds me of him!
Okay, looks like I better do more Mark VIII shout outs.
Cadillac and continental of the 60,70 and early 80s nothing touched them for comfort and long range drive ability. Both had more space in the backseat than the largest pickup trucks of today. Just point them in the right direction turn on the cruise control and these land yachts got your there too soon.
I agree with the 70 Impala. While in the Air Force I had a 1968 Impala with the “fastback” roof, a 327 275 HP, Turbo Hydro 400, dual exhaust, upgraded custom vinyl interior and No power steering or brakes. It was great on the highway. Mileage wasnt bad if I kept my foot out of it and the ride was very comfortable. I wish I still had it!
i’ve had enjoyable road trips in my ’88 nissan maxima se and ’63 corvair monza convertible (keep in mind, i grew up with my parents owning vw’s during the 60s & 70s. ANYthing domestic or much newer was imo luxurious). both have a decent although not pillowy soft ride, and hum along smoothly on highways & interstates. found out on i-15 leaving los angeles, the cruise control on the max wouldn’t set higher than 85 mph. still, no wind noise, positive steering…nice. for its size, the vair has a fairly smooth ride that isn’t tiring, even on long trips. the flat-6 is somewhat noisy, but very smooth considering its age of technology.
now? i’d love to trade another car, my slk, for an el dorado convertible. 10 mpg won’t matter if it’s only a fair weather weekender
Just last night, wife and I jumped in the ’72 Pontiac Catalina hardtop coupe and took it for a ride through the gorgeous hilly countryside about 25 miles outside the city. The 400 V8 2bbl in this car is just unusually responsive for some reason, making it seem like a much lighter car than it really is. With the windows down, we can take in the chilly Fall air, and with the windows up, we cruise in almost utter silence (darn that squeaky rear shock), with no wind noise at all, and a smooth V8 ride to loaf along at our own pace.. With just 24k original miles, the thing is a total pleasure to take on the back county roads, or fly down the interstate at 80mph.
Way better engine with more power than the Chev 400 at the time. Nice car you have.. I have a Pontiac Grand Prix 400 with 69 thousand on the clock. I do not push her hard, she’s old like me.
I like to take my 1987 MB 560sl (top down) out on the Blue Ridge Parkway any time of year. Although a lot of Parkway closed due to the hurricane. Well, they have opened up some of it for leaf peepers near Grandfather Mountain.