Dream Garage: With $100K in your pocket, what keys are on your ring?
Happy Collector Car Appreciation Day! While you’re not likely to get off work, your town won’t have a parade, and the Post Office will still be open, Collector Car Appreciation Day is an official holiday recognized by resolutions in both the House and the Senate. The purpose is to “raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society.”
We’re celebrating with a focus on that whole “collection” thing. Imagine you have $100,000 to spend on the cars of your dreams. Lucky you! Let’s also say you get a garage that will fit any and all rides you manage to snatch up. Lucky again!
So…what do you buy? Do you fill your dream garage with entry-level fun or a couple of nice, clean $50,000 classics? Do you pick convertibles, trucks, muscle cars, luxury sedans, or all of the above? Let your imagination run wild, but below we’ve compiled a list of popular classics (with values in Excellent, or #2, condition) to get you started.
If I’m going to set up a game like this I’m certainly playing along, so here are my picks and my justification for them. Unfortunately, my tastes and my budget are a little out of whack, and 100 grand isn’t going to put that Jaguar XKSS or Lancia Stratos in my fictional garage. I’ll aim a little lower.
To start off, I’ll take the Cadillac Eldorado convertible. I’ve always wanted a big land yacht for top-down Sunday cruising, but only kind of wanted one, and never had the space or extra funds for such a boat of a car anyway. If somebody is just going to give me both, well, one Eldo please.
Next I’ll have a vintage Chevy Blazer. Like the Caddy, vintage trucks are something I like but am not crazy about so never seriously considered owning one, but they’re cool and off-roading is fun. Since first-gen Broncos and FJ40s are stupid expensive, Blazer it is.
Down to the final two, it’s going to be all sports cars. First, I’m going to need a car to take to the track. My pick for that purpose is the C5 Corvette Z06, and I think it’s a pretty darn good one. It doesn’t leave me with much money leftover, but my last pick is easy. I really regret getting rid of my ’96 Miata last year, so why not have another one?
Your turn! How are you filling your dream garage? Get creative, and let us know your picks in the comments.
1) 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
#2 value: $14,700
2) 1993 Ford Mustang 5.0 GT Hatchback
#2 value: $15,000
3) 1969 Volkswagen Beetle
#2 value: $19,800
4) 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
#2 value: $27,200
5) 1995 BMW M3 Coupe
#2 value: $28,400
6) 1992 Nissan Skyline GT-R
#2 value: $48,200
7) 1971 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Veloce
#2 value: $21,600
8) 1971 Triumph Spitfire Mk IV
#2 value: $11,800
9) 1987 Buick Grand National
#2 value: $42,000
10) 1968 MGB Mk II Roadster
#2 value: $18,400
11) 1977 Chevrolet K10 Blazer Cheyenne
#2 value: $26,400
12) 1955 Ford Thunderbird
#2 value: $38,100
13) 1996 Dodge Viper RT/10
#2 value: $39,100
14) 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe
#2 value: $23,700
15) 1970 Chevrolet Camaro SS L48
#2 value: $32,300
16) 1979 Chevrolet Corvette L82
#2 value: $19,300
17) 2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Coupe
#2 value: $17,200
18) 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu L48 Sport Coupe
#2 value: $24,500
19) 1980 Jeep CJ-7 Golden Eagle
#2 value: $19,800
20) 1974 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
#2 value: $27,400
