I have had the idea for a long time to make a Pinterest or to keep some sort of personal list of what I would buy if I had unlimited money and space to keep all the cars I ever wanted. It was one of those things where I kept putting it off to the point where it felt like it was too late to start it.
However, the other night, while watching an old episode of Top Gear, the urge to make a list of a “dream garage” came over me. The episode featured the BMW 1M, a car I really wanted (and still want) when it first came out. Seeing that car again, combined with the release of the 2021 Ford Bronco solidified the need to finally start this list.
This, like several of my other list related posted, will be ever evolving as I continue to remember cars I’d love to own. Some of these are practical/realistic and some are literally “dream cars.” They will be listed in no particular order.
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2021 Ford Bronco – I had seen a thing a while ago that Ford had teased bringing back the Bronco but I never expected it to actually happen. When I came across the unveil video on YouTube I was shocked.
They nailed the design even more so than the new Defender. To be honest, though I may have previously put a 2016 Defender 110 on this list, it seems redundant with this on the list. Additionally, to my pleasant surprise, the starting price is super affordable. If I had a need for a car, I would very seriously consider buying one.
2020 Toyota Supra – Like the BR-Z, I was very excited when I heard that the Supra was coming back.
Toyota did an excellent job making the fifth gen look very similar to the fourth gen while modernizing the design. Though a little more expensive and less practical than I would need, it’s not so far out of the realm of reality.
2018 Ford Focus RS – I sort of question having this car on the list. It is again practical and realistic but, I sort of pined over it for a bit and then kind of forgot about it.
However, it’s not like I’m paying for it to be on here so what do I care.
2011 BMW 1M – As I mentioned in the intro, the 1M was a car that I badly wanted when it first came out. It was the perfect size for me, a little performance car with room for friends and good looks.
For a while I was excited about the M2 but this was really only because they were no longer making the 1M. Side note, you’ll notice that I am a sucker for the color the car was advertised in.
2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX – Ever since seeing the Evo VII featured in 2 Fast 2 Furious I was in love with the Lancer Evolution. To me, like the Focus RS, it was a practical car (AWD) with four doors as well as being performance oriented.
As a snowboarder, I’m always thinking about a car I can take to the mountain and this definitely qualifies. To be honest, I love the look of the V, VI and VII. The VIII looks bad because they put the Mitsubishi logo on a triangular piece of bodywork. As a contrarian, I also specifically like it because it’s not a Subaru WRX STi.
1994 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo II – Continuing with the Evo trend, I don’t remember what brought this rally legend to my attention but I’m glad it caught my eye.
The looks of a Mark 1 Golf GTI but with big rims, Recaro seats, all wheel drive and flared fenders, this hot hatch packs so much attitude into a small package.
1996 Ford Escort RS Cosworth – Continuing with the rally car trend, we move on to a Matchbox car I used to own.
Again you take something relatively pedestrian, add flared fenders, AWD, hood louvres and a massive rear spoiler and end up with a wicked little car.
1990 Acura NSX – I used to go on Bay State Motorsports website to scope out the pre-owned exotics they had on sale. I remember seeing an early 90s NSX on there for $30k and how I wish I had bought it since prices have continued to rise over the years.
I always loved the look of this Japanese sports car but when I learned of the Senna connection I fell in love with it even more.
1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32) – I remember my awakening to the R34 Nissan Skyline from Gran Turismo 3. I then saw it again in 2 Fast 2 Furious and fell in love.
However, as I learned more about the various Skyline generations, I began to shy away from the boy-racer’s obvious choice and steer more towards the older R32. I just think it’s sharper looking, a bit smaller and again, I like that it’s not the R34.
1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda – I’ll never forget riding with my family down to Cape Cod to visit my cousins, probably for a barbecue, and being passed by a Plum Crazy Barracuda convertible. It’s one of those moments that feels more like a dream than a memory.
Movie/TV Cars
1981 DeLorean DMC-12 – Ever since I saw Back to the Future I, like every other car nerd, fell in love with the Delorean. I know they are apparently underpowered and not “good” cars but I’d still have one. Every time I see one “in the wild” I still get excited.
Whats more, since there is a backlog of parts from all of the unbuilt cars, you can now get a “new” one built from the reclaimed DMC in Texas. There was a one-off a few years ago that was all electric which would be really cool. But you can’t be like McFly if you don’t have a stick shift. To clarify, I would not make it a Doc Brown time-machine but I’d keep it stock.
1985 Toyota Xtra Cab SR5 Pickup – Also from BttF is Marty’s dream car, the Toyota pickup truck he sees towards the beginning of the movie and eventually has by the end.
However, unlike the DeLorean, this I would have done up in full BttF spec. Additionally, I would want a second SR5, not lifted, that I would turn into the Pizza Planet “YO” truck.
1987 Toyota AE86 – Takumi Fujiwara’s Sprinter Trueno from the seminal anime Initial-D is ostensibly the true hero of the show.
Like so many anime/would be drift boys, I’d love to have my own version of this humble tofu delivery car. Plus, who doesn’t love pop-up headlights.
1993 Jeep Wrangler Sahara – It’s easy to spot a ’93 Wrangler from the rest of them since it was the only year the manufacturer strayed from the military-spec heritage round headlights.
Even more so is it easy to spot if it’s dressed up in the Jurassic Park livery.
1986 Aston Martin V8 – One of my favorite and yet probably one of the more underrated Bond films is The Living Daylights.
Not only is the movie underrated, but so too is the car. However, with updated “optional extras” and the looks of a Ford Mustang in a suit from Savile Row, how could you not love it?
1976 Lotus Esprit – Continuing with the Bond theme, we come to one of the more iconic cars from Q branch.
The submarine Esprit is legendary and it’s wedge design is timeless.
1964 Aston Martin DB5 – But perhaps the most iconic of all the Bond cars is the Silver Birch DB5 that first appeared in the 1964 classic Goldfinger. One could argue that this is the first true Bond car; the one to start the trend of gadgets from Q branch.
It is also, if I’m not mistaken, the only Bond car to appear in multiple James Bond movies. It is considered to be James’ personal car, and I can see why.
Dream Exotics
2014 Eagle Low Drag GT – A lot of time I’ll look at a car and think, “That’s a proper villain’s car.”
This modern day “Jaguar” certainly fits the bill.
2010 Lexus LFA – I was obsessed with the LFA when it first came out. It felt like Toyota took all of the styling cues from the best looking supercars and tied it up in a Japanese package.
As I alluded to with the Focus RS and BMW 1M, I was a sucker for the color combination from the marketing photos, a white exterior with a red interior.
1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR – I’ve owned many car models over the years in various die-cast scales, but one that brings the most nostalgia to me is the CLK GTR.
Built to conform to homologation rules, the CLK GTR was a road going version of a Le Mans racecar! It is, for my money, one of the most beautiful cars to have ever been built.
1995 Ferrari F50 – Successor to the more popular predecessor, the F40, I am in the minority of people who believe that the F50 is a better car. At least better looking that is.
I’ll be honest, 90% of what I consider when it comes to these dream cars is the aesthetic. Though the F40 might be the template of the analogue supercar; a stripped down, carbon fiber, road legal go-kart. The F50 is a) more beautiful and b) uses a de-tuned engine from an F1 car! Case closed.
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There are likely more than I’m forgetting and certainly I’ve got a small list of ones that I could add already (see below). However, at this point, if I don’t give myself a cutoff, I’ll never get this posted. I’m sure I’ll come back to add to it later. Plus, most of the ones on this little list are more that are just cool but I don’t know how much I would really want one.
2023 BMW M2, 2019 Harley Davidson Livewire, 2018 Honda Rebel, 2010 Bentley Brooklands, 1998 McLaren F1, 1997 Porsche 911 GT1, 1996 Porsche 911 (993) GT2, 1992 Jaguar XJ220, 1987 BMW M3 (E30), 1984 Ford RS200, 1983 Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Cosworth, 1978 BMW M1, 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302, 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL, RWB Porsche, Singer Porsche…
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