12 cars you must drive before you kick the bucket
The Bucket List movie has led to many lists on the internet of different things you need to do before you die. Since we are automobile enthusiasts, we want to get in on the action. Here is a list of 12 cars you must drive before you “kick the bucket”. Actually it was originally 10 cars and I could go to 20, but you have to stop somewhere!
1: 1922 Stanley Steamer
In 1900, more half the cars on the road were powered by steam, and by 1902, Stanley was outselling every gasoline-fueled car in America. We could pick almost any steam powered car for this, but Stanley Steamer really does a nice job cleaning my carpets.
Steam power was a no-brainer around the turn of the century. You could use anything that would burn as fuel; the steam engine was purely mechanical and had few moving parts; and steam power provided instantaneous torque, eliminating the need for gears, and allowing a vehicle to climb hills in a snap. By 1900, there were about 100 firms building steam cars in the United States. Half of the 2000 cars on the road were powered by steam, and the most popular of the American steam cars was the Stanley Steamer.
Why you should drive it: Electric cars are all the rage nowadays but people still prefer their gas cars and always have. Back in the 1900’s steam was all the rage that electric cars are today and the first known steam car dates back to about 1672. People still preferred gas driven vehicles. Maybe someday people will look back at the Chevrolet Volt as the poster child of electric cars no one really wanted because petrol vehicles are just simpler and better. Imagine the videos of people having to plug the car in, then try to get somewhere within a few hundred miles only to plug it in again while you laugh at how silly it seems. Watch the video and consider the possibilities. Figure on 60,000 or more for a nice one.
2: Ford Model T
The Model T set 1908 as the historic year that the automobile became popular. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, the car that opened travel to the common middle-class American; some of this was because of Ford's innovations, including assembly line production instead of individual hand crafting. The large-scale, production-line manufacturing of affordable automobiles was debuted by Ransom Olds at his Oldsmobile factory in 1902 but this was greatly expanded by Henry Ford. By 1918, half of all cars in the US were Model Ts. However, it was a monolithic bloc; as Ford wrote in his autobiography, "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black".
Why you should drive it:
While not the first car, or the first true production car, it gets props for perfecting making an affordable car for the masses. If you talk to family members or look through old photos, you might find a Model T since half of all cars sold in America were Model T’s at the time. You can buy one of these on eBay usually about 5,000 and up. Not bad to drive a piece of history.
3: Grave Digger
I know, it’s not a car but let’s be honest, Grave Digger is as much a truck as a race car is a car. You can’t drive them legally on the streets because they are modified so much. Like most race cars they resemble a real vehicle, but are really custom built machines with bodies attached to look like a certain vehicle. There are several Grave Diggers being driven by different drivers to allow them to make appearances at more events, but their flagship driver is creator Dennis Anderson. Grave Digger is considered to be one of the most influential monster trucks of all time. Grave Digger was originally conceived in 1981 by Dennis Anderson as a mud bogger. This first truck was a red 1952 Ford pickup truck, which was later converted to a silver and blue 1951 Ford Panel Truck. The truck received its name when Anderson, amicably trash talking with his fellow racers, said the now famous line, "I'll take this old junk and dig you a grave with it"
Why you should drive it:
Really? Given the opportunity, who would say no? Sadly you will most likely never get the chance, but you could always build a clone. I'm stretching it by putting Grave Digger on the list, but I always thought driving a monster truck would be awesome.
4: 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
As www.1959eldorado.at says; No single automotive design better characterizes the industry’s late Fifites flamboyance than the 1959 Cadillac, which incorporated totally new styling. Large tailfins, twin bullet taillamps, two distinctive rooflines and roof pillar configurations, new jewel-like grille patterns and matching deck latch lid beauty panels personified these cars. They reflected the innocence, unsophisticated excitement and self-satisfaction of America during that era. They were Rock ’n’ Roll, outer Space and color TV – wrapped up in chrome and sheet metal with wide whitewall tires. And then those fins, the most popular ones in Automotive history. Love them or hate them, they became a styling icon unmatched ever since.
Why you should drive it:
One of the older cars with the big rear wings and heavy metal needed to be on the list. I also was looking to place Cadillac on here, so when my friend Chuck mentioned this car, I knew it was perfect. You could seat 6 comfortably and at least another 6 bodies in the trunk. They look like boats and drive about the same. Air bags? You didn’t need air bags. You’re wrapped in 4,000 pounds of American steel. If you can find one, count on 200,000 or so. A cheaper way to buy a winged style car would be an old Chevy Bel Air for example and they are easy to find, including project cars for as little as 2,500.
5: Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s,[3][4][5] and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout (that allowed 80% of the area of the car's floorpan to be used for passengers and luggage) influenced a generation of car-makers.[6] The vehicle is in some ways considered the British equivalent to its German contemporary, the Volkswagen Beetle, which enjoyed similar popularity in North America. In 1999 the Mini was voted the second most influential car of the 20th Century, behind the Ford Model T. The new MINI from BMW is much larger than the original Mini. It is around 58 centimetres (23 in) longer, 50 centimetres (20 in) wider, 7 centimetres (2.8 in) higher, and weighs around 1,050 kg (2,315 lb) rather than 650 kg (1,433 lb). It is now classified as compact car rather than city car.[77]
Why you should drive it:
Anyone can drive the new BMW Mini, just go to a dealership and drive one. It’s that easy. Plus the new Mini is not exactly the same; frankly it’s huge by comparison. They still remain a blast to drive, although BMW continues to bloat this icon by making a new 4 door model called the Countryman. Frankly the car has such a great history that you can search and read for hours about it. Since the car was started because of a fuel shortage, it is interesting to see the choices we have today following the recent expensive gas prices. I think the poster child for this might be the SmartFor2 and you certainly can’t seriously compare the two. And that’s the point. You can easily but a low mileage 60’s version of the Mini for under 10,000.
6: 1970 Dodge Daytona
One of the more interesting chapters in technological history was the 1969 Dodge Daytona. This vehicle had a drag coefficient (cd) of just 0.28, better than most cars made today. It would have produced even less drag, if it weren't for the tall spoiler. But, despite its 200 mph speed record (set by Buddy Baker on March 24, 1970, at 200.447 mph around Talladega), the car didn't sell well because people thought the aero look was ugly! The price, about $4,000, was high, but not insane. The Daytona wouldn't have been complete without at least one quirk, and it picked a good one. Driven too slowly, it could overheat. Read more about this car at AllPar here who wrote the text above and has great details on the history of this car.
Why you should drive it:
Choosing a classic muscle car is always difficult because of the many choices. I always loved the large wing and the Nascar history of these cars. The Charger has a long history of cool looking vehicles and I love them all. Because all car companies made multiple versions of the same car forced me to choose either the Dodge Daytona or its sibling, the Plymouth Superbird. There are obvious differences, but on appearance the Road Runner emblem on the Superbird wing is the most noticeable. I just prefer the Dodge look over the Plymouth. Then again, I used to have a mullet, so what do I know? These cars cost about 4,000 back in the day but you will need about 250,000 today. You might find one that needs restoration for about half that. If you’re lucky.
7: Lamborghini Countach
The Lamborghini Countach was a mid-engined sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini from 1974 to 1990. Its design both pioneered and popularized the wedge-shaped, sharply angled look popular in many high performance sports cars. The "cabin-forward" design concept, which pushes the passenger compartment forward in order to accommodate a larger engine, was also popularized by the Countach. In 2004, American car magazine Sports Car International named this car number three on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s, and it was listed as number ten on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s. Top Gear placed it at number 1 on their list of "100 Sexiest Supercars of All Time".
Why you should drive it:
There are a lot of Lamborghinis, so why the Lamborghini Countach? I guess because it’s my list and I am a product of the 80’s and this thing screams “I love the 80’s”. Just about anyone I know loved this crazy looking car and many had a poster of it. It’s tough to get in and out of, rides like a tank and really isn’t all that fun to actually drive. Visibility is awesome, but only if you’re looking out the windshield. Nowadays you have onboard computers, great handling, horsepower galore, USB, navigation and more. You can drive today’s sports cars to work if you wanted to. But the Lamborghini Countach is everything the 80’s was; expensive, impractical and brash. And I want one. You will need about 100,000 to pick one of these up.
8: Tie: VW Golf TDI and Audi A3 TDI
This is not so much about the car itself, but about the new “clean diesel” currently available that is a game changer. Wikipedia explains it best; Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is a term used to describe a standard for defining diesel fuel with substantially lowered sulfur contents. As of 2006, almost all of the petroleum-based diesel fuel available in Europe and North America is of a ULSD type. The move to lower sulfur content is expected to allow the application of newer emissions control technologies that should substantially lower emissions of particulate matter from diesel engines. This does not yet apply to railroad locomotives, marine, or off road uses. By December 1, 2010, all highway diesel fuel will be ULSD. Like most diesels, they tend to produce much more torque then horsepower but don’t discount the possibilities. Just watch the 7 second diesel dragster in the video below.
Why you should drive it:
I would like to drive a new clean diesel car. I had a friend who owned a Rabbit back in the day. It was an affordable and sort of fun daily beater. Now, the Rabbit is known as the Golf so I get to kill 2 birds with one stone. In the United States, diesel is slow to take off but the advantages are numerous. Diesel fuel is typically close to the same cost of regular gasoline but you get much better gas mileage. The engines seem to run forever. As mentioned, the new diesels are called “clean diesel” so they are not like the old diesels you used to see around emitting black smoke and frankly unless someone told you it was diesel, you would be hard pressed to notice otherwise. Both cars promise 30 MPG city and 42 MPH highway, depending on the model. People claim that you can average 40 MPG in these cars and much better on the highway.
9: Chevrolet Volt
Chevy Volt is designed to move more than 75 percent of America's daily commuters without a single drop of gas.4 That means for someone who drives less than 40 miles a day, Chevy Volt will use zero gasoline and produce zero emissions. Unlike traditional electric cars, Chevy Volt has a revolutionary propulsion system that takes you beyond the power of the battery. It will use a lithium-ion battery with a gasoline-powered, range-extending engine that drives a generator to provide electric power when you drive beyond the 40-mile battery range.
Why you should drive it:
Adding the Chevy Volt to the list is controversial at best. As kids we heard rumors of cars that ran on water or electricity, but the designers suddenly disappeared after a visit from someone at the oil or big 3 car companies and no one knows what happened to the plans for the car. We can argue politics on this for example the environmental effect of the batteries versus oil but that’s not the point. In my opinion anything electric I have ever seen just seems to have more negative than positive features. They are typically too small, too expensive to charge and seem to have short battery life just to name a few. In the case of the Volt however, you can drive it 40 miles a day without plugging it in, should seat 5 and actually looks pretty good. I think it looks like a Malibu mated with a Dodge Neon. Other downside is the 41,000 sticker price before any possible tax credits and that premium fuel is required when you do go past that 40 miles. Basically it is an electric car that looks and has the same features of a gas car. The question that comes to mind for me is if the Volt becomes the next cool new thing or just a joke in 10 years? Either way, I want to drive one of the first so I can say I was there. If I write a new bucket list in 2012, will the Volt still be on it?
10: Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury high performance automobiles, which is majority-owned by the Piëch and Porsche families. Porsche SE is headquartered in Zuffenhausen, a city district of Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The company is also the majority shareholder in Volkswagen AG, the parent company of the Volkswagen Group, which includes (but is not limited to) the automotive marques Audi, Volkswagen, Bentley Motors, Bugatti Automobiles, Škoda, Lamborghini and SEAT. Porsche was awarded the 2006, 2009, and 2010 J.D. Power and Associates award for the highest-ranked nameplate in its Initial Quality Study (IQS) of automobile brands.[7]
Why you should drive it:
No list would be complete without a Porsche, I almost don’t care which Porsche it is, so pick any. This is a car company with a long history of performance vehicles that ooze class. They have also gotten away with making an SUV as well as a 4 door car. The SUV is even credited with making the company as profitable as it is. Most car manufacturers fail at trying to create a more mainstream version of their cars. Since Porsche has made so many cars for so long, you can always find a reasonable deal on a used Porsche.
11: 2010 Chevrolet ZR1
The Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 is a high performance version of the Chevrolet Corvette C6. Both the C3 from 1969–1971 and C4 Corvettes from 1990-1995 had ZR-1 models. However, the C6 variant is officially labeled as the "ZR1" while previous variants had a dash between the ZR and 1, as in "ZR-1". The ZR1 engine is a heavily modified version of the LS3, designated the LS9. Producing 638 hp (476 kW) and 604 ft·lbf (819 N·m) of torque, it is the most powerful production Corvette to date. Production vehicles are hand assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The ZR1 engines are built at the General Motor Performance Build Center in Wixom, Michigan.
Why you should drive it:
The new ZR1 is unlike any other previous models prior. It is billed as a “supercar”, a name rarely used in American cars. The technology is unlike any other Corvette ever made. You can fit your golf clubs in it, set the ride control to tour mode and go for a trip or take it to the track. You can get from 0-60 in 3.3 seconds, cover the quarter mile in 11.2 seconds and top out at 205 MPH. Roughly 2,000 vehicles a year are being made with a sticker price of 106,000+. The car is constantly being compared to exotic supercars that can cost 2, 3 and even 4 times the cost. Even people who do not care for the Corvette give props to the latest ZR1. Even Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear, who normally hates most American cars, loved the ZR1.
12: Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
This car is so fast that they had to limit the car to 253 MPH due to the fact that no tires exist that were "safe" at 268 MPH. You will need over a million dollars to purchase one, but worth the ride simply because it takes one of the baddest machines on the road and actually improves on it. You get an extra 199 HP with 4 large turbos, bigger intercoolers and some tuning. The suspension has been tweaked including new shock absorbers and more travel to allow the car to stay put at high speeds while pulling 1.4 g's.
The Super Sport is a consequent further development of the classic exclusive 1.001 bhp Bugatti Veyron 16.4, launched in 2005. This model offers a stunning set of specifications, such as the twin clutch gearbox with seven speeds, the extraordinarily precise driving performance in bends and excellent stability when braking and accelerating.
Why you should drive it:
Simply because it is what it is, the fastest car you can buy. With a CD player to boot! You might actually save this one for last because at 253+ MPH, your bucket list has the best chance of being finished here more than anything else on this list. You will need about 2 million to get this, but cashing in your insurance policy to get that 2 million might just be bad karma in this case.
Honorable Mentions:
As mentioned at the beginning, this list could be a mile long so we wanted to give props to a few other cars you might want to consider:
Delorean DeLorean DMC-12 - Stainless steel, gullwing doors and another 80's icon.
Enzo Ferrari - Everything Ferrari is cool, but the Enzo is bad ass
1: 1922 Stanley Steamer
Steam power was a no-brainer around the turn of the century. You could use anything that would burn as fuel; the steam engine was purely mechanical and had few moving parts; and steam power provided instantaneous torque, eliminating the need for gears, and allowing a vehicle to climb hills in a snap. By 1900, there were about 100 firms building steam cars in the United States. Half of the 2000 cars on the road were powered by steam, and the most popular of the American steam cars was the Stanley Steamer.
Why you should drive it: Electric cars are all the rage nowadays but people still prefer their gas cars and always have. Back in the 1900’s steam was all the rage that electric cars are today and the first known steam car dates back to about 1672. People still preferred gas driven vehicles. Maybe someday people will look back at the Chevrolet Volt as the poster child of electric cars no one really wanted because petrol vehicles are just simpler and better. Imagine the videos of people having to plug the car in, then try to get somewhere within a few hundred miles only to plug it in again while you laugh at how silly it seems. Watch the video and consider the possibilities. Figure on 60,000 or more for a nice one.
2: Ford Model T
Why you should drive it:
While not the first car, or the first true production car, it gets props for perfecting making an affordable car for the masses. If you talk to family members or look through old photos, you might find a Model T since half of all cars sold in America were Model T’s at the time. You can buy one of these on eBay usually about 5,000 and up. Not bad to drive a piece of history.
3: Grave Digger
Why you should drive it:
Really? Given the opportunity, who would say no? Sadly you will most likely never get the chance, but you could always build a clone. I'm stretching it by putting Grave Digger on the list, but I always thought driving a monster truck would be awesome.
4: 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
Why you should drive it:
One of the older cars with the big rear wings and heavy metal needed to be on the list. I also was looking to place Cadillac on here, so when my friend Chuck mentioned this car, I knew it was perfect. You could seat 6 comfortably and at least another 6 bodies in the trunk. They look like boats and drive about the same. Air bags? You didn’t need air bags. You’re wrapped in 4,000 pounds of American steel. If you can find one, count on 200,000 or so. A cheaper way to buy a winged style car would be an old Chevy Bel Air for example and they are easy to find, including project cars for as little as 2,500.
5: Mini
Why you should drive it:
Anyone can drive the new BMW Mini, just go to a dealership and drive one. It’s that easy. Plus the new Mini is not exactly the same; frankly it’s huge by comparison. They still remain a blast to drive, although BMW continues to bloat this icon by making a new 4 door model called the Countryman. Frankly the car has such a great history that you can search and read for hours about it. Since the car was started because of a fuel shortage, it is interesting to see the choices we have today following the recent expensive gas prices. I think the poster child for this might be the SmartFor2 and you certainly can’t seriously compare the two. And that’s the point. You can easily but a low mileage 60’s version of the Mini for under 10,000.
6: 1970 Dodge Daytona
Why you should drive it:
Choosing a classic muscle car is always difficult because of the many choices. I always loved the large wing and the Nascar history of these cars. The Charger has a long history of cool looking vehicles and I love them all. Because all car companies made multiple versions of the same car forced me to choose either the Dodge Daytona or its sibling, the Plymouth Superbird. There are obvious differences, but on appearance the Road Runner emblem on the Superbird wing is the most noticeable. I just prefer the Dodge look over the Plymouth. Then again, I used to have a mullet, so what do I know? These cars cost about 4,000 back in the day but you will need about 250,000 today. You might find one that needs restoration for about half that. If you’re lucky.
7: Lamborghini Countach
Why you should drive it:
There are a lot of Lamborghinis, so why the Lamborghini Countach? I guess because it’s my list and I am a product of the 80’s and this thing screams “I love the 80’s”. Just about anyone I know loved this crazy looking car and many had a poster of it. It’s tough to get in and out of, rides like a tank and really isn’t all that fun to actually drive. Visibility is awesome, but only if you’re looking out the windshield. Nowadays you have onboard computers, great handling, horsepower galore, USB, navigation and more. You can drive today’s sports cars to work if you wanted to. But the Lamborghini Countach is everything the 80’s was; expensive, impractical and brash. And I want one. You will need about 100,000 to pick one of these up.
8: Tie: VW Golf TDI and Audi A3 TDI
Why you should drive it:
I would like to drive a new clean diesel car. I had a friend who owned a Rabbit back in the day. It was an affordable and sort of fun daily beater. Now, the Rabbit is known as the Golf so I get to kill 2 birds with one stone. In the United States, diesel is slow to take off but the advantages are numerous. Diesel fuel is typically close to the same cost of regular gasoline but you get much better gas mileage. The engines seem to run forever. As mentioned, the new diesels are called “clean diesel” so they are not like the old diesels you used to see around emitting black smoke and frankly unless someone told you it was diesel, you would be hard pressed to notice otherwise. Both cars promise 30 MPG city and 42 MPH highway, depending on the model. People claim that you can average 40 MPG in these cars and much better on the highway.
9: Chevrolet Volt
Why you should drive it:
Adding the Chevy Volt to the list is controversial at best. As kids we heard rumors of cars that ran on water or electricity, but the designers suddenly disappeared after a visit from someone at the oil or big 3 car companies and no one knows what happened to the plans for the car. We can argue politics on this for example the environmental effect of the batteries versus oil but that’s not the point. In my opinion anything electric I have ever seen just seems to have more negative than positive features. They are typically too small, too expensive to charge and seem to have short battery life just to name a few. In the case of the Volt however, you can drive it 40 miles a day without plugging it in, should seat 5 and actually looks pretty good. I think it looks like a Malibu mated with a Dodge Neon. Other downside is the 41,000 sticker price before any possible tax credits and that premium fuel is required when you do go past that 40 miles. Basically it is an electric car that looks and has the same features of a gas car. The question that comes to mind for me is if the Volt becomes the next cool new thing or just a joke in 10 years? Either way, I want to drive one of the first so I can say I was there. If I write a new bucket list in 2012, will the Volt still be on it?
10: Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Why you should drive it:
No list would be complete without a Porsche, I almost don’t care which Porsche it is, so pick any. This is a car company with a long history of performance vehicles that ooze class. They have also gotten away with making an SUV as well as a 4 door car. The SUV is even credited with making the company as profitable as it is. Most car manufacturers fail at trying to create a more mainstream version of their cars. Since Porsche has made so many cars for so long, you can always find a reasonable deal on a used Porsche.
11: 2010 Chevrolet ZR1
Why you should drive it:
The new ZR1 is unlike any other previous models prior. It is billed as a “supercar”, a name rarely used in American cars. The technology is unlike any other Corvette ever made. You can fit your golf clubs in it, set the ride control to tour mode and go for a trip or take it to the track. You can get from 0-60 in 3.3 seconds, cover the quarter mile in 11.2 seconds and top out at 205 MPH. Roughly 2,000 vehicles a year are being made with a sticker price of 106,000+. The car is constantly being compared to exotic supercars that can cost 2, 3 and even 4 times the cost. Even people who do not care for the Corvette give props to the latest ZR1. Even Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear, who normally hates most American cars, loved the ZR1.
12: Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
The Super Sport is a consequent further development of the classic exclusive 1.001 bhp Bugatti Veyron 16.4, launched in 2005. This model offers a stunning set of specifications, such as the twin clutch gearbox with seven speeds, the extraordinarily precise driving performance in bends and excellent stability when braking and accelerating.
Why you should drive it:
Simply because it is what it is, the fastest car you can buy. With a CD player to boot! You might actually save this one for last because at 253+ MPH, your bucket list has the best chance of being finished here more than anything else on this list. You will need about 2 million to get this, but cashing in your insurance policy to get that 2 million might just be bad karma in this case.
Honorable Mentions:
As mentioned at the beginning, this list could be a mile long so we wanted to give props to a few other cars you might want to consider:
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