The Battle of the Varying Degrees of Unrealistic Cars I Desperately Wanted When I was Younger
1914 Ford Model T
VS
1999 Chevy Corvette Hardtop
Both of these cars had something magical about them: likely the fact that I would never actually own one and realized this at the time. But in this unattainable state they were beautiful and unique, always perfect in my head.
Never mind the fact that the “Tin Lizzie” was named one of the 50 Worst Cars of All Time by Time Magazine, or that the 1999 Corvette is vastly larger than it ever needed to be. I also can’t drive stick without stalling every fifteen feet, leaving my Corvette dreams shattered into tiny shards of “Well, you could buy an automatic…” and I can’t imagine a Model T being allowed on the highway for any extended period of time (read: at all).
But boy, would I enjoy sitting in my driveway and looking at them.
My Model T dreams came from trips to Holiday World, and puttering around their on-rails Model T tracks at about ten miles per hour. I hate convertibles, but the windowless Model T offered the same refreshing breeze without the hideousness of being topless. My brother actually had a brochure where you could order your own full-sized blast from the past, which reinforced my ridiculous dream. At about nine years old, I was sure this would be my future means of transportation.
Then, as my opportunity to actually drive drew closer, the 1999 Corvette was released. It was gorgeous. So sleek, even more rounded than its ‘98 predecessor (the older models’ pointy-ness were a huge turnoff). And it came in silver, the grandest color of all. The Model T was no longer the belle of the ball—it only took 80 years of car design to topple my previous favorite. Not that a 14 year-old dreaming of the newest and highest-end sports car was any more absurd than her wishing for what is essentially a historic golf cart.
And yet today, I could buy either one for about the same price, around $10,000. Not terrible. Not that it’s going to happen. I have a Camry at home that I love, and a Prius here that performs beautifully. My “dream” cars are now the Dodge Caliber (I can’t explain why, since it’s essentially a sporty station wagon), or a Mitsubishi Eclipse—which rode favored shotgun to the Corvette for a number of years. Not the newest one, mind you: those things are hideous. Third generation all the way.
I probably wouldn’t take a Corvette these days, as I would have nothing to do with it. A Model T I could putter around back roads on, and take to antique car shows across the country. It’s still an adventurous car, even without doing 0-60 in six seconds. Or doing 60 ever, period. But still.
Model T, for the win.
Tags: The Battle of
I don’t own an automobile, so my opinion means nothing.
That being said, my opinion is that Mitsubishi Eclipses are horrible death traps.
You forget that I drive like someone who wants to live to see middle age and beyond.
i.e., a non-native Californian.
I got my permit today!
While looking through the handy California driver’s handbook, I found this:
Don’t Use Your Horn:
• If a driver is going slowly, and
you want him or her to drive
faster. The driver may be ill, lost,
intoxicated, or having problems
with the vehicle.
• If slowing or stopping your car will
prevent an accident. It’s safer to use
the brakes than honk the horn.
• To show other drivers that they
made a mistake. Your honking
may cause them to make more
mistakes.
• Because you are angry or upset
So yea. I dunno what you’re witnessing.
Um, people doing what they’re not supposed to?
I’m sure that handy little book also said “Don’t speed,” “Don’t cut people off,” and “Don’t refuse to let people merge into your lane just because you’re a jackass.”
(Congrats on the permit!)
That’s a tough call, although I think I agree with the Model T edging out the Corvette.
Of course, I know nothing about cars (which is funny, given my proximity to Detroit) so my opinion on the matter is beyond worthless.
I think your “beyond worthless” opinion is still more valid than mine. Detroit will do that for you.
I imagine the Model T would have made the cross-country trip out here quite…interesting? Wait, I mean, infinite.
I had an elementary school teacher that owned a Model T. He wasn’t super old or anything; he just loved antique cars. He’d sometimes drive it to work.
Strangely that didn’t excite me as much as when I found out that one of my middle school PE coaches drove a DeLorean. Flux capacitor FTW.
Actually, a college friend of mine had to take care of his uncle’s DeLorean for a while and he instantly became the coolest kid in school. It was hilarious when he had to open the door and step out at paid parking lots.
Oh, gull wing doors… The only time they were cool was in M.A.S.K. But only because they made the car fly and shoot lasers.
I have to say, that I could not agree with you in 100%, but it’s just my IMHO, which indeed could be very wrong.
p.s. You have an awesome template for your blog. Where did you find it?