Porsche 911: The Instant Legend

Evolution is a constant theme in Stuttgart. The now-iconic 911 coupe was a radical successor to the tradition-breaking 356 when it was first introduced in 1963.

Surprisingly, it was initially rejected by hardcore 356 owners who refused to accept the new look. However, as quantities of 911s increased, a new Porsche cult was formed.

The rear-engined 911 design has been carefully refined and reengineered through the years under the guises of various type numbers—there are literally dozens of variants. However, the factory still keeps the 911 name for its flagship and principal production GT racer.

While Porsche has produced some equally well-engineered front- and mid-engined cars through the years, few are really accepted as “true Porsches” by the 911 cognoscenti. Some, like the mid-engined 914s and beautiful front-engined 944s, are real sleepers in the collectible category.

Ford Mustang: Presenting the Unexpected

America’s first pony car, introduced in New York in 1964, changed the American automotive world as we knew it. The car’s shape, chosen by Lee Iacocca because he said it was the only design that “looked like it was moving,” has evolved through the years. It hit sales highs and lows based more on our emotional responses to its changing outward appearance than its consistently conservative engineering.

Names like Shelby and McQueen seem to have more cachet than specific model years. In truth, the Mustang’s simple mechanical formula hasn’t changed all that much since its inception.

Availability is seldom an issue. That’s a real advantage, as it’s never a big deal to restore a desirable year to finished driver status. What’s really important is what happens when you turn the ignition key.

Datsun 240Z: Join a Minority Group

Photography credit: Brock Racing Enterprises

When Yutaka “Mr. K” Katayama, then-president of Datsun USA, ordered the creation of the Z-car in the mid-’60s for introduction to the world in 1969, few in America had much respect for Japanese cars. In this one magic move, however, he transformed dreams into reality for thousands of enthusiastic early adopters.

Most had never considered owning a vehicle made in the Orient, but the cool-looking 240Z proved that sophisticated engineering and handsome design were possible at minimal cost. Later, a legend was born when a BRE-prepared 240Z won two SCCA national championships in a row—beating the best from Porsche and Triumph.

Some owners still treasure their original investments, which are now climbing rapidly. Even today, a clean 240Z stops traffic with its timeless lines. Those unfamiliar with the car’s history tend to think it’s a contemporary design.

Fortunately, Katayama’s design team was wise enough to keep the same lines through 1974; they used improved internal engineering and larger engines to make the car even better. When the early Z’s basic lines were changed in ’75, the edge was lost and the car got heavier and less appealing.

Datsun 510: Drive a Datsun, Then Decide

Ask any ex-510 owner today what it was like to own this “rather plain” little sedan, and they’ll almost cry. They now realize their loss and wish they could get their cars back!

For less than its original purchase price of $4000, a 510 could be easily converted to a road rocket with a few choice parts. This elegantly engineered little shoebox was at the fore of the American tuner revolution.

The 510 was another brilliant “Mr. K” invention: a low-cost sedan that could serve any purpose. Basic econobox transportation was the car’s initial function when it was introduced in late 1968, but by 1971 Trans-Am racers and SCCA weekend warriors had discovered its hidden potential.

Anyone could take the 510 racing—and win. They just needed to borrow some production parts from the Z-car or Datsun’s proven 1600 and 2000 sports roadsters, then mount a set of wider American Racing mag wheels and some Goodyear tires. The famed BRE Datsun 510s won two 2.5 Trans-Am championships in 1971 and 1972, boasting an impressive record of victories over previously dominant BMWs and Alfas.

The 510 was produced in such quantities that few people ever thought a used one would be hard to find. Today, however, the supply is rapidly drying up as savvy collectors begin to understand the true value of these cars. Even so, costs are still reasonable compared to others on this list, and the dollar-to-fun ratio is hard to beat. Hurry!