8 Vintage Cars That Every Dad Dreams Of Owning

Although dads know that family cars are more practical, that doesn’t mean they don’t dream of owning and driving certain vintage cars.

While we love our diamonds and designer bags, dads love their vintage cars. The growing stack of car picture books on our coffee tables in the living room isn’t just for show. Dads collect those books to settle with just looking at the pictures of their dream vintage car since there’s no room in the garage. Some dads covet these cars because of their value and beauty. However, other dads collect them because of the sentimental value attached to the model. Here are some we’ve discovered that they love looking at or dream of owning:

1. 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

If dads are familiar with the old series Knight Rider then, you’ll notice that the 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am exactly looks like KITT, the car of the main character: Michael Knight. Its coke bottle-styled body was all the rage back then and Pontiac created that model to compete in the sports car category alongside the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro, both earning their popularity for being the television series’ heroes main ride.

Although the average selling price for this vintage car is currently around $27,000 USD, the price appears to climb when the car is styled exactly like Knight Rider‘s KITT.

2. 1963 Volkswagen Beetle

Despite the car having no aircon and the engine on the opposite side, the 1963 Volkswagen Beetle melts hearts because of its “cute” appearance. Small, unpretentious, and reportedly easy to handle, dads feel like this little car can be their “toy” car. Its rear-wheel drive also made it capable of pulling itself through the snow, making it even more reliable. Besides being a fun car to build and restore, some dads may want to pay tribute to the sentient Volkswagen Beetle: Herbie the Love Bug.

Some dads however may not feel comfortable driving this little car around especially when there are a lot of buses that can squish them into sandwiches. But for those who just want a little car to drive, the average selling price of this vintage cutie is around $21,900 USD.

3. Volkswagen Kombi

Before the Hyundai Starex, the Toyota Super Grandia, and many other family vans, the Volkswagen Kombi was a family favorite. Dads will probably remember riding one of these and they usually came in different colors, like apple green or aqua blue. Some dads are out scouring junked Kombi cars to hopefully restore the car and drive it around like how their dads or grandfathers used to. Although it may not look as glamorous as the other collector’s pieces, it’s still a nostalgic beauty with some restaurants even using this car to add a more vintage look to their restaurants or booths.

Currently selling at an average of $41,000 USD in the auctions, some people in the Philippines are selling it for around PHP500,000.00, depending on how well cared for it is.

4. Mercedes-Benz W113 (280 SL)

Nicknamed the “Pagoda” because of its unique concave-shaped hard roof, the Mercedes Benz W113 (or more commonly known as the 280 SL) was hailed as an “engineering marvel” during its time because of how its designer, Mr. Bela Barenyi, made sure that the driver would have no blind spots while driving. Although made with a light material like aluminum, it could still handle 1000 kg worth of weight with the hard shell top serving as additional protection should the car flip over. Performance-wise, this vintage car could stop as well as speed up. Boasting 170 horsepower, the Mercedes-Benz W113 had disc brakes on all four of its tires to make it even viable for casual driving. It also has another nickname: The Mr. Slim, due to its appearance in a cigarette commercial.

Because only around 48,000 were made, this vintage car currently sells at an average of $81,000 USD.

5. Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is a beetle that had quite a makeover. Its first model, the Type 14, became popular in the late 1950s, winning various auto shows. Although it looks like a sports car, the creator never intended it to be a sports car. It was meant to be something more practical compared to the round and tiny Beetle while adding a little more glam by making it into a convertible.

Karmann Ghias sells at an average of $18,000 USD.

6. 1971 Ford GT500 Mustang

Those who are familiar with Nicholas Cage’s movies will remember he once drove a car named Eleanor in the movie Gone in Sixty Seconds. The 1971 Ford GT500 Mustang (although dressed up to look like its 1973 version) grew more popular when the movie was remade in the 2000s. While the car did seem to have an attitude in the movie (as there were moments she refused to start), it’s still a car most dads would like to drive to relive the thrill of the movie. Or, if they’re just in love with how built and stocky it looks which ironically is what caused Ford’s sales to plummet because people wanted smaller and sleeker sports cars.

Despite the hiccups in sales, it’s currently up in auctions at an average of $54,019.

7. Lamborghini Miura P400

Despite the many factory issues the Lamborghini Miura P400 had, dads may want this iconic vintage car since it served as a basis for the other vintage pieces such as the Countach in 1974 and the Diablo in 1990. As the first mid-engine, 2-seater supercar, it became Lamborghini’s basis for their other supercars. And for the dads who really want to show off, a well-cared Lamborghini Miura will certainly turn some heads.

Many collectors appear not to mind the performance issues since the vintage car is still selling in the auctions at an average of $1.6M USD.

8. 1969 Mini Cooper (MK1)

Thanks to the 2003 remake of the 1969 Italian Job starring Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron, everyone soon wanted a Mini Cooper, thinking it could do the same stunts it was doing. However, those who are more familiar with the movie will point out that they were already using the higher models made in 1997. Despite its size, a Mini Cooper actually has a lot of legroom. The British actor who brought Mr. Bean to life, Rowan Atkinson, proves this by driving around in one comfortably despite being 5’11 ft.

Currently, this vintage car is selling in the auctions at an average of $28,279 USD.

These vintage cars remind dads of the simple, good ‘ol days.

The headache that most modern-day cars give dads is that they have a lot of electricals, making them vulnerable to floods which the Philippines always has. Their having computer boxes may have made handling easier but they’re also more expensive to fix since dads have to bring it to the casa to fix. Besides having a high resale value, these vintage cars are a reminder of the good ‘ol days when dads bonded with their dads over some elbow grease, understanding the different parts of a mechanical engine.

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