Yours truly driving my 1970 Camaro (picture taken by a passenger, don’t worry).
Another round of Pop Up Design is here with something that’s been on my mind for a while now. I have been driving a 2004 Volvo XC90 for the last six years now and with it close to 180K miles, it’s been quite the trooper! I have put on at least 100K miles since I first got it back in my sophomore year and although it’s still running strong, it’s time to consider retiring it from daily driving duties. Don’t get me wrong, my “Tardis” has been extraordinarily reliable and versatile in its uses but it’s time to get away from the “Dad Car” look. With so many cars on the market now and my very high standards in automobiles, I often wish I could design my own car. This dream car would be built to my high standards of performance, looks, repairability, and sound…yes, sound. For this Open Mind, I will share three of the most important considerations for designing my dream car.
Sound: Often times what draws my attention to a car is something way before I even see it. True car enthusiasts can name a car just by the way it sounds! For me, nothing beats the sound of a well tuned V8. I would take the sound of 8 cylinders over turbocharged 4 cylinder engines or even some inline 6 cylinders. I find it awkward when sport cars and even some race cars sound like lawnmowers or air vents. I guess it stems from the love of my Camaro’s rumbling and floor-shaking 350 V8. With a well tuned exhaust, my dream car would turn heads in all directions as people try to guess where that heart racing sound is coming from.
Repairability: There are some cars out there that can’t be serviced easily. Even getting windshield wipers that fit correctly can be a costly task. If I can’t stop by an Autozone down the street and get the parts I need, that car is not for me. Parts for my dream car would not be custom, one-off pieces, rather a mixed array of the best parts from all automakers. That way I could easily and quickly get the parts I need; the day I need them.
E30. Photo Credit: carjunkies.com
Chevelle. Photo Credit: bangshift.com
Looks: I have a confession to make…I like boxy cars! To me, there’s nothing cooler than a ’65 Chevelle or a BMW e30. I know boxy styling may not be the most aerodynamic but I’m willing to overlook that. Also, I think Mazda had a great idea with doing a hidden 4-door design with the rx8 but I would look to improve on that even more. I would make the seams as invisible as possible while allowing for full access to the back seat. A 4-door sports car would give my dream daily driver more life as kids start coming into the picture.
Not many people will design their own car but it doesn’t hurt to dream. Maybe one day I will find the perfect 4-door V8 sports car that looks like a 2-door. In the meantime I will focus on getting a “dream job” to pay for my “dream car”!
Until next time!
