The Originals

I like cars, old cars! And I've delved into some interesting types, styles and eras. Heck, I'm sure on a kick about early dry-lakes and street roadsters lately, as well as GM full sizes from the golden years of '60, '61 and '62. But these wonderful moves still take their place when my mind reverts to it's original beliefs about cars. The Originals. Original to me. Passed on by dad. And golly molly, very good lookin'!

I mean the GM A-bodies from the early part of the "kings of the road." You know, the "M" word: musclecars (which isn't exactly my favorite word). I hate to admit, but I am very opinionated here: these are the finest examples of what I consider the best automobiles ever made. This section of favorites starts in 1964 and ends in '65.

My picks are, again, very opinionated . Hopefully no one takes offense, but the cars shown on the beautiful 1965 May cover of Car Life magazine (above) are the all-timers, the great ones- with exception of the '65 Coronet. Mopar fans, I apologize. I don't hate the Coronet in the above pick, but it doesn't make The Originals. Not even close. Yes, I admit it is probably faster than all three of the others. But my list of ultimates only includes the other three "supercars"on that cool old magazine cover.

And there are others that don't quite make the list. No Mustangs, no Camaros, and not even the first Firebirds. And the venerable Road Runner doesn't get on the list. No 'Cudas, no Chargers, no chopped Mercs, no hot rods or their many imitations. People, I don't even allow the '54 Bel Air or fastback early GM's like '49 Pontiacs and Cadillacs.

Ferrari and Lamborghini are not contesters, and Bentley or Rolls don't quite measure up. (Yes, even old ones, and obviously the new ones!) I hate to say it, but Porsche doesn't even make the list (although I still secretly desire a pre-'68 911 or 912, maybe even a 356..). And sorry for this narrow-minded judgment I'm about to relate, but Porsche broke old and esteemed traditions when they released an SUV. Porsche SUV!? That's sacrilegious!

Guys and gals, don't hate me...but Corvettes aren't included. I do actually think the Blue Flame Six babies of Corvette's first yearlings are beautiful. I also completely adore a 1960 Ventura, the coolest '60 full size car ever made. I like the beauty and mystery of rare cars like the '62 bubble top 409 Bel Air. I also dig '67 Chevelles in total stock trim. But these above mentioned don't get the list either.

People, I know I am guilty of a simple-minded American old car mentality. And my trumped-up claims of car knowledge are not only biased, they're probably weak sauce! But the blame lays in the old car gene I received at birth. And it suits me just fine; heck, even naturally. I didn't simply learn to live with it, I ate it for dinner!

There's many automobiles I love, but even most of them don't make the list.

Nope, just these, The Originals:

1. 1965 Pontiac Lemans/GTO Either one, they're the same thing. Converts and hardtops.
   
2. 1965 Olds Cutlass/442. Again, same thing, but boy there's something about a real '65 442.
3. 1965 Skylark /Gran Sport Again, same thing! But there is something about the GS in particular...
4. 1964 Pontiac Lemans/GTO 'Nuff said.
5. 1964 Olds 442

Now, one of the reasons I became so sentimental about The Originals is because I had to work on my clunker 442. It is a project car that patiently awaits it's turn for restoration, but I run it every month or so to keep things oiled and seals from cracking. Suddenly it wouldn't start, so I busted it out on Saturday and massaged it back to life. And boy this clunker got me remembering... I walked in to put my tools away and saw the '27 T roadster, my buggy lakes-style car. It looked cool as ever, but for once I consciously remembered what The Original favorites are!

Below the picture of my orphan Olds shows some of the good, and not so good. But it's a cool clunker! It used to have a sunroof chopped into the top, but thankfully came with an entire roof cut from a Cutlass. I replaced the roof when I first got the car. Please don't ask why there are Dodge turn signals on this car. And no, it will not sport the 15" Chevy rally wheels when it is done. Lucerne Mist, correct steel wheels, Olds dog dishes and red line bias-ply's are what it will get. Just like Lansing made her in the first place.



Stop laughing, the above-pictured car really is one of the best...no really...! And if you think I'm a redneck, go see my little brother. He has two documented 4V- code '65 442's. One hardtop and one convertible. And if you're weird like me, you'll be excited to unearth such rare classics. These are The Originals. I've known it since I was a little peanut: it's an actual passed-on gene characteristic of the slightly more common "old car" gene. And I got my old car gene from Dad, of course.