This is a question that my 10 year old kid would ask, but then I thought about it.  What is that 1 car for you?  You don't get to put caveats on it, or specify a situation.  What is the one car that you love, for all it flaws and shortcomings?

I'll start the Ferrari F355.  Every time I see one, it reminds me it is my favorite.  What's not to love?  Great proportions, great lines.  Side scoops, pop up head lights.  Gated 6-speed.  Mid-engine V8.  And all the weirdness that a Ferrari should have... pedals are straight, you can't shift into second gear until the transmission is warmed up.  Perfection.

1963 split-window Corvette.

Lotus (or early Caterham) Super 7

Fiat X1/9. 1981 or later.

earliest favorite (at about 8 yr old):

By 12 yr old, till now, 64 Falcon 2 dr sedan delivery.

I can never really narrow it down to one.  The ones I like most are for sentimental reasons

VW Type 2, camper configuration, orange.  Dad has had one since as long as I can remember.

Three or four remind me of my mentor, Chuck. 

• Ferrarri 308 GTB, owned by his doctor "I fix the car, he fixes me, no one gets a bill, everyone is happy"
• Jag XK-120 "I need to rebuild the engine, then I'll drive it again.  Did I ever tell you about the time I got pulled over in it on Deal's Gap?" (he never did get it running)
• Any Rolls Royce from the 80s-mid 90s "Did you know the AC compressor in these is the same as what you'd find on most small block Chevys?"
• Most Jags from the 60s-90s

And of course, my Susie.

1984 911 sc/rs 

The list is very long.

If I had to narrow it down to one?

1934 Packard Twelve Coupe Roadster.

Porsche 914/6.

If I follow the lead that has been set and not go grassroots, I'd pick a 1955 Chrysler c300. Black.

Keeping it grassroots, Omni GLH/GLHs. Either Santa Fe Blue or Black. I've owned each. Loved them!

1970 Datsun 240Z

In this color too.

Appleseed said:

+1.  Although definitely a resto-mod. They really are quite awful to drive in stock configuration if you are even somewhat used to modern vehicles.

1971 Plymouth Road Runner. I don't know, something about the "fuselage" B-bodies always looked good to me.

The one that runs.

Edit- That is the truest statement I can make. Everything I have has a problem of some sort or is a perpetual project and doesn't run/drive. The newest vehicle is the 19 Fiesta ST, but has a huge knot in the one sidewalk that will require a new tire. The Avalanche still has damage from running over a semi tire blow out carcass. Suburban needs tires, shocks, trans retune, and an alignment. The 62 Galaxie needs to be un-Afro-engineered before I can truly say its car show drivable. 65 Ranch wagon needs a battery and much better suspension. The rest all are non running/driving projects.

The One? It isn't a car. 

1935 Auburn 851 Boattail Speedster

Lowered, lifted, love them all. 

Gotta say my current fav is 911 GT3 but also love the Ferrari 550 Maranello