If I had too much money...(dream DD)

...and I mean WAY TOO MUCH, I would like to build myself a nice dedicated DD that is a work of art. Something like a 30s car with half-futuristic styling.

I've been googling around trying to find something to demonstrate the kind of styling I'm after, a very close match to what I have in my head is the Delahaye Bugnotti:

I might go with open wheel pods like these though:

Now as for specs:

Chassis: Stainless tube frame, aluminum body. Shouldn't be too much of a pig.

Engine: Modern efficient V8 w/ plug-in hybrid (electric motor connected at trans output), chrome plated engine, nickel plated headers. To be honest I probably wouldn't really need the ICE on a DD, it's mostly for causing gearhead boners and making sweet noises. I said this car would be a work of art. I'd really like to slap a V12 or V16 on this thing for additional porn factor but that would be a really disgusting waste on a DD, I'm not that kind of rich guy in my fantasy

Gearbox: Modern 6spd, 6th being an overdrive gear, super-easy clutch.

Suspension: Double-wishbone w/ pushrods in progressive-rate setup, variable damping, plus an airbag system that pushes the coilover closer to the bellcrank for when some extra ride height is needed. One-finger power steering.

Brakes: Regen braking for the hybrid system and, uh, some vented discs.

Interior: 50s-style steering wheel & dash with a touchscreen PC interface in the center console. I'll build that part myself. It will be the best in-car entertainment & navigation system ever, easy peasy. I'd line the soft top with whatever exotic insulation I could get my hands on to keep the AC in. Comfy seats with cooling & heating vents built in. Rumble seats because they are cool as all hell. Lightweight sound deadening because I'm still no fan of weight.

Think I should try to grassroots-build it from the neighbor's old appliances?

Go ahead and post your unlimited-budget dream DD ideas now, you know that's the real point of this thread

My stupid money DD would likely be a CTSV or maybe something from Mosler.

Then again, the pull of something about 20-30 years old would grab me too...a la low mileage 190e Cosworth, or perhaps a restored 510 or 70s Celica with a modern drivetrain. Of course, a restomod 70.5 Z28 would be waaaay up there too!

...or maybe a LS swapped FD
...or a Brunton Stalker
...perhaps a Maxton Rollerskate
...a DMC-12 would be nice
...Id love a F5 Type 65 Coupe
...R37 GTRs look good to me too

see where this is going?

Ive never been a fan of ZOMFGCRAAAZYSUPERCARS...Im not too interested in dancing horses or charging bulls, Ive never been attracted to Veyrons or TVRs...stupid money often makes for stupid cars IMHO...but I guess thats what makes cars fun...different strokes for different folks.

but to the OPs point, I really like the looks of the Morgan Aero...

Ford GT and a Harbinger 69 Stang

Volvo 1800ES

Warmed up B20 with MegaSquirt, backed by a T-9 5 spd (I like Reverse "up-left" on my Euro cars).

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Volvo 4 wheel disc brakes of that era, I might consider swapping to more modern components for easier maintenance. Wheels and tires would be Panasports with the rubber being nothing special.

The interior is where most of my effort would go. The separate heat and a/c units would be replaced by a single system, relocating the battery to the trunk area for additional room. The dash-mounted stereo would be relocated to a console. The dash would otherwise stay relatively original. I have a dream of re-purposing the existing over-drive control stalk a cruise-control switch similar to a BMW system.

Electric power steering via a remote (near the battery) pump unit.

This is a hard question.

Gut answer is "Saab Viggen," but... now i'm not real sure.

I reckon I might just pay Gameboy to build me one of those. With a retractable hardtop, though. And I'll split the difference with a V10.

I'd probably go the Leno route and collect/restore the whole set and every now and again... make something silly from scratch. I can't pin down one single car or bike that rings all my bells.

I am totally with you on the classic styling. If I wasn't building, but buying, I would be hard pressed not to at least look at this.

Building I would like one of these with a roof

Not an e-type though. I more traditional roof.

Powerplant: A sweet sounding six that makes plenty of power (Perhaps a TVR motor that is actually reliable). NA that Revs into the 8k range.

6 speed that shifts like butter.

Fully independent suspension ala the new mclaren. Computer controlled suspension with no need to stabilizer bars and the like. (this allows for the simplest looking suspension and the highest sexiness).

2 seats with a usable trunk (I don't play golf, but I do go to the grocery store.

The interior can be designed by Spyker.

DoNE!

I think that you guys are missing Gameboy's point....

Cosworth Escort, Focus, or any other E-Spec rally homoglation special.

Maybe a bunch of them.

Either that or something I can resell, and start my own business.

singleslammer wrote: I think that you guys are missing Gameboy's point....

I just thought 4cylndrfury and PHeller were masochists who enjoy being brutalized by serious performance cars

Or maybe their daily commute is a drive on a twisty, empty, smooth road, that could make sense.

If I had stupid money, I would have a Morgan Aeromax coupe and a Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.

Edit: changing my vote from Rolls to Aston MArtin DBS Volante Carbon Edition.

call me weird, but a daily commute in traffic necessitating relentless shifting and excessive clutchwork dont bother me...at all. Beat me up with stiff springs and solid mounts. I hope my droning exhaust causes my ears to bleed during a highway cruise. These things dont bother me...ridiculous body roll and portly mass from plush appointments do.

But I can see the desire for a comfy, yet sophisticated experience when youre motoring about...hence the Morgan bit...

In reply to 4cylndrfury:

How bad is the traffic in the Dayton/Cinni area though? Is there really much stop and go?

In reply to 93EXCivic:

The Morgan Aeromax may be the closest thing to what I am thinking in the world today. I don't like the cross eyes and would prefer a six over the 8 but those are my only real complaints. I would rock one of those DD, hard.

singleslammer wrote: In reply to 4cylndrfury: How bad is the traffic in the Dayton/Cinni area though? Is there really much stop and go?

YES

4cylndrfury wrote: call me weird, but a daily commute in traffic necessitating relentless shifting and excessive clutchwork dont bother me...at all. Beat me up with stiff springs and solid mounts. I hope my droning exhaust causes my ears to bleed during a highway cruise. These things dont bother me...ridiculous body roll and portly mass from plush appointments do.

I couldnt agree more and I'm no kid either

singleslammer wrote: In reply to 4cylndrfury: How bad is the traffic in the Dayton/Cinni area though? Is there really much stop and go?

I spend about 20 minutes every morning covering a quarter mile of space between 2 ramps on the interstate, because of E36 M3ty civic planning and retarded soccer moms on cell phones. I use 3 highways, all 3 have backups spots every morning. Between that and the city I work in being planned by football humping monkeys, traffic can get pretty rough. Cincinnati in general isnt too bad for about 19 hours a day, but rush hour has some pretty horrible stop and go stuff happening each morning and afternoon.

Stupid money year round DD would be a new 911 turbo(perhaps a RUF version).....it'd be more fun with snow tires in the winter anyways.

Kinda reminded me of seeing snows mounted on ford gt wheels.....

Buckets of cash? 60s Le Mans car, GT 40 Mk IV repop(about 200k all said and done) or a 917 if full out billionaire. Flashing lights behind you? Skinny pedal goes down, lights go away. Maybe a nice 930 for when the other car is in the shop.

Winter would have to be something new or I would feel bad about it, probably a CTS-V.

I would want a car that is brutal enough to wake me up in the morning and get me excited to leave work.

If my commute was so grueling that I needed anything less, I would want the worlds most expensive automobile, and I'd sell it immediately after.

Use money to fund home business, (Landscaping,Trail Building, Rally Car Testing Facility) and still have money left over to take nice long vacations.

The worlds best DD is still a daily driver, and its the daily drive that sucks, not having a normal car.

In reply to 4cylndrfury:

That sucks. I live in a "small town" of 100K and semi regularly deal with STL/KC which has a reasonable traffic patterns for as big as they are.

yamaha wrote: Stupid money year round DD would be a new 911 turbo(perhaps a RUF version).....it'd be more fun with snow tires in the winter anyways. Kinda reminded me of seeing snows mounted on ford gt wheels.....

Same here....when I saw the title I immediately thought 911 TT.

I'd also add a new k1300s.

If i found multiple suitcases filled with $100 bills, I would get this: 250 GT Lusso.

In reply to DukeOfUndersteer:

Is that for sale/trade in atlanta for $1 yet?