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comment by user-inactivated
user-inactivated  ·  2998 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Daydreamers of Hubski, the Powerball is up to $1.3 BILLION. What would you do if you won?

I've thought about it for a bit. If I won, I'd go car crazy. First things first though, after cashing in I'd go on a week long tequila bender. No supervision from the wife. No supervision from friends or relatives. If I'm not dead, in jail, or somehow lost all of the money already, it's mean to be. If on some other hand I did fuck things up, the tale would become a cautionary epic meant for the history books. Who knows? Guy Ritchie might make a film about be. Now, I know he'd probably embellish things a little bit, so for the record I do not associate with criminal elements. So please keep that in mind.

Next, I'd have to quit my job so I could go garage hunting for the perfect garage to keep my soon to be epic collection safe. We're talking controlled environment, surveillance system, security post, the works. I'd probably drop Jay Leno a line and see if he couldn't point me in a decent direction. I'd figure he'd know a place or two.

As for the actual car collecting itself, I have mental list. On the short list for the wife, as a reward for putting up with my ass of course, is the following . . .

1. 1st Gen Toyota Celica - She absolutely loves the shape of the car and while she's more of a Datsun/Nissan girl, I'm more of a Toyota guy so first gift to her is a car of my preference.

2. A Datsun S211 Roadster - There are only 20 in existence. Every lottery winner gets to get something outrageously stupid. This would be it. To be honest, I wouldn't even know how to find one, let alone find one someone would be willing to part with. Damn though, it'd be fun.

3. An unmolested, un-fucked up Nissan 240sx – There has to be at least one here in the States that hasn't turned into a wanna be drift missile. I will find it and it will be hers. Worse comes to worse, I'll find a semi-clean example and pay a shop to restore it for her.

4. A Kia Forte Hatchback – No fucking joke guys. I literally just turned to my wife and said “If I won the lottery, what's the first car you'd want me to buy you?” That was her answer. My wife, a car nut, wants a fucking Kia for a lottery car. She's adorable.

Now for my cars . . .

1. A four-eyed Fifth Gen El Camino – This is the car that got me into cars. It deserves to be first for that reason alone.

2. A 1995 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R – Let's not do this car a disservice by comparing it to modern day cars. Like the Buick GNX of the '80s, this car was the shit. It was pure aggression, mechanically personified. I am more than willing to admit that I am in no way remotely skilled enough to drive one of these things on a track, but as a fan of SN-95 Mustangs, it would be a dream to say I own one of these. In fact, I'd be more than happy to watch other, qualified drivers make this baby do its magic.

3. A whole smattering of classic muscle. In order of years and not preference, a 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass, a 1969 Dodge Charger, a 1970 Ford Torino, an AMC Javelin of any vintage (cause cause the Big 3 pony cars are too mainstream) and a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am in Bandit Trim. I don't care if the 77 Trans Am is slow, Smokey and the Bandit is the shit and I want that car. Since I'm now rich, I get to have it. Not to mention, if I'm at a car show and see something I want, it's gonna be mine cause I'm rich. So I am by no means limited to this list.

4. A Cadillac CTS-V Wagon – If my wife is gonna go practical. I'm gonna go practical and mean. A CTS-V fits this nicely.

Now, that said, we wouldn't limit ourselves to just those cars. Hell, everytime we go oggling cars at meet ups and shows we find ourselves filled with the “I wants” and the “gimme gimme.” But, you gotta start somewhere.

So I know what you're asking. rd95, you're rich now. What about the Lambos? What about the Ferarris? What about the McLarens and the Paganis, and the Bugattis, and the coach built SUVs with whale penis leather seats? Fuck those cars. You can't drive them in public to their fullest capabilities and I have zero motor sports aspirations, so I would never take one to the track. Truth be told? The CTS-V is probably more car than I can handle. I just want it because it's ridiculously awesome in its own way.

That said though. I am going to get my motor sport fix going real quick. You know those guys in those RVs that go from one NASCAR race to the next? I'm gonna do that, but 100% more awesome. Fuck NASCAR. I've seen a hundred races on TV and I don't need to see anymore. Know where you will find me though? 24 Hours of Lemons, Import Faceoff, Official NASA events (sorry francopoli, it's not that kind of NASA). Anywhere there are average joes getting their motor fix on, I'm going to be there, supporting them, encouraging them, and chatting them up. I get to see the country. I get to see awesome cars. I get to meet awesome people. It's a triple win. I'll be surrounded by some of the things I love the most in an environment I love the most. It'll be heaven.

When I'm not doing that, I dunno. I'll go to school or open a comic shop or something . . .





user-inactivated  ·  2997 days ago  ·  link  ·  

That's awesome. Cars is my first deposit too. But I've got some other options. El Camino is actually on my list too and would be likely the daily driver. But not that 80s one you have going. 1969 then gut it and replace everything with a modern system because if I'm a billionaire I'm not worrying about whether or not the car will start. Also, this car will drag its ass so low on the ground that it will mess up streets. I will donate money to the city to fix the streets.

CTS-V? No way. STS-V. I gots to stretch my legs man. But it's funny because I was asking myself what I would do with the money and this was my first thought: STS-V. But I drive a DTS now. Old man cars are the shit.

Then 1968 DeVille Convertible. Same treatment as the El Camino on adjustable bags and with chrome dripping off of every surface. In my head now she's metallic purple but I'm open to a toxic green airbrush job too. I don't know. We'll see what millions can do for a shop's interest.

But my overall theme with the money? I would just fund charities who help out poor people. Same shit I try to do now to less effect. I would buy art from local artists for much more than the asking price. I would start a company that asks for literary submissions and then pay people to write more. I would be a patron to as many people as possible and I would make sure that when people wanted to spit on me because of how much money I have, that their friend would stop them and say, "No. He's one of the good ones. Let's see if he'll give us some money."

user-inactivated  ·  2997 days ago  ·  link  ·  

If you ever want ideas for restomods, for the sake of fantasy and just to see what's out there, both The Hot Rod Network and Speedhunters feature some absolutely great restomods from time to time. They both have tons of content for custom cars of all types though and if you're like me and you like to go to car shows to see what people have done to their cars, they're a great way to scratch that itch in between shows.

kleinbl00 and I have both shot the shit a little bit in the past about electric drive train conversions for cars too. That's something I would never rule out, especially as battery technology and the infrastructure for electric vehichles continues to develop. With the right money and the right people, you could easily get yourself something that's pretty mean.

I agree with your sentiment about using your money to support local businesses and artists though. That's something that the wife and I do already and it's something I'm a huge advocate about. I think if we ever hit it big, we would continue the same behavior but find ways to contribute more. Hell, I like rinx idea about finance courses. I might get with her and develop something for people who want to start their own businesses or something.