Take Pride In The Classics

The most beautiful cars for a perfect summer…
 
Summer is upon us, meaning it’s time to dust off the classics and go for a drive. But we don’t want just any car—it must be absolutely fabulous. We’ll start our drive in the ’60s and end in the ’90s, making a stop in each along the way. From an iconic Ford to a long Lincoln, an Italian Cadillac, and a curvaceous Corvette, any of these would make a sweet ride for that sweet date.
 
1964 1/2 Ford Mustang
A Ford executive once said Mustang was “like turning a librarian into a sexpot.” It was that way from the beginning when Ford introduced the Mustang at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. It was incredibly popular, selling more than 500,000 units in the first year and building a legacy that’s lasted over 50 years. One could get it as a formal coupe, fastback coupe, or convertible. Engines ranged from a 101-horsepower 2.5-litre V6 to a 164-horsepower 4.3-litre V8. It’s still the perfect car for weekend cruising, car shows, or just making out under the moonlight. Get it in red and really make a statement!
 
1978-79 Lincoln Mark V Bill Blass Edition
My husband, who drives a Subaru Outback, thinks this is the most fabulous car ever to roll out of Michigan. There is certainly a lot of her to love, with a hood about the length of an entire Smart ForTwo car. In fact, it’s the largest two-door coupe ever sold by Ford Motor Company. Painted blue and white with a white carriage roof, and riding on turbine-style wheels, the Bill Blass edition is majestically beyond. Under that long hood is a huge 7.5-litre V8 engine delivering 208 horsepower. She floats down the road like the Queen Mary, the perfect barge for summer cruising.
 
1987-1993 Cadillac Allante
Slap a Cadillac badge on a sexy Italian body and you’re cruising. Penned by Pininfarina (famous for styling Ferraris), the Mercedes Allante has a two-seat cabin, convertible roof and removable hardtop. By 1993, Allante had reached its zenith as the Indy 500 pace car with an advanced 295-horsepower 32-valve V8 engine and electronic suspension system to provide a comfortable, yet controlled, ride. Sales never seriously challenged Mercedes, and Cadillac lost money on every one, but it achieved its greater aim of imbuing the brand with tasteful, European style.
 
1996 Corvette Grand Sport
After 13 years, the C4-generation ’Vette sang its curtain call with a limited run of just 1,000 Grand Sports (810 coupes, 190 convertibles), all painted Admiral Blue with red interiors, black five-spoke wheels, white centre stripe, and red hash marks on left front fenders—a look meant to recall the original 1963 Grand Sport racers. The 5.7-litre LT4 V8 engine kicked out 330 horsepower, making it the second most powerful C4 after the outrageous ZR-1. The venerable C4’s reign over Chevrolet showrooms ended in high style, still garnering looks today. Store the targa top and make hay any day.
 
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CASEY WILLIAMS is a contributing writer for Gaywheels.com. He contributes to the New York-based LGBT magazine Metrosource and the Chicago Tribune. He and his husband live in Indianapolis, where Williams contributes videos and reviews to wfyi.org, the area’s PBS/NPR station.