Ultimate Car List Top 5 – Pick #1

I was reading a post on PorschePurist.com a few weeks ago about Filling Your Dream Garage (read the post here) and it reminded me of a category I’ve been meaning to get going for a few months now called Ultimate Car List. My original plan was to identify cars as I wrote about them that would go on my ultimate list if I could have any Porsche I wanted.

I also had every intention of putting together a more succinct list of ultimate cars. The big hangup with putting together a defined list, though, is how you narrow it down to just 5, 10 or even 20 Porsches. There are way too many cars that I’d love to own at some point in my life (both Porsche and otherwise), so the list keeps getting put off because the task seems so daunting.

I’m going to try to conquer my fears and tackle an Ultimate Car List Top 5 over the next few weeks. I’ve been giving it a lot of thought and already have twice as many cars as I’m allowing myself after really sharpening my pencil and crossing off a number of “must have” cars. The cars will be listed in no particular order since that would probably put me over the top and drive me to abandon this thing altogether.

I’m only putting cars on the list that are actually available to own (assuming money is no object). Cars like No. 1 are not going on the list since there’s no humanly possible way to actually own that car short of buying Porsche (which again is not possible). In actuality, I could own all of these cars at some point in my life, which is part of the fun of putting together a list like this in my opinion.

Today’s vehicle is one that’s probably on just about every Porsche enthusiast’s list. It’s a 356 Speedster. I’d love a 1950’s example like the one pictured above. I’m guessing the one pictured is not 100% stock, but if I were buying, a stock example in gray would be my ultimate choice.

The Porsche 356 Speedster is on my Ultimate Car List for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, it’s Porsche’s first production vehicle. It set the stage for the modern day Porsches we’re driving today. It embodies the Porsche “spirit” and it’s roots. Every Porsche fan, whether of modern day cars, classics or somewhere in between, has to have at least a bit of a soft spot for the 356 since it was Porsche’s first.

Second, the Speedster represents one of the ultimate summer cars to me. Open air. Classic look. Kind of a throw back to simpler times. I imagine driving one would immediately transport you to another time and place. I love cars that seem to make whatever cares or worries you have melt away as soon as you slide behind the wheel. Although I’ve never driven a Speedster, I imagine that’s exactly what driving one would be like.

Ultimate Car List Top 5:

  1. 356 Speedster (1950s)

Comments

  1. I think number one here was easy (and a superb choice!) . Good thing you are doing this in installments. If you had 15 seconds on the clock, You could snap easily 🙂

  2. The 996 Turbo or 997 Turbo. Period.

  3. I think the 356 is a good choice and I would definitely want one of those for summer driving. A must for me would be the 930 Turbo of the slantnose variety.

  4. I think this is the only choice for #1. A great way to start off what will hopefully be a great list!

  5. This is my list, these are my goals.

    1. Carrera 993 4s, Maroon
    2. Carrera 997 GT2 White
    3. 356 spyder
    4. 356 coupe
    5. 1973 Carrera RS (White Body with Blue font)

    The whole list are my cravings.

  6. everyone loves the speedster;simple and fun.

  7. I had the opportunity to drive a carrera 4 cam speedster a couple of years ago and it definitly belongs on the list

  8. I agree with the gray 356. You’re right about it being a summery car! I have always wanted to go on a road trip in one of those.

  9. mitchell says

    i like the 959 just for looks. i’ll have to think more about specific models tho..

  10. hard to beat for a first choice.

  11. if you didn’t pick the 356 in your top 5 i think i’d pull my name out of the running for the 911

  12. my top 5 in random order :

    1992 Porsche 911 Turbo S
    1953 Porsche 356 Speedster
    1988 Porsche 959
    1953 Porsche 550 Spyder
    1989 Porsche 911 Speedster

  13. Tough to disagree with you here Ryan! Great choice for #1.

  14. 1. Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7
    2. Porsche 911 (993) Carrera Coupé
    3. Porsche 356 Carrera 2
    4. Porsche 356 Carrera Speedster
    5. Porsche 911 (964) Carrera RS

  15. choosing a top 5 list from a list of cars spanning over the past 60 years will be tough – can’t wait to see if you can keep the list at 5, or if it becomes a top 10 list

  16. This is harder than you think! If you don`t mind, I thought it would be fun to put My own top 5 1) 356 Speedster 2) 959 3) Carrera GT 4) RUF CTR 3 (although i think technically never based on a factory Porsche) 5) Boxster S (for everyday)

    Although you can see some ultimate Porsches in my list, Its maybe not the top 5 best ever, I made my list based on if i had only 5 choices of cars i could have if somehow that offer was made to me (Bill Gates are you reading this? lol). Ryan is right because its tougher than you think to make this short list if you love Porsche, I can think of 5 right now while i am typing that makes me wish this was a top ten list! …550 Spyders GT 2, 3 etc etc lol

  17. 356 spyder would make a good no.2

  18. What guys, no 944? Not on a single list. Crazy…

    🙂

  19. These lists show you how many different choices there are in the Porsche family. Those are some great lists.

  20. Agreed, Andrew – a 944 Turbo or a 968 Turbo (if you can find one) are lots of fun to drive. The advantage these cars have over the 911 version is their very neutral handling characteristics.

  21. @ Jeff w. Yes! true… and thats with such a short list too! You think about when your posting how many awesome cars pop into your head that you just couldnt post because you had to limit to 5!

  22. I’ll edit my list to say… as long as they aren’t red! 🙂

  23. brad i like your choices, nice to see the 959 on the list

  24. OK, I think we’re all ready for #2 now! 🙂

  25. I predict that #2 will be something with a turbo.

  26. @ James , Cant leave the 959 off an Utimate Porsche list ! Although i could be punished for leaving off a 550. How many tries do we get at this? 🙂

  27. Yes, has to be a turbo in there somewhere.

  28. Turbo.. sweet!

Trackbacks

  1. […] Time for the second pick in my Ultimate Car List Top 5. I know a few of you have been waiting with baited breath for the rest of the list. Maybe I'll pick up the pace a bit. Really, I'm agonizing over every one and have spent the last week trying to figure out my second car. If you missed the first post, you can check it out here: Ultimate Car List Top 5 – Pick #1 […]