It's not a "knockoff". Only knockoff bit, is the fact a stupid previous owner thought, "Hey, that front end looks like a Cobra. Wouldn't everyone think I was cool if I had a Cobra? Oh, hey, some guy's selling Cobra badges! I own a Cobra!" Now, that's the man I want to punch in the face.

1957 MGA - heavily modified to race with a 5.0 litre V8, but is still road legal, "It was raced by a man named Jim Handelson as I have been told.", and it has Cobra badging on it, because why the heck not.

In Los Angeles, the 405 freeway has been under construction. They're hoping to dramatically widen the freeway, to make room for more lanes, but a major obstacle to this project is the Sepulveda pass.

Someone needs a hug. That episode was awesome. Not top 50 awesome, but definitely not dead last. Now, if you were talking about the 90's Top Gear episode mostly focusing on how not to accidentally put petrol in your diesel... I'd agree with you.

I'll say it has to be the 400GT Monza.

That'd be just as sacrilegious as a FWD Ferrari.

With two less doors. Instant $1000 savings.

You... Are living my dream. Albeit a much more realistic version of it. I have an insane dream that, by the time I'm turning to dust, there will be at least one of every classic Mini make to my name (Mk 1 Se7en/Mini-Minor, Cooper, Cooper S, Moke, Traveller/Countryman, Panel Van, Pickup, Clubman GT, Convertible,…

I agree with you that it's not a Cooper S engine. But, I just have to say, there are plenty of later Minis that came stock with A+ motors. My RSP Cooper has an A+ engine from the factory. So, while his car doesn't have its stock motor, and it may have come from a Metro, there's also a chance it came from a later…

As we were walking in the parking lot, a co-worker of mine said, with a straight face, "Woah, nice car! Is that a Mercedes?"

I know I'll be shot in the face, repeatedly, for this... And, in advance, I have to apologize to my friends and family... But I seriously think this is the only choice with current cars.

VW could be printing money by selling a roomy, funky hatchback/mini minivan like their 2001 Microbus concept. In 2011, VW showed off another retro concept, the Bulli. Both concepts were absolutely adored, and completely ignored for production.

I don't see what you mean about the Edsel notes of the Elf. The rear end has a very subdued version of a lot of 50's fins (similar to the fins on a 2nd gen Chevy Bel-Air), and the front end is a classic British grill. They obviously took notes from earlier Rileys. I think it was a clean evolution, similar to what…

I would say CP, but I guess it depends if you're really hankerin' for a project car.

Most of the Mini Sprints I know of are in the UK. Only a few hundred were made, so I'm sure it'll be pretty hard to find.

The one everyone forgets, the Mini Sprint. Shorter, de-seamed, more aerodynamic and damn good lookin':

Jeez. I knew there was a safety reason, along with the other reasons, that makes me not a fan of the new Bus Stop chicane.

. . .

The Miura.

I've owned my fair share of shit-boxes, but I still had a sincere love for cars.