Friday Fun Thread: Summer Wheels!

Today's Top Ten list is a celebration of summer! We did convertibles when I was in sunny FLA; this time, it's the cars that we only see in the summer time for a variety of reasons.

1. VW Thing. The VW model 181 Kurierwagen, more commonly known as the Thing, is a direct descendant of the WWII Kübelwagen, or "bucket car". With the removable top and folding windshield, it's the perfect Thing for taking to the beach.

2. Ford Model T. What could possibly be a cooler ride than the car that started it all? They were later released in a color other than black, but an original "Tin Lizzie" will be guaranteed to get you all kinds of looks at the local ice cream shop "Cruise Night"...

3. MGA. It's small. It's cute. It's the original small roadster. It screams "British motoring". Bonus cool points if you have one with right-hand drive. Interesting personal note: This is Mom G.'s dream car...

4. CampagnaT-Rex. Sure, it costs $50K, but where else are you going to find a vehicle capable of ~ 160 MPH top speed and a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds? Not to mention you're going to have the most unique ride on the strip - you'll fit in with both the biker crowd and the sports car crowd.

5. Dune buggy. Ah, the dune buggy. Generally built on a VW Bug platform, the open-top dune buggy was a seeming staple of the 1970s beach scene. The fiberglass tub and minimal safety gear won't impress Ralph Nader, but for beachside cruising it's a must-have.

6. Early '70s Chevrolet Blazer. With a completely removable hard top, the early '70s Blazer - the answer to the Ford Bronco - makes the list. The size and heft of the top generally means that it comes off on Memorial Day and goes back on for Labor Day, making it the ultimate summer ride.

7. Lotus Caterham 7. A little more exotic than the MGA, the Caterham 7 found a small niche among the autocrossers for it's low center of gravity and excellent power-to-weight ratio. It really stands out for a summer convertible - you're not likely to pull up to the hamburger stand and find three other Caterham 7s.

8. Vespa scooter. Yes, even a scooter makes the list. Whether it be a fully-restored 1960s Italian Vespa, a brand new retro Vespa, or even a Japanese wanna-be Vespa look-alike, the traditional scooter is a fun and economical summer transport. If you do chose this option, please take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course to learn to ride - just because it's a scooter doesn't mean you shouldn't learn how to ride on two wheels...

9. Trike. Really, any motorcycle is an excellent summer ride, but the wild mods possible with a three-wheeled configuration put this on the list. Trikes can be powered by VW four-bangers up to Chevy 350s (and beyond, yes), with rear-ends donated by VW Bugs, Pontiac Fieros, Model T pickups, and pretty much anything else you can imagine.

10. DIY convertibles. I hesitated to put this one on the list, as turning a coupe into a convertible poses significant safety risks. But this list is about fun, not practicality, right? I had a buddy in college who created a 1976 Dodge Dart convertible with a sawzall and a blue tarp (just in case). It was a fun car to cruise around in for the simple "What the hell was THAT?" factor. A decently done job will turn heads; a poorly done job will have those same heads shaking...

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So there's my list of "alternative" summer rides. These aren't just the best convertibles, although many are drop-tops; these aren't just motorcycles (although a "Top Ten Bikes" list would be pretty cool for a summer list). These are interesting vehicles that are most at home when it's warm and sunny out.

What else can you think of for this list?

That is all.