Prologue
First of all, really nice tread
@AndyG. Nothing better than the kids/teen days nostalgia. Especially if it's for cars.
I was never really attracted to bikes but from an early age had a thing for cars, trucks, SUVs you name it. Especially convertibles, American and classic/utilitarian-looking, not luxurious. Without really having thought about it before getting the TJ, I later realized that it is a combo of all the 3 above characteristics.
97'-06' Jeep Wrangler
I'm 32 years old, and I still remember vividly the day in 1998 (I was 8 back then) that I went with my parents to the Chrysler/Jeep dealership to check out the XJ, which my dad finally bought. It was a black 2.5L manual limited that we had for 5 years. What my mother remembered and had mentioned throughout the years, was watching me climbing into the driver's seat of the TJ they had in the showroom, looking very happy.
It's strange as I was really attracted by the more utilitarian vehicles (like the TJ) and was in love with the yellow Land Rovers that participated in the Camel Trophy. For me the adventure feeling that Jeeps were emitting was way better than the "look at me" luxurious look BMWs/Mercs etc did, and still is.
It's obviously pretty generic what I'm stating so no offence to anyone and take it with a bit of salt. The majority of my friends drive BMWs and I have fun with them. Plus, easier to change lanes when nobody expects you to use a turn signal.
Anyway, I still remember my dad asking me and my sister if we liked the new family vehicle (XJ) he ordered and me responding something like "yeah but it's not a true jeep since you want it to have leather seats blah blah and whatever other creature comforts the limited edition XJ offered back then.
Side story, while shopping around we had also visited with my family the only chevy dealership that existed in Athens (and probably Greece) to check on the blazer/trailblazer (not sure which one was it at the time but the small/midsize SUV they were offering back then). First thing you saw waking in the entrance was of course the corvette. While I obviously looked at it, I climbed in the Tahoe/Suburban (again not sure, but the large SUV the had in the showroom). This, time the sales rep that was talking with my parents (and I remember this by myself) goes something like: "it's the first time I see a boy getting in here and spending more time watching an SUV rather than the Vette"
From your side, knowing the size of the Jeep/SUV market in the late 90s in the States contrary to now, you can imagine that these vehicles were a quite rare picture in the suburbs of '98 Athens, Greece.
All, this was to say that I was into the adventurous feeling that SUVs emitted with the topless TJ standing at the top. Thus, it was one of my two "dream cars" as a kid and a teenager.
64'-66' Ford Mustang Convertible
The other one for me was a '65-'66 Ford Mustang Convertible. Something between its iconic styling having commonly been used in various Hollywood movies and the fact that was a "people's car" were some of its characteristics that made me love it. Don't get me wrong as it's not like I don't like a classic Mercedes SL of the 60s as well, but while it may bring more class, the mustang brings a feeling freedom and carefree mindset.
I really like classic muscle/pony cars and there are many that I would really like to own (especially 1st Gen Camaro and '69-'70 Charger/Challenger, however it's the 1st Gen Mustang (prior to the the '67 facelift that I'm really in love with). For me it offers both the raw feeling of a pony car of its era while at the other time being a relaxed cruiser that you can drive down a coastal road with friends, significant other or just by yourself, listen to music (or just the engine) and be happy.
I have been (on a theoretical basis always as I never had the money so far to think about this seriously), been struggling to decide with myself if I would go for a '67-'68 fastback that was offered with the 427 big block engine. Well, as badass as it may be, I have been convinced that if performance is what I was after then a '65 Shelby Cobra replica would be the way to go. Thus, for me sticking with the probably greatly underpowered (by today's standards) 289 V8 would be more than enough to bring a smile to my face.
1st Gen (and Mustangs in general apart from the latest one with the 4-cyl eco boost) are almost non-existent over here. Have I been checking ads every some months on US eBay motors since I became 18yrs old? Guilty as charged. Have I read articles, saved pics and have been tempted to ask fro info on some? You guessed it.
This one is still a dream for the obvious reasons (lack of money and time) but is one of those that have been unfulfilled for many years and still don't go away. What can I say, maybe one day...
Epilogue
As any car guy, I like vehicles that are not just tools that will get you from point A to point B, but those that have a "soul" and bring you emotions. And emotions are tied to our memories. I don't want to be dragged to any cliché such as "TJ was the last true Jeep" or anything, but for me after so many years I still feel nice when ridding it and it still one of the few vehicles that draw my attention on the street and that's what counts.