Congratulations! You just hit the big one in an alternate universe, whatever the Powerball lottery is called in a dimension where everything’s the same except custard enjoys anti-gravity properties. Even after taxes, you’d have an obscene amount of money to play with, and the fabulously rich are certainly known for prominent indoor displays of machinery.
Truthfully, if I hit the lottery, I’d be more interested in buying a three-bed two-bath house in a convenient neighborhood, getting a reasonably nice winter car/tow rig I won’t have to worry about for a decade, parking a few million in the S&P 500, and living well below my means off the interest than doing the whole mansion thing. I mean, have you seen what good groundskeepers and cleaners cost these days?
However, if I had to do the whole mega-flex thing and park a car in my living room, it would have to be something brilliant to look at yet tiny and comically underpowered.
Something that’s better as a static object d’art than actual transportation. For that, I’m going with a Mitsuoka BUBU 502. Sure, it’s not exactly known as the most beautiful car of all time, but it’s striking, compact, and perfectly-sized for indoor display. Plus, if I tried to take it out on the roads of Toronto, I’d quickly get mowed down by someone in a RAV4, so keeping it as a living room plaything would be an act of mercy.
So, if you were suddenly flush with hundreds of millions of dollars from hitting the Powerball, what car or motorcycle would you keep inside your house? Oh, and don’t worry about having to upgrade to a place with zinc countertops and onyx statues to gain the space. That’s all part of the new money game.
(Photo credits: Maserati, TTTNIS — own work, CC0)
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
-
What Under-$3000 Beater Do You Have Your Sights Upon These Days And Why?
-
How Many Cars Would You Buy If Someone Gave You $135,220?
-
Do You Have A Song That Brings Back Memories Of Your Car?
Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage.
The 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer
Aston Martin DB12. I think it is one of the most beautiful cars I have ever seen.
I’d pull a Denny Hamlin and buy a Jeff Gordon Cup Car and put it in a display room.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/electronichousesite/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/30131219/2017612_Hamlin-17-1024×684.jpg
Britten V1000 and Mclaren F1. These can go in the living room because they would be used sparingly. The shop would have all the fun toys that would be used a lot more often.
Ducati MH900E
https://www.webbikeworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ducati_MH900E_01-83824-scaled-1.jpg
Ferrari 330 GTC. The first Ferrari I ever saw live (in 1967 at age 12 or so), and still the one I want. But I’d have to drive it too.
I’d have to be pretty rich to just park a car in my house for display.
And most cars I’d be tempted to drive (like say an E-Type, DB5, most Ferrari/Lambos, etc.), so this narrows it down to the most ridiculously expensive/beautiful cars ever built.
So whichever one I could actually find first:
Auburn 851 Boattail Speedster
Cord 812
Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic
Alfa Romeo 8C (the old one)
Ferrari GTO
Ford GT40 (one of the LeMans winners please, I can apparently afford it)
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Toyota 2000GT, because those aren’t so much about the driving experience as they are about presence. If nauseating wealth and being conspicuous is the key then there is but one answer for me.
Great choice! They’re gorgeous, too. I could stare at one of those in the living room. But it’d have to be along the lines of a show car; if it were 100% road worthy, I’d rather take it outside.
Blower Bentley
Alfa SZ
DeTomaso Pantera resto-mod. Absolutely nothing different on the outside. With the engine, cooling system, and 6 speed manual from the GT350.
Of course….It would need a transaxle instead of the 6 speed Tremec.
The 1987 Batmobile, noyce! Gotta get it in blue, and get the targa!
2 actually, a Aston Martin DB5 and an DB9
Valentino Rossi RC211V
https://classiccarweekly.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/1950-talbot-lago-t26-grand-sport.jpg?w=584
I would have a matching set of Hondas in S600 & 2000 variety. Both in either Championship White, or Silverstone Metallic.
The Brough Superior is parked in the parlor and taken out when the weather’s nice enough to open the glazed roll-up door. The Egli-Vincent is parked in the rec room and trades off with a nice electric as the daily rider.
69 Dodge Superbee!
(Would definitely make sure to drive it like it was meant to be)
F40
Probably a Formula 1 car and some gorgeous old bikes. They have the cars (I don’t think they raced) in the F1 shop for $250k.
None. Because cars are meant to be driven.
Not driving it is the worst thing you can do for a car. All kinds of bad things start happening to it, plus it becomes lonely and sad. Because it is no longer fulfilling its life’s purpose. So don’t not drive your cars.
I love this sentiment but disagree on the kinds of cars that were only built to survive a few races (or speed records, etc).
GRUMMAN LLV BABEEEYYY
As stated earlier, my dream LLV build is black with flame paint like an old-school hot rod, with whitewall tires on red steelies with chrome trim rings and dog dish hubcaps, lowered of course, and maybe with chrome sidepipes because why the frick not?
I can think of no better piece of automotive art to bling up my extravagant living room, and with that much interior space I could turn the inside into a sweet minibar or something.
Carrera GT, true sports car and noted pedo killer.
Just came down to add Carrera GT. (only without further comment)
But it would be a shame not to drive any car.
I’m still me. So, something with about a $500 purchase price and enough to cardboard to cover the floor if (when) it leaks.
I’m more interested in what’s in the 10,000 square foot shop so my living display would be an old 50cc Grand Prix motorcycle and an Oregon State Formula SAE, preferably the 2020-21 car my son worked on
Go Beavs!
Not too different. I’d likely add a Lamborghini Huracán to the fleet.
And finally get that commercial garage I’ve always wanted.
That’s about it.