The Wheel Thing
Clothes may make the man. But the car he drives… well, that will tell you all about him. Likewise, the cars of a country can provide entertaining insight into the character of the local culture.
So, let’s say you’re planning a trip, you love cars, and you’re looking for a fun way to turbo charge the itinerary. Here are three tried and road-tested ideas:
Paris
Don’t let the name of France’s most iconic car fool you. The Citroen 2CV (2CV stands for “deux chevaux”, which loosely translates to “two horsepower”), in actual fact, packs a whopping 32 horsepower. Non, this is not the sort of vehicle that will give you whiplash, but it will blow your hair back. Just roll up (literally) the soft-top and let the fresh air and sunshine wash over you. With its tall profile and 1948-era suspension, cornering in a 2CV is more like sailing than driving, but that won’t matter as you spy the marvelous sights of the City of Light through the quirky flip-up windows. I’m afraid there’s no self-drive rental option, but 4 Roues Sous 1 Parapluie is the outfit to call for chauffeured full or half-day tours.
Florence
Pronounced in English, the number 500 isn’t so special—“five hundred”. But throw a little Italian topspin on that baby and it’s way more fun—“chin-kway-chent-oh!”. So it sort of makes sense that the Fiat 500 is a little ball of automotive happiness. Built between 1957 and 1975, this bite-sized car (a mere ten feet long) was a best seller and remains a beloved member of the Italian famigila. Drive a spanking new Ferrari through the streets of Florence and you’ll hear hearts break, but pilot a Cinquecento and the sea will part. Remarkably, it is indeed possible to drive your very own (for the day) impeccably restored Fiat 500. Practice your double declutching, buy some new sunglasses, and contact the 500 Touring Club.
California
Imagine a single vehicle that packs the power of twenty-five Fiat 500s. Yup, 25. Now imagine driving that monster up the Pacific Coast Highway as it hugs the stunning Big Sur coastline. The convertible top is down, the stereo is pumping out whatever it is that makes you feel 10-20 years younger, and you’ve temporarily forgotten how much gas a 6.2L V8 engine can consume. Ladies and gentlemen, please take the keys to your Corvette ZHZ (available at select Hertz locations). I’m not sure what rental company executive figured it was sane to rent 435 hp super cars to average folk, but I’d like to buy that person a non-alcoholic beverage. Whether you think Corvettes are cheesy or not, whether you think the planet needs more obscenely impractical cars or not, I defy you not to smile like a lunatic when you step on the gas pedal. There are no words. But check out Youtube for countless videos of turkeys just like me having the time of their lives.
Charlie Scott sometimes listens to scores of synchronized engine revving instead of music. No joke. So if you’re looking to add a little zoom to your vacation, he’s your man.
