WINNER’S ANNOUNCEMENT:
Happy Monday! We’re back to announce the winner for our Question of the Week, where our victor will accept a $25 credit for a hat or T-shirt from the BaT Gear Store and the acclaim of their peers.
Your nominations certainly ran the gamut, and many of you even painted the perfect picture for your ideal spin. We absolutely loved it. Our favorite comment comes from BaT member @osprey, who went into the thick of it for the perfect leaf-peeping adventure:
Image: oldmotors.net
Having spent many hours cruising the trails and logging roads of New England, it would have to be in my 1946 Willys Jeep CJ2A for that special fall cruise. There is no top, and the windshield is folded for maximum exposure to the elements. The sides are already streaked with scratches from tree branches and brush. The right front fender has a crease from an encounter with a tree long ago.
I have a special trail in mind that has some stream crossings and beautiful scenery as it winds around a 150-year-old former blue stone quarry and over a rustic stone bridge just as old. As I make my way in low-range 4WD at about 10 to 15mph, I can smell the wet leaves and watch the birds flying across my path. The deer generally hear me coming, as the engine and running gear in 4WD low make quite a racket.
The trail ends as I cross a quick-flowing stream, plummet down the embankment, and chug up the other side into a broad field and a short ride to the barn.
Pure poetry. Congratulations, osprey! Be sure to check your email to claim the prize.
Of course, there were many other notable nominations in this week’s comment thread:
Image: Cameron Neveu via Hagerty
The Mazda Miata, specifically the NA Miata, was a popular pick this week.
“My 1967 Series IIA 88″ Land Rover with the windshield folded down on the bonnet.”
“I’ll be driving a 1961- 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible. Drop the top and everything is easy to see. Plus plenty of room for friends.”
“A 1968 MGB Roadster. Olde English White over black leather with white piping. Grey painted spokes wrapped in blackwall radials. Lots of ‘patina.’ Plenty of miles behind us. Plenty of smiles ahead of us.
And, it’s still not for sale.
;^)”
A variety of old British roadsters were another fan favorite.
“Hmmm… thinking outside the family hauler, a bicycle? Actually, if you want to bring your favorite spotter along, a tandom bike.”
A few spotters, maybe?
“Caterham 7 SV. I want something as close to being a motorcycle as possible while still having 4 wheels.”
Excellent choice!
“The first vehicle that came to mind was a 1931 Ford Model A Phaeton. It would be even more fun to join a Model A group and make the run together.”
“This. Because not only do I want to see the leaves, but get them off the road for the rest of yous.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2009-new-holland-boomer-8n/“
Much obliged.
“A late sixties-early seventies Ford F-250 Ranger Camper Special, riddled with rust and an engine that only works half the time, but somehow got its act together today. Going 45 down a back road through the Texas hill country with my girlfriend curled up next to me, the windows rolled down, and the cool autumn breeze blowing leaves onto the seat.”
BaT member @ant on seasonal FOMO:
Must be nice having seasons. It’s one hundred and two degrees in my Central Valley, CA, town today. So with the added complication that I’m required to drive nearly an hour into the mountains to really enjoy what autumn is supposed to be…
-has to be comfortable at highway speed
-also has to be capable on windy backroads
-big windows, super thin pillars
-must photograph well in simultaneously bright and dark colors of the trees (black disappears, so probably white, maybe a 1960s light silvery GM blue)
-dream car so it should be out of my budget
-along the lines of the previous requirement, and since the whole point is leaf peeping… it should definitely make me feel like I’m wealthy enough to have lots of leisure time in months most people are working—not vacationing
And since this tab is already open… I think I’d be in this 912.
“For the dream trip to see fall colors in all their glory, how about a dream machine that is truly one of a kind? The 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I recently up for auction on BAT is so unique and gorgeous, it would be the perfect ride. Load up a picnic basket and hit the road. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1927-rolls-royce-1927-rolls-royce-phantom-i/“
“As my old B is currently inoperative, and I love the luxury of heated seats , a top,
and roll-up windows (the B was stripped to be a track car although I doubt if it ever saw any action), I would choose my 1st gen TT roadster. It’s an hour to the White Mountains or the coast and about two to the Berkshires, so speed and comfort come into play. That said, the feel of the B on a secondary road is indescribably delightful, and it makes all the right noises. Even without heat, though, I always…”
Image: auditography via Instagram
Thanks again to everyone who participated! Congratulations once again to our winner, osprey. We’ll be back with a new Question of the Week soon!
ORIGINAL POST:
Welcome to the BaT Question of the Week! For those unfamiliar, here are the rules: we ask an automotive-themed question, and the author of our favorite answer from the comments is awarded a $25 credit to the BaT Gear Store.
Autumn is around the corner for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, which means crispier air and the inevitable turning of the leaves. While prime fall foliage is still a few weeks away, it’s never too early to think about what you’d take on your ideal fall-time drive. So this week, our seasonally-appropriate question is:
What’s your leaf-peeping ride of choice?
Perhaps a convertible is the right choice for the ultimate leaf-peeping machine, maybe something with a big block once the air has cooled off a bit? Or maybe a scruffy old truck you can fix on the side of the road, so you can take in the views with the hood up.
The pick is yours! Tell us your suggestions in the comments, and give a thumbs-up to any nominations that grab your attention. We’ll announce the winner on Monday.
“Another vote for an NA Miata. Classic Red ’91 with cloth seats for me. Top down and heater on is about as good as it gets in the fall.”
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Esprit918 commented on Question of the Week: What’s Your Leaf-Peeping Ride of Choice?—WINNER’S UPDATE