Automotive superlatives

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Now that I own a very long and a very short car, it got me wondering how they stack up compared to the longest and shortest cars out there. Found this page which is fascinating:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_au ... perlatives

Turns out the Mini IS the shortest car I ever owned, but the S55 is still far shorter than the Suburban (but is longer than the Durango which I still have). If we exclude trucks, it wins easily.

143" = 2005 Mini
144" = 1985 CRX
148" = 1990 CRX
189" = E39 540i
200" = Durango
203" = 2003 S55 AMG
219" = Chevy Suburban

Which means that the S55 is exactly FIVE FEET longer than the Mini. That's just funny.

What superlatives exist in your automotive fleet or history?

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2015 7:45 am

Here mine.

140 = 1978 Civic
144 = 2013 Abarth current
213 = 1978 Plymouth Fury
219 = 2001 Suburban current
224 = 1996 Dodge Ram

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2015 8:02 am

This got me to thinking about the car my mom had when I got my license in 1974. It was a 1971 Oldsmobile 98 with the "Rocket" 455ci 4bbl, LSD, dual exhaust, etc. I used to take that thing on dirt roads in northern Georgia and drift (called it powersliding back then). For such a huge and heavy car, it was very controllable for a 16 year old, just stuck it in 1st gear which was good up to 45 or so and have at it.

Length: 226.1"
Wheelbase: 127.0" -- wheelbase just 16" shorter than the overall length of the Mini. :shock:

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2015 9:43 am

I got you all beat, I don't own it anymore, traded it for the Camaro.

2008 Dodge Ram Mega Cab Length = 248" Wheel base was 160.5".

Brett_Murphy · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:02 pm **Posts:** 355

The biggest superlative I ever had at once was in displacement.

1.3 liters at the low end and 5.0 litres on the top end.

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

My list of cars owned is pretty short:

1997 Subaru Legacy Outback: 2.5L, 165HP, 2905lb curb
1996 Mazda Miata: 1.8L, 133HP, 2300ish lb curb
1994 Mazda Miata: 1.8L, 128HP, 2290lb curb
2012 Mazda 2: 1.5L, 100HP, 2306lb curb

I guess I've gone down in displacement and HP over the years? MPG has gone up, though. Next car's going to be a 2.0L with 155HP and 2332lb curb, so that'll buck the trend.

e: all of my cars have had pedestrian economy motors in them

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2015 4:09 pm

I owned a gray market Smart, which was 5" shorter than the first federalized Smarts. Guessing that's the shortest road legal car ever in the U.S.

--Donnie

Jordan Normark · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2015 4:16 pm

1977 Pontiac Wagon (tow vehicle) 214"
Spec Miata 155"

The wagon was the best $700 car ever. With a 400cu V-8 and 4' between the rear fenders it towed great and at the time was comfortable to sleep in. As a bonus it had a working power rear window (important in summer when the AC does not work) and fake wood paneling on the side :thumbsup:

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2015 10:28 pm

Don't know if anyone cares, but the reason the pre-federalized Smarts are in demand here is so you can do this legally:

And as for how you get it there, there are two options...looooong ramps or you build a custom sideways rollback:

I no longer own this rig or Smart car, but the newer Smarts are just enough longer to be over 8.5' long and thus not technically legal to put sideways. A few folks do it anyway since it's still actually shorter than the mirrors on your truck would be wide, but it's still not technically legal.

That was a kinda fun project.

--Donnie

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Donnie Barnes wrote:

Don't know if anyone cares, but the reason the pre-federalized Smarts are in demand here is so you can do this legally:

--Donnie

I take it that "in demand" means there are 4 people crazy enough that want to do this, and but 2 or 3 cars available? :lol:

That's a cool picture.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Sat May 02, 2015 8:04 am

I think there were near 300 of those cars legally imported. Of those, it looks like 2 ride around on sideways rollbacks and about ten are ramp loaded. I was the only person under the age of 60 to do it, but now even mine is in the hands of an old dude.

Still, not many. There are a LOT of retirees who use a semi to pull their 5er around the country with a car or motorcycle on the truck and live full time in the rig. Well. A few thousand folks, anyway.

--Donnie

George Bright · **Posted:** Sun May 03, 2015 9:07 am

Donnie,
Is this why you do not have the smart car anymore?

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Sun May 03, 2015 8:35 pm

No, this:

--Donnie

George Bright · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2015 6:18 pm

You could upgrade to this

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2015 10:57 am

The big white bus (Excursion) - 226.7"

Most awesome tow/camper/wagon/suv/party rig ever!

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