2006 Tesla Roadster, Allen Street and Houston Street

I hate to say it, but the Lotus it's based off of is much cooler looking. In the flesh, this car looks cheap despite the astronomical price tag. I think this car will be a total flash in the pan, but I suppose some people in New York use them as their about-town cars.

1989 Volvo 240DL, South Fourth Street and Driggs Avenue

I know the Volvo bricks are becoming increasingly imperiled by the crusher, but this extremely fine example in Texasware orange is reassuring, because it shows that there are real enthusiasts out there. First car I ever drove.

1956 Facel Vega FV, Greenwich Connecticut

Spotted this Facel Vega through the window at Carriage House Motor Cars in Greenwich and couldn't resist. It's incredibly pretty; basically a French muscle car with that big Chrysler V-8 under the hood, and the very best of french postwar styling. Anyone who was cool in the 60s had one. Picasso, Catherine Hepburn, Sinatra, Maurice Trintignant - Stirling Moss preferred to drive this rather than fly between races, and Camus was killed in one. I had the pleasure of speaking with Alex who runs the shop the next day. He said this is one of four Facel Vegas they have in stock. According to him, it drives like a truck but is huge fun. In the boot it has a fuel tank with a racing filler cap (not to mention the matched luggage from the factory, and this particular example has the 5-speed manual. Very rare. All they want is a cool $145,000.

1955 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, Spring Street and Crosby Street

Speaks for itself, really.

1978 Reliant Robin, 9th Street and Prospect Park West

At a certain point someone decided that importing a fiberglass 3-wheeled car that can be driven in the UK with a motorcycle license was a good idea. Pretty much destined to be relegated to being a promo vehicle for a Brooklyn chippie, but nice to see one on the streets nonetheless.