Nick Laird suggested a twist for the list which takes the form of a favorite cocktail, girl's name and a tune. I am game for that so here we go with:

Margarita (freshly squeezed limes of course, none of that disgusting cordial mixer), Lancia Flaminia GTE 2.8 3C by Touring and something great from the lost hope of American radio pop  Big Star. (Click on the red text links to visit other sites)

Oddly enough, the search for great car songs led me to places you really don't want to go although I have a few stacked carefully to one side for future listings. The first two Big Star albums would be great on a long drive anywhere. They were a Memphis band with a Byrds-like twang that complicated a British invasion rock sound with unique song structures. You might know them by In The Street, the theme to That 70s Show, sadly traduced by the ham-fisted Cheap Trick for the TV series. Big Star's original is better in every way with its invitation to "steal and car and bring it round", a line left out of the TV version. In The Back of a Car comes from their second album and captures the awkwardness of being in that situation and not knowing what to do, the antithesis of the usual themes of car songs.

The Lancia Flaminia GTE is one of Touring's finest moments when they were at their peak of creativity in the early 1960s. Drawn up by Carlo Anderloni, it combines the straight through wing line of the DB4 with a centrally placed cabin and long boot. The rear is particularly striking with a bold triangular wedge matching the angled headlights and Lancia grill. They were made in small numbers but have not yet hit the stratospheric prices of their Aston Martin and Maserati competitors. Here is one to buy in Italy for 45000 EUR.