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2. Mid-1960s VW split-window van

I know it’s gutless, and that it’s deadly in a crosswind. But a split-window VW van beats every other vehicle ever built in one narrow, yet vitally important performance category: conjuring up the Summer of Love. When I drive a split-window van, Jimi Hendrix still lives.

3. Morgan Aeromax

It looks like an old-fashioned English sports car that got beamed into the future. You don’t see yourself coming and going in this one, and unlike most Morgans, it’s actually fast and good handling. Period elegance meets modern technology, and the guy who runs the company is still named Morgan. I like that.

4. 1964 Ford Thunderbird coupe

I love 1960’s Detroit iron, and this T-Bird is like a time machine, taking you back to the glory days of long hoods, full-service gas stations, and the race to the moon. It’s not really a collectible classic, so you can probably get one on eBay.

5. Toyota Prius Touring Edition

It may not be a sports car, but I love the Prius. It’s quiet, it hardly uses any gas, and there’s lots of room inside. It’s my favourite car for long trips with my wife, because it feels like we can go forever. The Touring Edition has 17-inch wheels, which will allow me to lord it over drivers of the standard model.

6. 2011 Honda Odyssey van

Santa, I know you’re scratching your head over this one, but I really like minivans, because they let me load up my entire family plus a few friends. What could be better than a road trip with people you love? And the Odyssey has nice components – the V-Tec motor engine and fully independent suspension are sports car worthy. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like the leather interior instead of cloth – the Odyssey has a lot of cup holders, so there will definitely be some spills.

7. Van Diemen RF01

I love Formula cars, and the Van Diemen Formula 1600 is the perfect soapbox racer for a grown-up. It’s small, you can slide it around the racetrack, and it’s far more beautiful than a modern Formula One car (they end up weird because of the complex class rules). I could park the Van Diemen in my garage, set up a chair, and spend entire days just staring at it.

8. Lotus Exige 240S

It’s hard to get in and out of thanks to that narrow door slot, but once you’re inside, this car is outrageous fun. It’s fast, it’s loud, and it darts around corners like a meth-tweaking squirrel. The Exige looks crazy in every colour, but I’d like to go all the way, Santa, so please make mine in Burnt Orange.

9. Brock Coupe

This is a replica of Carroll Shelby’s famous Daytona Coupe, but it’s not a kit car. The Coupe was designed by Pete Brock, the same guy who did the original car back in the ’60s. Pete stretched the wheelbase a few millimetres to improve the replica’s aerodynamics and make it even more beautiful than the Shelby version. And beneath those beautiful curves are a racing suspension and a big-block V8 with tuned headers. Pete also makes a really cool aluminum car trailer called the Aerovault, so if you have room in the sleigh, might as well throw one of those in, too.

10. Aston Martin DBS

It looks like it was carved from a solid block of titanium, and that V-12 engine sings a nasty tune. This is the ultimate example of a particular automotive genre: The Gentleman’s Express. There’s a reason why they chose this car for James Bond.

11. Porsche 911 Sport Classic

I’ve loved the 911 for more than 40 years, and this is the perfect version for me. It doesn’t have a turbo, four-wheel-drive, or a cartoonish wing on the back. What it does have is ceramic brakes, more than 400 horsepower and fat, low-profile tires. And it comes in light battleship grey. No modifications required on this one, Santa.

12. Intermeccanica Speedster

Built in Vancouver, the Intermeccanica looks exactly like the original Porsche 356 Speedster I always wanted. Unlike the original, you can have it built with a six-cylinder Porsche 911 motor and transaxle instead of the wheezing four that makes an actual Speedster a little disappointing. Also unlike the original, the Intermeccanica version isn’t a priceless museum object that I’d be afraid to drive.