1964 & '65 Isuzu Bellel Diesels

These two rare Isuzu are being offered for sale together. One is a complete running car and the other is more for parts but is also running.

The Bellel was Isuzu's first independent design and was produced from 1961-1966. Only 37,206 examples were made, and doubtless just a fraction have survived to today.

Styling is neat and compact, and it's especially great to see the pre-facelift '64 model with the quirky triangular taillights that were later erased. Even better is that it's the running one.

Isuzu offered the Bellel with either gasoline or diesel engines. Interestingly, these are both the diesel variants. While known for being unrefined, it makes them even more charming and purposeful, and not surprisingly they were popular as taxicabs.

The diesel engine was a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. All engines were mated to 4-speed manual transmissions with the shifter mounted on the steering column. The engine powered the rear two wheels.

Given how rare these are in the U.S., especially left-hand drive versions, we say restore both.

Available here on ebay in Oracle, Arizona with bidding at $1,125 and reserve not met.

Hibernating 1985 Subaru XT AWD Turbo

The XT is a hot up and coming classic. Low production numbers, two-doors, all-wheel drive, turbocharging and styling that can only be described as nothing less than avant garde. This particular example is in common shape of for an up and coming classic: dramatically stashed in the middle of the woods somewhere, just waiting for an new appreciate owner to rescue and rehabilitate it.

Subaru only produced these from 1985-1991, and the turbo models only until 1988, making them even more rare. These had just 112 horsepower, so they didn't win any drag races but they made up for it with the turbo boost and all-wheel traction. The AWD system was part-time and activated by a push-button on top of the shifter. Talk about choices. Feel unsafe? Did it just start raining? Are you anticipating a storm? Could that be black ice ahead? Just press the button and engine power is diverted to the rear wheels too.

These cars look great in light colors that show off the classic 1980s wedge shape. Note the hidden headlights and slim rear taillight strip that give it an undercover, stealthy look and feel. The greenhouse glass is plentiful and the pillars are slim to give occupants superior vision in and out, which was inspired by the feel of a fighter jet cockpit.

The seller of this example says it has low compression and needs turbo work. Cosmetically, it is clearly dilapidated, which faded paint, rust, dings and dents. This will need a full on restoration. Fortunately, the seller says it still runs and they have a clear title.

The grand price of admission into the new classic car club? A mere $400.

Available here on craigslist in Denver, Colorado.

Three Seater: 10k-Mile 1983 Matra Murena

Update 12/11/2012: This vehicle is up for sale again, but the price has been lowered to $10,200 from $12,900 seven months ago.

Matra was a French Automotive group that dissolved in 1994.The Murena was produced from 1980-1983. It replaced the '73-'80 Bagheera, also a two-door sports car, which Matra made with Simca.

The body was made from a combination of fiberglass and polyester. To combat rust, the spaceframe was galvanized. This kind of foresight from the manufacturer is very appreciated. One of the biggest problems facing older cars is rust. To find an older car that was made protected against rust is a big relief. 

 Inside, the interior is notable for having those three seats. The driver's seat is positioned far left, and then two individual seat units were placed next to it. The middle seat could be folded down to make a huge armrest. Leg and foot room looks generous. The seats look to be some sort of cozy cloth. The dashboard is typical sparsity and angles of the early '80s but it looks both exotic and inviting in brown and tan.

A rear-mounted 2.2-litre inline 4-cylinder powers the rear wears. This car also features the rare and desirable "S-kit", which raised bhp output to 142.

On top of being a very rare and desirable car, the seller states it only has 10,365 miles on it. The say it was from a museum in QC (Quebec?) which is probably the best explanation you can get accounting for the condition and low miles. The seller says it runs and drives however

The seller is asking $12,900.00. I found several for sale in France on ooyyo.com for about $4,000-$12,000, so this would be considered on the high end. Still, it seems like a fair price for a cool car, in exceptional condition, that is also rare. The only lingering question and major hurdle would be the cost of imporation. The seller mentions it's "USA legal" but who knows what that means. It still has to pass the border somehow and I have no idea what that entails, but it can't be easy.

But if you made it through, it would be one cool car to have here.

 Available here on ebay in Ontario, Canada.

9,821-Mile 1994 Mazda Protege

Did you miss out on the '94 Protege when new? Here's your second chance. This little puppy has just 9,821 original miles on the odometer. What on earth has the owner been doing with it all this time? One thing is for sure: not driving it.

There is a running joke here about ultra-low mileage second hand cars: they are always the blandest of cars. Why can't it be something rare and fantastic? But then, a low mileage Mustang Cobra or Porsche 356 wouldn't be much of a revelation, since they are already in museums and are always being built and restored. The beauty of finding a low mileage econobox is that literally there may be nothing else like it anywhere, as no one thinks twice about preserving them. So when examples like this pop up, take notice.

The Protege was otherwise known as the Familia in markets outside North America. It was Mazda's entry level car from 1963-2003. This is a sixth generation "BG" Protege, which were produced from 1989-1994. It basically treads Civic and Corolla territory quite well, nothing more or less, although the sheetmetal is extra tidy and slightly better looking. And although many Civic and Corolla were sold and remain on the roads, I can't remember the last time I've seen a BG Protege.

Look at the design. The frugality and economy on display is bold and fresh in an era like now when car design is bulbous, pompous, pretentious and over-the-top. This thing has Unpainted Plastic Bumpers. Sure, they are a little unrefined, but they deflect dirt, tar, rock chips and light impacts mighty well. And if they did hit something head on, you can bet they are easy and cheap to replace. How about that? When is the last time a car manufacturer was worried about ease and cost of cosmetic repairs? There is also no passenger side mirror. I kind of see the wisdom to that, given how it must improve aerodynamic flow on that side by what, a fraction? But it must be a pain parking and backing up, not to mention dangerous changing lanes. Small price. Then there are the simple, machine hole-poked steel wheels as opposed to the grossly oversized rims we get today. These little recessed wheels reduce weight and and are protected from curb rash by the tire rubber.

Inside, accommodations are just as sparse and simple, and the seller says it has the rare factory radio, clock and air conditioning delete option. Conveniences include just power steering and those interesting automatic seat-belts, which, on paper, seem like a great idea. I can't remember how many times I had to prod my parents to use their seat-belts when I was a child (ever the thoughtful child I was). This would have conceivably eradicated the need for me to do so.

Under the hood is a 1.8-liter 4-cyldiner engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission powering the front two wheels. Keeping under 50 miles per hour on a flat road you could easily see 30-40 miles per gallon in this.

The seller backs up their claims of the super low miles with a carfax report that shows just 1-owner and no accidents, which is really impressive. The condition in the photos also seems unreal. They say it starts, runs, drives, shifts and brakes like a 9k-mile car should. Given that these are reliable, this thing is ready for 200k miles, which, if the average person drives about 13k miles a year, would be 14 years of relatively simple and cheap transportation. Given that the car was built in 1994, that would mean a collective 32 years of on again off again use. That's pretty incredible.

Available here on ebay in Berlin, New Jersey with bidding at $2,776 and no reserve.

One Year Only: 1976 Porsche 912E

We at COTC love the 912E. This is also one of the lowest production 911 cars out there. Porsche needed an entry-level car to fill the gap as the 914 had just ended and the 924 had yet to debut. The solution was to fit the '76 911S with an air-cooled 4-cylinder Type IV Porsche/Volkswagen engine. The 912E ('E' for Einspritzung or "fuel injection") was born.

Porsche made just 2,099 of these before the sacrilegious front-engined 924 came along (and all its controversy).

This example (VIN 9126000709) has a build date of 10/75. The seller says it's a 2-owner car, but mention two previous owners apart from themselves, so assuming the seller is the current legal owner, this would actually be a three-owner car. They do mention they have maintenence records from the second owner, however.

It also comes in a striking coat of flat Minerva Blue (paint code 305-9-2) that the seller seems to suggest is original. It looks great, and makes the car really pop out. They also say the vehicle has never been in an accident and has no rust, huge pluses.

Porsche are best when barest, so the simplicity of the 912E is really appealing. The engine is similar to the 2.0-liter 4 offered on the 914, but the engine mountings are unique. It's smaller, less complex and therefore theoretically easier to maintain than the 6-cylinder. The decrease in engine size also meant less weight. Performance was typical, going from 0-60 mph in 9.7 seconds.

The seller's ad is poorly written and sometimes confusing. This car, like most second hand Porsche, warrants an investigation close up and a thorough inspection. But it sure looks tidy. Looks, however, can be deceiving. Either way, it's clearly been cared fore and should be able to see road action in the future. Post-1975 cars have to be smogged in California, however, so be aware. The seller says they have a clear title, but the car is unregistered (and therefore probably hasn't passed the smog test yet).

Available here on ebay in Santa Monica, California with bidding at $9,200 and reserve not met.

Under $10k: 1988 Citroen CX 22 TRS

The CX replaced the legendary DS in 1974, and nearly 1.2 million units were sold until 1991. Citroen hasn't sold a vehicle here since 1974, which is a shame since they've come out with a handful of cool designs since then. So it's notable when privately imported examples do pop up.

In keeping with the DS and in true quirky French fashion, the CX features unusual styling cues and progressive engineering. It was available as a 5-door fastback, 5-door station wagon, or extended wheelbase limousine. This is the desirable fastback, which looks the best of the bunch.

I love how this was Citroen's largest car and flagship vehicle, and yet it's four cylinders, front-wheel drive and cloth seats. Were they out of touch, or a step ahead of the curve? Probably a little bit of both. Simplistic drive layout aside, these had innovative features such as hydro-pneumatic self-leveling suspension that helped the car glide over even the worst road surfaces, speed-adjustable power steering and a single-spoke steering wheel with all controls positioned on stalks reachable by the driver without taking their hands off the wheel.

The body was designed by Robert Opron who was responsible for a couple other Citroen and Renault designs and he keeps the tradition with the CX while also forging ahead into the future. It's more plain and modern than the DS, but that suits the car's hyper-techno-utilitarian nature just fine. The covered rear wheels help aerodynamics and these look even better with full-space spoke-less alloys (or plastic covers?). The large block single-unit headlights and clean, simple panels were a revelation in 1974 and still look fresh today. Note the parts-bin side mirrors which were also used on Aston Martin for quite a while.

The seller says this has the 2200cc 4-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, and has 98 kilometers on the clock, which is only about 60k miles. They say it's never been in an accident and still wears its original white paint. The also say it's got "all books and extra manuals" and a Texas title. These were never sold here, although a few independent companies brought them in under lax importation rules during the grey market heyday of the 80s. It's unclear how this got here, but a clear title helps matters.

Overall, it looks like a decent example of a rare car. This has either daily driver potential or weekend-only cruiser.

Available here on craigslist in Dallas, Texas for just $7,250.

COTC Exclusive: 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

This immaculate Chevelle SS is being offered up by a collector who says the car has just 23,800 original miles and retains its original paint, chrome, interior, and matching numbers engine. The seller is the third owner and has kept in touch with the first owner who can vouch for the car's amazing condition and originality.

The Chevelle was produced by Chevrolet from 1964-1977 as part of their A-body rear-wheel drive platform. This is a first-generation example with the desirable 1966-1967 body.

The '67 cars are also considered safer, with collapsible steering columns and front disc brakes. Styling builds on the 1965 update, with a cleaner and simpler look, broad grille, and "Coke bottle" side profile. This particular example looks great in burgundy over black interior.

Underneath the hood is a special SS 396 cubic inch V8 engine that produces an impressive 325 horsepower. The seller says they even have the original build sheet. The engine has since been freshened and completely rebuilt. The seller also had Extreme Restorations in Massachusetts lift the body off and refinish the chassis and engine compartment to OEM specifications. "Every detail is 100% correct", the seller adds. The engine is mated to a 4-speed manual transmission.

These are surprisingly modern and powerful cars, which makes them even more desirable because of their usability on and off the drag strip. There is also a huge network of knowledge, and parts are mostly easy to find and in good supply.

The interior is in great shape and looks terrific in black with chrome accents.

Around 63,000 were built in 1967, but finding them in this good and original shape is difficult, especially on the east coast where it currently resides. The seller backs up the quality of this example, saying its "one of the finest Chevelles on the market today". They have a before and after DVD documenting the chassis restoration, and say the car has been kept in private and never shown. They are asking $60,000.

Click here or here to send an email inquiry if interested.

One Year Only: 71k-Mile 1986 Isuzu Trooper C223T

Isuzu's original Trooper remains a favorite of COTC for wearing a remarkably fresh and clean design while still being capable on and off-road. It's also worlds away from the later second generation that was ubiquitous in suburbs of the '90s and later caused hysteria about the high center of gravity in SUVs when Consumer Reports managed to roll one over during a test and subsequently gave it a "Not Acceptable" grade.

Before all that ridiculousness, there was the pure, simple, undiluted 1981-1991 Trooper, when people still bought them for going off-roading, camp sites, heavy hauling, and driving in poor weather. Isuzu debuted the vehicle with a solid rear axle and independent front suspension.

The styling is really great. In the 80s, the Japanese were starting to topple Mercedes-Benz as the jack-of-all-trades automaker by demonstrating mastery of almost every type of vehicle. The Trooper is brilliant in that it emulates the stark, hard angles of the Galendenwagen and provides some of the capability but at a miniscule fraction of the price. Essentially, they beat the Germans in the race to an affordable but reliable SUV, something the Germans still haven't been able to offer today.

The no-nonsense interior is an exercise in artful and aesthetically pleasing utilitarian design. Note the minimal use of plastic around the instrument cluster and pre-airbag steering wheel that give it a airy look.

Early Troopers were known to be relatively underpowered, but this rare example features the one-year-only (in the U.S. at least) 2.2-liter inline 4-cylinder C223 turbocharged diesel engine. Though still small, the Garrett turbocharger and low-end torque combined with the manual transmission and four-wheel drive make this a really nifty package. It doesn't get much more capable, sporty, and reliable than that.

The seller says this is a 2-owner vehicle with only 71,635 miles that has been in the San Antonio, Texas are all it's life. Cosmetically, they say its all-original inside and out and has no rust. Mechanically, they say it runs and drives great and everything works, including the a/c.

The rear seats fold down to make generous cargo space.

This is a really rare and under-appreciated vehicle in even unusually good shape with low miles and a great color combo. If there is such a thing as a collector Isuzu Trooper, this is it, hands down. Snap it up, pamper it and document your ownership. It's time this sees as much respect as a FJ Cruiser or Defender 90. And it does it all on a penny budget, too. Nice.

Available here on ebay in Navasota, Texas with extremely vigorous bidding already at $5,988 but reserve not met.

1983 Ferrari 400i 5-Speed

For a while, these were among the least expensive used Ferrari for sale. They are often found in average shape with little to no maintenance history. They are front-engine and frequently have automatic transmissions, lessening their value in the eyes of exotic sports car collectors. Lately, I think that is starting to change. Not many were built, even fewer made it here thanks to the grey market, and the stark and angular shape is starting to grow on Pininfarina aficionados and general enthusiasts alike.

COTC likes these. They are really off-putting at first, especially the squinty turn indicators and weirdly tapered nose. You get the feeling Ferrari was intentionally trying to make it ugly because they knew it would not be perceived in the same way as their rear-engine sports cars. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and once one becomes comfortable with the concept of a more "everday" Ferrari, the styling of the 400 is quite striking and makes startlingly brilliant sense. In some ways, it allowed Pininfarina to breath new design language into Ferrari, even though the themes were mostly never repeated again. And the fact is, the proportions are handsome, the greenhouse large and inviting, the stance appropriate for a two-door coupe with rear seats.

This particular example is being offered up by the owner who says the the vehicle has been in California all its life, has no rust and has been given a quality repaint. Mechanically, they list a ton of expensive work done and say it has a large history file and the vehicle now runs and drives "perfectly".Legally, the say it has a California title and is now in New York.

These were never officially sold in the U.S., and while a couple examples are usually always on the market, very few have the infinitely more desirable manual transmission.

Available here on ebay in Rochester, New York with bidding at $15k, reserve not met, and a Buy-It-Now of $30k.

Techno Tokyo: 1987 Mazda 626 Sedan Turbo

There was once a time when the race to the best-selling family sedan was a wide open field. Any car could become what the Camry and Accord have become today (which, sadly, isn't saying much, with their bland styling, simplistic front-wheel drive, poor styling and high prices). Mazda's effort was their surprisingly bold 626.

The Mark 2 "GC" generation 626 was only sold from 1983-1987. U.S. versions received slightly longer bumpers but the design was mostly unchanged. Although they were front-wheel drive, Mazda refreshingly mixed things up by offering turbocharging, four-wheel steering and a range of body styles.

This particular example is a later '87 four door "GT". The rear has a "Turbo" badge and a shot of the engine shows the turbocharger. You just don't see these anymore. The Mark 2 626 is an example of a style I like to call "80s Mod". Although the Italians were masters of this design trend, the Japanese tapped into it briefly in the first half of the decade. Shapes are angular, lines are straight and clean and predictable, and yet there is something edgy and weird about it, like the off-center Mazda logo on the front-grille and the rare headlight washers. It's a conservative design yet can barely conceal a quirky spirit underneath.

Inside, things get even more interesting. The instrumentation is in a orange-mustard yellow color. There are buttons everywhere. The stereo offers a ton of modulation options. Next to the steering wheel there there is a small diagram of the profile of a car titled "Auto Adjusting Suspension" with the options of "sport" "manual" or "auto". Below that is an aftermarket-looking device that says "Ionizer". Air purifer?

Above the rear view mirror is this amazing miniature monitor with an aerial diagram of the car in cross hairs. What is this thing? Telescope? Alert center? Traffic radar? Target sighter?

The seller says the car was donated. Just who was the previous owner? A Japanese nuclear scientist? They say it's "fairly well equipped" (more like to the hilt), has a 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission and 204,934 miles. Cosmetically, they say the cloth seats are in good shape but need a conditioning. Outside, the paint is clearly fading and they say it has a few dings and dents. Mechanically, they say it is unfortunately not running due to an electrical problem.

This thing has loads of forgotten technology. Mazda was clearly appealing to pocket calculator-carrying tech-heads, and the previous owner may have added even more cool stuff as a bonus. Does any of it work? Who knows, but it's the effort Mazda put into bringing the consumer the most buttons and switches possible that I find admirable. It's not just the presence of adjustable suspension on a mid-level car, it's the idea of having the ability to choose that makes cars like this so liberating and illuminating in hindsight.

Available here on ebay in Orange, California with 17 bids at $400 and no reserve.