65k-Mile 1987 Acura Legend

Remember the Japanese invasion? No, not the one at Pearl Harbor in 1941. I'm referring to the peaceful war of commerce waged during the 1980s.

Before the US stock market had its brief bull run, the Japanese were having a party of their own, no small thanks to their culture of close corporate-government partnership that made sure everybody won (although often at any cost). Japanese industrial concepts weren't what you'd call original, but they took European and American designs and built them faster, cheaper and stronger. So when they started exporting audio equipment, televisions and cars to the US, it caused panic among manufacturers, especially the Big Three auto making giants.

Japanese cars were small, affordable and, for the most part, aesthetically pleasing. On top of that, in the wake of the fuel crises of the 1970s and their mile-long gasoline lines, Japanese cars were fuel efficient. Detroit got the message, but it was too late. American consumers loved their Toyotas and Hondas.

Then the US government stepped in and convinced Japan to accept a voluntary limit on exported cars. Since their highest volume movers were economy cars, one clever way around the limit was to move upmarket. The results were often stunning. Toyota spawned Lexus and their brilliant Mercedes-fighting LS400, and Honda created Acura. The sky was the limit.

Acura wasn't as ambitious as Lexus. The cars retained the dull styling and front-wheel drive layout of their Honda counterparts (one magnificent exception being the NSX, but that's a whole other story), but they were better equipped and had larger powerplants.

One of the first Acuras was the top-of-the-line Legend. The sedan debuted in 1986, with a coupe following the next year. The car was an instant hit with the automotive press and consumers alike. Everything that people liked about Hondas - reliability and efficiency - was kept and enhanced tenfold. The cars were also wrapped in sleek, simple, clean designs that had drag coefficients as low as .30. The coupe also came with a new 24-valve, 2.7-litre engine good for about 160 horsepower, not bad for the time. All of it was enough for Motor Trend to name the Legend their Import Car of the Year 1987.

Since they were affordable and reliable, they were driven a lot. Clean, low mileage examples are incredibly rare, especially in the wet, salty East Coast where I hail from. This particular Legend has a remarkably low 65,142 miles. For a late 80s Japanese car, that's just getting broken in. The beige-on-beige color scheme is flattering to the shape and fits the low-key, easy-going nature of the car.

Given that it's in Florida, it was probably elderly-owned since new, and as long as it wasn't in an accident, this charming ride from the last pre-internet decade is a really nice find. The seller is a dealer and is asking $5,900, a tad high but not outrageous for the quality machine you'll be getting. You could easily have this car working for the rest of your life.

The next owner has my sincere envy.

Available here on carsforsale.com

Imitation is Flattery: Pontiac Mera

Ah, I love fake Ferraris. At least, the concept behind them. All the looks, and none of the mechanical headaches. If only it were that simple. 

Kit cars and replicas were all the rage in the yuppie 80s, when rolling in style was a priority, even if it meant driving a fake car. Interestingly, as car design has declined and classic car prices surged, kit cars have a new appeal to me: they can indeed give you the look of a classic car without all the worry and expense that comes with a real classic. 

Unfortunately most body kits from the 80s were poor. If the body was for a mid-engine Ferrari, it had to fit over a mid-engine chassis - and there were nary few mid-engine cars on the market in the 80s. That is, until the arrival of the legendary Pontiac Fiero in 1984. The Fiero gave reason for a whole new generation of Ferrari replicas.

The best replica body for the Fiero was, rather shockingly, officially sold through authorized GM/Pontiac dealers as an option called the "Mera". There was no Ferrari badging as far as I can tell, but the body sure as hell looked like a 308 - enough so that to the casual 80s observer, it was a real Ferrari. The body was never offered as a kit, and a company called "Corporate Concepts" installed everything before delivery. The interior mechanics underneath were 100% Fiero. It was only offered on new Fieros, and never retro-fitted.

Alas, the steal of the century didn't last long. Just as Ferrari threatened to sue the producers of Miami Vice for use of the Daytona replica, they sued Pontiac dealers over the Mera, and production stopped after a mere 247 examples were produced, making it an extreme rarity.

They do pop up for sale however, and usually as either derelict project cars or showroom queens. This one is definitely the latter, looking almost brand new. The seller says it has just 30k miles. They actually don't know if it is an official Mera, but say the taillights say Mera. Deductive reasoning skills! This is almost definitely a Mera, given the quality body and Fiero underpinnings. The nice thing about the Mera is that the body is really well done, looking almost exactly like a 308, with no major glaring inaccuracies. Proportions and fit and finish are good. While I would prefer white or black, the red exterior color is just fine as well.

As an added bonus, it's got the V6 Fiero engine for extra kick. Italian body, cheap American parts...I'd take it.

Available here on craigslist for $13,400 or trade.

In the Family: 1985 Chevrolet Impala

Remember these? There was once a time when the Chevrolet rear wheel drive b-body sedans were ubiquitous as police cars, cabbies, and your elderly neighbor's ride during the 80s and early 90s.

Chevrolet introduced this generation Impala in 1976. It was smaller and slightly more efficient than it's gargantuan predecessor of the excessive early 70s. Perhaps most noticeably, it looked a lot better. By no means a beautiful car, it's instead a exercise in clean, simple hard angles. It's tough and no-nonsense looking.

The b-body Impala lasted until 1985 - making this a final year car. Chevrolet then used the Caprice name from 1986 until a major redesign in 1991. The Impala name wasn't resurrected until the 2000 model year.

The seller says this one has been in the family since new and has logged 136,000 miles. Mechanically, they say it has new brakes, new gas line, exhaust, alternator, battery, timing belt and tires. They don't mention rust or any accidents, which are things to look for. They do say it is their daily driver but they need a truck or van now and are willing to trade for one.

Fortunately, under the hood is a 5.0-liter 4-barrel carburetor V8 engine. There's nothing like an American V8 rumbling underneath a boxy late 70s design. Put on your aviators, turn on the police scanner and pretend you're on an stakeout.

Available here on craigslist.

In the US: 1999 Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-S

The Silvia is a long-running nameplate of rear-wheel drive coupes by Nissan. North America was privy to a couple versions, but missed out on the version that debuted in Japan in 1999. It wore classic Japanese styling: simple, clean, unpretentious and sleek.

Underneath the hood is a 4-cylinder engine. There was a non-turbo version and although the seller doesn't specify I would assume and hope this is the turbo. These also came with 4-wheel steering, but, again, the seller does't specify.

What they do mention is that it is the Spec-S trim, which features a 5-speed manual transmission, open differential and 4-piston front brake caliper.

Since it was made for the Japanese domestic market, the steering is right-hand drive. The seller says they have added a Pioneer screen with some speakers, different coils, 300ZX brakes and tinted windows.

Although the U.S. government only allows importation of vehicles older than 25 years old, this one is somehow in the states. The ad implies it is in Rhode Island, but in the photos it wears Florida plates, which actually may explain matters as the Florida DMV is notoriously (and pleasantly) lenient when registering unusual and non-US motor vehicles. Regardless, the seller claims the car is titled, registered, inspected and insured, all huge pluses. They even have a photo of the title, although to confuse matters again it's a New Hampshire title.

These cars have a cult following. This one seems to be cared for and has to be only a handful that have made it here, making it even more of a rarity. There also isn't anything quite like it on the market today, especially from Japan: a 4-cylinder turbocharged rear-wheel drive coupe.

Available here on craigslist for $19,000.

Ex-Military: 1984 Chevrolet K30 Diesel 4x4

Looking like it came straight from a Schwarzenegger movie is this mid 80s diesel truck with a few unique things going for it.

Firstly, you just never see Chevy trucks from the 80s anymore, at least here in the wet, salty Northeast, where most cars over a decade old start succumbing to the elements and rust away into the earth again. On top of that, most trucks were used hard and frequently, adding extra wear and tear.

Secondly, underneath the hood is a 6.21 "J" Code Detroit diesel engine. Diesels never took off in popularity they way the did in Europe, which is a shame because they are torquey, efficient and reliable. Just in the past couple years, however, they have come into widespread awareness, with second hand Mercedes and Volkswagen diesels commanding ridiculous prices. It seems silly, but there's a reason they have a devoted following. Unfortunately, this large a diesel engine can't be that much more efficient than it's gasoline counterpart, especially when it's pulling the weight of this truck. Still, it adds character and charm.

The last and perhaps most intriguing element to this is its former military usage. "Military" is a broad term of course and can actually mean anything from national guard to marines to covert intelligence. Of course, once the vehicles are ready for civilian marketplace they are usually stripped of anything interesting, but this one retained its camouflage paint scheme and a rear compartment box full of goodies. It's insulated and features a fold-up bunk bed and door access to the front cabin. There's also a ball hitch, trailer brake controller, 12-volt power for a rear winch, 2 55-gallon fuel tanks, and a 20-AMP interior power supply. The seller also says it's immune to Electro Magnetic Pulses (EMP). Cool!

The seller does say there is some minimal surface rust, but it only has 42k original miles and they have invested $10k in this and it's ready to go.

This could make a unique and dependable camping machine.

Available here on craigslist fro $8,900.