1980 Peugeot 504 Diesel Wagon

Peugeot has a puzzling legacy in the US. Ask anyone old enough to remember and they'll either scorn or swear by them. Not surprisingly, Peugeot stopped selling here a long time ago. But cars like the 504 were part of the reason why the people who liked Peugeot do so with a great admiration.

The 504 was sort of like a Volkswagen beetle for Peugeot, selling more than 3 million units during its very long production run from 1968-1983.

The formula for its success was simple on the surface: quality construction, efficient and robust engines, inoffensive but pleasing design and that legendary French suspension. It would go on to win the European Car of the Year Award for 1969.

Perhaps the epitome of the 504's rugged-but-refined character is this '80 Diesel Wagon. I often find wagon versions of Euro sedans to be the the ultimate in utilitarianism. If you can have more space but essentially the same driving characteristics as the sedan, why not?

The remarkable survivor has a claimed 42,664 miles on the clock. The seller is a dealer and says it even came with the original tires. Wow. It certainly looks unusually clean inside and out. Check out this awesome lined rear trunk.

Underneath the hood is a 4-cylinder diesel engine. It will be slow, perhaps uncomfortably slow, especially with onramps and highway travel. But it will provide reliability and great fuel economy.

This is a great alternative to that other European diesel wagon we got here during same era, the Mercedes W123. Those are commanding steep prices. Some also have the benefit of a turbo, but it's almost impossible to find them in this condition and low miles.

Available here ebay.

1980 Trabant 601

Ah, the fall of the Iron Curtain. The End of the Cold War. The opening of free trade...ah..wait, what is this thing? Oh man they drove this over there? Quick, close the curtain! Re-build the wall! Bring back the Cold War!

All kidding aside, former Soviet satellite state cars are starting to see the light of Western day and bring their own set of charms.

As the seller correctly notes, the Trabant 601 was basically to the East Germans what the Volkwagen Beetle was for West Germans: that everyday people's car. It's not beautiful (though one could stretch for cute), it's not fast, it's probably not terribly comfortable, but it got people from point A to B. And in the communist German Democratic Republic, that was all cars were expected to do. It was produced from 1963-1990, resulting in over 2 million units sold.

The interior is a mind blowing exercise in frugality, which the dash housing only the most vital gauges and the steering wheel looking like it came off a metal playground set.

Despite the aesthetic austerity, the 601 actually hid some nice innovations for the time, eschewing the 'decadent' West's rear-engine fever in favor of the front-engine, front-wheel drive setup that is ubiquitous today. It also had froth and rear independent suspension.

The engine itself is an extremely small two-stroke, two-cylinder unit that probably gets great gas mileage.

The seller says this one is solid and runs and drives great, with the original drivetrain and some imperfections in the paint. They also have a Maryland title.

Available here on ebay with a Buy It Now of $3,995.

Restored 1980 Volkswagen Scirocco

The first generation Scirocco was a touchy car, treading on holy ground by replacing the beloved rear-engine Karmann Ghia. But Volkswagen had already made its mind up, anticipating legislation that would outlaw rear engines altogether as well as feeling the air-cooled 4-cylinder couldn't be perfected any further (Porsche went through a similar crossroads that resulted in development of the 928).

All of it was rather anticlimactic. The law wasn't passed, and consumers still pined for rear-engine cars. But it was too late. The rear-engine lineup was gone. Fortunately, Volkswagen tapped styling legend Giugiaro to craft great-looking new bodies. If it was going to be front-engine and front-wheel drive, at least it was going to look state-of-the-art. Such is the Scirocco, which is basically a sleeker, sexier Golf.

The first generation is particularly notable for its quad round headlights and spartan interior. Just this year, Hagerty Classic Car Insurance has rated the Mk I Scirocco as nearly extinct. I've seen them pop up here and there, but as they rust out, get driven into the ground, sold for scrap they are definitely harder and harder to come by each year.

Fortunately, this example has been given some love by the seller, who says they hate to sell but are moving. They've refreshed it cosmetically and mechanically, and says it now runs well and comes with a clean title.

If you have your heart set on the Scirocco but don't want one that requires work (as the few left usually do), this is an increasingly unique opportunity to acquire one that seems ready to go.

Available here on ebay with a Buy It Now of $3,750.

1980 Mazda RX-7

The first generation RX-7 was revolutionary car that has since become an icon. Although the Germans all but abandoned their Wankel rotary engine the 70s, they licensed the technology to companies around the world. Mazda was one of them, and they put it to good use, solving the chatter marks issue and gaining enough confidence to put their first commercially produced rotary engine in the 1967 Cosmo.

It wasn't until nearly a decade later, however, that their rotary engine would gain mass appreciation with its placement in the first generation RX-7, which would go on to sell almost half a million units.

There were so many factors contributing to success of the RX-7. It was the right car at the right time in the right place. The 1,145 cc 12A rotary engine produced a decent-for-the-time 100 horsepower to the rear wheels. Coupled with a stick shift, it was smooth, sporty, fast revving and relatively fuel efficient. This was when the two-door compact sports car segment was heating up, and the Japanese were more than happy to claim a stake in the ripe North American market hungry for small, economical but well-built and fun cars.

It also helped the RX-7 was wrapped in a styling home run. What's that saying? Often imitated, never duplicated? That's practically the design story of the RX-7, which basically set the aesthetic template for entry-level sports cars and influenced countless imitations for a good decade and a half after its debut. And understandably. It's so well done. The hood is long and sleek without looking ridiculous. The hidden headlights - a technological shortcoming - magically enhance the overall design, and the rear sloping greenhouse-canopied hatchback is brilliant, before it all tapers to the simple, minimal rear end, the whole thing not quite a wedge but more of a cool cigar shape, all the while remaining remarkably compact but still comfortable inside.

This example looks just fine in red and has a claimed 99k miles on the clock. The seller says it remains original and 100% stock after bringing it eastward from the Golden State. Mazda produced many of them, but a good deal have already been driven into the ground or rusted away and sold for scrap. However, well-kept survivors have been commanding steady amounts for a couple years now and show no signs of slowing down. Subsequent generations lost the charm and although the RX-8 was well intentioned there is now nothing remotely like it in Mazda's current lineup.

Available here on craigslist for $3,500.

1980 Porsche 928 Convertible

Summer isn't over just yet and neither is the point of having a convertible.

This particular topless cruiser is another unique custom piece like the Testarossa I featured recently. In some ways it's even more peculiar.

The front-engined 928 of course is already a controversial car. Intended to replace the 911 it actually ended up being sold alongside it from 1978-1994, before being discontinued without a successor as the 911 continues to this day.

The 928 wasn't a bad car. In fact, it was a pretty cool one. The engine was a big powerful V8, Porsche's first, and the styling was awesome. They sold in respectable numbers and the automotive press admired them regularly. They are expensive to maintain if driven harshly or never taken care of, but they are pretty solid and reliable overall, with the build quality being noted by many owners as superior than the 911. But despite being Tom Cruise's epic ride in Risky Business, the 928 never earned the respect it deserved. It didn't help the vast majority were made with automatic transmissions, even though several noted reviewers have remarked they like the auto better.

Part of what made the 928 so attractive though was the sexy sloping rear, which, despite housing nothing more two small rear seats and trunk space, emulated the roofline of the rear-engine 911 and invaluably tied the 928 to the brand aesthetic.

For this funky convertible, however, the roof has been complete hacked off and the trunk is now covered by a flat body colored panel. To deflect from the odd surface shapes, a spoiler has been added for extra flair and it works.

This is an early pre-facelift 928 with an automatic. It does not have ABS, which came on US cars in 1986. The seller says it's also a European import, which is a plus, with the deleted side markers, extra rear fog light, and presumably a small horsepower bump over the US version. They state the odometer is in kilometers but equals about 110,000 miles.

Mechanically, the seller says it starts, runs and drives strong. Cosmetically it needs some work like a new soft top and perhaps paint (both rather pricey fixes).

This is a rare car however, and while I wish we had more details on how it came here, who owned it and when the roof was subtracted, it's still pretty notable to see one on the market. It could easily be a headturner at the local German auto clubs.

Available here on Ebay in Tampa, Florida.

Winter Proof: 1980 Mercedes-Benz Unimog

Ah, the Unimog. No other vehicle can make a driver fearless against cold and harsh winters. And look good doing it, too.

There are the classic 404/406 series of the 1950s, and then there are the more angular and industrial-techno 424 series introduced in 1976. This is one such 424. In some ways, it's every bit as classic as the 406, and even slightly cooler, with the big grille and headlights mounted in the bumpers. It's got this ultra-stern, almost minimalist look that the Mercedes designers reserved for their most capable truck.

It also helps this one looks terrific in orange with everything below the belt line in black. It practically begs to be driven in a blizzard. The bed is huge and provides versatility and use.

The seller says they bought it from Volkswagen AG and it was owned by them as a track patrol vehicle. They then swapped the old bed for a better unit, welded some rust and re-painted the exterior, no crimes on a big truck, where function and and overall appearance matter more than details. Besides, it's a German guy doing it. He must know what he's doing.

Underneath the hood is a 6-cylinder diesel engine producing just 95 horsepower, but you can bet it has a lot of low end torque for overtaking the worst inclines and terrain.

The seller says it is equipped with power steering and brakes, and runs, drives and starts fine, even on cold days.

Although the vehicle is in Germany, the seller says they used to export vehicles and have friends in the US who have imported, so they can offer some assistance.

These can be found in the US, but they are expensive and in varying condition. If you're going to plunk down the chunk of change they command, why not just import the right one straight for Europe? This is one time where importing does make more sense. And this example looks great and seems to have been cared for, with some interesting ownership history to boot.

Available here on ebay with bidding at $15.5 and less than a day left.

1980 Black Moon Concordia II

I admit I haven't watched Black Moon Rising, even though I love obscure and forgotten films. I can say I've noticed the weird cover for it in second hand DVD shops, which has an illustration of Tommy Lee Jones' face that is half realistic and half pixelated. Well, this is the vehicle from that movie. And the vehicle is just as weird looking.

Apparently the 1984 film is about a top-secret cassette that is stuck in the tape player of the "Black Moon" experimental vehicle destined for Los Angeles that Tommy Lee Jones must track down, along with Linda Hamilton. John Carpenter wrote the story.

The title vehicle was actually a 1980 design called the Wingho by Bernard Beaujardins and Clyde Kwok (both great names) of Wingho Auto Classique based in Montreal. Only one was originally built, so two copies from the original mold were made, one for stunts, and one for interior shots.

The seller doesn't give much mechanical specifics, but like a lot of custom cars from the 70s and 80s, it seems to be based on a Volkswagen Beetle chassis and rear-mounted engine.

The seller says a retired Colonel purchased it in 1996 and used it for parades, garnering trophies and awards until his death. The widow would now like to pass it on to new ownership.

I see no reason why it shouldn't continue garnering trophies. The seller also shows a photo of a hand written note from Linda Hamilton saying:

"To the Colonel - I loved riding in your car. The only thing missing was you. Hope we can meet someday...'til then, much love - Linda Hamilton"

If you're a fan of the film, this is a must. If you're a fan of Linda Hamilton this is a must. And if you're a fan of wild looking kit cars that are probably not road legal but really fun to drive around anyways, this is a must.

Available here on ebay in San Marcos, Texas with bidding starting at $10k and a $15k Buy-It-Now.

Carolinas Only: 1980 Chevrolet Malibu M80

This is ridiculously rare. According to some sources, the Malibu M80 was only sold in two states, just North and South Carolina to catch the attention of car fans headed to Darlington Raceway.

That's right. Just. Two. States.

The Malibu is Chevrolet's rather hilariously named family car. It used to be a sexy convertible, then a muscle car, then the Malaise Era version seen above, before becoming the front-wheel drive rental blandmobile it was of the 90s up to the present day.

The fourth generation Malibu was sold from 1978-1983 and was Chevrolet's standard issue economy family sedan. Nothing special, innovative, or remarkable about it. As a saving grace, power was still directed to the rear-wheels.

Styling is pretty odd, although it looks better now than in all the years since it debuted, when they've been beaten, thrashed, trashed and abused. The body is all hard angles and lines, zero detail, with cheap sealed-beam headlights, cheap bumpers and cheap side mirrors plastered on every Chevrolet at the time. Aesthetically artistic these are not.

But in some ways they are a key bridge in American auto design. American designs were pretty trend-setting in the 1950s and 60s, before the fuel crises of the 1970s forced automakers to scale back and tone down. American automakers, not surprisingly, were very bad at scaling back and toning down. European automakers, long used to dealing with narrow roads and high gas prices and therefore smaller and more efficient cars, handled the fuel crises adeptly. American automakers mostly failed to lead in their response to the fuel crises. So they ended up with cars like the Malibu, sobered and hard edges ready for the dawn of the lean and efficient Reagan Era. In some ways, it was very befitting, and let the way for a new generation of cleanly styled automobiles, totally removed from the over-the-top cars of the 1950s.

This M80 example certainly tries its best to look well, especially since it was part of an effort to "revive the muscle car era" (how did that turn out?). All M80 produced were 2-dour V8 coupes with an added appearance package of blue racing stripes, "M80" decals, front and rear spoilers, and steel rally wheels.

Only 1,909 are believe to have been made.

The seller is a dealer who bought the car from a retired GM engineer. They say it was restored in 1999 and currently looks great, at least in the photos. They say it runs, handles and drives well with no issues.

If you're nostalgic for a lost era in American auto manufacturing, this could fit be the answer.

Available here on ebay in Shawsville, Virginia with bidding at $5,655 and reserve not met.

1980 BMW 528i Euro Conversion

The E12 was the first to bear the "5 Series" name. Production lasted from 1972-1981 and resulted in almost 700,000 being made (where are they all now?)

It was styled by none other than Marcello Gandini, the genius behind the Lamorghini Countach, Miura, Citroen BX and Fiat X1/9. The E12 is an interesting piece on Gandini's distinguished resume in that it's a relatively conservatively styled sedan and not the radical sports cars he is more often associated with. Working within the confines of BMW design language, he subtly but brilliant builds off the car's New Klasse predecessors and helped forge the company ahead. Every subsequent BMW design is indebted to Gandini, from Paul Bracq's E23 all the way to the E34 by Ercole Spada.

These cars were saddled with awful U.S.-spec bumpers that detracted from the aesthetics, so it's great to see Euro bumpers on this example, even if they the seller added them on later. This is NOT an authentic grey market car but a U.S. model with modifications.

The 528i was introduced in North America in 1979 replacing the 530i and featured a few improvements. The engine was a 2.8-liter inline 6-cylinder that powered the rear wheels and produced around 169 horsepower, very respectable for the time and still decent today.

The seller states they acquired the vehicle 6 years ago in Oregon. They have since done a number of repairs, upgrades and modifications.

Cosmetically, they say there is some rust around the window but none near the wheel wells. They say they conditioned the leather interior and cleaned the floor mats, and the interior seems to show it. The beautiful red seats are a highlight of this vehicle.

Mechanically, they deleted the U.S. bumpers as noted, deleted the side marker reflectors, lowered the stance, added Blistens and Alpina wheels. They say the car was maintained to be a daily driver, although the a/c is disconnected and the battery doesn't hold a charge well. The seller also says they have records to prove it was cared for.

This car has flaws but it seems to be an ok runner, and certainly looks the part. The seller states the odometer has six digits and reads just 96,750 original miles.

Find it here on ebay in Athens, Georgia for $7,000.

Pass The Petrol: 60k-mile 1980 Rover 3500 5-Speed

Here's something you don't see everyday. Only about 1,200 units were made for North America for one model year only. This one features the sunroof delete option.

The SD1 was the flagship Rover passenger car from 1976-1986. Over 300,000 were made. The stats are pretty impressive: four doors, rear hatchback, rear-wheel drive, and four, six, and eight cylinder engines.

By the time Rover was clear to import these to America, however, some changes were made. Larger and heavier bumpers as well as quad round fixed sealed-beam headlights were added to meet U.S. safety regulations (that apparently trumped even those of the socialist British state of the '70s). Fortunately, the only SD1 made for North America was essentially the top-of-the-line model in Europe, featuring a slightly detuned version of the V8. It produced only about 133 horsepower, astonishingly small for eight cylinders.

Thankfully, power was directed to the rear wheels, and manual transmissions were standard equipment.

Rover pulled the SD1 from North America in 1981 following weak sales.

The seller of this example seems to be an adoring fanatic and say they purchased it in 1993 with only 50k miles and have since put on only an additional 10k in the past 19 years. They say it has been meticulously maintained in that time period. Mechanically, they say the engine starts and runs fine with no vibrations or leaks.

Cosmetically, they say it received new paint from the previous owner, and has no rust except for one spot of bubbling near the window.

Although it was never a terribly fast or even overall impressive car at the time and is certainly not fast anymore, if you're looking for an SD1 already in the U.S. this could be the one to have, if the owner is as thorough as they claim. There just can't be many left, and surely very very few in this good shape.

Find it here on ebay in Lenexa, Kansas

Rolling Cigar: 21k-mile 1980 Aston Martin Lagonda

This Aston Martin Lagonda looks like it came right out of an old episode of Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous. There is an instant air of pomp and circumstance about it. Maybe because it's a British car. And maybe because of the rather astounding styling. Can you imagine pulling up to Studio 54 in this thing?

The Lagonda was front-engine, rear-wheel drive four-door executive sedan. It was powered by a 5.3-litre V8 engine and came with either a manual or automatic transmission.

Only 645 cars were made from 1974-1990. US sales commenced in 1982.

They were styled by William Towns, a noted British car designer from the '70s and '80s. It's really something to behold. Wide, low, long and sleek, it's decadent but extremely well done. It was ahead of its time then and still looks cool today. You have to give a stodgy company like Aston Martin some credit for going out on a limb with this one.

These were known for their space agey interiors with digital instrumentation that was glitchy and failed often.

Fortunately, the seller has replaced the old system with a new digital readout that is in keeping with the futuristic trappings but actually works.

The seller also says the interior was redone in black leather with tan ostrich inserts.

In addition, the entire engine and transmission has been replaced with a late '90s Ford 4.6-litre V8, for improved reliability and performance. These were such fussy, oddball cars that the different engine isn't much of a detractor, and would help make this a fun, hassle-free cruiser.

With only 21,500 original miles, the rest of the car looks to be in great shape. This is a unique chance to grab an extremely rare car without the headaches they originally came with.

Find it here on ebay in Downey, California with bidding over $10k but reserve not met.

Endangered: All-Original 1980 Volkswagen Scirocco

Hagerty Classic Car Insurance released this fascinating but alarming list a couple years ago of cars once built in great numbers that they now insure very few of.

One of them is the first generation or Mark I Scirocco produced from 1974-1982. Hagerty says they insure fewer than 15 of them.

Well, I found one. This gives new meaning to the term 'survivor'.

The Scirocco was a front-engine, front-wheel drive two-door hatchback with four-cylinder engines.

Perhaps the most notable feature was the lovely styling by Giugiaro from his heyday. It's typically well done, perfect proportions and still cool and fresh looking today. I especially love the quad round heallights which contrast nicely with the angular shape.

The seller says this surviving example has a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engine, 149k miles and the original motor, transmission and 13 inch alloy wheels. I could immediately tell this was original. It has none of the tacky aftermarket tinkering so many of the Scirocco cars left suffer from.

The seller does mention the car has rust, but says the floors and frame rails are solid. They say there is some penetrating exterior rust on the passenger side door.

Mechanically, they say it will need a fuel pump and starter.

The price for this rarity? A mere $1,000.

Find it here on craigslist in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Yellow Submarine: 26k-mile 1980 Lotus Esprit

This 1980 Lotus Esprit is being offered up for sale by the same seller I wrote about here who were selling two rare Mercedes.

They are a dealer and are quickly becoming our favorite local seller as they have obscure cars at decent prices, and are located right in New England, where older cars are harder to find.

This Esprit is listed as having only 26,072 miles on the odometer. The seller doesn't say if that's original miles or if the odometer overturned, but if it is original that's very few miles and would classify this as a survivor.

What is clear is that this thing is awesome.

The body is perhaps the definitive wedge shape of the '70s and '80s. It was created by legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro and has become his signature design. It is clean, simple and still modern looking. A white 1977 model that transformed into a submarine was famously driven by Roger Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me.

This is a second generation "S2" Esprit and looks great in yellow. The S2 models were made from 1978-'81 and came after the first-generation S1 models from '76-'79. They featured minor cosmetic and mechanical improvements.

The body was fiberglass.

The Esprit had a mid-engine and rear-wheel drive. Since this is a 1980 model, it could have the 2.2-litre inline 4-cylinder engine that was introduced that year and had increased torque, or just a 2.0-litre. These are not the later turbocharged engines, so it's just a plain four-banger that is propelling you. While they are said to handle well and weigh only about 2,205 lbs., they are not rockets and could prove surprisingly slow.

That said, they are still probably a hoot to drive, especially with the low seats and manual shifting.

The seller has no details on whether it's running or not. Some of the pictures seem to show the vehicle sitting outside at a wholesale auction lot, so it may have been an insurance loss or donation that the seller then purchased. I would get the whole story on how this was acquired and what, if any, work was done. Any service receipts would be nice. If there is no history, be prepared to sink money into getting it working. Also check for rust on the undercarriage.

Early Lotus Esprit models are the best looking, even if they are the slowest. They are rare cars in any condition, and this one looks good in and out, which could corroborate the low miles. The body seems straight without any major problems. I'm not sure what it takes to rehabilitate fiberglass, but it could be similar to buffing a boat, if you've ever done that.

Find the craigslist ad here and the dealer listing here.