1987 Subaru XT Turbo

If you were to ask me, "Are there any Subaru classics?" I would respond with a resounding, "Yes!" And then I would ramble on and on about the XT.

The 80s were a pivotal time for Japanese automakers. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of World War II, the Japanese rebounded remarkably and excelled at making cars. But when it came time to infiltrate the American market, they had stiff competition from both Detroit and Europe.

One way to buck both was to offer cars that were well-made (which American cars weren't) and affordable (which German cars weren't). This way, they appealed to consumers best instincts: thrift, value and quality.

Subaru had already made an impression with their compact all-wheel drive sedans and wagons. To take on the compact sport coupe, they introduced the all-new XT in 1985. Like other Subaru, it was a simple, uncomplicated front-wheel layout with the option of all-wheel drive. But unlike Subaru's existing models, it wore a radical wedge-shaped body of laser-straight lines, blackened pillars and hidden headlights, looking like a Syd Mead-designed prop for the set of Blade Runner.

The futuristic vibes continued into the interior with an asymmetrical steering wheel, digital layout and stalks of vital buttons and controls housed in two pods flanking each side of the steering wheel for access within finger-reach.

The only initial complaints about the XT were lack of power, especially in the naturally aspirated 4-cylindr. Fortunately, this is the much more desirable turbocharged 4 mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. It put out just 115 horsepower, but with the stick shift, aerodynamic body and relatively light weight, could easily feel sufficient and nimble.

The seller says this survivor is rust free, and the paint shows just some oxidizing. Mechanically, they say it not only has a rebuilt engine but a suspension transplanted from an '03 WRX! Whoa! Not surpassingly they say it handles amazingly. Always nice to find older cars with sweet sleeper upgrades like this, and the seller isn't passing down the cost of the swap, either.

These are flying totally underneath the elite collector radar, despite Subaru restoring one for their museum recently and Gen-X car fans looking back on them with nostalgia. But to those in the know, these are a best kept secret, blending outrageous styling and fun, economical performance.

Available here on ebay for a $5,000 Buy It Now.

1987 Nissan 200SX Notchback

Ah, the Notchback. Nothing says late 20th century auto design than a C pillar that is less steeply raked than the A pillar. This was popularized by 1970s American cars. Then, slowly, as Europe came out with sleeker and sleeker designs that the public wanted, the notchback started disappearing. The last holdouts were the fox bodied Mustangs and a couple Cadillacs. Today, they notchback is virtually extinct in favor of fastbacks that push the rear glass out to the end of the car, sometimes even if it's only a trunk and not even a real hatchback.

And yet, at the tail end of the notchback era, here we have one of Japan's few attempts to join the diminishing crowd. The 200SX was actually the Silvia outside North America. In 1984 it got a new body internally designated as the S12. It was classic entry-level two door Rising Sun of the 80s: hidden headlights, DOT bumpers, swathes of black plastic, and a passion for rectangular shape forms.

There was just one redeeming quality in the eyes of most: rear-wheel drive, aka, drifting baby! This was when the Japanese were still selling the preferred setup for most enthusiasts on some of their models. So instead of just another Civic-mobile, this thing could actually entertain on the road.

Power came from a naturally aspirated,  2.0-liter SOHC 4-cylinder engine. It won't light the streets on fire, but it will get the job done against the car's small size and light weight, and won't be needing to stop for gas every block, either.

The interior was a period affair, awash in beige plastics (even the steering wheel - design flaw) but it's somehow a refreshing break from today's bombastic, overdone dashboards.

These things are getting scarce. Most are modded and lowered to ground before they hit a telephone pole and then head for the scrapyard. This one is mercifully free of serious alterations, and has wear one could possibly describe as 'patina' (nose in the air now). I actually kinda like the balck aftermarket wheels, they match the plastic trim and never show dirt or brake dust so you don't have to clean 'em too often.

The seller says it has no rust, some dings, a rebuilt engine and solid drivetrains and suspension. And, they add, it's drift ready. Just please don't mod it, lower it and hit a telephone pole with it.

Available here on ebay with an auction and $5k Buy It Now.

1987 Peugeot 505 STX

Peugeot is a legendary French automaker with a long, rich and successful history in France and Europe. It had a different story in North America, however. There cars weren't always the problem, but the public's perception of them was.

One example of their good cars was the 505. This was Peugeot's rear-wheel drive answer to Mercedes and BMW. It debuted in 1979 and last all the way until 1992, and even longer in other markets.

It's a classic European sedan design of the 70s. Huge greenhouse, long low hood and boot, and an overall clean, functional, appliance-like simplicity (enhanced on this example in flattering white paint). US versions did get downgraded headlights and larger bumpers but the main look of the car mercifully survived.

Inside, occupants were treated to an equally purposeful and business-like interior. The blue leather seats (remember when blue was an upholstery color?) look huge and cozy.

Underneath the hood of this example is a 2.8-liter 6-cylinder engine that the seller says was also in the Delorean. While it was not appreciated in that car, I'm sure it moves this Peugeot along fine. The automatic kills the mood somewhat, but the seller says the have a ton of extra parts, and perhaps could offer some pointers on a manual swap down the line. Speaking of swapping, they also say it has a spare Turbo engine.

Despite not being a success in the US, these cars were otherwise known for being solidly built cars that handled well and provided that legendary smooth French suspension. This car could use a bunch of tasteful improvements, or could be driven as is.

Available here on craigslist for $3,400.

1987 Toyota Cressida Wagon

The Cressida was sort of a preview of Lexus from Toyota before they launched that luxury division. It was their top-of-the-line sedan, with rear-wheel drive, 6-cylinder power and abundant comfort and convenience features. It was never followed up with a successor in North America, partly because the Lexus LS400 debuted and took the torch as Toyota's flagship presence.

Outside North America, the Cressida was simply known as the Mark II. This generation debuted in 1984 and lasted until 1988.

Styling is classic early 80s rising sun, all hard angles, rectangular shapes and large safety regulation bumpers. This kind of pure functionalism was abandoned during the second half of the decade when design departments discovered sex appeal and started pioneering sleek, round jellybean shapes that Japanese cars would become synonymous with for the rest of the 90s. But I don't mind this early sparse look at all, for one thing it saves exterior space and usually adds interior room. Also look at how big those windows are! You can actually see out.

The same philosophy goes for the interior, which will be familiar to anyone who remembers a Camry from the era. Other than the steering wheel, most surfaces seem to have held up extremely well. The well-bolstered cloth seats look super comfortable, too.

Underneath the hood is a 2.8-liter inline 6-cylinder engine. This gave the Cressida an advantage over a mostly underpowered field of competitors back in the day and will still be appreciated now, especially if you're hauling cargo.

Speaking of cargo, this is the rare wagon version of the Cressida. Apparently they were only here for only a handful of years and I can't imagine they were a big seller. Someone who would spring for an import sedan wouldn't want the look and stigma associated with wagons in America. But for real auto enthusiasts wagons are usually a delight, adding a bunch more space and use to vehicle without crimping style or adding too much weight. I also love the double wipers on the rear window.

The seller of the car purchased it from San Francisco before shipping it to Hawaii where it resides now. They say it has over 200k miles, but has been well maintained and is entirely original except for new replacement parts. I believe it. The Cressida is from Toyota's glory days as masters of relatively inexpensive, simple and insanely reliable cars. This could see another 200k with more love and care.

Available here on craigslist for $4,500.

Lost Wedge: 1987 Subaru XT Turbo

The XT is an up and coming classic. This is a car that was boldly designed, came with an intriguing array of engines and drivetrains and is unlike anything Subaru has offered since.

Perhaps the most striking feature is the styling, some sort of mod-primordial sculpture that looks like a leftover set prop from Blade Runner. With hidden headlights, blacked out pillars and a thin taillight strip it meant business, though. It also belied an extremely low drag coefficient of .29, resulting in good gas mileage and low wind noise. I really can't imagine what kind of person bought these new but they might have been funky, outside-the-box thinkers.

The mechanicals were just as intriguing, ranging from naturally aspirated and FWD to turbo and all-wheel drive. This survivor is half way between, with FWD but a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that produced 15 horsepower.

Inside, drivers became more like pilots. The dashboard was inspired by fighter jets with a bizarre asymmetrical steering wheel, pods of buttons, and instrumental cluster that moved with the wheel when it tilted and telescoped.

The seller says the odometer is accurate, but they bought the car from a Subaru specialist who freshened the engine and put in a new transmission. They say it runs and drives fine, a/c blows cold and power windows work.

These cars are endangered. Few were sold and even fewer remain due. It's beyond time we rescue these and start giving them proper recognition as a classic Japanese car.

Available here on ebay.

1987 BMW 735i 5-Speed

I love the E32. I wanted one very badly about two years ago but instead settled for a low-mileage E46 AWD. That's how hard a good E32 is to find these days. This one is even more significant with a nifty and super rare 5-speed manual.

The 80s were BMW's breakthrough era. It not only meant making great cars, but also catching up with the competition. One of those competitors was that other legendary German luxury automaker, Mercedes-Benz. While BMW had offered cars that lightly infringed on Mercedes' territory (one could  say the E30 was a shot at the W201), the E32 was designed specifically to take on the big ol' W126 Benz.

The E32 was a resounding success. Sure, it was larger and heavier than it's predecessor, but it gained new engines that helped scoot it along, including a rather insane 12-cylinder.

Styling by genius designer Claus Luthe was a home run, introducing a whole new language theme that the company would use for years, then depart from, only to revisit again and again in the 21st century. Looking closely, it's actually a rather bizarre shape, with a long, low hood, big windows, high trunk and those devilish L-shaped rear taillights. But it miraculously works.

Unfortunately for a while the only engine options in the E32 were the underpowered 3.5-liter inline 6-cylinder or the over-complex 12-cylinder. Only until 1993 did an option in the middle arrive in the form of a V8, but by then the competition had caught up and the body would undergo a major restyling in 1995.

Fortunately, this early model has a stick to liven the driving experience up. Very, very few were brought to the US with 5-speeds and have become a coveted collector item since.

The interior looks sumptuous in a saddle-shade leather and awesome pre-airbag steering wheel.

The seller says it was imported from Canada and all paperwork is sorted with a Florida title. Cosmetically they say it wears original factory paint and chrome wheels. Mechanically, they say all power accessories work and it drives excellently and is ready to go anywhere.

Another great thing about the E32 is that it's still a pretty simple car, especially compared to BMW today. They are known for being rock solid and overall very reliable. With just 95k miles on this one, it's just getting warmed up. Drive it hard, change the oil religiously and just enjoy her.

Available here on ebay for the reasonable price of $5,700.

The Case For Replicas: 1987 Fiero-Ferrari

Replicas are the Rodney Dangerfield of the auto world: they don't get any respect. But I like them. In fact, I think in some cases they make more sense than owning the original.

Take Ferrari replicas. Real Ferraris are expensive to start with. Then there's the cost of parts, repairs, worrying about getting a scratch in it, heck, even an oil change on some models requires the engine to come out of the bay! It's not for the faint of heart, or wallet.

However, a replica gives you that classic Pininfarina styling without all the headaches of the real thing. The best Ferrari replicas were either the Corvette-based McBurnie Daytona or the Pontiac Fiero-based 308/328. This is a Fiero-based 328. Pontiac actually liked the idea of a replica so much they allowed dealers to sell a 308 body as an option called the Mera. This was quickly shutdown after threats of lawsuits, but it got enough gears turning for people to be interested.

The Mera was based on the 308. I've never seen a 328 replica, although it could be easily done since the basic body is the same as the 308. It looks pretty good, especially with the post-'86 lights.

The seller confirms this is indeed based on a Fiero. Unfortunately, it will not have Ferrari-like performance, as it's a 4-cylinder version, a shame since the 6-cylinders are readily available. They also say it has an auto transmission. On the upside, they list the mileage as 69k and say the seats are leather.

This is a mostly show-and-no-go car, but the details and spirit are in the right place.  I would remove the Corvette side mirrors and rear spoiler and then just have a good laugh driving around. Also, if I were a b-movie director I'd totally want one of my characters to drive one and not worry if they crash it in a chase.

Available here on craigslist for $9,999.

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

81k-Mile 1987 BMW 325i

The E30 is the definitive 3-series. It was unlike the E21 that came before and especially the E36 after. It also helped solidify the brand's status in the United States as a maker of great automobiles, and gave rival Mercedes-Benz some real competition against their W201 190. It's a New Classic.

These were produced from 1982-1993, otherwise known as the Reagan-Bush era. Sure, the E30 is the original yuppie mobile, but for all the right reasons: they were extremely solid, fun to drive and reliable. In fact, so well-built and relatively simple to fix were the E30 that Kiplinger's named them one of the top 10 Cars that Refuse to Die.

The body was designed by Claus Luthe and is an exercise in incredible restraint and detail. It's not quite boxy but definitely not round, the lines all laser-straight chiseled and crisp, and yet up close, the corners are softly rounded, like they were gently sanded and buffed by hand. The greenhouse is proportionally huge, making the windows look large and the space inside inviting, not to mention providing excellent visibility inside and out.

Inside, the interior is an all-business, no-nonsense, hyper-functional, driver-oriented paradise. The gauges are crystal clear white-over-black. The center console is angled towards the driver. Above the rearview mirror is an onboard service indicator that displays the status of vital systems through a red LED bargraph.

Underneath the hood is the timeless 2.5-litre inline six-cylinder engine providing a decent 168 horsepower to the rear wheels. This particular example is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

Since they were commuter cars for the upwardly mobile, they were often driven hard then quickly traded in for the next flashy car, before they fell into multiple hands and eventually rusted away. As such, clean, low mileage examples are very, very difficult to find. The E30 M3 is already a collectible classic, so it's likely the regular coupes and sedans may follow.

This particular survivor defies the odds. The seller says this '87 325i has just 81,574 miles on the clock. Cosmetically, it looks amazing. It helps the grey/black color combination is perfect and flatters the exterior and interior shapes. The seller also says the body has no rust, a huge plus. They even say the paint is shiny and not faded.

Mechanically, they say it was regularly serviced, taken good care of and now "runs and drives great".

I want this car. As long as there is no rust and the seller can provide some proof of prior maintenance, the next owner (should it not be me), has my sincere envy. This puppy is good looking, fun to drive, relatively fuel efficient, simple to fix and reliable. It could very well see 181k miles without major problems, if the oil is changed regularly and it's driven carefully.

Available here on ebay in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for $8,495.

33k-Mile 1987 Honda Civic DX

Seriously? Do I need to start a whole new blog dedicated to low mileage econoboxes?

This is like the third in the past couple months. It's a running joke here - why are the immaculate low mileage survivors the cheapest of cheap cars? There's usually no explanation other than lack of use.

But the beauty is that since they were cheap cars, owners trashed, thrashed and abused them, so clean examples are had to find, which in turn makes the low mileage survivors very notable. Suddenly, bells start ringing. How many are left? Is this the lowest mileage '87 Civic in the US? The world?

This particular survivor is a third generation Civic, which were made briefly from 1983-1987. The best of all the bodies was the nifty two-door hatchback. Space, style and versatility. You can get 30-40 miles per gallon, handle curves well, and fit a lot of stuff in the back. Nice.

A four-cylinder engine powered the front wheels.

The seller says the 33,080 miles are original and the car is beautiful inside and out. This being the DX, it is refreshingly free of modern comfort and conveniences, and has no air conditioning, power steering, radio, speakers, passenger side mirror, power windows or door locks. That's pretty amazing. All you do is get in, drive, and then arrive at your destination. Form over function in its purest expression. But it transcends that somehow to create some soul the Japanese cars just don't have anymore.

The seller also says it has no rust, new tires and was never smoked in. They say it's ready for the daily commute, and I couldn't agree more. You can easily get this up to 200k-300k miles with minimal maintenance. Grab it before it's too late.

Available here on ebay in Providence, Rhode Island with bidding at $3,950 and a Buy-It-Now of just $6,500

18k-Mile 1987 Toyota Corolla

There's a running joke on COTC about low mileage econoboxes: exactly that. They're low mileage econoboxes, as opposed to low mileage rare and exotic sports cars. Just what prompts someone to barely drive and then store an immaculate '87 Corolla? Sometimes it's not even intentional. The seller says this vehicle has had just one elderly owner who recently passed but always kept the car garaged.

The E80 was the fifth generation of Corolla and the first to implement front-wheel drive, although the AE86 hatchback versions still retained rear wheel power for a few more years. Purists will scoff at the switch, but it was inevitable and the car still retains a its core values of hardcore thrift, reliability and simplicity. Fwd just means it's even cheaper.

This body lasted until 1987 and was a huge success, with 3.3 million units sold. Despite that, you never see them on the roads anymore, at least not here in wet and salty New England. Styling is classic rising sun economy car of the 80s, all straight lines, hard angles, clean planes and minimal detail. Underneath the hood is a 1.6-liter SOHC 4-cylinder that produces a mere 90 horsepower.

Having accrued just 18,921 miles over the past 26 years, the seller says this Corolla is "exactly what it appears to be"...which is an unusually low mileage survivor Corolla in pretty good shape. Cosmetically, they say it has no rust and still smells new. They do say there is a small crease on the hood and some typical scratches. Otherwise, they say it's ready to hit the road.

What do you do with this? Try to get it into the Toyota USA museum? Keep it stored for another 26 years? Drive it as the daily commuter it was meant to be? Somehow, all seem acceptable.

Available here on ebay in Norristown, Pennsylvania with bidding at $3,325 and a Buy-It-Now of $4,499.

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.

Winter Proof: 1987 Mercedes-Benz Unimog Snow Blower

I can't resist. Here is another Unimog within the span of a week. This one will make sure you never, ever get stuck in snow, or any inclement weather for that matter.

The Unimog is perhaps the ultimate 4x4 vehicle. As far as I can tell, there has never been a purely civilian version offered. They were initially military vehicles. The ones that pop up for resale are usually decommissioned civil service vehicles. They were never officially sold here until 2002, when Daimler Chrysler attempted sales of the U500 variant for only 5 years, resulting in just 184 units sold.

This is a 1987 U-1500, based off the 1976-88 424 series. These featured more angular styling than the beloved 406 series. The "classic" 406-style was categorized as a "light" truck, while the new 424 became "middle" and "heavy".

The seller of this example says it is a Class 6 vehicle, weighing between 19,000-26,000 lbs. The seller says is is powered by twin diesel engines. It's mated to no less than 8 forward and reverse gears. Attached to the truck is a Sicard Snow Blower that is powered by a twin-turbocharged 12-cylinder OA424A engine.

Mechanically, the seller says both engines run great, and have low miles and hours logged. They say the tires are good and the blower is effective, throwing snow "great distances".

Cosmetically, this thing is a beacon of hope in the desolate winter landscape with bright orange paint and black accents. When the Unimog is used for military and civil work for the German government, they are aesthetically pleasing in a level of detail only the Germans can master. This one comes close, but could use some more details. I'd paint the rear bumper guard in yellow and red diagonal hazard stripes.

It is not clear whether this example was used for a public or private entity.

If you own large commercial space or a farm in areas that get dense snowfall, this could be a nifty tool all winter long.

Available here on ebay in Stanley, South Dakota with bidding and a Buy-It-Now of $33.9k.