1988 Sterling 825 SL

The Sterling was one of the more bizarre automotive marriages in history: the British company Rover and none other than Honda of Japan.

On paper, it seemed like a great idea. The tasteful styling flair of British design with the efficiency and driver-oriented dynamics of Honda engineering. But perhaps the first sign of trouble was the name. Rover had so little success in North America that they decided to name this car the Sterling, so as to appear as an entirely new brand when it was in fact not.

Despite the international heritage, it wasn't enough of either, or perhaps too much of both. The exterior design was decidedly bland but passable, but the interior build quality was poor. Electrical problems arose. The body rusted (in typical British car fashion).

Since the engine was the same as in some Acuras, which were better looking and way better built, the Sterling was pointless. Sales plummeted, and even when some problems were rectified, it was too late. Besides, the late 80s Eurobox market was already flooded with vastly superior options.

All that said, they make dainty little second hand cars. Usually all the bugs have been worked out by now, the interior seats are super cozy and the Honda engine means reliability and cheap parts.

Available here on ebay.

1985 TVR Tasmin 280i

Although I typically try to steer clear of the "little British roadster" so cliched and overexposed in the classic auto world, this TVR is shunned enough by purists that it's right at home on COTC.

British cars had a hard time in the late 70s and early 80s, especially in markets outside the UK. They shed the legendary sexy curves of the 50s and 60s in favor of hard angles that the Germans and Japanese were so good at. But unlike German and Japanese engineering, British cars weren't known for ergonomics or efficiency. They also rusted faster than the speed of light.

The Tasmin showed up in 1980 looking like Giugario took the weekend off and gave styling duties to his son or brother. You'd think it would be hard to screw up the wedge, but here TVR go and do it, making it awkward, derivative and cheap, especially with those parts-bin taillights last seen on the 70s Lotus lineup. This one takes things further with chintzy gold paint and even golder BBS knock-off wheels.

Inside is that stack-of-boxes dashboard, infuriatingly made worse with a wood steering wheel and shift knob (never understood why those appear on supposedly sporty cars - aren't they slipper and make you lose grip?).

Fortunately, some relief comes from under the hood, a 2.8-liter Ford Cologne V6 good for about 160 horsepower to the rear wheels.

This one has obviously been lucky enough to have an adoring owner, who imported it themselves from the UK to the US in 2011. They state it has no catalytic converter or engine-strangling emissions equipment, keeping power intact. The seller says it's in better than daily driver condition. It's not everybody's cup of English tea, but it seems like a well kept example of a quirky chapter in TVR history, sandwiched inbetween their sumptuous 60s and 90s-00s cars.

By the way, as I'mm writing this I'm listening to this sweet song called "Maybe Tonight" by Lovelock which totally seems like it would be playing from this thing's stereo system.

Available here on ebay.

1976 Jaguar XJ6C

The XJ6C was a coupe version of Jaguar's longstanding XJ platform. I was thinking about Jaguar the other day. They're obviously a legendary automaker and revered in their home country but haven't really had a hit on this side of the Atlantic in a long time. I'd factor in a lot of reasons: quality, marketing, pricing, economics, competition and the general mood of the times.

That said, it's vital to recognize they practically created the mold of the luxurious but quick footed 6-cylinder sedan with the XJ6, just around the time Mercedes got in on it and before BMW did.

This is from the Series II XJ from 1973-1979. With over 91,000 examples built, it was a mild success. Between 1975 and 1978, there was a limited run of 9,378 two-door pillar-less coupes, based on the short wheelbase XJ. It came with either 6 or eight cylinders.

On the surface, it seemed great, and it certainly looked great. The XJ is obviously an already handsome car and the coupe is arguably even more graceful, US bumpers aside.

Unfortunately, its very Britishness got the best of it. The doors were literally just extended pieces from the sedans, with weld lines visible on the inner side. The roof was covered in a homely vinyl, which trapped water and eventually rusted. The paint flexed and cracked because of the pillar less body. The price was also higher than the sedan.

Today, the XJ6C still around usually have these problems rectified or are complete basket cases. This one falls in the middle somewhere. The seller says it has a 350 engine conversion that is in good condition but needs some work. At least it looks elegant in white with white wall tires.

Available here on craigslist for $5,500 or best offer.

1989 Sterling 827 SLI Hatchback

Sterling is up there with Merkur as one of those failed 80s brands. The thing about both of them is that they actually made perfectly ok cars. The problem was mostly in their marketing boardrooms.

The Sterling was actually just a Rover, a British car company along the lines of Jaguar. But since Americans had come to detest all the Rovers that had been imported thus far, the company felt their latest offering would have a better chance if it was renamed. Rule number one: honesty is always the best policy. A brand that has a comeback car is better than a brand that nobody knows. This, however, was completely lost on Rover.

Sterling's only car was the 825 which debuted in 1987. In 1989 it was renamed 827, for the Honda 2.7-liter V6 engine under the hood. The idea was that Rover's partnership with Honda would bring out the best of each company in the car; the prestige and class of Rover and the reliability and build quality of Honda. Unfortunately the Sterling didn't have enough of either. Early models were plagued with problems. The engines were good, but the interiors are said to be a weak point. Rust was also an issue. By the time improvements came the public lost interest and sales ended in 1991 in the US.

Another issue is purpose. If it had the same underpinnings as the Acura Legend, why not just get an Acura Legend? Some of that was solved with the super rare hatchback version that is for sale here. Honda sure loved hatchbacks, but they never offered a four-door one, and certainly not under the Acura nameplate. Suddenly, the Sterling is making more sense. Four doors, huge trunk space, spunky V6 power, and good looks. It's a cosy, predicable family cruiser.

The seller of this one is a Sterling fanatic and claim they have gone through no less than four donor cars just to keep this one going. It's got a 183.5k miles, impressive for this car. They also have a huge binder of maintenance. While it's sad to see a dedicated owner forced to sell, I have a feeling this will end up in appreciate hands somehow, somewhere.

Available here on ebay for $3,495.

Price Buster: $18.5k 1991 Bentley Turbo R

Bentley cars weren't always the super cool and sexy hi-tech mobiles they are today. In the 80s, the company was stuck with just two bodies, one of which was the dull and angular Mulsanne, and the other was the ancient Corniche, which had been in use since the 60s. Both were also shared with Rolls Royce, lessening the exclusivity even more.

With the Mulsanne-based Turbo R, however, the company sought to spice things up a bit.

'R' stood for road holding and referred to various tuning and suspension changes Bentley made to the Mulsanne to make it sportier. Wider tires and alloy wheels were also added. Underneath the hood was a huge 6.75 liter turbocharged V8 engine that pumped out nearly 300 horsepower to the rear wheels, very respectable for the time and still healthy today. If the goal was to blow the Mercedes 500SEL and BMW 750iL out of the water, Bentley succeeded, and it caught the attention of the press and upper crusters, too.

The only drawback is that reliability will be questionable. For a long time, expensive British cars were made with a lot of pride but not much practicality. I have absolutely no idea where you'd have this serviced and how much it could cost, but the huge engine and turbo boost is going to put a lot of stress on things, and it isn't going to be cheap when something does break.

This example is the cheapest I've ever seen, and could be the lowest priced example ever on the market, save for salvage and wrecked ones. The seller says they acquired it from a family friend and the car wears its original paint, has never been wrecked, and is in good running condition. They list the odometer as reading just 60,953 miles. It also looks good in lesser-seen grey, as so many were red.

I'd love to just have it for a Sunday to drive fast on the highway then show off driving slow around town.

Available here on ebay in Long Beach, California with no bids starting at $14k and a Buy It Now of $18,500.

1950 Sunbeam Talbot Mark 1 Convertible

Just like there are some people that are so charming they are irresistible (however few and far between), there are some cars so charming you can't help but like them. This happens a lot to me with cars from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. As a twentysomething millenial generation y-er, I have no real connection to these cars, as they were long gone by the time I was growing up. So when I stumble across them today, they stick out because they either remind me of something I've seen in an old film, or just plain look good.

File this Sunbeam under "just plain looks good". This is one of those few cars that is both cute and beautiful.

Sunbeam is a British company better known for their Alpine roadster that appeared in Dr. No. The Talbot was a more substantial offering from the company, however, and was produced in both a four-door saloon and two-door convertible bodies from 1948-1954.

This particular example is a late Mark I, based on a modified Humber chassis. The seller says this one has the 1944cc engine producing just 64 horsepower. It's mated to a column shift 4-speed transmission.

The odometer reads 91,097.

The creme over red color scheme is pitch-perfect post-war class, and the condition looks excellent. The seller says the paint, interior and top have been redone, but the rest of the car shows no signs of abuse. I guess that would classify this is a "restored survivor".

Only a total of 4,000 Talbot MK I were made, less were convertibles, and even less were left-hand drive and made it to North America, making this a very rare car. It won't win any races, but it will catch a lot of eyes.

Available here on ebay in Saint Louis, Missouri for $34,500 and the Make Offer option.

Supercar Alert: 1994 Jaguar XJ220 on Ebay

The XJ220 is easily one of the coolest and most beautiful cars ever made. So-called for its targeted top speed of 220 miles per hour, it was never originally intended for production, but was so well-received at the 1988 British Motor Show that Jaguar did make just 281 examples for public consumption. One can imagine the awe it inspired as Thatcher-era yuppies licked their lips and feasted their eyes on it.

The original concept had a V12 and all-wheel drive. For production, a twin-turbocharged V6 was used instead to reduce weight and complexity and increase balance. It was mounted in the rear of the car and pumped out 542 horsepower to just the rear wheels.

Keith Helfet's styling is truly something to behold, a masterpiece looking both back and forward at the same time. It almost reminds me of something Luigi Colani might create. In the 80s, Jaguar was moving away from their luscious curves of the 50s and 60s and towards harder edges and boxy shapes in vogue at the time and employed to great effect by the Germans and Japanese. But when the XJ40 debuted in 1986 with large rectangular headlights, it backfired, and almost killed the brand, along with quality and reliability issues. The XJ220 revived association of Jaguar with sensuous curves and did so in a manner that was futuristic and classic at the same time. It's a huge home run and is one for the ages.

Inside, occupants are surrounded by sculpted leather racing seats, stitched leather dashboard and extra analog gauges on the door.

The seller says this example has just 960 miles on the odometer and is clearly a near-mint museum-quality collector's piece. The XJ220 is amazing to look at, very fast, and extremely rare. It is a classic supercar from the late 80s/early 90s heyday of supercars, and is a high point in Jaguar's history.

Available here on ebay in Barrington, Illinois for $300,000 or "reasonable offers".

Happy Anniversary, 007: 1988 Aston Martin V8 Zagato

James Bond is celebrating 50 years of cinematic existence since his 1962 debut in Dr. No and COTC is marking the occasion by spotlighting this unusual and rare Aston Martin Zagato.

Zagato has a long history with Aston Martin and Aston Martin has a long history with James Bond. But Aston was in trouble by the 1980s, as was Bond. Timothy Dalton did a great job in The Living Daylights, but by License to Kill and the fall of the U.S.S.R. the series was running out of steam. Aston Martin meanwhile, was struggling to provide a reliable and respectable supercar (or sedan for that matter, after the Lagonda debacle) to compete with the best.

So in 1986, they asked Zagato to re-body their aging V8 Vantage to reinvigorate the lineup and drum up some press coverage. The Italian coachbuilder had always been at the forefront of automotive design, celebrating and influencing trends of the moment throughout their decades of design experience.

Zagato delivered the goods, erasing the existing sheet metal in favor of a radical redesign that seems to be auditioning for the set of Blade Runner. Zagato immerses themselves in themes of the 1980s while still retaining a core Aston Martin identity. Especially brilliant is the 8-bit Tetris front end arrangement, where the rectangular headlights, turn indicators and fog lamps neatly abutt a reduced, simpliflied and modern interpretation of the Aston grille. The glass-to-glass canopy and side windows-within-a-window doubtless inspired Giugiaro's Subaru SVX.

This particular example looks perfect in Javelin Grey metallic over black leather interior. The seller says it has low miles and all service records. Although it made a splash at the 1986 Geneva motor show, with a flood of orders immediately taken, only 52 were built, and so they remain highly collectible and desirable today.

James Bond might never have driven this particular model, but it would have suited him just fine.

Available here on Car and Classic UK.

Matching Numbers 1959 Jaguar Mark IX

The first time I saw this listing, the seller had a post script that said the vehicle could be the same exact Jaguar driven by Kim Novak in Vertigo. My attention immediately piqued so I did some research and sure enough there was a similar car in the film. Hitchcock's movies are already A-list, and the cars that appeared in them (remember the Aston Martin from The Birds?) are iconic to say the least. I was ready to post it when poof - the listing disppeared.

Then I was reading Old Parked Cars this morning and I came across their in-person encounter of this car, along with a link to a new ebay listing. Thanks guys!

Only 10,009 produced Mark IX were produced from 1959-1961. These come from a long line of beautiful Jaguar cars, and was one of the last of its shape before it was replaced by the wider, lower and more modern Mark X. They were available in one or two-tone colors. This one is pitch-perfect in dark green/light moss green over grey leather interior.

These were powered by just one engine: a large 3781cc inline 6-cylinder that pumped out a very respectable 220 horsepower to the rear wheels. It came to an equally forceful stop thanks to four-wheel disc brakes.

Older Jaguar sedans run the gamut in price and condition. They aren't as desirable and worth nearly as much as they coupes and convertibles, but they are just as pretty and intriguing to look at. This is undoubtedly the high point of the British auto industry, before the successes of the Germans and Japanese in the 70s and 80s.

The seller of this example states it is a matching numbers older restoration with a complete engine, transmission, body and interior. They note the paint is likely not new, but the job was done well and still looks presentable.

Mechanically, they say it had problem with the starter, but was garaged while sitting. The seller says they did get it running, so it could be an easy fix.

Available here on ebay with 16 bids at $4,156 and a Buy-It-Now of $6,300. Hemmings CPI value guide puts a 1959-61 MK IX in fair shape at $7,550 and good at $13,500, with a 4% increase over time, so this seems like a good deal.

1995 Land Rover Range Rover LWB Convertible

There's something really charming about this, despite how impractical it is.

The Range Rover Classic was produced from 1970-1996 and is one of the first luxury sport utility vehicles. Only the British could fuse two seemingly disparate worlds - utility and luxury - together so well. It has been imitated and copied so many times since then it's almost impossible keep track. And until the last couple years, these types of vehicles were very popular in the U.S.

Shortly before his death in 2010, the original designer, Spen King, remarked with disgust how Range Rover had ended up becoming a status symbol, which it was never intended to be. But classic car fans appreciate the bare bones intentions of the original. Regardless, it's a classic vehicle, and a classic SUV.

The seller of this example states it is 1 of 3 "made in the universe". Yes, I would assume some alien civilization halfway across the Milkyway isn't producing Range Rover out there. They provide no source for the low quantity, although they do mention they owned 2 of the 3. Since a factory convertible was never produced to my knowledge, anyone can have a custom conversion done, so I'm not sure if I believe there are just 3. That said, there sure can't be many.

The conversion isn't half bad. All of the pillars except for the rear most two are left intact. I think some sort of rollbar or frame for the rear would fill out the profile a little better, especially from the side. I don't see any softtop folded, and sure enough the seller says a brand new top is "being made as we speak".

The seller lists the odometer as reading 194k miles but says it drives great, the air conditioning blows cold and everything works, a minor blessing on a Range Rover, which are not known for reliability, like a lot of British cars, unfortunately.

Let's face it, this won't be used for photographing the safari, or to deliver first aid to an impoverished third world country. So if you need something big, bulky, unreliable, gas guzzling yet admittedly very unique for your summer ride, here it is.

Available here on ebay in Brooklyn, New York with a Buy-It-Now of $12,900 and the Make Offer option.

1999 Lotus Elise Sport 190

Colin Chapman would have been very proud. Lotus's Elise only weighed about 1,660 lbs. Chapman's "speed through weight" ideology is still a great engineering principle automakers could learn a thing or two from today, especially as they chase ever more efficient solutions in the face of mounting government regulation against fuel consumption.

Lotus had been all over the map in the late 20th century, coming out with a slew of odd designs that still managed to perform, while never quite being the best or the most up to date. But in 1996, they unveiled the Elise, which intended to change all of that.

The Elise replaced the maligned Elan as their entry-level vehicle. The Elan, while very pretty, was really no better than a Mercury Capri (don't get me wrong, I like the Capri, but...) being front-wheel drive. The Elise, however, featured a rear mid-mounted engine that powered the rear wheels. Thanks to simple construction and light parts, it wasn't heavy. Power was small - only four-cylinders - but it propelled the car from 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds. Handling, braking and fuel economy were excellent.

Styling is superb. The mid-engine placement did not yield any design cliches (as Toyota's MR2 did, for example) but rather a refreshing take that is simple, sexy, sporty and damn near-classic by now. British design in the 1990s really expanded some horizons and seemed to blend the minimalism of 1980s design with the luscious curves of the 1950s and 60s. These were only offered as targas, a slight blow to structural integrity but upping the fun factor.

In a lot of ways, these could be descendants of Porsche's 914, which was essentially the exact same setup, removable hardtop and all. Underneath the hood is a 1.8-liter 4-banger producing a healthy 190 horsepower.

This example looks appropriately wild in racer red with matching red seats and steering wheel. Note the integrity bar above the passenger seat. Not sure if anyone is supposed to fit there.

It features 3,248 kilometers which is only 2,018 miles.

Lotus only made the first-generation Elise from 1996 to 2000, before new regulations forced a new design. They were never offered here, sadly, where they would surely have taken a huge bite out of MR2, Del Sol, Miata, Z3 and Boxster sales. Since 2004, however, we have been allowed the second generation Elise, but it lacks the soft curves and simple shapes of the first series.

This is a rare and desirable vehicle now in the U.S.

Available here on ebay for $29,980.

1994 Jaguar XJ12

How would you like four-doors and 12 cylinders for $1,999?

The code-name XJ40 body was nearly 15 years in the making. Jaguar had intended it to replace the XJ Series II, but production was delayed for one reason or another. Styling, however, continued at an even pace over the years, culminating in a debut at the British International Motor Show in 1986. The Series II XJ, meanwhile, was sold alongside the XJ40 until 1992.

Below is a development photo.

So what does 15 years of continuous styling yield? Sadly, not a shape everyone loved. Purists scoffed at the squared off edges and single-piece rectangular headlights that replaced the iconic quad round lamps. The instrument cluster was digital. The car was more modern than gothic the way Jaguars of the 1950s, 60s and 70s had been. But if the goal was to modernize the XJ, Jaguar succeeded. In a lot of ways, it was actually a very carefully crafted and good looking car. It still retained the classic long and low profile, and the rectangular headlights actually looked better on the boxy shape than the round units they later added did. It was offered in a bunch of rich colors and it looked good in every one of them, too. Jaguar had to move forward and they did so in the most appropriate way possible.

If most people were eventually won over by the styling, the XJ40 gained no fans for reliability and build quality. Sure, it's a solid car, but it just wasn't designed or made the way Mercedes-Benz were. The problem is that the XJ40 was intended to compete against the Benz, but it fell short yet again. By the end of the 1980s, when the Japanese had jumped into the ring with the Lexus LS400 and Infiniti Q45, both of which were faster, cheaper, far better made and arguably better looking, Jaguar was lagging far behind. They've never really recovered, either.

However, Jaguar still had one card up their sleeve their Japanese competitors didn't: the V12 in a four-door sedan. Jaguar had pioneered this setup, and had offered it before Mercedes and BMW jumped into the game. But Jaguar hadn't offered the V12 in the U.S. since 1979, and the XJ40 series only gained the 12-cylinder in 1993, just a year away from the whole car's demise entirely. By then, however, it made sense, as BMW had the 750iL and Mercedes the 600SEL. Could Jaguar keep up? Would it matter?

Jaguar's engine was a 6.0-litre HE version of their long-running V12 engine that dated back to 1971. More than 140 inner body parts had to be re-designed to accommodate the new V12. It was the same V12 used in the XJS during the same period, and produced a very healthy 318 horsepower powering the rear-wheels.

Only a total of 2,991 were ever made, and just 1,325 were exported around the world. By the time this powerful car debuted, the XJ40's reputation was too damaged to ever recover, and sales reflected that. If you thought the 6-cylinder XJ might be problematic,12-cylinder reliability and upkeep could be an absolute nightmare.

Fortunately, if you want to find one, they are available at inexpensive entry prices. This example is being offered up by the owner who says it runs great and has a functioning tachometer, speedometer and odometer. They state the mileage as 137,000, and wears new tires and a new battery.

I'd ask about any maintenance history available. But if you're looking for cheap and fast transportation, this could easily fit the bill and provide more than enough entertainment as well.

Find it here on craigslist in Tucson, Arizona.

Rumble in Coventry: 1976 Jaguar XJC V8

This cool custom Jaguar build features a 1996 Chevy 350 V8 engine on top of numerous cosmetic upgrades.

The XJC was a two-door coupe version of their XJ Series II sedan. Only 9,378 were made between 1975 and 1978. Like a lot of British cars, it looked good but was made poorly. Aesthetically speaking, the Series II translated surprisingly well into a pillar-less coupe. However, when it came to construction, fit, and finish, Jaguar cut corners and made mistakes. They welded on door extensions. The loss of b-pillars flexed the roof, which in turn cracked the paint. Jaguar covered the roof in vinyl, but it looked ugly and trapped rust.

Fortunately, the seller of example has rectified nearly all of the car's original problems and enhanced its strong points tenfold.

Cosmetically, they stripped the paint to the bare metal, vinyl roof and all, and repainted the whole body in glossy black. Inside, they have new grey leather seats from BAS interiors of England. The dash is new and the wood was refinished.

The wheels are from a 1996 XJR and are pitch-perfect. The only change I would have made is swapping clunky U.S.-spec bumpers for slimmer units or ditching them altogether.

Mechanically, the American V8 swap provides a ton more muscle and power. The seller says the engine itself was blueprinted, balanced, rebuilt and upgraded with a small cam and roller rockers.

The seller notes this was not a restoration, but a rebuild, and they say the car originally had no rust. They say it currently runs well and produces a "beautiful sound". It's certainly not a cat anymore...probably more like a lion.

This could really satisfy someone's itch for a sleek and unique classic Jaguar, but without the quality headaches that usually come with them.

Find it here on ebay in California with bidding at $5,600 but reserve not met.

Yes, They Did: 1975 Jaguar XJ6 Coupe

If you ever wondered why Jaguar never made a coupe version of their smashing XJ sedan...it's because you didn't know that they actually did. You're be in good company.

At first I thought it was a photoshop job or even dare I say a custom shortened chassis or something. But no. Between 1975-1978, Jaguar pumped out over 10,000 of these, small figures but enough so that a few have survived today.

The idea is really attractive. Their XJ sedan was already legendary. The ancient, gothic styling. 6-cylinder powerplant. Royal credentials. Any anglophile automatically loves Jaguar. So why not a coupe?

Fortunately, the XJ body translates really well into a 2-door coupe. It looks long, low and sleek. Suddenly, you can visualize yourself taking day trips from London to the English countryside and back.

That's about where the advantages end, though. To make the doors longer, Jaguar just welded extensions on to the standard XJ sedan door. The seams are often visible on the other side. Since there are no b-pillars, the roof flexed, causing paint to crack and chip away. Jaguar covered the roof with vinyl, but not only does it look in poor taste but was also a rust trap.

The seller of this example states it was restored in 2003. Their pictures are from 2011. They say it has a new biscuit interior, which does indeed look good. They say the car is otherwise original down to the chrome hubcaps.

I would try to swap the clunky 5 mph bumpers for slim Euro pieces, and maybe take the vinyl off and take the roof down to the bare metal then repaint it matching the bright red body color. Other than that, it's fine cosmetically.

The seller makes no mention of the mechanicals, however.

Find it here on craigslist in Minnesota for $10,500.