JDM: 1998 Nissan March Bolero Edition

The Nissan March aka Micra was never imported into North America. In fact, it was only available in Japan as part of Nissan's Cherry Store network until 1999, when it was sold elsewhere.

What were we missing out on? The March was pretty basic, economical transportation.

Styling wise, it's a classic two-box mini-car shape. Two doors, big windows and a rear hatchback. This one however has the rather comically-named "Bolero" Edition trim (I can't confirm whether it has anything to do with Bo Derek's 1984 erotic epic). Apparently it was sold briefly in the late 90s and early 2000s as a special luxury package. The kicker is that it adds this rather gaudy and un-cool grille and chrome trim that makes the car look more like a Stutz Blackhawk than sleek Japanese microcar.

Underneath the hood however is a less-than-epic 1.3-liter 16-valve 4-cyldiner engine good for about 54 horsepower to the front wheels. It won't set the street on fire, but you can be you'll be getting damn good gas mileage. The downside is it's mated to an automatic transmission.

This example seems to have been imported from Japan to Canada. I've never seen one before. It is puzzling why someone would shuffle this thing across the Pacific. It's not particularly rare or desirable. It's a slow econobox with a weird front end. To each his own, though. I like the rear design at least, it resembles a Mini Cooper, and the owner also seems to have added aftermarket alloys, always a sign of love.

The seller says there is no rust but some dings and the paint isn't perfect. They do say there seems to be no sign of accident damage and the glass is good. Mechanically, they say it runs.

Hey, someone though it was special enough to bring over to this continent.

Available here on ebay with a auction and a $5,000 Buy It Now.

Early Bangle: 1996 Fiat Coupe Turbo

Utter the name of designer "Chris Bangle" among auto enthusiasts and a collective shudder will ensue. Bangle is an American who was hired as a stylist for BMW, and beginning with the 2002 E65 7-Series, radically altered the look, tone, and feel of all BMW vehicles, much to the public's disdain. During the late 20th century, BMW designs under Claus Luthe were always evolutionary, building carefully on each predecessor. These cars, like the E30, E32 and E34, were also built extremely well and when combined with the conservative styling, became seared in the minds of drivers all over the world as superior products. Bangle broke the evolutionary chain in favor of revolution. It backfired. The E65, with its bloated proportions, ridiculous trunk, overly complex electronics and unintelligible "iDrive", was a step in the wrong direction after the beloved E38 it replaced.

So what was Chris up to before he "bangled" up BMW? He worked for Opel and then Fiat, and this '96 Coupe bears his mark.

The Coupe was produced from 1993-2000. Bangle designed the body, and Pininfarina did the interior. Bangle's work here isn't half bad. It's quite in line with that Italian designers were striving for in the 90s, moving past the chiseled-from-steel edges and lines of the Eighties and into soft curves and minimalist panels. The unorthodox wheel arch shapes are interesting but give it an odd look from certain angles. The round taillights are nice. It's kinda futuristic, kinda pretentious. I also appreciate the rear wiper.

Inside, exterior color flows in and wraps around the dashboard to brighten things up.

Like Alfa Romeo at the time, which Fiat owned, the Coupe is front-wheel drive. Fortunately, under the hood of this example is the later 2.0-liter 20-valve 5-cylinder turbocharged engine. It pumped out around 217 horsepower and propelled the car from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, not bad. This one is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The car is located in Canada and the seller says it has only 69,999 kilometers on the clock, which is only about 42k miles. They say it's in "perfect" condition inside and out. The also say it's one of just a handful ever imported to North America. The US currently doesn't allow cars newer than 25 years old to be imported for road use, but there are exceptions. Perhaps this could be made into one of them? The seller warns however if you are a US bidder and you don't have a concrete plan on getting the car across the border, don't bother bidding.

Available here on ebay with no bids starting at $6,000 and a Buy-It-Now of $12k.

Twin Spark: 1997 Alfa Romeo Spider

The 1990s were a transition time for Alfa Romeo. They left the U.S. market in 1995 after years of dwindling sales. The moved most of their cars to simplistic front-wheel drive, much to the disdain of enthusiasts. And yet their designs started returning to the artful, sensuous curves not seen on their cars since the 1950s and early 60s.

The Spider was introduced in 1993 but the design by Enrico Fumia dates back to 1987. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it does mark a change in Italian auto styling trends away from the harsh edges and angles of the late 70s and 80s and more towards softer corners, flat planes and minimal detail. Sex appeal was back. It was was sophisticated then, and it still looks fresh today.

This particular example is especially crisp in blue over tan leather with black top. I especially like the holed alloys.

Under the hood is a 2.0-liter 16-valve 4-cylinder twin spark engine that produced 147 horsepower mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The seller of this example says it has just 84,200 kilometers which is only about 53k miles. Cosmetically, they say it has no rust and no "bondo".

Mechanically, they say it drives good and just had a timing belt and water pump replaced at 78km.

These were never sold in North America, but this one had managed to find its way to Canada, so it's one step closer thank importing one directly from Europe. I can see it humming alongside vineyards in Napa Valley, California if you can get it here.

Available here on ebay in British Columbia, Canada with bidding at $2,824 and a Buy-It-Now of $7,800.

Early Bangle: 1997 Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo 5-Speed

Utter the name of designer "Chris Bangle" among auto enthusiasts and a collective shudder will ensue. Bangle is an American who was hired as a stylist for BMW, and beginning with the 2002 E65 7-Series, radically altered the look, tone, and feel of all BMW vehicles, much to the public's disdain. During the late 20th century, BMW designs under Claus Luthe were always evolutionary, building carefully on each predecessor. These cars, like the E30, E32 and E34, were also built extremely well and when combined with the conservative styling, became seared in the minds of drivers all over the world as superior products. Bangle broke the evolutionary chain in favor of revolution. It backfired. The E65, with its bloated proportions, ridiculous trunk, overly complex electronics and unintelligible "iDrive", was a step in the wrong direction after the beloved E38 it replaced.

So what was Chris up to before he "bangled" up BMW? He worked for Opel and then Fiat, and this '97 Coupe bears his mark.

The Coupe was produced from 1993-2000. Bangle designed the body, and Pininfarina did the interior. Bangle's work here isn't half bad. It's quite in line with that Italian designers were striving for in the 90s, moving past the chiseled-from-steel edges and lines of the Eighties and into soft curves and minimalist panels. The unorthodox wheel arch shapes are interesting but give it an odd look from certain angles. The round taillights are nice. It's kinda futuristic, kinda pretentious. I also appreciate the rear wiper.

Inside, the interior is swathed in black plastics.

Like Alfa Romeo at the time, which Fiat owned, the Coupe is front-wheel drive. Fortunately, under the hood of this example is the later 2.0-liter 20-valve 5-cylinder turbocharged engine. It pumped out around 217 horsepower and propelled the car from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, not bad. This one is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The seller of this example is also selling the Alfa 155 that I spotlighted here.

They state the Fiat has 47k kilometers, which is only about 29k miles. They say it just had an extensive service and is now mechanically "perfect".

Available here on ebay in Ontario, Canada with an auction and a Buy-It-Now of $11,900 C, about the same in USD.

Tokyo Apocalypse: 1992 Mitsubishi Delica 2.5 Turbodiesel

Have you ever wanted a vehicle that does everything?

If so, you might want to check out this awesome 7-passenger Mitsu Delica.

The Delica nameplate has been used for Mitsubishi's micro van since 1968. This is a third generation example, which debuted in 1986 and, amazingly, is still in production to this day in Australia.

I think these things are great. They're cooler than minivans, provide just as much space, but are easier to drive and park. Then there is the styling. In the same way the Germans mastered the look of the stern, all-business sport sedan, the Japanese aced the feel of this hyper-utilitarian vehicle. Styling is subtle, simple, conservative, form-over-function. Note the large doors that open over the front wheels, and accompanying footsteps to aid entry. This one looks especially great in two-tone grey and pearl, accentuated by mudflaps, tastefully tinted windows, and front guard with yellow fog lamps.

These were sold briefly in the United States as tamed gasoline versions. Fortunately, this is the desirable 2.5-liter turbo diesel engine. Diesels last forever, and are usually torquey as-is, so the additional turbocharger is a welcome addition to make daily driving more fun.

It's also four-wheel drive, for superior traction in all sorts of inclement weather.

Taken all together, you can haul a bunch of friends or cargo, in any type of weather, and almost never have to worry about breaking down. Nice.

The seller of this example is a private owner who imported this rare vehicle to Canada. They say the mileage is 146k miles, but was "safetied" at 130k. Not sure what that means, but it may imply the odometer no longer works. They do say that at 110k the timing belt was changed, injection pump rebuilt and a new battery added. Mechanically, they say it is "excellent."

Cosmetically, they note some interior flaws and exterior scuffs. Typical wear and tear. It's supposed to be a rugged vehicle.

Available here on ebay in Winnipeg, Canada. The seller notes they are 45 minutes from the North Dakota border.

Last Of The Wedge: 54k-Mile 1997 Alfa Romeo 155

Alfa Romeo's front-wheel drive sedans from the 80s and 90s are really most notable for their unconventional styling more than any particular performance statistics, although this comes closer to the latter.

The 155 debuted in 1992 and is one of the great Ercole Spada's last designs for a major auto manufacturer. Spada was the genius who, while working under Claus Luthe, created the BMW E32 and E34, totems in the sport sedan segment. He knows his way around a handsome four doors and trunk deck. For the most part, the 155 builds off the chiseled lines of the 75/Milano and 164, but simplified. It's an utter success. Within this ultra-mod design language, Spada helped set Alfa apart from BMW and Mercedes.

Unfortunately, the car never quite lived up to its predecessor, the rear-wheel drive 75/Milano. The 155 sure looked good, even arguably better than the 75, but it was built after Fiat acquired Alfa Romeo, and as a no longer "pure" Alfa coupled with a new front-wheel drive layout more akin to a Toyota Camry, the 155 just wasn't what people wanted.

Fortunately, this delicious Rosso-red example is the later widebody edition, featuring a wider track for improved stance and handling. It's also coupled with the rare 2.5-liter V6 engine that produced 164 horsepower. That's not bad for a mid-size sedan. If the layout was Camry-like, the acceleration and handling would not be, mercifully.

Inside, the interior is immaculate. The owner claims the odometer reads only 87k kilometers, which is about 54k miles. These were family economy cars in Europe, so they don't often appear for sale as clean and infrequently driven as this one. Note the oversized white Alfa logo decal and matching white alloys are fresh and not overdone.

Mechanically, the seller states the vehicle is "sound", with the timing belt and water pump done around 30k miles ago.

Available here on ebay for $11,900 Canadian dollars, which is about the same in USD.

1996 Peugeot 306 Roland Garros Edition

The Peugeot 306 was Europe's standard issue compact hatchback.

Watch any movie set in Europe in the 1990s and 2000s and you're bound to see a dinged up 306 snuggled along the cobblestone boulevards of Paris or Rome.

This example has made its way to North America, where it was never officially offered. Peugeot pulled all operations out of the U.S. and Canada in 1991 after years of abysmal sales. But that didn't mean they didn't make good cars.

Back in Europe, they continued to thrive. The 306 replaced the 309 (yes, the model numbers descended). It was produced from 1993-2002 resulting in over 2 million units made.

The layout was simple but refined and built on decades of Peugeot's experience in making small cars. A front-mounted 4-cylinder engine powered the front wheels. Hatchback, sedan, wagon and convertible body styles were available.

Styling is simple and clean, but the slanted triangular headlights and taillights give the car a more Japanese than French feel. Perhaps that's because a lot of the stiff competition in the econobox segment was coming out of that region. Hey, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Unfortunately, BMW made this same mistake to the extreme when they took Chris Bangle aboard and Japanesized their designs, too.

Still, there's something way cooler about this than your average Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus, cars readily available here for a long time and in plentiful numbers. Maybe it's just because we never got it officially. You always want what you can't have.

The seller states this is the rare Roland Garros Edition, named so after the nickname for the French Open tennis tournament, which in turn was named after a famous French aviator. I couldn't find out exactly how many were made, but one source has estimated only about 400. The only cosmetic differences were special green paint, after the green of a tennis court I presume. Under the hood is a four-banger mated to a stick shift.

They mention it's never been run in the winter (despite being located in Canada) and is rust-free, a huge plus. They say it runs good and is in good shape. They list the mileage as 180,000 which is probably in kilometers and equals about 111k miles.

Find it here on ebay in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for a Buy-It-Now of $5,500 and the Make An Offer option as well.

Three-Seater: 10k-mi 1983 Matra Murena 2.2 S

Before I found this, if someone asked me to name a three-seat sports car I would have named the brilliant McLaren F1, which had the driver's seat positioned in the center of the cockpit flanked by two passenger seats on each side.

This, however, is another three-seater, and perhaps even more obscure.

I usually post cars for sale in the U.S. only. I'm American and my audience consists of (presumably) mostly Americans. There's also a ton of cool cars for sale around the world and if I started including them it would change the point of my blog, which is to bring you interesting cars that might be in your neighborhood. This car is in Canada, but I can't resist writing about it. It's also at least in the continent of North America, so if any of my readers become seriously interested, importation would probably slightly easier and less expensive than coming in from overseas.

It's a 1983 Matra Murena.

Matra was a French Automotive group that dissolved in 1994.

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

A number of things make the Murena special.

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

The layout is mid-engine powering the rear wheels, ideal for sports car enthusiasts. The engine is a 2.2-litre inline 4-cylinder. This car also features the rare and desirable "S-kit", which raised bhp output to 142. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

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

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

The car does indeed look great. Paint looks excellent, panels straight, no major damage or flaws. The spoiler and slatted rear quarter windows may be options, as I found photos of examples with no spoilers and clear windows instead. The slats make it look like a late model Pontiac Fiero, which is not exactly desirable, so they could be swapped out for glass pieces to look more like a Lancia Montecarlo. Everything appears original though.

Design wise it's very appealing as well. Classic compact '80s design. Muzzled front end. The taillights are broad and nicely integrated. Alloys are subtle and tasteful.

Mechanically, there seem to be no issues, although the seller didn't include any photos of the engine, which is unusual. The seller says it runs and drives however. I would still at least ask for photos of the engine compartment.

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

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

Find it here on ebay in Toronto, Canada with a buy it now price and the make offer option.