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.

1985 Ford E250 Super Club XLT Diesel

When's the last time you saw one of these? Vans are missing widespread collector appreciation because so many were used for utilitarian purposes and run into the ground. But when a clean one comes up on the market it sure reminds you how bold and fun and (sometimes) colorful they were, like this one.

Some post-war work vans were rear-engined like the Volkswagen Vanagon and even America's own Corvair Van. But after the rear-engine fling of the 60s and 70s, manufacturers switched over to front-engine, impractically squeezing in large workhorse engines into the snub-nosed front of these new vans designs.

In the long run perhaps it was for the better. The front-engine configuration made most sense on vans, so that the entire rest of the body could be devoted to space. In this case, it's for passengers and their luggage.

The orange and creme two-tone color is bright and retro and it's amazing to see the brushed aluminum hubcaps still intact. Roof gear adds to the rugged, outdoorsy look.

The interior screams of "in the empire" America: long, flat planes, rectangular shapes and fake wood trim. But man, those seats sure do look cozy.

In back are two more rows of seats. Bring the whole family!

It's also got an 8 cylinder diesel engine powering the rear-wheels. Does it drift? All kidding aside, this will be expensive to operate energy-wise whichever way you splice it (unless you go bio), but I'd still rather have the oil-burner than a petrol guzzler.

Here's the thing. What is the entry price to seating 8 adults in a new vehicle today. At least $30k-$40k, right? And those aren't even diesels. This beast can be had for just under $4k.

Available here on ebay

1982 Nissan Patrol MQ Turbo Diesel

Winter may be waning in North America but it sure was a long one - enough to make some people want to start preparing for the next year. One thing might to be to pick up a vehicle that can hold its own in snowy conditions.

One such ride would be this sweet Nissan Patrol. The JDM flood is on! Now that every year of the 80s is legal to import to the US, all sorts of fantastic Japanese cars that were never imported to North America are finally seeing the light of day here.

The Patrol is a long-running name that dates back to the 50s and is still in use to this day. This is a "160" MQ series, that was produced from 1980-1989.

The styling is classic 80s Japanese truck, all merciless hard angles, black plastic and entertaining decal text. This one looks great in silver with "turbo diesel" on the sides and rear tailgate.

Inside is an equally brutalist exercise in functionality. The pre-airbag steering wheel is nifty, as are the striped cloth seats. It's all in surprisingly good shape.

A lot of older Japanese cars are usually underpowered but this one has what made it worth the trip across the Pacific: a 6-cylinder turbo diesel engine. Sure, it won't win any drag races, but it will be torquey, relatively fuel efficient (at least compared to a gasoline V8) and bulletproof for half a million miles with simple care and routine oil changes. It's also mated to a stick shift for extra fun.

The seller says the mileage is an astonishingly low 75k miles, everything works and there is no rust.

This is a really cool and rare alternative to the more common early Toyota Landcruisers and first-generation Isuzu Troopers.

Available here on ebay with bidding over $7k already.

1988 Volkswagen LT45 Diesel Firetruck

Somebody call der firetruck!

This Volkwagen was imported from Holland where it served as an airport crash tender, spraying foam wherever there were flames.

The LT was the largest light commercial van VW produced from 1975-2006. Unlike the beloved Type 2 van, the LT had the engine in the front, like most vans today. It was available with either rear or all-wheel drive, four or six cylinders, and gas or diesel engines.

This particular exam is equipped with 2wd and a Volvo 6-cyl. diesel engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The car is now in Florida, that haven for easily titling imported vehicles. Thankfully, the seller seems to have a good reputation and currently possess a clear FL title in hand to go with this vehicle.

Mechanically, they say it has only about 4,800 kilometers which equals about only 3,000 miles on the odometer.

Cosmetically, they say the tiny tires are in good shape and the interior is clean but the front windshield is busted and there is exterior rust. They also say the haven't tested the actual firefighting equipment and assume it is not working.

This is a quirky little truck but with that low mileage it definitely deserves a good long life in caring hands. It could be converted to a flat bed and the engine to biofuel to make it even more efficient and useful.

Available here on ebay.

1975 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter O 309 Diesel

Although it's hard to believe, spring is coming up and then summer, and you know what that means...road trip time! What better way to canvas miles of American pavement then this sweet vintage Benz bus?

First of all let me say I love Mercedes-Benz. Not the snooty, blingy, gimmicky, over-engineered global car company of today. No, I love the company they used to be when they rose from the ashes of the second world war like a phoenix and remade themselves into a company that built great cars not just for their own people, but for the world. This meant a range of cargo vans, buses and trucks that could go anywhere and do anything. Best of all, they were often equipped with Mercedes-Benz's legendary diesel engines. Back then, the diesels were almost entirely mechanical, meaning they could theoretically operate submerged under water. These engines went on for half a million or more miles. They were specifically designed for the long haul.

So you can imagine a vintage Benz enthusiast pulse quicken when this baby popped up on ebay. Mercedes introduced the O 309 in 1967 and it lasted until 1986. This lovely '75 model year example comes smack in the middle and is equipped with a 4-cylinder diesel engine. The seller says they have added a factory turbocharger. These are far from fast, so the extra boost is welcome.

Inside there are two captains chairs up front and padded bench seats in back. There's also a fold out table, a full size bed, 3 way power, carpeted flooring and LED lighting.

Cosmetically, the seller says it is unrestored and may wear its original paint. They do say there are dings, dents, and some rust and rot but nothing too serious or threatening. Mechanically, the speedometer doesn't work, the engine leaks oil and a sway bar bushing will eventually have to be replaced. Despite all that, they stress it can be driven away and used as-is, which would be the most economically sensible idea.

Fortunately, they say it has had 13 years and over $11,000 worth of maintenance done and the records to back it up.

If you plan on living out of this, I'd put the time and money into perfecting it just how you want. But if you're just gonna embark on that summer road trip, it could be all set to go.

Available here on ebay with an asking price of $11,950

1997 3/4 Ton GMC Suburban Diesel

Ah, the Suburban of the 90s, that all-American family hauler that crept around the quiet blocks of Suburbia. Bigger and tougher than Ford's Explorer, there really wasn't anything else like it. Square-jawed, no-nonsense and simply styled, they made an instant presence. This was the optimism, power and excess of the post-Cold War Clinton Era bundled into a single vehicle.

GM debuted the much-needed new face of their Chevrolet truck range in the late 80s. They were fresh and bold looking and were an instant hit. It wasn't until 1992 however that the new Suburban came out. It was a huge hit too. I don't remember ever seeing the previous generation. But growing up, the '92 and onward body style was everywhere in my small middle class New England town. They were most often driven by soccer moms but dads weren't self-conscious to drive them, either.

Of course, this was when gas was still hovering around a dollar. There wasn't a worry in the world. So guzzlers like almost all of Chevrolet's trucks were socially acceptable, understood and even respected. But let's face it. Not everybody was doing well then. And even if you were, any responsible mind would cringe at the thought of filling up one of these monsters.

Which is where this particular example comes in. It's the rare diesel version that I didn't even know existed until I stumbled across it deep within the craigslist classifieds. If you know this blog, you know I love diesels. They are rare in passenger cars, but they weren't rare in trucks. They were rare in passenger trucks, however. Chevrolet assumed that mom and dad and five kids didn't worry about fuel efficiency as much as getting to the movie theater on time. But their marketing department thought some head of the household might be, so they sold this GMC diesel version for only two years.

The diesel engine of choice is a huge 6.5-liter V8 turbo diesel that pumped out 310 horsepower. It wasn't any kind of record breaker, but it was strong, torquey, reliable and efficient enough. The seller claims it gets "much better" mileage than the gasoline version, "especially on the highway". Frankly, if you're going to have a huge truck like this, I really have no idea why you wouldn't want anything else other than a diesel for all of those exact reasons mentioned above. Only in the last couple years have diesels in big family trucks thankfully returned, but they are often ridiculously expensive and complicated. Chevy's diesels had a relatively simple fuel system.

The seller says this one comes in SLT trim, so it has cushy leather upholstery, three rows of seats, two batteries and a tow package (and I bet this is a great hauler). They say the mileage is at 173k, nothing surprising. Mechanically, they say it runs and drives great.

If you have a big family but a tight budget or run a airport taxi service, I would absolutely consider this beast. With the 4x4 and diesel, this is a go-anywhere mobile.

Available here on craigslist for $5,200.

1990 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel

Volkswagen's diesels are legendary. They aren't fast. They aren't revolutionary. But they're relatively simple and extremely reliable and efficient. These were common in third world taxi fleets and went for half a million miles before a rebuild.

Today, Volkswagen's diesels are a mixed blessing. They have more power, but the price premium over gasoline variants almost eliminates any savings gained fuel efficiency, and I heard quality and reliability was a concern, for a while not to mention the notorious high cost of VW parts.

That makes their diesel engines of the 70s and 80s extra appealing, which is why my fingertips tingled at finding this example.

The second generation Jetta lasted from 1984-1992. It's a classic three-box shape, all sharp angles and hard corners. In fact, the only circular shapes are the wheels. Many people hated it, but just as many are looking back fondly as car design gets uglier and poorer each passing year.

Underneath the hood is a small 1.6 liter 4-cylinder diesel. There was a turbocharger fitted on one engine, but the seller is unclear if it's turbo (in fact, I don't see any diesel nomenclature on the car itself, puzzlingly). Knowing my luck, it's a non-turbo. The turbo adds a nice little boost. But either way, these are slow cars. Getting on the highway is a feat. Passing traffic is out of the question. Thankfully it's a 5-speed.

Another high point is handling. FWD setup aside, these are tight, taut little cars that are lightweight enough to feel nimble. Clutch feel is also said to be nice.

The seller claims the miles are low, but don't elaborate on the exact figure. They do say it's a 1-owner that was well-services and runs and looks new.

Sine the price is right, this is a nifty car that could last for a long time. It could also be ripe for bio-fuel conversion.

Available here on craigslist for $2,950.

Ex-Military: 1984 Chevrolet K30 Diesel 4x4

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

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

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

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

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

This could make a unique and dependable camping machine.

Available here on craigslist fro $8,900.

1985 Lincoln Mark VII Diesel

I love diesels and I make no effort to hide it. In America, we've been deprived of widespread use of diesel engines in passenger cars for quite a long time (save for the excellent offerings from Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen of course). In Europe however, diesels are the norm, not the exception.

Since we're facing another fuel and energy crisis (or really just the same one we've always had), diesels are popular again, even though those who know their advantages never stopped loving them over the years. What makes diesels especially interesting despite their own merits of efficiency and reliability is a 21st century twist of converting them to run on biofuel - that's right, vegetable oil and restaurant leftovers.

Biofuel is cheap and inexpensive (though smelly) so interested customers are hunting down old diesel cars like predators. That makes otherwise insignificant cars like this Lincoln Mark VII rather significant again.

Of course, someone like me already finds this car intriguing.

The fuel crisis of 1979 renewed interest in efficient vehicles again, and this time American manufacturers were listening, unlike their woeful incompetence after the first incident in1973. Of course, diesels still didn't take off for one reason or another, but some of the cars they stuck diesels in were amusing to say the least.

Such is the case with this Lincoln. The Mark VII was based on the rear-wheel drive Fox platform. It lasted from 1983-1992. These aren't sports cars, but they are great, comfortable cruisers, and they styling isn't terribly offensive.

Underneath the hood, however, is a real surprise: a BMW inline 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, the same one in the brief 524TD that came and went here. Just how Lincoln struck a deal with BMW is a story still untold, but it's not a bad idea; Ford's diesel experience was limited to trucks, and BMW's diesel was a great engine the fastest of it's day (even with just 115 horsepower). But since the Lincoln is a bigger, heavier car, you really can't expect much power. Still, you can expect overall reliability if you change the oil religiously.

Lincoln only offered the Mark VII diesel from '84-'85, along with a diesel Continental. From that point on, declining gas prices, politics and the general buoyant mood of the times made diesels disappear again.

The seller says they are the third owner, the car was repainted, service up to date and everything works. They state the mileage is 132,048.

I think this is a pretty cool car. It's not an ideal candidate for biofuel, but it could be a "sleeper" if it was...if there can even be a sleeper biofuel car. Either way, it's rare, and this one looks to be well cared for. It could bring some interesting highway miles to come.

Available here on ebay with a Buy-It-Now of $8,700.

1982 Opel-Isuzu I Mark Diesel

The first generation Opel Gemini was a subcompact car launched in 1974 and lasted until 1985. It was sold under a variety of brands in many different markets, hence the confusion in North America, where it was called the Opel Isuzu, then Buick Opel, then simply Isuzu I Mark.

This is the last iteration, simply called an Isuzu. I've never seen one in person and this is the first I've seen for sale on ebay.

Underneath the hood is a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder diesel engine that powers the rear wheels. It's definitely not going to win any drag races, in fact it's going to be downright slow on the highway, but the reward for sacrificing performance is efficiency. The seller estimates it can get 50 miles per gallon. They also say it has been converted to bio-fuel, another huge plus in the economy department.

Cosmetically, it's a Malaise Era classic, a front end only a mother could love, big windows, simple lines and clunky 5 mph government mandated bumpers. Fortunately, this one wears a chipper coat of pale yellow paint that brightens things up a bit.

The seller says it's been serviced, with new oil, new filters, new brake pads, shocks and an alternator. They say it runs and drives great with no problems. It's also got 5 speed transmission.

Unfortunately, the seller mentions some rust limited to the doors and wheel wells.

They do however say they've scoured the internet for 5 years for a similar car and haven't found another one.

Available here on ebay in Austin, Texas with just one bidder at $500.00 and 7 days left.

1974 Mercedes-Benz 240D Manual

I spotted this vintage Benz yesterday at dusk and went back again today to 'check it out' in more detail. While I was taking some photos, the seller emerged from their house and kindly answered some questions about it for me. Basically, it's a U.S.-spec W115 '74 240 Diesel with a 5-speed manual transmission and over 250,000 miles on the clock. The seller is not the original owner, and didn't elaborate on how and when they acquired it, but said it runs fine.

The W114/W115 was produced from 1968-1976, resulting in over 1.9 million constructed. The W114 chassis signified the 6-cylinder models, while the W115 represented the four-cylinder models, including this 240D.

The body is credited to legendary auto designer Paul Bracq, and is a classic three-box shape, taught, conservative, squared-off and perfectly proportioned. Unfortunately, this being a 1974 U.S. model, it sports the heavy and unsightly 5-mph bumpers and lousy sealed beam headlights. Fortunately, it looks utterly charming in pale flat moss green, a relic of the 70s but still fresh looking today.

The '240D' signifies the 2.4-liter OM616 diesel-powered 4-cylinder engine that powered the rear wheels. These are not fast cars. I've actually read they are downright slow, even dangerously so, in modern traffic. Fortunately, this one is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission to bring both some liveliness to the engine and engagement to the driving experience. And what it lacks in overall performance it more than makes up in reliability. Mercedes-Benz diesels from the 60s, 70s, and 80s are some of the most durable engines ever released to consumers.

Cosmetically, the car is far from perfect, with obvious rusting and faded paint among other defects in the body. I didn't go inside, but the dark green interior sported what has to be that indestructible MB-Tex vinyl leatherette, as the seats looked really good.

The seller is asking just $2,500. This could easily be a great first car for someone, a temporary set of wheels for a college student until the end of the semester, or really just about anybody's beater car. It's good looking, diesel-powered, and has a stick-shift. What do my readers think? Thumbs up or down?

1 of 1: 1986 Toyota Camry Custom Pickup

I've been intrigued by the first generation Toyota Camry lately. Is it a classic? I loath what the car has turned into today: a bloated, overpriced and unreliable front-wheel drive vanillamobile. But in its first year, the original Camry was this lean and compact ultra-utilitarian vehicle for the calculator watch-wearing Reagan era commuter. Sure, it was fwd, but it was also cheap, simple, and extremely well built. It helped the body was a clean cut three-box shape of straight lines and zero pretensions.

So you can imagine my delight when I found a Camry that epitomizes the 1st gen's thrift to the max: a customized two-door pickup version, one of only one in existence to my knowledge (unless this was a common customization).

The seller has seemingly taken an '86 Camry four-door and done one heck of a chop job, removing the entire rear roof, seats, trunk and doors and replaced it with a pickup bed. I think it looks amazing, and the craftsmanship is extremely impressive. The cabin looks natural thanks to the b-pillars and side window slivers. There is no fold-down rear gate but the car is low enough that throwing items over the bed is easy enough.

Adding to usability is a 4-cylinder 2-liter turbo diesel engine putting out just 85 horsepower. Camry turbo diesels were offered by the factory briefly so they are rare. I'm assuming this was one such sedan before the transformation. There haven't been many complaints about Toyota diesels except that people wish they made more of them.

The seller doesn't shed much light on exactly who did this, how they did it, or why. But the pictures speak for themselves. Mechanically, they say the odometer reads 163k miles and it has new tires, brakes, belt, water pump and seals. They also say it's running well and turns heads. Toyota made diesel pickups, and there are also those Volkswagen Rabbit diesel pickups, but there probably isn't another Camry Pickup out there, and this one seems ready to go for many more miles of dutiful service. Just check for rust and get the full scoop on the transformation then decide for yourself.

Available here on craigslist in Raleigh, North Carolina for $4,500.

JDM Snow Days: 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser LX

Although my E46 325xi is performing sufficiently in inclement weather (as it did this fine slushy winter morning), there are occasional moments when I wish I had something with even more traction like this Land Cruiser that was never officially offered in North America, but is here now.

The Land Cruiser is up there with the Land Rover Defender 90 and Mercedes-Benz Galendenwagen as classic off-road vehicles of the 20th century. They are not only extremely capable, but as aesthetic masterpieces of form over function, they are stylish, too. I have no doubt the Land Cruiser is considered by some to be the best.

The J70 Land Cruiser replaced the legendary J40 series in 1984 and is still in production to this day. This is the short wheelbase model with a removable fiberglass top. These are extremely rugged and heavy cars, weighing about 2 tons to keep them planted to the ground. Body plates were made 1mm thicker than the J40 for extra strength.

Underneath the hood is a 4-cylinder diesel engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The seller says the engine should be good for 500k miles before a rebuild, which could very well be true given Toyota's build quality from this era. They also say it gets about 21-25 miles per gallon and is fun to drive even at high speeds.

 

Cosmetically, the seller says the underside of the vehicle was rust-proofed. They say the rocker panels were also replaced. There are some lingering spots of surface rust around the doors and windshield, however. They also say a carfax report regarding rear accident damage may be from having the rockers replaced and rear bumper being powder coated, and they have checked for dents and bondo and found none. Inside, occupants meet a no-nonsense, hyper-utilitarian interior of square angles and hard grey plastics. The seller says it has been treated with a wax/clay bar, and the carpets and seats have been shampooed and cleaned.

This is an extremely rare vehicle that seems to have had attentive ownership to date. The seller says it was brought here from Japan 100% legally by Outback Imports and they have a title and registration in hand. They say it now has about 86k miles, and could be ready for many more, despite the minor cosmetic flaws.

Available here on ebay in Kent, Washington with bidding starting at $14,600 but no takers so far and a Buy-It-Now of $15,950.