1978 Fiat 128 Rally

Fiat have made a big splash returning to the US market with their retro-styled 500. But back in the late Malaise Era they were slogging it out with this econobox.

The 128 was basically their entry-level family car. It debuted in 1969 and revolutionized the small car market with its front-wheel drive layout that contrasted with Volkswagen's aging rear-engine platforms.

To make a front-wheel drive car more affordably and efficiently than previous industry examples such as in the British Mini, Fiat designed the engine and transmission so that they did not have to share lubricating fluid while an electronically controlled fan supplied cooling. To do this, they mounted the engine transversely with the transmission mounted beside the engine driving the front-wheels through an offset final-drive and unequal driveshafts.

It was such a good engineering solution that eventually most entry-level car manufactures would follow suit, including Volkswagen themselves. The 4-cylinder won't light the street on fire but should work well against the car's small proportions and relatively low weight.

The 128 was wrapped in clean, simple, appliance-like sheetmetal evocative of the efficient mechanicals underneath.

Production ended in 1985. This is a US market example that the seller says has been mechanically restored to working order, and the exterior remains rough but original. We say keep 'er as is and get in and go.

Available here on ebay.

1990 Alfa Romeo 33 Imola Edition

Alfa Romeo in the 90s is something the US market never quite got to see. The company ceased exporting cars to North America in 1995. The last new car they sold here was the 164, a large, expensive front-wheel drive sedan that left probably left consumers feeling indifferent more than anything.

But in the European market, Alfa offered a much broader spectrum of cars. Perhaps if they had brought something like the 33 over here, they would have sold a lot more cars.

The 33 debuted in 1983 and was basically Alfa's entry-level family car. It was based on the modified front-wheel drive platform of its predecessor, the Alfasud, and featured a range of 4-cylinder boxer engines.

The styling is classic Eurobox, which, if you love them as I do, you just 'get' it. You can see traces of the Milano/75 and even the 164 blood in it, with the downturned front lights, hard angles and thick, high rear boot.

This example has found its way to the US from Holland and currently resides in Florida. Cosmetically, the seller says it isn't perfect but it is rust-free, otherwise a concern on any Alfa Romeo.

Mechanically, they say the engine runs very well and even boasts a performance chip that boosts the 1.7 4-cylinder boxer engine output to 120 horsepower. That's not a lot, but it's a relatively small car, and like most Alfa Romeo it should complement a tight and balanced chassis for superb handling.

The seller says the odometer reads about 87,000 kilometers which is only about 55k miles, and that is has a clear Florida title, a huge plus that should make it transferrable to any other state, except perhaps California where it would not be exempt from smog.

I've never seen one here before, although with cars of the 80s now easily importable under the 25-year rule we may see more. But given this or a 164, I'd take this. It's also a great alternative to a Volkswagen, Saab or Volvo from the same era.

Available here on ebay for $17,895.

1989 Maserati 430

Maserati have always been a source of automotive pride in their home country of Italy, but they had a tough time in the 80s, especially in the US market. Gone was their riveting, exclusive lineup of fast sports cars from the 60s and 70s. Instead, their only cars were the huge Quattroporte sedan and Biturbo coupes and convertibles, the latter of which has a legacy reduced to a punchline on auto blogs.

There was one other alternative however: the 430, which was essentially a Biturbo with a lengthened chassis and 4-doors.

Despite looking exactly like the Biturbo, it only shares a front end, and everything past it is unique. Neither are a bad thing at all. Maserati from the 60s had always pioneered the angular wedge shape of Marcello Gandini and the 430 continues that trend, but with an 80s twist. I think it's aged just fine, and the sedan actually looks better than the Biturbo coupes and convertibles, which look too short. The length and two additional doors help balance and flesh out the shark-like snout. Things get E30 and W201-ish in the back, which again is a good thing.

Given that the Quattroporte was older and larger, the 430 was a great alternative. Inside is a classic Italian interior, with an array of exotic materials and surfaces, like the suede dashboard, wood accents and gold clock. It's gauche compared to German interiors but more modern than British ones.

The real surprise though is underneath the hood, which houses a 2790 cc turbocharged V6 OHC engine good for a whopping 225 horsepower. The only other comparable European sedans at the time would have been the 231-horspower Mercedes W126 500 and the Audi V8.

The seller says $10k has been invested into this example, including an rebuilt engine and turbochargers, which is good news for everyone except the person who spent $10k. The seller says it is nearly complete and has been driven sparingly since.

The Bitrubo cars have poor reputations, but time usually heals all wounds, right? Today, with depreciation fully set in, this thing represents a bargain sleeper. Given the nature of the engine and availability of parts however, I would recommend purchase only to people who fix their own cars or know an specialist in Italian cars.

Available here on craigslist for $4,900.

1973 Fiat 130 Coupe

The 130 looks like a combination of a Maserati Kyalami, Peugeot 604, Ferrari 400 and Bitter SC but that's a all a compliment. The thing about this design is that it's all good for the customer. You can actually see out of the car, and enjoy the view while driving.

Like a lot of Italian cars, the interior is a nice place to bee, with a black dashboard contesting with a healthy helping of wood and beautiful tan leather seats. I bet it smells damn good too, even if it's 41 years old. Steering wheel is retro-future-cool, too.

Underneath the hood is an OHC V6 good for about 160 horsepower to the rear wheels. This one mercifully also has a stick. Unfortunately, against a 3,400 lb. curb weight, it had a lot of work to do, and won't be terribly fast or remotely fuel efficient. It may make a nice tenor, though.

The seller says the car was imported under the 25-year-and-older rule and so does not have to comply with the DOT. As such, it comes in complete Euro trim, with lovely headlights, small bumpers and unconstrained engine. Mechanically they say it runs and drives well. Cosmetically they say it does have some bubbling but the undercarriage is rust free.

With slightly over 4,000 made, this is a rare car in general and even more obscure in the US. I think it has a lot of appeal though, as either a garage queen, weekender, show car or possibly daily driver, if you've got deep enough pockets, however.

Available here on ebay.

1969 Lancia Fulvia Berlina GTE

The Fulvia nameplate was used by Lancia for a sedan and two different coupes from the 60s until the late 70s. I'm not into the coupes. But the sedans set my fire. It's just like an Alfa sedan, except slightly more obscure. You can instantly picture them hustling a bunch of polizia to bust a Red Brigade meeting.

The styling is fantastic. It's got all the right 60s Euro sedan touches: high waistline, huge greenhouse, three-box shape, tiny taillights and tasteful slivers of chrome.

Inside is equally delightful, with a black scheme contrasting nicely with the refrigerator white exterior and looking surprisingly clean and tidy.

The Berlina GTE came along in '68 with an upgraded V4 engine, new brakes and a brake servo. Power and handling will be adequate by today's standard but feel sprightly with the stick shift, low eight and small dimensions.

The seller says this one came over in '05 and are offering another as well, but the paperwork is different. They do say its sorted and just needs a driver. They also think it's one of just a handful in the US. I've certainly never seen one for sale before.

Available here on ebay for $18,500 or the Make Offer option.

1994 Alfa Romeo 164 Q4

The 164 split critics when it debuted and continues to polarize today. The main problem was drivetrain. Had it been another large, expensive rear-wheel drive sedan, it actually would have fit in with the competition and maybe even stood out a little on its own merits. But it was given a front-wheel drive platform that was shared with other European automakers like Lancia and Saab. In the US, the only similar cars in its high price range would have been a Cadillac. It didn't stand a chance against BMW or Mercedes-Benz.

It's a shame because the 164 was otherwise pretty neat. Its nearest relative, the 75/Milano, was a sharp, roomy, fast rear-wheel drive sport sedan. The 164 was given a similarly fresh design that contrasted with the more traditional German designs at the time. The body courtesy of Pininfarina is clean, simple and forward thinking. This example looks fine in black, though I prefer the classic red paint typically seen on others. The rare Q4 package adds ground effects and a rear spoiler that gives it a menacing, hunkered down look.

The real sweet spot of the 164 though is underneath the hood glistening in polished chrome: a 3.0-liter 24-valve 6-cylinder engine good for nearly 230 horsepower, really impressive for the day and still decent now. Just like Cadillac's maligned Allante, however, all the muscle was sadly directed to the front wheels, producing quite a bit of torque steer and dismissing it as a serious contender.

This example has just 126k on the clock. The seller says they are the second owner, have records available, did major maintenance and added new parts.

Here's the one saving grace about the 164. It makes for one of the most entertaining, stylish and still useful (with those four doors) second hand car out there, because most of them go for a fraction of what even the cheapest new car costs.

Available here on craigslist for $4,000.

1st in the US: 1988 Fiat Tipo 1.6L

It's quite a claim the seller is making, but it could be true. This is the first Fiat Tipo for sale in the US I've seen, anyways.

Fiat is to Europe what General Motors or Ford is the US: a huge automaker that builds cars for everybody. Most of the time that means affordable, frugal front-wheel drive compact cars that get you from point A to point B. In 2013, Fiat was the second largest automaker in Europe. They've made a lot of great contributions to automobile history. Lately, they've been selling the retro-styled 500 here. It's an okay car, but barely represents the best of Fiat.

With the Tipo however, Fiat wasn't interested in retro style and instead forged ahead with a fresh new start. The Tipo debuted in 1988 featuring an array of 4-cylinder gas and diesel engines, front-wheel drive, a galvanized body to protect against corrosion, and an all-new chassis that was shared with a bunch of other cars.

The styling was courtesy of one of my favorite designers of all time, the great Ercole Spada. It is a pure, simple and undiluted exercise in straight lines and angles. In true Italian Fashion, this lovely example looks even more sweet with bright red paint and Borbet alloys.

Underneath the hood is a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. It only produced under 100 horsepower, but these engines weren't subject to performance-hindering emissions requirements that a US import would have been at the time, and coupled with the stick shift, may very well feel lively.

Inside is a pretty cool interior, notable for it's digital display and comfortable cloth seating. The photos aren't great, but from what is visible, things look tidy and in good shape. The seller says it has 87,500 kilometers on the clock which is only about 54k miles. They say everything is working and it has zero rust.

Now for the tricky part: paperwork. The seller says this Italian came here by way of Germany, so they have a German title (which, other than a novelty item I'm pretty sure is useless in the US), port clearance paperwork (sounds important) and a Rhode Island certificate in lieu of title because the state does not issues titles for cars older than 10 years. That is perhaps the most vital part and should allow anyone to register the car and get an actual title in any of the other 49 states (except for California, where it all have to undergo smog, but the seller does says it has a factory catalytic converter).

I guess the only question left is why. Why would someone go through the trouble of importing this vehicle only to sell it?

Regardless, this Fiat is a neat alternative to an early 90s VW Golf or Acura Integra. It will certainly be the only one on the block, and it seems to have been well-kept, too. It needs a new owner who will keep it just as clean and un-modified.

Available here on ebay with zero bidders starting at $8k and a $12k Buy It Now.

1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde 3.0

The Milano is one of the great lost rear-wheel drive sedans, able to compete with the best from Mercedes-Benz and BMW at the time. Unfortunately, it wasn't nearly as popular and very few remain, at least here in the states. What do remain are usually rusted out basket cases. Fortunately, COTC has come across this remarkable survivor for your inspection.

Otherwise known as the '75' outside of North America, it debuted in 1985 with a bold new body by Ermanno Cressoni. The shape is a masterpiece of modernity: all hard angles, sharp creases and stark planes. The only round shapes are the wheels, logo emblems and the gas cap. I particularly like the rhombus headlights, which give it a moody, downbeat face.

The rear ends with a high, short boot - something automakers are only recently bringing back, but it's important to note the Milano/75 helped establish the trend. These look good in any color, but black is especially handsome, taking nothing away and giving it even stealthier vibes. The alloys seem to have come from the 164, and suit this just fine.

Inside is just as mod, with the center console basically a stack of rectangular boxes. Some people hate this kind of design. I absolutely love it. I like machines to look like machines, not potpourri. Lack of airbags complete the stark, bare-bones industrial look. The aftermarket steering wheel is ok, but I'd source a genuine three-spoke Milano wheel.

Underneath the hood is perhaps the best part. There were only two engine sizes available in the US: a 2.5 and 3.0-liter V6. This is the larger V6, and it's mated to a stick shift as a bonus for performance fiends.

These cars were almost perfectly balanced from front to rear, accomplished using a transaxle with the gearbox in the rear connected to the rear differential and a torsion bar suspension up front and de Dion tubes with shock absorbers in the rear. The 3.0-liter also had a limited slip differential.

This particular survivor has a claimed 103k miles on the clock and a clean title. The seller lists a host of new parts, but doesn't mention how many owners, any accidents or, perhaps most important with a vintage Alfa, RUST. I'd check for all those things and giver 'er a healthy test drive. This is a very cool car and a wonderful alternative to an E30 or W124. Parts are hard to come by and these are not known for reliability, but if you're an Alfa fan you already know all that. This thing is all about cruising with that sweet Italian engine note.

Available here on craigslist for $4,500.

1999 Alfa Romeo 156

Sigh. Alfa Romeo in the late 90s. It's something we'll never know, because the company stopped selling cars here in 1995. Today, they offer just one car in the US, a snazzy sport coupe for over $100k. That's a shame, because they have a long tradition in something far more practical yet still very fun: compact sport sedans.

The last Alfa most Americans remember was the 164. Based on a Euro platform it shared with Lancia and Saab, it was a slight betrayal with front-wheel drive, but the styling and engine power were still quality. Alfa basically continued and expanded their front-wheel platforms after that, resulting in the 156, among other models.

The 156 debuted in 1997. European auto styling in the 90s completely eschewed the 80s hardcore techno-industrial angles in favor of soft corners, organic shapes and minimal details. The 156 is a great example, with small lamps, no anti-dent molding and rear door handles built into the c-pillar keeping the side profile clean. It's good looking, especially considering today's over-designed cars.

Under the hood of this example is a "Twin Spark" 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a stick shift. Alfa's are renowned for their exhaust notes and excellent handling. I certainly would have preferred this puppy over a mechanically similar Honda or Toyota back in the day.

The seller says the car has 145,000 kilometers, which is about 90k miles. They say it has one previous owner, some service history, a new timing belt and in good condition throughout.

This one is in Canada and is not exempt under the US 25-years-and-older import rule unless it is federalized, and who knows how much that entails or costs. Still, it's not impossible and is good to see this one on this side of the Atlantic nonetheless, especially in such a sweet color combo as silver over red leather.

Available here on ebay with no bids and a Buy It Now of $10,500.

Lost Giugiaro: 1984 Isuzu Impulse

I love the Impulse! This is a forgotten chapter in Isuzu history. Today, the company has been reduced to selling commercial diesel trucks in the US. But during the Japanese Invasion of the 80s, Isuzu was striving to stand out against a crowded field of competitors like Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Subaru.

I give them a lot of credit for trying. They specialized in small, efficient cars but weren't afraid to take design risks. One such was the Impulse, otherwise known as the Piazza outside of North America.

Isuzu commissioned legendary designer Giorgio Giugiaro to style a new sporty coupe for them in the late 70s. The result was the Piazza/Impulse. It was classic Giugiaro: simple two-box design, long hood, sloping rear hatchback, flat simple planes, sharp edges and square shapes. If you appreciate modern design, you appreciate Giugiaro and the Impulse.

The car debuted in 1980 but wasn't available in the US until 1983. Unfortunately by that point, the entry level two door rear wheel drive segment was very competitive. The Impulse was initially only offered with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, then gained a turbocharger and fancy Lotus suspension in later years. Production ended around 1990.

This is a nice early example with the basic 4-cylinder engine mated to an automatic transmission. The seller doesn't say much about the condition except it runs and drives. The car was obviously used a lot. A photo of the odometer shows it reading 140,636. The engine compartment, accessible through a cool front-hinged hood, looks decent and tidy enough. The exterior clear coat and rubber look worn, although what appear to be the sweet original alloys are a huge plus.

Inside, the cloth seats are torn, but the dash looks intact. These had cool adjustable steering wheels that moved the instrument cluster with them for maximum visibility.

The seller does say they have lowered the price down to $2,500, which is a good deal provided the car runs ok, has some maintenance history and no rust. This could become a daily driver, but would be nice to restore sooner or later, with fresh paint, mechanical going over and fixed upholstery. Japanese cars of the 80s and early 90s are the new up and coming classics, and mean a lot to the twenty and thirty-something crowd today. This car is a cool, easily obtainable new classic that can function as transportation and a piece of auto history. Not bad.

Available here on craigslist.

Project 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spyder

We're at the point where project cars from the 80s are starting to crop up in the market, although they are still few and far between. Most cars from that era are either ready to be junked or in collector condition. It's rare to find something in between, and even more rare to find a Ferrari in that status, but this Testarossa is precisely that.

The Testarossa really needs no introduction. It was the company's flagship during its production from 1984-1991, and it arguably saved and revitalized the brand, providing much needed competition against the Lamborghini Countach, along with a heavy dose of flash and glamour. The flat 12-cylinder engine was exciting, smooth, quick and great sounding. The styling was iconic and still fascinates today.

Most Testarossas on the market are either super-low mileage showroom cream puffs or accident losses. There's really no in between, as Ferrari owners, typically wealthy folk, notoriously never drive their cars, either out of lack of time or fear of damaging something.

So it's really peculiar to find one floating in purgatory, "80%" finished as the seller says and waiting for the next owner to complete it. There is no backstory on how it got this way, but the seller says the roof was cropped and the chassis was reinforced to make up for the loss of structural integrity. They are careful to note it is apparently NOT one of the better known Straman conversions but a homemade job. It doesn't look bad.

Fortunately, the original engine was totally rebuilt, with a new clutch, brake booster and master cylinder.

Cosmetically, the paint is stripped down but looks to have originally been red. The side intake strakes have also been removed, along with the front grille and lights. There are no photos of the rear. The seller also says the interior is included but needs to be redone as well.

This is a pretty unique opportunity to finish the project in your exact tastes. Personally, I would paint it black, do a black interior, black soft top, delete the U.S-spec side markers by filling and sanding, keep the original rare single lug wheels and maybe even keep the side strakes out for a clean look.

This project won't make sense unless you're talented and patient enough to do it. Hiring someone else to finish it takes the soul and accomplishment out of the equation and will be extremely expensive.

Available here for $28k which includes the seller's email and phone number.

Outrun This: 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spyder

What's cooler than a Testarossa? A Testarossa convertible of course!

There was only one official spyder designed and created by the factory. It was painted silver and delivered to the president of Fiat in August, 1986.

Testarossa convertibles started appearing in pop culture, too, with a red one being the default ride in Sega's arcade classic Outrun and a black one for a Michael Jackson Pepsi commercial.

Then, in September of 1987, Road & Track featured a cover story about special ordered custom conversions done by Richard Straman in California.

This is one such Straman convertible.

Straman's genius lay in the art of subtraction. He took away the entire roof and rear pillars and expertly cut around the cabin so that the canvas roof, when folded, tucked neatly behind the headrests. The result is extremely successful and emphasizes everything that is great about the Testarossa's original design, making the car seem even lower and wider than it already looked.

Mechanically, it is no different than the factory hardtop, with a smooth, naturally aspirated 4.9-liter flat 12-cylinder engine putting out 380 horsepower to the rear wheels and capable of launching the car from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds.

The Testarossa was a comeback car for Ferrari when it debuted at the Paris Auto Show in 1984 and was their flagship until 1991 when it was updated with the 512 TR. Although Ferrari has really never mass produced any car, they managed to build 7,177 of the Testarossa, a surprisingly large volume for a small exotic company, and enough so that the car could be deemed a success. Publicity-wise, it was beyond success, it's an icon of the era and continues to fascinate auto lovers to this day (yours truly included).

Testarossa values have come down and are starting to tick up, but they can still be had for around $60k for decent examples. Fortunately, the vast majority have barely been driven and remain with low miles and in near mint condition. This one is no exception, with the seller stating it has accumulated just 9,383 miles. In addition, they state it's just one of Straman's 12 conversions.

Buying a Testarossa is one thing (if you have the cash), but maintainence is entirely different, as you must seek a specialist for services and trouble shooting should the need arise (and it will, if it's used often or improperly). Ownership, however, complete with looking into the garage and seeing it, must be something else, which I can't quite comprehend.

Available here on ebay in Burbank, California with bidding already up to $58k.

1985 Maserati Quattroporte Euro

The Quattroporte was Maserati's attempt to steal the ultimate luxury car crown from Mercedes-Benz in the eighties. It almost worked. The body was designed by none other than the legendary Giugiaro and the engine was an large and powerful V8. The car looked more modern and edgy than anything Mercedes was putting out, too, but was just as luxuriously appointed on the inside.

There were actually two previous generations of Quattroporte before this one debuted in 1979 and continued until 1990, resulting in a mere 2,155 units being produced, making this a rarity. It was conceived after the company's takeover by Alejandro de Tomaso (of the De Tomaso Pantera), and while not a success with that low volume number, did leave an impression in the minds of many, especially after it appeared in movies and on tv shows as the bad guy's ride.

Giugiaro's body is classic, and fits into his impressive portfolio of clean straight lines and hard edges. The thick and sloping c-pillar was no doubt influential and is especially seen on today's cars as they get more and more windswept back and over.

Underneath the hood was either a 4,136 cc V8 producing 238-255 horsepower, or a larger 4,930 unit that produced 280 hp, very healthy for the time and still respectable today.

Adding to this example's rare factor is that it's a Euro-spec version, with shorter and lighter bumpers, headlight washers and other small but good changes.

The seller says the bought it 4 years ago when it had only 32k miles and are now reporting it has 42k. They say it needs some time to warm up but always starts and the Chrysler transmission shifts well. The do mention the blower doesn't fully work, it needs new trunk shocks, and the a/c doesn't work any longer.

Cosmetically, they said it was repainted in the original color but needs weather striping on all the doors.

For the appreciative eye, this is a rare example of a rare car and seems to be overall well kept and enjoyed. With some tlc it could be ready to hit the Italian exotics circuit in no time.

Available here on ebay in Henrico, Virginia with no reserve bidding at $4,173.