1972 Volvo 142E

How things have changed! Volvo abandoned their trademark boxy styling with their S60 sedan, but they had long abandoned rear-wheel drive before that. This 142 is from Volvo's late 20th century glory days when their cars were both boxy and RWD.

The 140 series debuted in 1966 and was basically the car that helped put Volvo on the map, and in middle class garages around the Western world. The 140 was available as a 2-door, 4-door sedan or 4-door wagon.

The design is a slice of heaven. The 1970s were a terrible time for auto design in the United States, but it was a great period in Europe, setting the template for the next two decades. The key is functionality. The stylists understood that good design follows function. As such, the Volvo is simple, clean and handsome with a high waistline, huge greenhouse and long front and rear decks for ample engine and storage space.

Power came from a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. Like a lot of engines from the 1970s, it won't be fast, but should offer decent economy. This one is strangled with an automatic transmission, but a stick shift swap is always a possibility for the talent and time-inclined.

The exterior looks charming in flat green and the interior seems remarkably well-preserved. The seller says it was 121k miles and they drive it regularly so it hasn't sat. I do see some rust near the rear wheel well, so be sure to look into that.

Otherwise, these 2-door versions are sweet deals and great alternative to the pricier BMW 2002, which are a similar idea.

Available here on ebay for $5,999 or the Make Offer option.

76k-Mile 1985 Nissan 200SX Notchback

Remember the notchback? This kitschy American styling cue was briefly borrowed by the Japanese in the 80s on cars like the 200SX.

Outside North America, this was called the Silvia and followed a long line of compact rear-wheel drive coupes from Nissan.

In 1984 the S12 generation debuted, featured an all-new small, tightly styled body...and a notchback, along side a more traditional hatchback.

It's classic Rising Sun 80s, all hard angles, straight lines, off-center front logo, hidden headlights, and huge red plastic taillights. Americans are fond of this design because it was when Japanese cars were making their first impressions on us, and those impressions were mostly good. These cars were decent looking, handled well, sipped gas and were affordable. They were the perfect answer in between American and German cars.

Power could have come from either 4 or 6 cylinders, and this is the 4-cylinder option. Thankfully, it's mated to a 5-speed stick for optimal performance and efficiency.

The interior looks remarkably clean and tidy for the age, and is a yuppie nerd's dream, outfitted with what the seller calls the optional Digital Package Upgrade, a fantastic period accessory that gives the full effect. The odometer reads just 76,039 miles and the seller says it's a one-owner car that runs great, was meticulously owned, garaged, never smoked in, never in an accident and has a title ready.

Finding one in this condition is getting extremely difficult, as most are rusted out, parted out or slammed into ground by now.

These don't get much respect on the fancier corners of the web, but Japanese cars of the 80s and 90s are the hot new classics, and this is a remarkable survivor.

Available here on ebay for $6,300 or the Make Offer option.

1972 GAZ 69A Custom Pickup

The GAZ is basically to Russia what the Jeep is the US: the standard-issue two-door off-road utilitarian machine. Gaz produced the 69A from 1954 to 1972. It was popular in the Eastern Bloc, making it a relic from the Cold War, too.

The nice thing about a lot of European cars from the 60s, 70s and 80s is that they are surprisingly compact and make the most of very little sheet metal. This one has a nice look going with aftermarket fog lamps, plain Jane wheels, and a custom pickup confirmation, complete with a soft top roof and side-mounted spare.

The seller says it has a 4-cylinder Volga engine good for 70 horsepower directed to all four wheels and a manual transmission. They say it was imported to the US from the nation of Georgia in 2011, but it currently registered as a Collector Vehicle in Washington State, so that may have restrictions, although it does seem to wear valid tags.

Available here on ebay for $9,500 or the Make Offer option.

1975 BMW 2002 Automatic

This is just about the worst version of the 2002 you can buy. It's a base model, base engine US-spec with the huge bumpers and automatic transmission to sap the already small engine.

That said, it could also make for a great jumping point into a nice 2002 build. I'm usually all for originality, but when originality means US DOT mandated bumpers, needless side markers and engine-strangling emissions equipment, modifying is a very attractive alternative.

The thing about the 2002 is that you know it can do so much better. Introduced in 1968 as part of the Neu Klasse cars that revolutionized the company and brought it widespread acclaim from the press and sales from consumers. Intended as a smaller, less expensive alternative to the sedans, the 2002 made good impressions with its relatively light weight, good handling and affordable price. In 1973 a Turbo version was launched, the first production turbocharged car in Europe.

It helped the styling was so good that it is now a certifiable classic. It wears the high-wasited bathtub shape that was popular on cars in the 50s, 60s and 70s after designers saw the first generation Corvair. and later NSU 110. The Europeans further tweaked and refined this charming, unpretentious shape.

The interior is also classic early BMW, with an all-black dash, clear, simple gauges and an oversized steering wheel. The seller says the interior is good and it looks mostly disaster free in the photos.

Underneath the hood is a small inline 4-cylinder that makes around 85 horsepower. The seller says its "great running". This can easily be given more life with some simple, common sense upgrades. A manual transmission swap is a must, and the seller even says the sale of this car comes with a spare parts donor car.

The exterior color and interior are fine for the meantime on this, but it's begging for a stick shift, weber carbs and euro bumpers.

Available here on craigslist for $5,800.

$6k 1989 Porsche 928

The 928 is the unloved child in Porsche history. It was conceived under great turmoil in the 70s. Volkswagen/Porsche assumed European governments were on the way to banning rear engines entirely. They also felt they had perfected the air-cooled 4- and 6-cylinder engine. Volkswagen unveiled the front-engine, front-wheel drive Golf and Scirocco as their solutions. Porsche turned to development of a new front-engine, rear-wheel drive flagship car.

The resulting 928 which debuted at Geneva in 1977 was so impressive that it later won European Car of the Year. The body was a combination of galvanized steel and aluminum. It was styled brilliantly, looking every bit Porsche but more grown up, and roomier, too. I particularly love the rear, which looks like an upscale AMC Gremlin, and I mean that in the best way possible. It's still bold and futuristic looking today.

Underneath the hood was originally a 4.5-liter water-cooled V8 good for about 219 horsepower in US versions. A transaxle helped balanced weight to 50/50 front/rear, ensuring the 928 handled just as well, if not better, as a 911. In 1987, a refreshed front nose and rear taillights made the car slightly longer but smoother looking. A new, larger 32-valve V8 was also added, boosting horses to 288. The earlier engines are said to provide adequate performance but easier to maintain, while the later engine are known to be difficult and expensive. Both are gas guzzlers. That said, the 928's real strength is as a Grand Tourer, eating up long stretches of highway like nothing. I've heard the build quality and ride is Mercedes-Benz-like, too (the four-speed automatics were from MB) which can't be said of the rougher 911 from the same era.

The seller is scant on details but says it has 130k miles and is 'super clean and super fast'. The high mileage is a good indicator, meaning it should be through with most of its major tests. You can't go wrong with the black/black color combo, and the seats look mercifully spared of the usual rips and tears. The exterior also looks good from what the photos show. But the most important question on an any old Porsche is maintenance. Records are really a must. The next pressing thing is accident history. Along with Corvettes these things are often driven irresponsibly and wrecked. Accident damage is a big turn off for me unless the car is heavily discounted. Cars are usually never the same after they are wrecked. The last big thing is rust, although the 928's steel body has held up surprisingly well, the doors and hood are aluminum and sometimes have rust around them.

If it all checks out, you have my sincere envy.

Available here on craigslist for $6k or 'just make me an offer'.

Award-winning 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Hardtop Sedan

The Corvair is one of the greatest American cars ever made. Historically, Europe has always led the way in auto innovation and especially aesthetics. Volkswagen burst onto the post-war scene with their iconic lineup of air-cooled rear-engine cars. Sensing the inevitability of that engine layout, General Motors conceived of the Corvair to stave off competition. What it lacked in mechanical originality it made up in bounds with styling and performance.

The Corvairs are divided between two generations. The first one was brilliant. The bathtub styling was so well done it finally influenced European designers for a change - famously inspiring Claus Luthe and his NSU Prinz 4. This is a second generation up for sale. The second generation was arguably even better looking. I prefer it over its predecessor. It's slightly more modern, but still retains cues from the first generation. It was one of the best looking cars of its time and still looks terrific today.

A range of body styles were offered, but most sold were the two door hardtops and convertibles. This is the lesser seen hardtop sedan however, which was dropped from the lineup in 1967, making it available for just two years in the second generation body style and therefore rather rare. The pillar-less body is elegant, liberating and beautiful. This one looks particularly good in dark blue over tan. The rear luggage rack seems a period option and works perfectly with the people-carrying setup.

Underneath the rear (how nice it is to say that for a change) is a flat-6-cylinder engine. GM mercifully understood the cars would have been grossly underpowered with just 4-cylinders. Even with 6 they weren't lighting the street on fire, but this one is fortunately a 110-horsepower optioned car, not shabby for the time and just adequate for modern traffic.

The seller says it runs and drives excellent, is original, has no rot and has accrued just 40k miles over its lifetime. It certainly looks terrific in the photos. They also say it was won awards presumably for its good condition.

This seems like an honest, proud and well-kept example of a car from an all-too brief high point in American auto history.

Available here on craigslist for $9,500.

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.

1995 Volvo 850 T-5R

The blow of Volvo's big switch over to front-wheel drive was lessened when they introduced a high-performance version of their venerable 850 model called the T-5R.

For starters, the 850 is THE Volvo of the 90s. Conservatively styled, still boxy, reliable and somewhat sporty, it pleased many a soccer moms and dads in American suburbs. A bunch were sold, passed down to their kids, then driven into the ground. They aren't as revered as the 240, but they certainly carried out their duties just as stoically.

Sensing a need for speed though, Volvo partnered with Porsche to create the limited production T-5R. Only 5,500 were made, and this is one of just 185 that were cream yellow. It's a bright color but it fits the car's attitude. T-5R were also fitted with Pirelli tires hugging 17 inch smoked alloys, front bumper lip, side skirts, rear spoiler, and polished aluminum door sills.

Inside, occupants were treated to a pumped up version of the ergonomic 850 interior, with graphite leather and alcantara seats and walnut wood grain accents.

Perhaps most importantly was what hid underneath the hood, a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline 5-cylinder engine that had psi boosted thanks to a special ECU resulting in a total of 243 horsepower and capable of launching from 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds. That's impressive stuff.

Even more impressive is this survivor, with a healthy 145k on the clock, 1 previous owner besides the current seller/dealer and and no accidents. The turbo engine needs extra care, so maintenance history is key, but knowing it has a pretty simple past with no known major crashes is great. This looks like a well-kept, stock example of a rare and special Volvo.

Available here on ebay for $9,495 and the Make Offer option.

1986 Citroen CX Prestige

Viva la Citroen! This company consistently pumped out one iconic vehicle after another in the 20th century, and in the process pioneered monocoque bodies, hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension, disc brakes and swiveling headlights. They haven't quite done the same in this century so far, but, they have a while to go so I'll cut them some slack.

The CX was a classic Citroen in every manner. As their executive flagship, it wore the sleekest, largest body and came with a bunch of wild technology.

The thing I love about Citroen style is how fearless it is. The French, with their rich culture and history, appreciated the passage of time and therefore the philosophical and industrial madness of the modern era, and designed vehicles as the absurdity that they were - horseless carriages! They could have care less about the three-box sedan shape and instead embraced the more versatile and streamlined hatchback. The CX debuted in the late 70s and last until the 90s. The early models have a classic charm, but the later ones like this with fuller bumpers give off delirious mad-techno vibes.

Inside looks like something from a retro vision of a spaceship, with a single-spoke steering wheel and all vital controls within reach of the driver's hands from the wheel. The oversized button-tufted leather seats provide an old-world touch for a charming contrast.

The 'Prestige' trim added 10 extra inches to the wheelbase for more legroom. As such, the rear seating is ridiculously spacious.

The CX only came with a range of 4-cylinder engines. It is unclear which is in this car.  It does have an automatic, which is a bummer. Emissions controls to get it in the US may also hamper performance.

None were legally sold here, but many found their way through grey market importers, such as this one. Unfortunately the seller hasn't included any info pertinent to the vehicle itself beyond photos, price and location, so they would have to be contacted further.

Available here on craigslist for $8,500.

1987 BMW 735i 5-Speed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

67k-Mile 1993 Honda Del Sol SI

The Del Sol was almost a stroke of genius by Honda in their glory days of the early 90s. Hot off the heels of breaking through the US market in the 80s, their strategy for the next decade was to expand the lineup and take on Toyota. For a while, it seemed possible.

In 1992 they debuted the Del Sol, just in time for a Gen-Xer's job promotion or a Baby Boomer's midlife crisis. The styling is pretty clever in that it recalls the mid-engine cars of the 70s or early 80s like the Fiat X1/9, but was in fact just another front-wheel four banger. What made it different than their other cars of the time was a removable targa top. This filled in a gap of customers pining for a Civic-like driving experience but with open-air fun.

Honda wrapped that concept in what turned out to be a body that has aged surprisingly well, even in the exotic colors they offered. The whole thing is classic 90s rising sun, all smooth yet taut planes, bubbly shaped lights and hidden-lug alloys. I particularly like the rear taillights, reminiscent of the BMW Z1.

Inside is equally successful with spartan plastic that is simple, clear and functional. For a touch of excitement, they seem to have color-matched the seats and floor with the exterior.

Purists will scoff at this one's automatic transmission, but to make up for it is the SI trim, which included a 1.6-liter SOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder VTEC engine, power side mirrors, cruise control, rear disc brakes, anti-sway bars and wider tires. Frankly, if you're going to track down a Del Sol, you really might as well only get the SI.

Mechanically, the seller says its been serviced by Honda and runs well. Cosmetically they say it has normal dings and dents but thankfully no rust.

Targa tops were never really in fashion and are rarely offered on any cars anymore, although that could change with Porsche's hi-tech new reworking of the whole thing. Regardless, this can easily be a fun daily driver. Honda stopped making the Del Sol in 1998 and haven't made anything like it since.

Available here on ebay for $7,995 and the Make Offer option.

Still For Sale: 1986 UMM Alter II

Over a year after COTC first featured this UMM Alter II it appears to still be for sale here in Plaistow, New Hampsire.

I had never heard of this thing before I found it the wilds of craigslist. But I'm sure glad I did because it's pretty cool.

UMM (which stands for Uniao Metalo-Mecanica) is a Portugese truck manufacturer, and the Alter was standard-issue their all-terrain passenger vehicle. The "II" denotes this being a second generation Alter, and follows a long line of 4x4 vehicles. It brought about a new transmission, transfer case and suspension.

Styling-wise, this is a pretty sweet looking ride. It's sort of a combination between the Mercedes-Benz Galendenwagen, Toyota FJ-cruiser, and Land Rover Defender. All hard angles and utilitarian details. The steeply slanted hood, square headlights and triple windshield wipers add unique touches.

It helps this one is in black, always a good color. The white steel wheels are correct and the front guard bars and rear mud flaps finish the rugged look. It's definitely not lacking. I also like the two-door configuration, adding to the quirk factor.

Inside is definitely not lacking for space, with two seats up front and side benches in the rear. The instrument cluster is refreshingly spartan, although the plastics all look worn and faded, including the Peugeot steering wheel and tired foot well. The center console also seems to be missing a few things, although again given the simplicity of the rest of the dashboard it's hard to tell exactly.

As the steering wheel implies, underneath the hood is a Peugeot 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine. It's not the most desirable engine the UMM came with, but it will get the job done and shouldn't be too bad servicing and fixing, with Peugeot parts readily available in Europe.

Unfortunately the seller doesn't give any indication things are working or not. Just from the photos the cosmetic condition seems about fair, and that's without even seeing the underside, which might hide extensive rust. The odometer reads 19,342 but that's probably in kilometers so the mileage would be about 11,809, if the reading is functioning and accurate.

Despite that, it's an extremely rare vehicle for a US dealer to be selling and overall seems worth getting cleaned, detailed and properly sorted so it can be used and brought to auto clubs.

1967 BMW 2000 Ti-Lux

The BMW 2000 was part of their "Neue Klasse" of coupes and sedans of the 60s and 70s. These are classics now, but also represented over a decade of experimentation, growth and change for the brand.

The 2000 was intended to be a more upscale version of the 1800 sedan. It featured different taillights and headlights, although the front lamps were changed on US models. This one happily features the original square Euro lamps.

The styling is pretty sweet. They look like exactly what they are: an early BMW. The forward leaning front is truly a sign of a bygone design era, as is the whole "bathtub" shape, but the lights and simple slab sides are surprisingly clean and modern. I don't care for red in general and especially not on German cars but it actually works really well on this and helps brighten it tremendously. The seller seems to have spray painted the grilles, bumpers and wheels black, which, while unnecessary, isn't terrible either and certainly isn't worth the effort reversing. The front fog lamps are a cool add-on and together everything gives the car a subtle rally vibe.

Inside, the interior looks remarkably clean, although it's hard to see the entire dash. The seller says the seats were recovered, which explains why they look so good, and black is a great color and saves the next owner the hassle. Thumbs up.

Mechanically, the 2000 was available with a 1,990 cc 4-cylinder engine powering the rear wheels. The seller says that this is a "Ti" version, however, so it originally had the more desirable twin-Solex side carburetors boosting to to a decent 120 horsepower. The seller says this now has dual Weber carbs instead and mated to a 4-speed manual transmission. The "Lux" version added leather seats, wood trim and other assorted high grade interior bits and accessories.

This is a rare car that has clearly been given some recent love. The seller says it has almost no rust and have the original steel rims and hubcaps. The asking price is high given the age and that it had the paint and interior re-done, but those are also plusses. The extent of the rust will have to be checked out as well as full ownership and maintenance history, if any. Otherwise, this seems like it's ready to be a driver.

Available here for $8,900.