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.

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.

1993 BMW M5

I love the E34. And what better E34 than the veritable M5.

The E34 is one of the greatest BMW so far and really one of the best cars of all time. It's spacious but not too big, extremely well-built, safe, aesthetically sharp, fun to drive, and very reliable. The only thing they aren't is fuel efficient and immune to rust. But those are small nits to pick when you consider the overall greatness that is the E34. Subsequent generations have only gotten larger and less attractive, too.

The M5 version was produced during the model's entire run of 1988-1995 with slight changes over time. In the US, it received a special 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine that produced a very healthy 311 horsepower. Combined with special tweaking and a 5-speed (and later 6-speed) manual transmission, it was a standout sport sedan of the era and can easily provide thrills today. It was somewhat undermined by the later 540i, but it's still the star of the two.

This one looks pitch-perfect in black over black. Note the later cosmetic details such as the "throwing star" wheels, which, while preferred by some, did not ventilate the brakes as well as the more conservative initial pieces (which I liked better anyways), and the teardrop side mirrors shared with the E36 M3 but really don't jive with the rest of the car's hard angles. Again, that's probably a minority opinion but worth noting nonetheless.

The seller says this car has 132k miles (normal and even desirable), no accidents and original paint. They say it will need new tires (predictable and no big deal) and the electric rear windows move slowly, a weak point on many older German cars, but certainly not a deal breaker.

With no accident history, this is certainly a nice find that seems to have also been mercifully left unmodified. The seller also says they are becoming hard to find - and that is a true statement. While the succeeding E38 generation M5 introduced a roaring V8 in the game, BMW's classic inline 6-cylinder philosophy makes this E34 truer to the soul of the brand while also marking the end of an era.

Available here on ebay for $16,995 or the Make Offer option.

2002 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon

The Impreza is the gem in Subaru's lineup. It's smaller and lighter than the Legacy but it benefits from the same all-wheel drive system. It also looks cooler. Imagine all the good things you liked about a Honda Civic in addition to all the things you wished the Civic had and you end up with the Impreza. Efficiency, space, traction, power, reliability.

The first generation arrived in 1993. This is a second generation model. They were longer but also wider for even better handling and road control. The styling was pretty much more the same, smooth corners, big lights. Bland and unartful but functional and inoffensive. The wagon looked the best and made the most sense, too.

The real beauty to the Impreza is the action going on underneath the skin. First there's Subaru's patented all-wheel drive system. While makes like Suzuki, Isuzu and Mitsubishi have fallen to the wayside from failure to distinguish themselves from other Japanese brands, Subaru leaped right ahead of the pack with their all-wheel system in the 80s at a time when the only other automakers who were offering that were Mercedes-Benz and Audi for a huge premium. Subaru's cars were affordable. If you live anywhere where there is rain or snow (which is probably 90% of continental US in the winter season), you'll appreciate all-wheel drive.

The second This WRX trim includes a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that puts out around a very impressive 227 horsepower in stock form.  The seller says hey have additionally boosted it to 287 horsepower. Being used to pretty slow Japanese four bangers all my life I can't imagine how this puppy accelerates.

Perhaps the only downside to the Impreza are some of their owners, who often thrash, hack and modify their cars until they become unrecognizable. To their defense, the Imprezas are easily modifiable and once performance fever hits it's hard to break. Fortunately, this car has had just one prior elderly owner and the current owner seems to have done a rather commendable job of updating and enhancing the car subtly and tastefully which is detailed in a long list. They say they regret selling but are doing so because of their personal life.

Cosmetically, they mention a couple scratches, rock chips and fogged headlights. Mechanically, they say they the suspension is set up just right, steering has been aligned and they have maintenance records to prove overall care.

The Impreza has more or less continued to this day, but gotten fancier and more expensive. This is a pretty nice car that has obviously been cared for in addition to receiving some nice upgrades. At 139 miles, it's been around but definitely has a lot of fun life ahead.

Available here on ebay with reserve bidding starting at $8k and a $10k Buy It Now.

1991 Renault Alpine GTA Turbo

Renault's Alpine followed the spiritual tradition of the rear-engine Alpine of the 60s. In 1978, Renault bought the company. Then, in 1986, Renault debuted their own version. It bore none of the sexy curves of the original Alpine (which resembled a Ferrari Dino), instead featuring hard angles, futuristic greenhouse glass and a grille-less front that looked more demure than a Merkur (sorry I couldn't resist).

Despite the aesthetic rebellion, it still had the rare and intriguing rear engine setup, and this time, it was packed with power. This is the turbocharged V6 version putting out 200 horsepower. Thanks to extensive use of fiberglass body panels, it was lighter and faster than similar Porches of the era.

There are few cars that black-on-black doesn't work and this Alpine is no exception. The seller says the paint is original but has wear. It also mercifully retains its original factory alloys.

Inside, the interior is sparse and all-business. The leather looks comfy but also shows wear.

Mechanically, the seller says the car does run and drive well and recent maintenance includes a new clutch, flywheel resurfacing and engine-out tuneup.

This is a pretty rare specimen in the North America. The seller lists it as in Ontario Canada, and it will need a few more years to be road legal here but could possibly be brought over under the show and display law in the meantime.

'91 was the last year before a mild cosmetic refreshing and some other small changes.

Available here on ebay for $17,900.

In the US: 1999 Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-S

The Silvia is a long-running nameplate of rear-wheel drive coupes by Nissan. North America was privy to a couple versions, but missed out on the version that debuted in Japan in 1999. It wore classic Japanese styling: simple, clean, unpretentious and sleek.

Underneath the hood is a 4-cylinder engine. There was a non-turbo version and although the seller doesn't specify I would assume and hope this is the turbo. These also came with 4-wheel steering, but, again, the seller does't specify.

What they do mention is that it is the Spec-S trim, which features a 5-speed manual transmission, open differential and 4-piston front brake caliper.

Since it was made for the Japanese domestic market, the steering is right-hand drive. The seller says they have added a Pioneer screen with some speakers, different coils, 300ZX brakes and tinted windows.

Although the U.S. government only allows importation of vehicles older than 25 years old, this one is somehow in the states. The ad implies it is in Rhode Island, but in the photos it wears Florida plates, which actually may explain matters as the Florida DMV is notoriously (and pleasantly) lenient when registering unusual and non-US motor vehicles. Regardless, the seller claims the car is titled, registered, inspected and insured, all huge pluses. They even have a photo of the title, although to confuse matters again it's a New Hampshire title.

These cars have a cult following. This one seems to be cared for and has to be only a handful that have made it here, making it even more of a rarity. There also isn't anything quite like it on the market today, especially from Japan: a 4-cylinder turbocharged rear-wheel drive coupe.

Available here on craigslist for $19,000.

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.

Price Buster: $18.5k 1991 Bentley Turbo R

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the US: 1986 Honda City Turbo II "Bulldog"

North America was never privy to the Kei class of micro cars that Japanese automakers unleashed on their domestic market. Part of that makes sense: most Americans do highway driving, and most highway driving here is fast, hard and furious; in other words, impractical for all but the biggest and toughest of cars. On the other hand, there is something undeniably alluring about the compact dimensions, frugality and efficiency of cars like the Honda City.

The is a first generation City that debuted in 1981. The body was designed to be as tall as possible to fit four seated adults comfortably. It is over 6 inches shorter than the Civic of the same time.

Styling takes inspiration from the classic subcompact cars of Austin Cooper and Fiat but with a stark and an angular twist. No space is wasted, and everything is placed where it should be.

This particular example is the coveted Turbo II, which feature a wider track, flared fenders, special paint and matching alloy wheels. Underneath the hood is a turbocharged 1,231cc inline 4-cylinder ER engine that produces 108 horsepower to the front wheels.

It was also available with the Honda Motocampo, a tiny foldaway scooter that fit in the trunk. The seller has one such Motocampo and will include it in the sale for the right price. I can't ascertain whether it was the original unit sold with the vehicle or not, but it could be a neat inclusion if it's of use to the next owner.

The City was never officially sold in North America, so it's extremely unusual to see one here. The seller says this example was imported in 1987 and has a VIN from New Hampshire and a clear title and registration from Arizona.

The seller says they have restored the vehicle and it now has new fluids, timing belt, water pump and fuel system cleaned.

This is a rare car in above average condition. Japanese car collector's take extra notice.

Available here on ebay in Phoenix, Arizona with a Buy-It-Now of $15,000 and the Make Offer option.

1980 Black Moon Concordia II

I admit I haven't watched Black Moon Rising, even though I love obscure and forgotten films. I can say I've noticed the weird cover for it in second hand DVD shops, which has an illustration of Tommy Lee Jones' face that is half realistic and half pixelated. Well, this is the vehicle from that movie. And the vehicle is just as weird looking.

Apparently the 1984 film is about a top-secret cassette that is stuck in the tape player of the "Black Moon" experimental vehicle destined for Los Angeles that Tommy Lee Jones must track down, along with Linda Hamilton. John Carpenter wrote the story.

The title vehicle was actually a 1980 design called the Wingho by Bernard Beaujardins and Clyde Kwok (both great names) of Wingho Auto Classique based in Montreal. Only one was originally built, so two copies from the original mold were made, one for stunts, and one for interior shots.

The seller doesn't give much mechanical specifics, but like a lot of custom cars from the 70s and 80s, it seems to be based on a Volkswagen Beetle chassis and rear-mounted engine.

The seller says a retired Colonel purchased it in 1996 and used it for parades, garnering trophies and awards until his death. The widow would now like to pass it on to new ownership.

I see no reason why it shouldn't continue garnering trophies. The seller also shows a photo of a hand written note from Linda Hamilton saying:

"To the Colonel - I loved riding in your car. The only thing missing was you. Hope we can meet someday...'til then, much love - Linda Hamilton"

If you're a fan of the film, this is a must. If you're a fan of Linda Hamilton this is a must. And if you're a fan of wild looking kit cars that are probably not road legal but really fun to drive around anyways, this is a must.

Available here on ebay in San Marcos, Texas with bidding starting at $10k and a $15k Buy-It-Now.

1959 Goliath Express 1100

This is one of those rare car classifieds where the seller offers some context to flesh out the full story of the vehicle. The seller of this Goliath says it made the car blog rounds before they bought it this summer. They say it was advertised as a "museum quality" and in running condition, but it was actually much different.

Fortunately the seller had enough admiration for the vehicle that they devoted themselves to getting it running again. They say it now runs well and is up for grabs again.

Goliath was part of the larger Borgward German automaker group before both folded in 1961. They specialized in small three-wheel trucks, but also made passenger cars and larger trucks. The 1100 was intended to distinguish them from their smaller trucks, and was later sold under the name Hansa.

Underneath the charming red paint and wood bed is a flat four-cylinder four-stroke water-cooled engine powering the front-wheels. The rear-axle is solid drop-forged 1-ton steel, and it features low gears for hauling heavy freight.

Cosmetically, the seller does say it needs TLC, although with no major visible flaws the existing patina could pass. Mechanically, they cleaned the carburetors, added brake fluid, reseated valve covers, gaskets and seals and rebuilt the fuel tank. They say they got help and support from Goliath fans along the way.

The seller estimates this is just 1 of 3 Goliath trucks in North America.

If you saw this before and wanted it, here's another chance to have it better sorted.

Available here on ebay in Salt Lake City, Utah with a Buy-It-Now of $15,000 and the Make Offer option.

Under $20k: Euro 1983 Mercedes-Benz 500SL

I love the R107 SL-Class.

I just don't like the hundreds of thousands of North American versions imported here.

One of the more unfortunate chapters in auto history is when European automakers were forced to comply with inane U.S. government vehicle regulations in order to sell their cars here. One of them required cars to be able to withstand 5-mph impacts, so automakers were forced to slap on large, heavy and unsightly bumpers over their original designs. On the otherwise graceful Mercedes R107, the bumpers basically ruined the car.

There were also rules pertaining to headlights, so Mercedes had to ditch the progressive and handsome small square units they debuted with the car and instead install these sealed-beam quad round lights that made the car look ancient, not to mention make visibility at night worse. The sad irony of the American regulations is that European cars were and remain far safer in general than American cars.

So when your comfortable elderly neighbors are selling their low mileage American-spec SL for some outrageous price, don't budge. You don't want it. During the Reagan Era, loosened restrictions on importing created a vibrant grey market culture, so European versions filtered through in surprising numbers. On any given day on ebay, you'll find a handful of European versions in varying quality.

This is one such example, and it's absolutely gorgeous in gunmetal grey over black, a very rare and desirable color combo. The 500SL was never offered here. Sure, we got the larger-engined 560SL, but the 500 is faster, pumping out a very impressive 245 horsepower with 0-60 mph times around 7.4 seconds and more torque at 296 lb·ft (401 N·m) at 3200 rpm.

The small square Euro headlamps are a revelation, showing us how truly modern and fresh Mercedes made the R107. It gives the car and utterly devilish and charming front end. The slim chrome bumpers are beautiful, and when combined with the later '92 R129 alloys, make this car look startlingly current. I could do without the black plastic rear spoiler, but it's factory and still looks fine.

Another great thing is the size. These cars are so small, yet they're comfortable inside and pack so much power under the hood. Just another German wonder.

The seller lists the odometer as reading 138,945, which must be in kilometers and equals about 86k miles, low for an R107. Inside and out, the car looks immaculate. They say that a whopping $15,000 in service work was recently done, and they have the receipts to prove it. I would check for accident damage and rust. Beyond that, there's not much you can argue with after $15k of work done.

If you are a serious collector looking for the right SL in Euro-spec and a great color combo, this could easily be the one. It also includes the removable hardtop. Awesome, awesome, awesome car. The next owner will be a lucky.

Available here on ebay in Dallas, Texas for $19,995.

Remember The Teuton: 1985 BMW 316 Baur TC

This is a very rare car. Both the engine and the roof treatment option were never offered in North America.

The body, however, is the classic and beloved E30 which we fortunately did get. It debuted in 1982 and lasted in some markets until 1994. The styling is brilliant. The car thoroughly improves on the E31, while still retaining core BMW themes. It's simple, but endlessly beguiling.The shape is relatively boxy, but up close each corner and edge is warmly curved like a fine gemstone. The fact that it was replaced by the totally different E36 only enchances the E30 in the eyes of fans and collectors

The 316 has a 1.6-litre inline four-cylinder SOHC piston engine that produced around 100 horsepower. This is no rocket ship. Thankfully, it's mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and powers the rear wheels. Fast? No. Sufficient, practical, and economical? Yes. Combined with the car's already demonstrable handling, the engine, tiny by today's standards, unthinkable for a BMW, is still passable. North Americans are already acquainted with the similar the 318, anyways.

To up the quaint Euro factor, this 316 featues a Baur top conversion. Baur had an extremely close relationship with BMW and other German automakers. While the conversion was still technically a custom aftermarket conversion, as it was performed after the car was made rather than during production, it was as close to a factory option as it gets, even being featured in some brochures from the era.

What differentiates the Baur from your ordinary convertible E30? A lot. The window frames and kept in place and a top cross bar is added for extra support. The canvas top peels back like a sardine can. When a car loses its roof to become a convertible, it also loses structural rigidity, causing more flexing and bending in the body. This then becomes noticeable in handling. The Baur attempts to rectify that problem with keeping some side and roof pillars intact. The result is the best of both worlds: some structural rigidity combined with the open air sensation.

Inside we have one of the best interiors from BMW. Oversized pre-airbag steering wheel, center console angled towards the driver, dark high grade plastics. And a pair of dice dangling from the rear view mirror.

The seller says this is a 1-owner car that was purchased new in Kohn, Germany before it traveled the world and then ended up in the Hamptons on Long Island in New York. If you're going to get a Baur, that's about a good a story as you might find. The seller says the car is not without some scratches but suggests it is otherwise sound, and has no rust, which is terrific. They list the odometer as reading 88,382 kilometers which converts to around 55,000 miles, very low.

The price for this wonderful slice of bratwurst? $18,990.

Find it here on ebay.