1984 Porsche 911 Targa

This metallic dark green 911 with gold BBS rims immediately caught my eye. It's a rare - and handsome - combination. The seller claims it's original "moss green" paint with no accidents or paint work.

The Porsche bubble continues, the way Ferrari went 30 years ago, and with no signs of slowing down. The logic is as follows: your old air-cooled Porsche 911 will rapidly appreciate in value every year, with extra bonus on top if it's been well kept and in original condition.

Of all the 911, I do like the 80's versions. Despite the clunky rear bumper guards, these cars were solid, fast, and have aged well. The iconic 911 shape is HERE. These cars are also crazy SMALL - they are a micro-car compared to the average size of today's vehicles.

The targa is the least-loved 911 variant, because it's not the superior coupe and it's not the total top-down convertible either. Fortunately, with the rigid middle beam bar and cool single-piece wraparound rear window, it does what a Targa should do: give you a lot more open air and visibility than a sunroof coupe, and yet more structure and safety than a convertible.

If this one is as original as the seller claims, it could very well be worth the nearly $43k asking price. Hey, at least they're not asking $50k...or $60k...or $70k...

You know someone selling a Porsche has already won if you start thinking that way ;)

Available on craigslist here

1977 Pinzgauer 712K 6x6

This Pinzgauer was a former Radio Communications Vehicle for the Austrian military and is now available in California after a rare factory rebuild to make it even more formidable.

Pinzgauer is one of the few off-road trucks that can rival the Unimog by Mercedes. These are every bit as imposing, capable and stylish in a very rugged way.

Steyr Puch laucnhed the Pinzgauer in 1971 as the standard issue military mobile for armies all over Europe, and production by them lasted remarkably until 2000. These were extremely capable on and off-road, towing up to 11,000 lbs and drivable for 249 miles on one fuel tank. The central tube chassis has a transaxle to keep the weight distribution even and center of gravity low. Portal axles provide extra clearance over ground obstacles.

We usually see these in 4x4 only, so the six wheel version is incredible, and this one looks especially awe-inspiring. The flat military green is perfect, as are the the black centered wheels. The lack of any military text or decals hint at civilian ownership. Nothing is out of place or overdone.

The closed top full back gives endless possibilities, but this one is so cool and clean it could just be kept as-is. The exterior color nicely flows inside with stacks of storage drawers and compartments.

Underneath the hood is a 2.5-liter air-cooled 4-cylinder engine. While not fast, it was simple, easy to fix and extremely durable.

As part of the 1998 restoration in Graz, the seller gives a huge list of important upgrades and imporvements and says that only about 9k mi have been driven since.

Honestly, if you're in the market for a Pinzgauer, I doubt anything else out there is quite like this one. The seller does mention it is not driveable by law in California, but should be transferable elsewhere.

Available here on ebay in Vallejo, California with bidding starting at $44k.

1960 BMW Isetta 600

BMW actually did not create the Isetta. It was originally created in 1953 by an Italian firm called Iso. Isetta meant "little Iso". Iso made refrigerators and scooters, and the Isetta is, in some ways, a combination of the two, being a tiny box with a tiny engine. In fact, Iso used their scooter engine in early models.

The original Isetta was just a small three-seat vehicle with three wheels, and a rear-mounted engine that powered the rear wheels. The car had just one door: the entire front of the car opened up for easy access in and out. It was a hit at the 1953 Turin Motor Show, and is an uplifting example of the good ways Europeans can use their technological prowess in the post-war years.

Since post-war Western Europe was still re-building together under the Marshall Plan, a greater sense of community emerged, and the Isetta was licensed for production beyond Italy in several other nations. Which brings us to BMW.

In typical German fashion, BMW thoroughly re-worked the Isetta inside and out. The most significant changes were a new four-stroke, 1-cylinder engine from their motorcycles, some cosmetic touches and new suspension. Sales took off, becoming the the top-selling single-cylinder car in the world.

In 1957, they launched an all-new bigger body style, the 600. This featured a stretched chassis, four wheels, a second row of seating and an additional door on the side to access the rear seats.

Power came from a 582cc flat twin engine that produced 19.5 horsepower. Rear suspension was a sophisticated semi-trailing arm and was used on almost every production BMW until 1984, when it was replaced by the Z-axle multi-link suspension.

Only 34,813 were built until 1959.

This immaculate and immensely charming example is finished in two-tone white roof and pale yellow body. The seller says the only cosmetic flaws are a dash lip seal that does not align to the windshield and a small crack on the door wing. The seller doesn't say if this is all-original or a restoration, but it's amazing either way.

Mechanically, they say it starts, idles smoothly, shifts well and accelerates fine.

This is a unique piece of European automaking history. Not many were made, none were sold in North America, and very few are in this kind of pristine condition. It was an innovative car then, and it still impresses today as a feat of engineering and aesthetics.

Available here on ebay in Laramie, Wyoming with bidding at $17,600 and a Buy-It-Now of $45,750.