1985 Yamaha QT50

What a qt...get it? This little Yamaha is great for people looking for fun, frugal and low-maintenance transportation in urban areas.

I love (older) cars. But let's face it. Cars suck! Too often they are big, inefficient money pits. One way to get around cars but still get around physically are mopeds.

Yamaha introduced the QT50 in 1979 and ran it until 1992. The '50' denotes a 50cc two-stroke reed valve engine that could propel the moped to a top speed of 30 miles per hour.

The beauty of these is in their extreme simplicity. The drivetrain is weatherproof. The shaft-drive is contained in the single-sided swing arm and eliminates chain maintenance. The drive has a centrifugal clutch but just one gears speed, making wheel changes easy. When operating, the QT50 can average almost 100 miles per gallon.

The seller says this example has just a mere 77 miles and would consider trading it for other motorcycles or fancy watches.

This is a sweet little thing for getting around town, and the low mileage and good condition is pretty unusual.

Available here on craigslist for $1,999.

Original Owner 1979 BMW 733i Project

This E23 has a nice summery feel about it, with the light blue paint and general feeling of these cars kind of like being on permanent vacation.

The other thing about the E23 is that it was replaced by a totally different car - the larger an heavier E32. This makes the E23 more interesting for collectors because it represents distinctly old-school design and engineering that was really never quite replicated.

Make no mistake though, these are cushy still people-carrying saloons. We had an exclusive on one a couple years ago that I got to inspect in person. My first impression was being surprised at how small they are. The current 3-series is now the size of this 7-series. And even then, this thing wears tight, clean, minimal sheet metal that maximizes interior space. German cars always photograph larger than they actually are, so this really classifies as a small or mid-size car today.

What makes this example really interesting is that it's being offered by the original owner who purchased it new in 1979 from Helmut BMW in Connecticut and have kept it in pretty good shape all these years. Cosmetically, they say it still wears the original paint and nifty blue leather interior. They do note one small area of rust but speculate it shouldn't be difficult to fix and say they don't see any other problem areas.

Underneath the hood is BMW's venerable straight-six. It will provide a healthy dosage of power, boosted by the 4-speed manual transmission on this one. The seller has provided a very detailed account of everything they have done and yet to do. They say it will need new struts and an injector. These aren't deal breakers and when addressed will make for a very sweet vintage ride in unusual original condition.

Available here on craigslist for $3,500.

1987 Subaru XT Turbo

If you were to ask me, "Are there any Subaru classics?" I would respond with a resounding, "Yes!" And then I would ramble on and on about the XT.

The 80s were a pivotal time for Japanese automakers. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of World War II, the Japanese rebounded remarkably and excelled at making cars. But when it came time to infiltrate the American market, they had stiff competition from both Detroit and Europe.

One way to buck both was to offer cars that were well-made (which American cars weren't) and affordable (which German cars weren't). This way, they appealed to consumers best instincts: thrift, value and quality.

Subaru had already made an impression with their compact all-wheel drive sedans and wagons. To take on the compact sport coupe, they introduced the all-new XT in 1985. Like other Subaru, it was a simple, uncomplicated front-wheel layout with the option of all-wheel drive. But unlike Subaru's existing models, it wore a radical wedge-shaped body of laser-straight lines, blackened pillars and hidden headlights, looking like a Syd Mead-designed prop for the set of Blade Runner.

The futuristic vibes continued into the interior with an asymmetrical steering wheel, digital layout and stalks of vital buttons and controls housed in two pods flanking each side of the steering wheel for access within finger-reach.

The only initial complaints about the XT were lack of power, especially in the naturally aspirated 4-cylindr. Fortunately, this is the much more desirable turbocharged 4 mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. It put out just 115 horsepower, but with the stick shift, aerodynamic body and relatively light weight, could easily feel sufficient and nimble.

The seller says this survivor is rust free, and the paint shows just some oxidizing. Mechanically, they say it not only has a rebuilt engine but a suspension transplanted from an '03 WRX! Whoa! Not surpassingly they say it handles amazingly. Always nice to find older cars with sweet sleeper upgrades like this, and the seller isn't passing down the cost of the swap, either.

These are flying totally underneath the elite collector radar, despite Subaru restoring one for their museum recently and Gen-X car fans looking back on them with nostalgia. But to those in the know, these are a best kept secret, blending outrageous styling and fun, economical performance.

Available here on ebay for a $5,000 Buy It Now.

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.

1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

Ford ended the legendary Thunderbird nameplate a while ago, having come full-circle with a retro version at the start of the new millennium. Every generation had some appeal, and a lot of people were puzzled and saddened to seed it go. It's like if McDonald's got rid of their Big Mac suddenly one day for no good reason.

Speaking of fast-food, this is a fast ruiser that would totally be rad to go to the drive through with. In 1983, Ford launched an all-new, totally redesigned Thunderbird that finally erased any memories of the bloated barges of the Malaise 70s. The new car was handsome, well-proportioned and perhaps most importantly very aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient of just 0.35.

It mercifully shared the rear-wheel drive Fox platform with the Mustang of the era. This meant a balanced chassis, decent handling and a real shot at taking on the European competition.

In 1987, Ford gave the Thunderbird a refresh which ditched the awful sealed-beam headlights in favor of flush units, shrinked the grille and tweaked the taillights. The thing I really like about this generation Thunderbird is that it aesthetically offers something Europe still couldn't replicate, a mix of muscle and modernity.

There were a bunch of engine options, too. You could get a V6, V8, or a special turbocharged 4-cylinder engine like this one.

Of all the engines, I'd want the turbo 4. The V6 wasn't like today's powerful 6-cylinders and had to move a relatively large and heavy car. The V8 made the car too fuel thirsty and irrelevant, as the similar and better appointed Lincoln Mark VII was essentially the same car. But the 4-cylinder turbo offered everything: decent fuel economy and gobs of power. Ford knew they had a hit and gave the engine a air-to-air intercooler from the SVO Mustang that boosted output to an impressive 190 horsepower.

Other features included 4-wheel disc brakes Automatic Ride Control, functional hood scoops for the intercooler and 16-inch "snowflake" alloy wheels.

These are new classic American muscle cars. The 80s were a mixed decade for the US auto industry, as they had to stave off serious competition from Europe and Japan, but cars like this show they still had interesting things to say. '88 was the best year for the Turbo Coupe, and the last year for this entire generation.

The seller says this example has over 120k miles, and although they say it isn't perfect, it looks clean and well kept enough. The seller also says they have a bunch of spare parts.

Available here on craigslist for $3,000.

1980 Trabant 601

Ah, the fall of the Iron Curtain. The End of the Cold War. The opening of free trade...ah..wait, what is this thing? Oh man they drove this over there? Quick, close the curtain! Re-build the wall! Bring back the Cold War!

All kidding aside, former Soviet satellite state cars are starting to see the light of Western day and bring their own set of charms.

As the seller correctly notes, the Trabant 601 was basically to the East Germans what the Volkwagen Beetle was for West Germans: that everyday people's car. It's not beautiful (though one could stretch for cute), it's not fast, it's probably not terribly comfortable, but it got people from point A to B. And in the communist German Democratic Republic, that was all cars were expected to do. It was produced from 1963-1990, resulting in over 2 million units sold.

The interior is a mind blowing exercise in frugality, which the dash housing only the most vital gauges and the steering wheel looking like it came off a metal playground set.

Despite the aesthetic austerity, the 601 actually hid some nice innovations for the time, eschewing the 'decadent' West's rear-engine fever in favor of the front-engine, front-wheel drive setup that is ubiquitous today. It also had froth and rear independent suspension.

The engine itself is an extremely small two-stroke, two-cylinder unit that probably gets great gas mileage.

The seller says this one is solid and runs and drives great, with the original drivetrain and some imperfections in the paint. They also have a Maryland title.

Available here on ebay with a Buy It Now of $3,995.

1970 Volvo 164

The 164 was a slightly upscale version of the 140. The 1966-74 140 was Volvo's breakthrough model, selling over 1.2 million units. Then the 164 came along in 1968. It was Volvo's attempt to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar. As the numeric designation suggests, it had '6' cylinders instead of the 140's '4'.

Although sharing many parts with the 140, the front end was unique, drawing more inspiration from it's predecessor, the Amazon. It's tasteful looking without being too stodgy. The rest of the body is classic 1960s/70s European sedan, with a high waistline and overall bathtub shape inspired no doubt by the NSU 110, itself inspired by the first generation Corvair. White is a very flattering color, too, giving it a clean, bright, appliance-like vibe that suits the functionalism on display.

The interior is this incredible breath of fresh air from today's claustrophobic, over-designed interiors. The dashboard is essentially a single rectangular strip of faux-wood and simple gauges. The pre-airbag steering wheel is especially charming. It looks good. Part of the beauty of simplicity is that there is simply less to go wrong.

For those who complain the 140 is underpowered, the 240's inline 6-cylinder is the perfect antidote. It's a moderately heavy car, but the engine was able to kick out 160 horsepower to the rear wheels, and it managed to be more efficient than some competitors. This one has the column-mounted 3-speed Borg Warner automatic, but it'll be good for cruising easily with friends.

The seller says this survivor is an original daily driver, has no rust and runs strong. If you're looking for a sweet retro people carrier for short to medium trips, this is a pretty nice piece.

Available here on craigslist for $2,800.

Stored 10+ Years: 1986 Isuzu Impulse Turbo

The Impulse is one of the great lost cars of the 80s. There is so much going on with them: Giugiaro body, Japanese engineering, Lotus tuning. They looked terrific, were fun to drive and have held up over time pretty well. They are also extremely rare.

The basic fact is that there just aren't any sporty, compact, affordable rear-wheel drive cars anymore. But back in the late 70s to the early 90s there were many options.

The Impulse was one such option when it debuted in 1981. It was otherwise known, perhaps fittingly (given the Italian design) as the Piazza outside North America. This was way back when Isuzu was an equal contender alongside Honda and Toyota for king of Japanese auto sales in North America. The Impulse was way nicer than most other Japanese cars at the time. Isuzu made a great call in commissioning Giugiaro to do the body work. Japanese design was struggling to find a language, and he helped them see how they could craft a look, tone and shape that neither America nor Germany were seizing upon - yet.

Engines were either naturally aspirated or turbocharged 4-cylinders. This is the rarer and far more desirable 2.0-liter turbo, with a 5-speed manual transmission, ventilated front disc brakes, and rear solid disc brakes. The seller says the suspension is by Lotus, but I thought it was only offered on later models.

The seller says this survivor has been in enclosed storage for over a decade and needs a cleaning. They do mention a new battery and oil change, however, and that is was "started up". 10 years is a long slumber for any car, so it may need more, but the basics are here, and it looks great in presumably original Turbo trim, wheels and rear spoiler.

The Impulse is flying low on the collector radar but deserves a new appraisal as a special, exotic car of multinational breeding. To sum it up, it's pretty and fast.

Available here on craigslist for just $2,800.

Restored 1980 Volkswagen Scirocco

The first generation Scirocco was a touchy car, treading on holy ground by replacing the beloved rear-engine Karmann Ghia. But Volkswagen had already made its mind up, anticipating legislation that would outlaw rear engines altogether as well as feeling the air-cooled 4-cylinder couldn't be perfected any further (Porsche went through a similar crossroads that resulted in development of the 928).

All of it was rather anticlimactic. The law wasn't passed, and consumers still pined for rear-engine cars. But it was too late. The rear-engine lineup was gone. Fortunately, Volkswagen tapped styling legend Giugiaro to craft great-looking new bodies. If it was going to be front-engine and front-wheel drive, at least it was going to look state-of-the-art. Such is the Scirocco, which is basically a sleeker, sexier Golf.

The first generation is particularly notable for its quad round headlights and spartan interior. Just this year, Hagerty Classic Car Insurance has rated the Mk I Scirocco as nearly extinct. I've seen them pop up here and there, but as they rust out, get driven into the ground, sold for scrap they are definitely harder and harder to come by each year.

Fortunately, this example has been given some love by the seller, who says they hate to sell but are moving. They've refreshed it cosmetically and mechanically, and says it now runs well and comes with a clean title.

If you have your heart set on the Scirocco but don't want one that requires work (as the few left usually do), this is an increasingly unique opportunity to acquire one that seems ready to go.

Available here on ebay with a Buy It Now of $3,750.

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.

1987 Nissan 200SX Notchback

Ah, the Notchback. Nothing says late 20th century auto design than a C pillar that is less steeply raked than the A pillar. This was popularized by 1970s American cars. Then, slowly, as Europe came out with sleeker and sleeker designs that the public wanted, the notchback started disappearing. The last holdouts were the fox bodied Mustangs and a couple Cadillacs. Today, they notchback is virtually extinct in favor of fastbacks that push the rear glass out to the end of the car, sometimes even if it's only a trunk and not even a real hatchback.

And yet, at the tail end of the notchback era, here we have one of Japan's few attempts to join the diminishing crowd. The 200SX was actually the Silvia outside North America. In 1984 it got a new body internally designated as the S12. It was classic entry-level two door Rising Sun of the 80s: hidden headlights, DOT bumpers, swathes of black plastic, and a passion for rectangular shape forms.

There was just one redeeming quality in the eyes of most: rear-wheel drive, aka, drifting baby! This was when the Japanese were still selling the preferred setup for most enthusiasts on some of their models. So instead of just another Civic-mobile, this thing could actually entertain on the road.

Power came from a naturally aspirated,  2.0-liter SOHC 4-cylinder engine. It won't light the streets on fire, but it will get the job done against the car's small size and light weight, and won't be needing to stop for gas every block, either.

The interior was a period affair, awash in beige plastics (even the steering wheel - design flaw) but it's somehow a refreshing break from today's bombastic, overdone dashboards.

These things are getting scarce. Most are modded and lowered to ground before they hit a telephone pole and then head for the scrapyard. This one is mercifully free of serious alterations, and has wear one could possibly describe as 'patina' (nose in the air now). I actually kinda like the balck aftermarket wheels, they match the plastic trim and never show dirt or brake dust so you don't have to clean 'em too often.

The seller says it has no rust, some dings, a rebuilt engine and solid drivetrains and suspension. And, they add, it's drift ready. Just please don't mod it, lower it and hit a telephone pole with it.

Available here on ebay with an auction and $5k Buy It Now.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Euro

The W126 is one of those rare cars that was better than both its predecessor and successors, crystalizing it in time as a pinnacle of achievement. It debuted in 1979 and was more aerodynamic, efficient, spacious and faster than the outgoing W116.

The brilliant styling was courtesy of genius Bruno Sacco and was the first all-new design to emerge after his ascension to head of styling at Daimler-Benz in 1975. He took everything that was good about the W116 and made it better. This standard wheelbase SE trim means slightly better handling and lower weight than the SEL long wheelbases.

Unfortunately, Sacco's new integrated bumper design had to be extended on US-bound models to comply with the DOT, but this Euro-spec example mercifully has the original pieces that transform the proportions and look of the car. It's a sight to behold for discerning eye, especially auto fans here so used to the other inferior bumpers we got.

Another cool feature of Euro-spec cars are their interiors, like this one with rare cloth seats that weren't an option in the US. I actually prefer leather, but these sure do look comfy. The rest is classic Mercedes-Benz, which means utter perfection: high-quality plastics, easy-to-read and operate controls and gauges, and a delightful oversized steering wheel.

Another thing we never got is what lies under the hood: the M110.989 version of a 2.8-liter inline 6-cylinder engine that produced a competent 185 horsepower. The 6-cylinder is a sweet spot for these, especially in short wheel base form. It's one of the best engines Mercedes ever put out, and will provide power, economy and reliability if routinely maintained.

The seller says it was imported when new, and has a federalized gauge cluster. It now has about 110k miles. They say it's in good shape, including the paint, except for a corner that was resprayed, but it's been garaged during their ownership. It certainly looks sharp, and could easily go for another 100K miles of comfortable, state-of-the-art cruising. It's a lot of car for the price.

Available here on craigslist for $3,800.