1985 TVR Tasmin 280i

Although I typically try to steer clear of the "little British roadster" so cliched and overexposed in the classic auto world, this TVR is shunned enough by purists that it's right at home on COTC.

British cars had a hard time in the late 70s and early 80s, especially in markets outside the UK. They shed the legendary sexy curves of the 50s and 60s in favor of hard angles that the Germans and Japanese were so good at. But unlike German and Japanese engineering, British cars weren't known for ergonomics or efficiency. They also rusted faster than the speed of light.

The Tasmin showed up in 1980 looking like Giugario took the weekend off and gave styling duties to his son or brother. You'd think it would be hard to screw up the wedge, but here TVR go and do it, making it awkward, derivative and cheap, especially with those parts-bin taillights last seen on the 70s Lotus lineup. This one takes things further with chintzy gold paint and even golder BBS knock-off wheels.

Inside is that stack-of-boxes dashboard, infuriatingly made worse with a wood steering wheel and shift knob (never understood why those appear on supposedly sporty cars - aren't they slipper and make you lose grip?).

Fortunately, some relief comes from under the hood, a 2.8-liter Ford Cologne V6 good for about 160 horsepower to the rear wheels.

This one has obviously been lucky enough to have an adoring owner, who imported it themselves from the UK to the US in 2011. They state it has no catalytic converter or engine-strangling emissions equipment, keeping power intact. The seller says it's in better than daily driver condition. It's not everybody's cup of English tea, but it seems like a well kept example of a quirky chapter in TVR history, sandwiched inbetween their sumptuous 60s and 90s-00s cars.

By the way, as I'mm writing this I'm listening to this sweet song called "Maybe Tonight" by Lovelock which totally seems like it would be playing from this thing's stereo system.

Available here on ebay.

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.

1995 Mazda MX-6

Mazda has had it tough over the years trying to stand out from Honda and Toyota. Fortunately, they tried really hard in the 90s, with a bunch of cars that were interestingly styled and offered decent driving experiences.

The MX-6 name was used for just a decade on two different generations. This is the much more streamlined 2nd generation.

The design is classic 90s rising sun: smooth, simple planes, rounded corners, blobular lights, organic shapes everywhere. It's shockingly stood the test of time, especially when compared to today's cars, which are both organic and over styled (although Mazda is currently finding a good design language). I also have a hunch it's got a pretty low drag coefficient.

The same goes with the interior. Sure, it's awash in tan and black plastics, but it's pretty sporty and no-nonsense at the same time.

Perhaps the best part of this car is that it's about the size of a Civic from the same era but comes packed with much more power in the form of a V6. Coupled with the stick shift, this is a fun little package. It also seems to be pretty well-equipped with fog lamps, alloy whees and a rear spoiler. All nice touches, and thankfully spared from aftermarket modifying.

This would make a perfect everyday commuter for a young or single person as long as it can be had for under $5k.

Available here on ebay.

58k-Mile 1993 Audi 90 CS

Remember Audi cars before they were cool? For a while they were still in the shadow of Volkswagen. In the 80s, sales in the US plummeted after 60 Minutes fabricated a report about unintended acceleration. 1990-91 was their all-time low.

Audi spent the rest of the 90s were making a slow but steady comeback. Part of that was accomplished with the 80/90 model. The "90" was an upmarket version of the 80, which was released in the mid 1980s. The B4 generation for sale here debuted in 1991.

The styling is a revelation in today's sea of bulbous, over-styled designs. Lines are straight, shapes gently squared off,  and planes are long, flat, smooth and simple. The greenhouse glass is enormous thanks to thin pillars and allowing for terrific 360 degree visibility. US versions have slightly longer bumpers.

Inside offers a peak into equally old-school but still fresh interior design. Audi have nailed interiors for a long time and the 90 is no exception. Materials are high grade, gauges are clear, easy to read and within reach, and a spattering of wood accents here and there.

Part of what helped Audi stand apart from BMW and Mercedes was their patented Quattro system of all-wheel drive. Unfortunately, this is just a front-wheel drive version. I always thought non-Quattro cars were a bit of joke, because without the unique system you're basically getting a fancy front-wheel drive car along the lines of a Volvo or Saab.

To make up for matters this one is equipped with a 174 horsepower V6, so that highway onramps and passing traffic won't be too difficult.

I've seen this seller before, they're out of New York and have a knack for finding unusually low mileage European cars of the 80s and 90s. This is another odd find. It's not particularly remarkable or fast car, but the mileage is low and condition really clean. I'd prefer it over a Camry, Accord or Volvo of the same era, though.

This one is low-mileage enough that if it's driven pretty carefully it could last for a while, but keep an eye out for rust and electrical gremlins. Also, Volkswagen/Audi automatic transmissions have terrible reputations. A 5-speed swap down the line may make things significantly cooler.

Available here for $4,400.

2005 Honda Accord Hybrid

Hybrids are still viable contenders as gas prices continue to hover just under $4 a gallon and no relief in sight. Alternative energy vehicles have a very checkered and infamous past, most notably with General Motors EV-1, which by most accounts was a pretty cool automobile until they abruptly canceled the program. It wasn't the first time GM pulled a weird move that resulted in several conspiracy theories.

Only a couple years later however, the Japanese marched in with the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. The first generation Insight was truly cool, using expensive high-strentgh but ultra-lightweight steel, and super aerodynamic design to achieve a new level of efficiency. Then the four door-Prius came along and found a spot in garages across American suburbs.

Honda introduced a Civic Hybrid, but it didn't have a hatchback or "hip" status like the Prius, which Hollywood celebrities drove to award ceremonies. Then Honda rolled out an Accord Hybrid. This was based on the North American seventh generation Accord. Hondas are frustrating cars. You feel like there's potential for a really great car, but they always seem to settle for just good. Unfortunately, "just good" meant they still had flaws. One of the things that has always bothered me about Hondas is ride quality and road noise, two things competitor Toyota seemed to care about and try refining.

Flaws aside, the Accord Hybrid seemed like a good idea. If you couldn't stand the dingy looks or compact size of the Civic but still wanted fuel savings, the Accord Hybrid was an option.

One of the things that made it interesting was the pairing of 6-cylinders and an electric motor. The 1st-gen insight only had three cylinders and the Prius just four. 6-cylinders seemed to address hesitations about hybrid performance while still utilizing the electric motor for efficiency. In fact, the combination produced 15 more horsepower and made the '05 Accord Hybrid faster than the gasoline V6 Accord. There was just one problem: the 29/37 mpg wasn't that much better than the regular Accord and not great as far as hybrids go in general.

Not surprisingly, since it looked like a regular Accord, drove like a regular Accord and was $3k more than a regular Accord, the Hyrbid Accord didn't take off, and wasn't offered after 2007.

The seller of this example seems to be a former Marine who "just got married at age 66" and took exceptional care of the car. With just 57,008 miles on the clock, they also barely drove it. Accord Hybrids were positioned at the top of Honda's lineup, so they usually come very well-equipped, and this one has nice leather seats and a bunch of other goodies.

Honda just reintroduced an Accord Hybrid for 2014, but until now this was the only Accord Hybrid, and it still remains a rare and interesting alternative energy car. Being a hybrid, it still bears a price premium, but it's a good design and will still be mostly efficient and very reliable transportation for a long time. Or, at least until it needs a new electric battery (every 10 years).

Available here on ebay for $12k.

The Last Saab: 2011 9-5 Aero XWD

The second generation 9-5 was supposed to be a comeback car for Saab. That's what its successful predecessor was in a way. Instead, it was the last Saab ever built, at least under the ownership they had for over two decades. That's not to say the 9-5 was at fault. In fact, it was a pretty great car. The demise of Saab actually goes all the way back to General Motor's meddling in the company starting in 1989. Some say they buy the competition to destroy it. They have every reason to. Saab used to make cars GM couldn't.

Saab is notorious for giving their cars initial designs that were well-executed and conservative enough so that they aged well and didn't need replacing for a decade. The first generation 9-5 replaced the 9000 in 1997, itself dating back to 1986. Both the 9000 and the 9-5 shared European GM front-wheel drive platforms. It was nothing special but got the job done. The 9-5 came at a good time in the mid 90s when the company needed a new car. It came with a sleek all-new body and interior. It was big, comfortable and reliable. These were favorites of middle class New England suburbs and sold in respectable numbers.

Unfortunately Saab (or GM, as nobody really knows who was calling the shots at that point) waited too long to replace the first generation 9-5. It fell above Volkswagen but far below Mercedes-Benz and BMW and somewhere even with Volvo, so it occupied a weird position in the market as a luxurious car with the front-wheel drive and therefore needed extra appeal and marketing to stand out. It received neither, and even after several decent facelifts, gradually just faded to the side as an automotive dinosaur. It was shameful.

In 2010, a new 9-5 did finally arrive. Saab had already tried to stage a comeback with an all-new 9-3, but that was an utter failure as the car was a poorly made and unreliable rebadged Euro GM front-wheel four-banger. It didn't stand a chance against anything Germany or Japan were offering, and it wasn't even better than an Accord or Camry. The new 9-5 was a chance to hit the reset button.

At first things looked promising. For starters, the car came in a super smooth, almost sexy body. It hinted at the brand's heritage while moving into the future. It's simple, clean and well-executed. The blackened a-pillars are cool, and the rear-tailights finish the car on a satisfying note. They also came with nifty alloy wheels that resembled fans. (always a good detail on Saabs).

Inside was one of Saab's best interiors yet, which is saying a lot since they always had good interiors. Saab had made aircraft before cars and designed the car dashboards to resemble the highly functional, user-friendly, wrap-around cockpits of a jet fighter. The result was iconic. Numerals were green, needles orange, and every button, switch and knob was artfully formed to be both easy to use and pleasing to touch. The 2nd gen 9-5 took things to a new level, with beautifully carved shapes, silver accents and artful layouts.

Underneath the hood was even more impressive. Although the previous 9-5 was never really underpowered, it wasn't exactly a hot-rod, either. Saab clearly intended to change that with the 2nd generation. This is the top of the line aero model and comes with a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine that produced 300 horsepower. As icing on top, it was matched with Saab's burgeoning system of all-wheel drive called "XWD". Frankly, I always thought it was ridiculous that Saab never offered all-wheel traction earlier on, seeing it was a Swedish carmaker and they sold so many in the snowy Northeast. But for a moment at least, the 9-5 Aero XWD was a really impressive package, for a Saab at least.

All the momentum was crushed however when Saab's financial troubles climaxed in 2010. The 2nd generation 9-5 barely got out of the gates before production ended in 2011, with just 11,280 units made, making this one of the rarest production Saabs in recent memory. The company has gone through bunch of corporate shifting from then until fall 2013, when it appears it will continue some limited production under the National Electric Vehicle Sweden (Nevs), but who really knows what will happen.

The last 9-5 is an impressive car. The platform and engines were widely used in Europe and shouldn't be too difficult to get parts. Servicing might just have to be done at a specialist, Pep Boys or your garage, though. The one positive fallout is that resale values have plummeted, so what was normally a $35k-$45k car can now be had for less than $25k.

Find this one available here for $22,895.

22k-Mile 1989 Ford Thunderbird

Thunderbird is one of those priceless, iconic American names that is sadly not being used by Ford at the moment.

Between 1955 and 2005, however, the Thunderbird saw a total of eleven generations, most very different from each other. There was the original classic that gave birth to the concept of a personal luxury coupe, then the equally classic designs of the 60s, then the 70s gave way to big, bloated, very un-sporty designs, until a drastic rebirth in the 80s resulted in a slight reduction in size and great improvement in aerodynamics, aesthetics and efficiency.

This is the 10th generation that debuted in 1988. Ford changed American auto making with their 1986 Taurus, which was sleek and futuristic but practical. The new Thunderbird followed with similar styling cues: large, flat, smooth planes, a nearly grille less front, and a gently sloping rear. It's a big car, but it's styled so well that you don't realize it.

COTC likes these early Thunderbirds for their presence and style, as the later cars got more rounded and jellybean like and thus detracting of the persona going on here. Relive the American Empire days in all their glory.

These were also mercifully rear-wheel drive in a sea of American front-wheel drive cars in the late 80s and 90s. With the subtle styling, rwd and big V8, these could be sleeper drag racers and a nice alternative to the Mustang of the time.

Unfortunately this is just an early V6 version. But what an example it is. The seller claims it has just 22,501 miles and one previous owner. The car's condition is therefore like new. The exterior paint and plastic trim looks like it just rolled out of the factory.

The interior is also looking great. No dash cracks, clean gauges and buttons and immaculate cloth seats.

While not a collector car, it could easily be someone's daily driver or a great first car for a teenager. It's a big, comfortable boulevard and highway cruiser. Sure, the V6 isn't preferable, but it might save you a little bit of gas compared to the V8. This one makes most sense if the price stays under $5k.

Available here on ebay with no reserve.

1991 Toyota MR2 With V6 Swap

I love the MR2. Part of what makes the cut for cars I write about is if there isn't anything quite like it on the market today. This is especially true of the MR2. Toyota had just three generations before they canceled the program. Today's handful of mid engine cars such as the Porsche Boxster start at, what $50k-$70k? But in the glory days of Japanese automating, Toyota delivered a car that looked good, handled great, was good on gas, reliable and affordably priced.

There's a lot of debate as to which generation MR2 is the best. Most agree the third is the least desirable, as it was only available as a convertible and naturally aspirated. That leaves the first two generations, one symbolic of the 80s and the other of the 90s. It all comes down to taste. I tend to prefer the early first generation models for their quirky new wave looks, lower weight and simplicity.

This is a second generation. It's heavier, but in this example the weight is offset by more power. The seller says they have removed the 4-cylinder engine and put in a V6. There are a lot of V6 engines out there, and not all great. My guess is this was a non-turbo car and they owner was a mechanic who felt they could do the job well and had a good enough V6 to put in to make it worthwhile. Performance should be pretty sweet as a result.

The seller says there are about 118k miles on the body and 110k miles on the engine, neither spectacularly low but average for this year. Unfortunately there's a problem that prevents the car from driving. The seller says they don't have the time to fix it.

Fortunately, the say the body has no rust.

If you're a mechanic and you love the MR2, this could be a really cool find and a blast to drive one set up. Black is a good color and the the gold alloys don't even bother me much. I'd want a complete rundown on the history of the engine and the car first though.

Available here on craigslist for $3,500.

1989 Sterling 827 SLI Hatchback

Sterling is up there with Merkur as one of those failed 80s brands. The thing about both of them is that they actually made perfectly ok cars. The problem was mostly in their marketing boardrooms.

The Sterling was actually just a Rover, a British car company along the lines of Jaguar. But since Americans had come to detest all the Rovers that had been imported thus far, the company felt their latest offering would have a better chance if it was renamed. Rule number one: honesty is always the best policy. A brand that has a comeback car is better than a brand that nobody knows. This, however, was completely lost on Rover.

Sterling's only car was the 825 which debuted in 1987. In 1989 it was renamed 827, for the Honda 2.7-liter V6 engine under the hood. The idea was that Rover's partnership with Honda would bring out the best of each company in the car; the prestige and class of Rover and the reliability and build quality of Honda. Unfortunately the Sterling didn't have enough of either. Early models were plagued with problems. The engines were good, but the interiors are said to be a weak point. Rust was also an issue. By the time improvements came the public lost interest and sales ended in 1991 in the US.

Another issue is purpose. If it had the same underpinnings as the Acura Legend, why not just get an Acura Legend? Some of that was solved with the super rare hatchback version that is for sale here. Honda sure loved hatchbacks, but they never offered a four-door one, and certainly not under the Acura nameplate. Suddenly, the Sterling is making more sense. Four doors, huge trunk space, spunky V6 power, and good looks. It's a cosy, predicable family cruiser.

The seller of this one is a Sterling fanatic and claim they have gone through no less than four donor cars just to keep this one going. It's got a 183.5k miles, impressive for this car. They also have a huge binder of maintenance. While it's sad to see a dedicated owner forced to sell, I have a feeling this will end up in appreciate hands somehow, somewhere.

Available here on ebay for $3,495.

65k-Mile 1987 Acura Legend

Remember the Japanese invasion? No, not the one at Pearl Harbor in 1941. I'm referring to the peaceful war of commerce waged during the 1980s.

Before the US stock market had its brief bull run, the Japanese were having a party of their own, no small thanks to their culture of close corporate-government partnership that made sure everybody won (although often at any cost). Japanese industrial concepts weren't what you'd call original, but they took European and American designs and built them faster, cheaper and stronger. So when they started exporting audio equipment, televisions and cars to the US, it caused panic among manufacturers, especially the Big Three auto making giants.

Japanese cars were small, affordable and, for the most part, aesthetically pleasing. On top of that, in the wake of the fuel crises of the 1970s and their mile-long gasoline lines, Japanese cars were fuel efficient. Detroit got the message, but it was too late. American consumers loved their Toyotas and Hondas.

Then the US government stepped in and convinced Japan to accept a voluntary limit on exported cars. Since their highest volume movers were economy cars, one clever way around the limit was to move upmarket. The results were often stunning. Toyota spawned Lexus and their brilliant Mercedes-fighting LS400, and Honda created Acura. The sky was the limit.

Acura wasn't as ambitious as Lexus. The cars retained the dull styling and front-wheel drive layout of their Honda counterparts (one magnificent exception being the NSX, but that's a whole other story), but they were better equipped and had larger powerplants.

One of the first Acuras was the top-of-the-line Legend. The sedan debuted in 1986, with a coupe following the next year. The car was an instant hit with the automotive press and consumers alike. Everything that people liked about Hondas - reliability and efficiency - was kept and enhanced tenfold. The cars were also wrapped in sleek, simple, clean designs that had drag coefficients as low as .30. The coupe also came with a new 24-valve, 2.7-litre engine good for about 160 horsepower, not bad for the time. All of it was enough for Motor Trend to name the Legend their Import Car of the Year 1987.

Since they were affordable and reliable, they were driven a lot. Clean, low mileage examples are incredibly rare, especially in the wet, salty East Coast where I hail from. This particular Legend has a remarkably low 65,142 miles. For a late 80s Japanese car, that's just getting broken in. The beige-on-beige color scheme is flattering to the shape and fits the low-key, easy-going nature of the car.

Given that it's in Florida, it was probably elderly-owned since new, and as long as it wasn't in an accident, this charming ride from the last pre-internet decade is a really nice find. The seller is a dealer and is asking $5,900, a tad high but not outrageous for the quality machine you'll be getting. You could easily have this car working for the rest of your life.

The next owner has my sincere envy.

Available here on carsforsale.com

77k-Mile 1991 Toyota Cressida

The Cressida was Toyota's flagship sedan until Lexus took over that duty. Toyota offered four generations between 1976 and 1993. This is the final "X80" generation that debuted in 1988.

These are notable for their slender Camry-like proportions, 6-cylinder power and rear-wheel drive, rare on a Toyota today. With cars like the Cressida, the Japanese offered something the Americans and Germans didn't: luxury and comfort that was affordable and built well. It was this advantage that left a distinctly positive impression on consumers' minds.

The Cressida's body is classic late 80s Japan, heavily influenced by (and influential on) the Lexus LS400 which was developed alongside and launched shortly after. It smooths out the hard edges that were dominant at the start of the decade, but still has a carefully restrained and minimalist look that was lost by the late 90s. Note the slim pillars for maximum visibility in and out. We also love the crisp alloy wheels and factory body-colored mud flaps with rubber ends. The '91 facelift only enhanced matters.

Inside, occupants are treated to soft plastics and a driver-oriented dashboard. The pre-airbag steering wheel is funky and refreshing, and the cloth seats look cozy and keep things feeling simple and frugal. Passengers in the rear can enjoy their own headrests. Although we dock a couple points for those wacky automatic seat belts, the amazing array of buttons on the center console more than make up for it.

Underneath the hood is a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine good for a very healthy 190 horsepower, making sure this will be a smooth and strong cruiser on and off the highways. These Cressidas also shared a double-wishbone rear suspension with the Supra. 23 miles per gallon fuel economy was also decent.

Just 9,415 Cressida were sold in the U.S. in 1991. This particular example has just 77,132 miles on the clock and seems to have been extremely very well kept. The seller says it has had just one owner from new and no dents, damage, or rust. They say everything works, including the power antenna and it runs and drives fine.

Sleek looks, V6 power, rear-wheel drive, cheap parts and stellar reliability make this one desirable cruiser. The low miles and good shape are just icing on top. Never has the melding of comfort and practicality been so well executed.

Available here on ebay in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where an amazing 39 bids have put the price at $3,605 so far with 5 days still left.

Long Lost Sedan: 32k-Mile 1989 Maserati 430

It's really hilarious how Maserati cars from the 1980s have plummeted in value and are staying there. Any given day on ebay, there's at least 3 or 4 Biturbo Coupes with under 100k miles for under $5k. Why? I guess they weren't driven much by their initial yuppie owners, then when they broke (as they usually did) the expensive repair costs (as they usually were) made the notion of storing it in a garage more attractive than fixing it and using it.

What you don't see everyday is the rare sedan version. Even if the rest of the story is the same.

Only 1,000 430 sedans were ever built, making this car an extreme rarity. I think it's better looking than the Bi-Turbo coupes, which were too short and stubby. The four doors of the 430 fill out the length and heighten the sharp edges and clean lines. The grooved taillights recall the Mercedes W116 and R107. This one looks particularly nice in two-tone red and grey and futuristic full-faced alloys.

The real beauty (or should I say beast?) is underneath the hood. Maserati put a 2790cc twin-turbocharged V6 engine that pumped out a very respectable 225 horsepower to the rear wheels. A lot of them were also mercifully given stick shifts as this one has. I really can't quite picture what it must be like to drive, but it's got to be fast, and could have smoked a similarly powered BMW or Mercedes-Benz from the era. Four exhaust pipes peak from the rear. You can picture it hustling the presidente del consiglo to and from court.

The luxurious black leather interior is a nice place to be, although there are some odd details, like a weird brown-burgundy plastic steering wheel and blue-faced instrument gauges. Still, everything is where is should be and it manages to look both comfortable and a little sporting at the same time. Note the trademark ovaloid Maserati clock in between the air vents.

The seller is a dealer and provide absolutely no back story but list the mileage as just 32,116. It could very well be original. The Italians had mastered speed and style but not yet build quality and innovative engineering, so these cars were plagued with electrical and mechanical issues. Ask for any history and maintenance records, then have it checked out by a reputable vintage European car specialist. If it's all set to go, by all means enjoy. You'll have my sincere envy.

Available here on ebay in Longwood, Florida with bidding at $2,280 and a Buy-It-Now of just $4,800.