Pininfarina Lines: 33k-mile 1973 Fiat 130 Coupe

The strikingly boxy shape of this rare Fiat is credited to Pininfarina. If it looks familiar, they were experimenting with this kind of transformational shape in the late '60s and '70s, mostly on grand touring coupes, and it was probably an inspiration for the Ferrari 400 they later designed, a nice example of which I spotlighted here. The thick, sloping c-pillar has been imitated on countless other cars through the years too.

The 130 was a large executive car for Fiat that was made from 1969-1973. This is the coupe variant, which was a new body style for 1971. It featured rear-wheel drive and a 3.2-litre 6-cylinder engine that produced 165 horsepower. Only 4,294 were produced.

The seller states this is a two-owner car, with the second owner having it for the past 38 years. They say it has original paint, no rust, original plastic wrap and runs and drives great. This one has an automatic transmission.

The interior looks good, except for some wear on the cloth seats.

Supposedly these were underpowered, heavy, and fuel-thirsty, so this car probably classifies as another all-looks, no-go car, which happened frequently with Italian design cars during emissions-conscious 70s. They looked good, but didn't go fast or drive well. This one doesn't even have fuel-injection. Couple with an automatic transmission, a sports car this is not. But it could be a nice sedate cruiser on weekends and trips to shows. It will certainly be the only one on the block.

Get it for under $10k.

Find it here on ebay in Miami, Florida with 10 bids at $7,300.

Econobox Survivor: 19k-mile 1990 Dodge Omni

This Dodge Omni is being advertised as a like-new survivor with a remarkably low 19,927 miles.

It must have one omnipotent little car for having made it to the new millennium in pristine condition. Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

I love old cars with extreme low mileage.  As this seller says with this one, they are like time capsules. Have you ever wanted to remember what the year 1990 was like? Beyond old vhs footage, it's hard to grasp. But what about a car from the era? It's something you can touch, feel and use.

Usage is something this car apparently didn't see much of, however.

The paint still looks new, and the interior is immaculate.

The Omni was introduced by Chrysler in 1978 and lasted until 1990, making this a final year car as well. A little over 960,000 were made, but only 16,733 were produced for the final year. It was a simple front-engine, front-wheel drive bare bones economy car. It was initially developed in Europe by Chrysler's French division Simca, but was built here and heralded as a breakthrough for Chrysler USA.

Styling-wise it definitely draws inspiration from Giugiaro's iconic 1974 Volkswagen Golf compact hatchback design, though not nearly as handsome, especially in the front. Still, it's a clean, friendly design that holds up ok.

Mechanically, the seller says the car fires up and runs without issues. They say the a/c works fine. Cosmetically, they say the interior looks to never have been smoked in, with no rips, tears or sagging. They say there is no rust or corrosion. Even the engine compartment looks startlingly clean.

The one thing the seller doesn't say is why this car only has 19k miles. Did the owner like it so much they didn't want to drive it? Was it owned by an equally modest little old lady who just didn't drive often? Or maybe it was something more sinister, like the original owner perishing unexpectedly and the Omni got locked away, only to have it resurface in 2012 for our viewing pleasure.

Whatever the case, considering it first sold for about $2,500, it's impressive to see bidding at $1,525. Could it sell for what it originally sold for? These extreme low mile survivors are always gut wrenching. Do you continue to keep the miles low, or do you drive it as an everyday commuter car, the way it was intended to be used as? I think 20+ year old cars with under 20k miles should be kept as museum pieces. Once you use it, the odometer can never go back down. The Omni may have once been omnipresent, but they are hardly on the roads anymore and certainly not in this shape.

Find it here on ebay in Levittown, Pennsylvania.

Just In Time For Summer: 1991 Saab 900 Convertible SPG

Here's a striking Saab 900 convertible in what the seller says is "Monte Carlo Yellow".

For those that don't know, Saab is currently under receivership after declaring itself bankrupt, a sad ending to a beloved manufacturer of solid and reliable cars. How they got to this point is anybody's guess, as they were from one of the wealthiest and most advanced nations on the planet, but a lot of people are pointing to the meddling of General Motors starting around 1989, and continuing through the '90s until their complete control of the company in 2000. Some say General Motors buys the competition to destroy it.

The 900 nameplate lasted for 20 years and 2 generations and was their most well-known product. It was a front-engine, front-wheel drive car available in a range of body styles, from two-door hatchback to sedan to convertible. If you're going to have an otherwise dull front-wheel drive car, the 900 was a great alternative to choices from America and Japan, because Saab gave you more for your money: quality craftsmanship, optional turbocharged boost, and extensive cargo space in the hatchback models. That combination wasn't found elsewhere.

This here is a late model first generation "Classic" 900 designed by Björn Envall. The 900 Classic chassis lasted from 1978 to 1994, before General Motors influenced the creation of a new 900 based on an Opel platform.

It also has a Special Performance Group (SPG) package, which meant a 16-valve 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 160 horsepower. It also featured a sport suspension of stiffer shocks, springs and swaybars. All of the 900 Classic cars had 4-cylinder engines, which, while bulletproof, were not exactly hair-raising. The addition of a turbocharger was a nice touch. Frankly, if you're going to get an old classic Saab, you might as well find a turbocharged version. I can't imagine the appeal in owning anything else, as it would just be like any other FWD four-banger.

The seller states this 900 SPG is 1 of only 300 made in 1991, which was also the last year of production. Apparently only around a total of 7,000 were made, and in varying limited colors each year. This one looks great in two-tone yellow and grey plastic trim over black leather interior, even if it resembles a banana from afar. The SPG cars also came with three-spoke wheels and special body cladding which looks intact here and still presents well after all these years.

This car has an automatic transmission, which is slightly disappointing, but I think automatics are nice on convertibles because half the pleasure is slow top-down boulevard cruising anyways.

The seller says this 900 has no major cosmetic flaws except for a scratch on one of the doors, cracks in the dash, a blemish in the cloth top and some wear on the leather interior, which is actually quite a little laundry list if you're a perfectionist, but these cars were usually trashed, so that all could be considered minor wear. It certainly wouldn't affect usability.

The good news is they say there is no rust.

Mechanically, the seller says there are no major issues as well and that is runs "best as it ever has".

They are asking a buy it now price of $9,700 but have an auction with a starting the reserve at $5,900. Not surprisingly, the listing has attracted no bidders so far, because both of those prices are outrageous. Sure, not many 900 SPG convertibles were built and this one seems to have survived intact, but it's got an automatic and has 150,000 miles on the clock. $9,700 is pristine example money. This should be acquired for under $5k, like in the $2k-$3k range. Any more and it makes no sense. You can get a used '90s BMW convertible for the same price but have more fun in it.

Still you have to wonder, with the brand potentially becoming extinct, this car may be considered a true classic beyond the eyes of diehard fans someday.

Find it here on ebay in Westbury, New York.

One Year Only: 1976 Porsche 912E

This 912E is being offered by a seller who knows the car is rare: they immediately state it is #1,958 of only 2,092 produced during one year only, 1976.

The 912 "E" (for Einspritzung or fuel injection) was meant to fill in as the entry-level Porsche in between the exit of the mid-engine 914 and the delayed introduction of the front-engine 924. The 912E did NOT have a purely Porsche engine. Instead, it had a 2-litre 4-cylinder Type IV Volkswagen-Porsche engine that produced a mere 86 horsepower. You'd think that would be a massive turnoff to enthusiasts and a value-killer, but in typical bunk-the-trend Porsche fashion, it seems the 912E has gone on to admired cult status as another rare collector's item.

The seller doesn't say much, but they mention this example runs great and was driven frequently. It sure was, with the seller stating it has 171,000 miles on the clock, impressive for an old Porsche. Some buyers prefer higher-mileage Porsches because they are proof the cars were maintained and can be driven for many more miles. I agree. I like Porsches as driven hard and maintained religiously. Sure, it's expensive, but there's often a bigger price to pay after keeping it sitting too long.

Cost is key with the 912E as well, both now and then. They originally sold for just under $11,000, which was a lot of money in 1976, but still less than a 911. The 912E was considered to be successful in execution because it retained core Porsche elements of sport and superior handling balanced nicely with frugality and practicality. The 4-cylinder engine was said to be relatively simple and inexpensive to maintain, and also delivered good gas mileage. The excellent Porsche 912E Registry says they know of no inherent problems.

Given all that, the seller is asking $10,900, which seems reasonable. Porsche prices are all over the place. In general, almost every 911 variety older than '74 or so is increasing fast and furious. As you've seen this week, even values of the 914 can gravitate wildly, from $850 to over $12k. At $10,900, the seller is asking approximately what the car originally sold for. This is perfectly in step with the market. The car does not have a 6-cylidner, let alone a Porsche engine, but does retain the classic shape, interior and most parts. In addition, this example looks well-cared for and seems to be ready to hit the road again, in the best spirit of the car. On top of that, not many were produced. So it shouldn't loose value, but it isn't on fire either, and the seller seems to have arrived at that some conclusion as well.

I'd be surprised if this listing lasts another week.

Find it here on craigslist in Hebron, Connecticut.

What Is It: 1976 Lotus Elite 504 Automatic

My favorite seller of the month, Euro Car Garage, is offering yet another rare car at a very reasonable price.

I've never seen this car before and was surprised to learn it's a Lotus from the '70s. Apparently, there were a whole bunch of funky cars from Lotus I've never heard of until now. This is one of them.

The Elite nameplate was originally used for a classic two-seater coupe made from 1958 to 1963. Then Lotus used the name for a totally different and unrelated much larger two-door hatchback from 1974 to 1982. This is the latter, of which only 2,535 were made.

This Elite had a front-engine and rear-wheel drive setup underneath a fiberglass body and quirky massive glass hatchback window. From the rear it looks dangerously close to AMC Gremlin territory, but the long front hood and pop-up headlights resemble the Esprit so it fortunately salvages some commonality and swag with the rest of the brand.

It only had a 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder engine, but was supposedly an ok performer, thanks to a weight of only around 2,000 lbs. Typically, 5-speed manual gearboxes were standard, but from January 1976 onward automatic transmissions were optional, such as on this example.

The seller is mum on any details but this one appears to be an original survivor with only 79, 471 miles. Condition doesn't look too bad. The body looks mostly straight and clean, without any visible rust.

The interior is pure '70s, with suede literally everywhere and white sheepskin seat covers that make it look like a playboy lounge. Note the sagging blocking half the instrument cluster.

The rear seats feature a surprising amount of room and look clean and cozy with the headrests.

This could be an incredible chance for either a Lotus fanatic or obscure car buff to acquire a rare car for relatively cheap. It definitely looks like it's going to be a project, but it could be a fun one, not taken too seriously, as this is a goofy car, right down to the swirly western pinstripes.

Find the craigslist ad here and the dealer ad here with an asking price of only $3, 895.

Original Paint: 1974 TVR 2500M

This pretty little TVR is being offered up by a dealer in Connecticut who say the car is a great driver.

The M-Series cars were built between 1972-1979, although they look like they're from the mid '60s, not a bad thing.

They were front mid-engine with rear-wheel drive. The body was fiberglass.

This is a 2500 which was made for the U.S. market and features a 2.5-litre straight 6-cylinder engine from the Triumph TR6. That's not all it got from the TR6: the gearbox, differential, suspension and rear taillights (from what I can see). Don't you love British cars? Half of them have parts from the other half.

Only 947 were sold.

This one seems like a all-original survivor. The seller says it runs and drives fine, thanks to a fluid change and tuneup they performed, and shifts well too. Cosmetically, the seller points to a few issues, like a worn interior and thin paint. They also note the odometer reads only 36,000 but they cannot verify the authenticity of it.

This thing is essentially a Triumph TR6 Coupe, which is a cool idea, since none were made to my knowledge. It looks reasonably good and is extremely rare. It seems like it could easily be driven again into the ground and then restored. Or it would make a perfect candidate for an immediate Concours-level ground-up restoration.

Find it here on ebay with active bidding at $9,000, reserve not met and only a few hours left.

Power Hauler: 1994 BMW 530iT

File this under 'cars I'd love to actually own and drive regularly'.

The E34 chassis cars, which were produced from 1988 to 1995, are my favorite BMW of all time alongside the similar-looking E32 7-Series which ran from '87-'94.

Not only do they offer all the prerequisite excellent rear-wheel drive handling, powerful engines and top-notch build quality, they are brilliantly designed and styled. Just as Italian Bruno Sacco was responsible for the peak Mercedes designs of '80s, Italian Ercole Spada was the utter genius who penned the E32 and E34, considered by many to be the finest BMW designs ever, yet nobody knows his name. They are perfectly realized cars, the summation of everything BMW had been going for. They were nothing like what came before and nothing like what came after, certainly not today.

This is a 530, which has a 3.0-litre 8-cylinder engine that produces a healthy 282 horsepower. It's also a "T" for Touring, or station wagon. While some wagons loose the sex-appeal of their sedan counterparts, that didn't happen with the E34. The wagon is every bit as handsome as the sedan, and in some ways even better looking. The rear back slopes perfectly, and the taillights are slightly broader to balance the larger glass hatch. The whole thing looks low, sleek and aggressive thanks to the car's already awesome stance and the merciful absence of roof racks (though that doesn't stop owners from frequently adding aftermarket ones).

Have I mentioned these were designed so well?

Forget your Volvo station wagons. With ample trunk space, rear-wheel drive and V8 power, this is THE family hauer to have.

The seller states this car only has a few flaws: some dings and dents, and a leaking exhaust.

Inside, we have one of the greatest interiors of all time. Everything is where you expect it to be, every shape and form perfectly crafted for both aesthetic and functional success. The white leather was beautiful when new but usually wore awfully with subsequent owners and shows dirt clearly. Definitely invest in industrial leather cleaner and spend a warm dry day gently working them.

The seller lists the mileage as 166,000. That's a lot. These also had a known V8 engine problem where the Nikasil that lined the cylinders reacted poorly with low-quality U.S. gasoline, preventing the engine from starting. The solution was a whole new small engine block. Ever a responsible company, BMW extended the warranty on these cars. If this one made it to 166k, the block has either already been fixed or there never was an issue.

This thing will be especially sweet if you snag it for under $5k. With the high mileage and typical wear and tear, it's just not going to feel as good if you pay anything over that. But it's still a great car and you really can't go wrong with it. They are rare, but not extinct yet. Pre-owned BMW cars are among the worst used cars out there because they've typically been passed down the food chain several times to people who can't afford or don't know how to properly maintain them, so they end up filthy and trashed, on top of just plain driven a lot, being "the ultimate driving machine" after all. But there is nothing else like it on the market. Even today's gee-whiz 5-Series doesn't offer wagon version here.

Find it here on ebay in Williamson, New York.

Extended Life: 39k-mile 1985 Ford Capri Injection Special

This is a 1985 Ford Capri the seller says they personally imported from Great Britain 18 months ago. As such, it's a right-hand drive car.

The Capri was built in Cologne, Germany and officially brought over to the U.S. and sold as a Mercury from 1970-1978. It was a sub-pony car, with a two-door body, four or six-cylinder engines, and rear-wheel drive. It didn't look half bad either. After 1978, they stopped importing the Capri to the U.S. But it continued on in Europe until 1986, quite a long production life. We then got the Fox-body Capri from 1979-86.

This is a 2.8-litre 6-cylinder Injection Special, which had semi-leather seating and a limited slip differential, along with some exterior trim changes. It also has a 5-speed manual transmission.

The seller says they got this car from a dealer who got it from the second owner. They go on to say they were disappointed with the car at first because it was minimally used over the years and therefore had a "stiff" feeling. So they went on to replace a number of parts and do an engine tuneup, which seemed to loosen it up, with the seller saying it now drives great, shifts smoothly and is fast.

Cosmetically they say it's had one high quality repaint, which is more good news than bad. They say the interior seats have wear but it's clean with a crack-free dash.

The seller states that the vehicle is ready to go with all books, manuals, decals, British license plates and spare parts. They say it has a clear Michigan title, which should be transferable to any state, although the car has had no emissions equipment added, so potential California buyers should take note.

It's hard to place a value on it. The seller claims it's only 1 of 4 in the U.S. Given that many Mercury Capri versions were sold here, there isn't a big draw in going through the cost and hassle of importing it, so I believe the low numbers. But it's got to be a entertaining performer, making it worth bringing over to some.

Kudos as well to the seller for a thorough and well-written writeup.

Find it here on ebay in Berkley, Michigan with bidding at $102.50, reserve not met and 4 days left.

Last AMC Car: 1992 Eagle Premier

How would you like to own one of the last cars created by the now-defunct American Motors Corporation? I emphasize 'cars' because AMC did continue to make Jeeps, which are technically not cars.

If you're interested, this is the one to get. It's a '92 Eagle Premier. Eagle was a marque made by Chrysler after they bought AMC in 1987 and lasted from 1988-1999.

The Premier was Eagle's flagship car and was produced from 1987-1992. Eagle cars were mostly front-engine, front-wheel drive economical passenger cars. The Premier was Eagle's largest car and the first full-size car from AMC since 1978. There was also a sister clone badged as a Dodge Monaco from '90-'92, which is even more rare.

The chassis was based on the Renault 25. Renault had a partnership with AMC at the time, and this was the last result of their interesting partnership.

Mechanically, the car was offered with either a four or six-cylinder engine.

Styling was handled by famed designer Giorgietto Giugiaro. I love it. He was no doubt inspired by Audi cars of the time. It is the epitome of the late 20th century sedan, all boxes and squares and corners. It's handsome, conservative and reassuring. For the Premier's debut in 1987 I'm sure it was very futuristic feeling. It's also highly functional. Boxy design means more space, and the Premier had 122 cubic feet of interior room.

The seller says this one has 133k miles, no rust and runs well. That all sounds good enough for me.

It appears to be an upper-level trim ES, which apparently meant body color painted white alloy wheels, leather seats, and rear trunk deck luggage rack (love those) among other features. If you're going to get an old sedan, why not treat yourself? Get the most for your money and try to snag high trim cars over base models.

I also think it has the V6, though the seller doesn't say.

1992 was the last year of the Premier so AMC/Chrysler hopefully worked out all the bugs by then. Apparently some cars had electrical issues, but I haven't heard much about it. If this one made it to 133k, it's got to be good to go for at least another 50k miles.

This is the kind of totally forgotten but practical sedan I'd love to have as a daily driver for myself. It's an unusual, great looking and comfortable cruiser. Drive it into the ground, then restore it from the ground up with new paint, engine parts etc. By that time, you might have the only one left. This has got to be one of the top endangered cars. Few were made, few were sold, and very few are left as they have no collector value and typically get junked when owners are done with them.

Save this one.

Find it here on craigslist in Reed City, Michigan for a very reasonable $2,500.

Tea in the Sahara: 58k-mile 1969 Porsche 912 LWB

This stunning Porsche is a 1969 912 that the seller claims has only 58,000 original miles.

The 912 was created as an entry-level model to offset the expensive 6-cylinder 911. As such, the 912 had an inline 4-cylinder engine and deleted features standard on the 911. Production lasted from 1965-69, until it was replaced by the totally different mid-engine 914.

The seller claims this is a long-wheelbase model that was owned by a Porsche Club of America (PCA) member for years, and has new shocks, brakes and tires within the last 2 years.

The also say it wears its original Sahara Beige paint, a flat military tan-creme color. It looks absolutely beautiful from the pictures, glossy, bright and striking, and very complimentary of the classic Porsche shape. Porsches look best in neutral and subdued colors.

Inside we see an immaculate interior with taught black leather seats and a clean dashboard.

The seller is mum on most aspects, but, I guess the rest of self-explanatory...with only 58k original miles, original paint and a previous club owner this is a bona fide survivor of the best order, so everything looks totally stock, well-kept and ready to go.

The engine compartment looks like you'd expect it as well: original and un-restored almost to a fault, but it looks very clean, orderly and well-presented.

The seller is asking $29,995. Hemmings values a '69 912 Coupe in fair shape at $5,375, good $9,600 and excellent $18,225. This one could possibly be categorized as "excellent", so make your decisions based on that. Nearly 30,000 were made and they are just 4-cylinders, which, depending on your driving philosophy, may or may not be a hindrance. Apparently they do get 30pmg. Handling is probably fantastic as expected.

The only lingering questions are rust and service history.

Find it here on craigslist in New Hampshire.