1964 BMW 700 LS

The 700 marks an odd chapter in BMW history, but it was also a lifesaver for them.

Like a bunch of European cars in the post-war era, the 700 featured a rear-mounted engine that powered the rear wheels. Only one engine was used: a tiny 697cc flat 2-cylinder. Fortunately, with the balance and handling that a rear-engine provides, coupled with a relatively low curb weight of just 1,500 lbs., these were capable little cruisers, and were also used in motorsport racing.

Styling is courtesy of Giovanni Michelotti, who would later design the iconic 2002. Although the grille-less front is slightly off-putting, the overall shape is nicely handled. Note the ever-so-slight tail fins, rare from European cars, who were never keen on the American styling cue. The compact "bathtub" proportions, thin pillars and plentiful greenhouse glass are signs of good things to come from BMW, however.

Inside, the interior has a minimalist deco-mod vibe, with a matching body color dashboard and neatly detailed steering wheel.

The seller is up front about this being a meticulous restoration. They say the engine was given new cylinders, pistons, rings, valves, heads and gaskets.

Cosmetically, they sandblasted the body to rid it of any rust. Where new metal was required, they used similar same-gauge metal to match the original. Untouched cars with patina are all the rage these days, but a complete restoration is still nice, especially if it means life or death of the vehicle. I wonder how bad this one was when they found it.

The 700 rescued BMW and provided much needed sales of 188,000 units, breathing new life into the company and guaranteeing them a future in the auto making business. Building upon the microcar 600 chassis, the 700 was actually BMW's last economy car before they produced the Mini Cooper, and the last one with their name on it. The New Class cars of the late 60s had a better profit margin and moved the whole brand upscale. The rest is history.

Available here on ebay in Miami Florida with 1 bid at $7,000 and reserve not met.

Right-Hand Drive 1986 Toyota Corolla GT-APEX

The 1983-1987 AE86 Corolla was one of the last rear-wheel drive cars of its kind.

In the early 80s, automakers colluded together to switch all of their cars over to front-wheel drive (the "Big Switch") which was cheaper and simpler to make, but resulted in cars that were unbalanced, rode poorly and handled poorly. If all the major manufacturers only offered front-wheel drive, customers couldn't flock to superior rear-wheel drive cars, and had to pay a premium if they really wanted to (for Mercedes-Benz and BMW, which have faithfully retained rear-wheel drive over the years).

But there was once a time when even the Japanese offered RWD.

The AE86 was part of the fifth-generation Corolla lineup. By that time the Corolla was legendary for its affordability and extreme reliability. But they weren't seen as "sporty", that often sought after descriptor that supposedly equals sales gold, if it can be done well.

Only in Japan was the GT-APEX trim offered. It was available with a fuel-injected four-cylinder twin-cam 16-valve 1587cc 4A-GE engine that produced about 128 horsepower to the rear wheels. Given the relatively low weight, balanced chassis, stiff two-door body coupled with the 4A-GE engine and a manual transmission, these were in fact very sporty cars.

Styling is ultra-conservative. Whether we like it or not, these ARE the new upcoming classics cars. And in a way, deservedly so. The Japanese had mastered the art of compact economy car design. The hood and side doors are simple, clean flat planes. The stark white paint gives it a nifty, switch-blade appliance-like vibe. Pillars are thin and greenhouse glass plentiful for superior visibility in and out. Lower panels are black to deflect dirt and road grit. Headlights and taillights are horizontal strips that fit perfectly in their spaces. It's a masterpiece of form over function, the predominant design philosophy of the late 20th century.

This particular example is right-hand drive imported from Japan. The seller says it has about 131k miles and is in "very original condition", although it's been lowered, has mismatched alloys, and an aftermarket steering wheel and seats.

Fortunately, the seller says they have a clear CA title ready to go.

This is a cool, rare and desirable car that would be fun as a daily driver AND a hit at the Japanese car shows.

Available here on ebay in Los Angeles, California with bidding starting at $7,400.

Matching Numbers 1959 Jaguar Mark IX

The first time I saw this listing, the seller had a post script that said the vehicle could be the same exact Jaguar driven by Kim Novak in Vertigo. My attention immediately piqued so I did some research and sure enough there was a similar car in the film. Hitchcock's movies are already A-list, and the cars that appeared in them (remember the Aston Martin from The Birds?) are iconic to say the least. I was ready to post it when poof - the listing disppeared.

Then I was reading Old Parked Cars this morning and I came across their in-person encounter of this car, along with a link to a new ebay listing. Thanks guys!

Only 10,009 produced Mark IX were produced from 1959-1961. These come from a long line of beautiful Jaguar cars, and was one of the last of its shape before it was replaced by the wider, lower and more modern Mark X. They were available in one or two-tone colors. This one is pitch-perfect in dark green/light moss green over grey leather interior.

These were powered by just one engine: a large 3781cc inline 6-cylinder that pumped out a very respectable 220 horsepower to the rear wheels. It came to an equally forceful stop thanks to four-wheel disc brakes.

Older Jaguar sedans run the gamut in price and condition. They aren't as desirable and worth nearly as much as they coupes and convertibles, but they are just as pretty and intriguing to look at. This is undoubtedly the high point of the British auto industry, before the successes of the Germans and Japanese in the 70s and 80s.

The seller of this example states it is a matching numbers older restoration with a complete engine, transmission, body and interior. They note the paint is likely not new, but the job was done well and still looks presentable.

Mechanically, they say it had problem with the starter, but was garaged while sitting. The seller says they did get it running, so it could be an easy fix.

Available here on ebay with 16 bids at $4,156 and a Buy-It-Now of $6,300. Hemmings CPI value guide puts a 1959-61 MK IX in fair shape at $7,550 and good at $13,500, with a 4% increase over time, so this seems like a good deal.

1976 Lancia Scorpion

The Scorpion was known as the Montecarlo elsewhere. On paper, these seemed appealing: Pininfarina styling, mid-engine layout, decent 4-cylinder power.

The European Montecarlo probably performed just fine. But we wouldn't know, because the car that was imported here under the name Scorpion was a very different automobile.

The Scorpion suffered in the same way most imports suffered when they came over from Europe in the mid-70s: styling changed for the worse and performance was curbed. The U.S. 5 mph mandate put on hundreds of extra pounds in larger unsightly bumpers. Emissions regulations forced the engine size to decrease from 1995cc to 1756cc, which produced just a pitiful 86 horsepower. All U.S. versions came with large convertible top that decreased structural rigidity and increased noise. Brakes were said to lockup. And even if frustrated and disappointed owners decided to keep their Scorpion, it often succumbed to rust very quickly and easily. Pleasant these were not.

Fortunately, this seller has made numerous modifications to improve it.

For starters, they've replaced the engine with a larger 2.0-liter from a 1979 Fiat Spyder. This provides more low-end torque. Second, they've replaced the heavy U.S.-spec bumpers with the smaller, lighter fiberglass Euro pieces. Lastly, they've done a bunch of modern upgrades, like an aftermarket stereo with Bluetooth, touch-sensitive HVAC controls, and remote locking.

Miraculously, the seller says the body is free of rust.

The Scorpion was a very noisy, crude and unreliable car. The seller admits that even after all his work, it is still not a good highway cruiser. However, if you have a soft spot for the Scorpion and must acquire one, I advise looking into this one or something like it. Stock examples just aren't going to cut it, unless you're a real stickler for originality. But the Scorpion is one of those rare cars that really aren't worth having original.

Available here on ebay in Cameron, South Carolina with bidding and a Buy-It-Now of $11,500. Hemmings CPI Value Guide puts a Scorpion in good shape at $3,950.

1981 Mercedes-Benz U3100 Unimog with HIAB Crane

The thing I love about the Unimog is that it makes any arduous task look easy and even stylish.

Need to cross a shallow river? Scale a mountainside? Trek the Sahara? No problem.

Add one more thing to that list: need a portable crane to lift something really, really heavy? This particular one can do it no problem.

The first Unimog prototype was created in 1946 and to the present day Mercedes is still offering some variation of this vehicle. In 1955, the classic Unimog 404 was created, and is perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing, along with the 406 from the 60s.

This is a later '81 424 series launched in 1976 and features more angular and modern styling. It's no less macho and cool looking however. Note the headlights have been moved to the bumper for an ultra-utilitarian look.

The seller says this example has a diesel engine that is mated to a 12-speed transmission, with front and rear locking differentials, and a Pintal hitch with standard ball as well.

This version has a three-way tilting rear bed. The seller says it just needs a piston to fully function. In between the bed and cabin is a PTO-driven HIAB crane with outriggers for extra stability.

The seller mentions the flat jaybird blue paint is "beautiful" and there is no rust. Inside, they say the seats are perfect, gauges function, and the dome lights turn on correctly.

The crane might seem to limit functionality, but I bet it folds up neat, and, along with the bed, will find itself useful one way or another. Tough guys would rather have it than not.

Available here on craigslist in Bedford, New Hampshire for $35,000.

Pininfarina Lines: 1991 Honda Beat

Remember when Honda used to make cutting-edge products available at bargain prices? If you can't, don't blame yourself. We were never officially offered their amazing 1991-1996 Beat.

The Beat featured a mid-mounted three-cylinder engine that powered the rear wheels, similar to a Porsche Boxster. It produced 63 horsepower and had an electronically limited top speed of 84 mph. It was only available with a manual transmission. The I3 SOHC engine was the only engine available, and there were minimal changes to the car over the years. That's it. It was what it was, you just had to "get it".

Styling is awesome. Japan and some other parts of the world were privy to a cute subcompact class called "kei cars" that were as small as possible but extremely usable while also conforming specifically to Japanese regulations. Fortunately, what sheet metal the Beat does wear it makes great use of, thanks to famed Italian design house Pininfarina. They give the car the right amount of subtly and edge that makes it a lost classic of late 20th century design. Note how the headlights flow into the front wheel fenders, for swept-back look. The side air intake is thankfully a clean simple cut, probably influenced by Honda's groundbreaking mid-engine NSX a couple years prior. The rear is nicely rounded off with simple taillights and engine intake slots.

The interior is an exercise in more simplicity and frugality. A driver's side airbag was optional. The center console is slim and tall. The instrument cluster is a single standalone unit that houses clear white-faced gauges. Zebra-striped seats spice things up and somehow don't seem tacky, but just fun.

Honda was really onto something with the Beat. This thing easily could have taken a slice out of Miata sales, and probably handled better, too. They were never imported here, and though one or two have shown up, they are extremely rare. This one, unfortunately for my fellow Americans, is located in the United Kingdom.

Available here on Car And Classic UK for about $6,400.

40k-Mile 1985 Toyota Pickup 4x4

Remember the black Toyota pickup truck Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) salivated over in the first Back to the Future film? I used to be perplexed at the appeal. Why did he want it so bad? Oversized, impractical, poor handling, poor gas mileage, bad on highways. I just chalked it up to one of the quirks of being a teenager in 1985.

But finding this unusually clean and low mileage similar survivor makes me think twice. Maybe Marty was on to something.

The car is officially known as a fourth generation 'Hilux' and was produced from 1984-1989, making it THE Toyota pickup of the second half of the 80s.

The seller of this example is a dealer who acquired it from an estate sale and say the mileage is only an astoundingly low 40,850. They go on to explain it had only one previous owner from new who owned a Toyota dealer and kept this pickup in immaculate condition. The seller says it has the rare "National Traveler Special Edition" package which consisted of a lift, wider turbine wheels, offroad tires, striping package, rollbar, deluxe carpeting and cloth seat upgrade.

The exterior looks fresh in refrigerator white and the period side striping is fitting and not overdone.

The interior plastics look remarkably fresh and almost new.

Underneath the hood lies a 22R four-cylinder engine powering all four wheels. With the grippy tires and ample ground clearence, this is a serious off-roader.

Toyota sold lots of pickups and gained lots of fans, but most were trashed, thrashed and abused, so finding low-mileage and well-kept examples is almost impossible. Many people have fond memories of these sturdy and ultra-reliable trucks that looked good and were simple to maintain and fix. They're ripe and ready to be upgraded to collector status.

Available here on ebay in Etters, Pennsylvania.

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.

Mega Rare 1994 Cizeta Moroder V16T

Have you ever wondered what the godfather of synth music would drive if he could create his own vehicle? Look no further than this beast. The godfather is Giorgio Moroder and the car is the Cizeta.

If you think this looks a lot like a Lamborghini Diablo, it's no coincidence. When Lamorghini was readying to replace the aging Countach towards the end of the 80s, Marcello Gandini, creator of the original, offered a wild new design. But Chrysler had a controlling interest in Lamborghini since 1987 and softened the edges of what Gandini submitted. Gandini took it as an insult, so he and a band of employees quit and joined forces with Claudio Zampolli to create a new brand and execute his original, pure, undiluted vision of an all-out supercar.

Gandini's vision features harder corners, crisper lines and geometric shaped. There are no circles, except for the wheels. The rear tapers dramatically down to the nose, pulling the side windows with it. The front features four (!) pop up headlights in stacks of two, smoked turn indicators, and four fog lights below that. In a slight misstep, the cheese-grater side intakes are too similar to the Ferrari Testarossa, but later versions would have more creative vertical slots.

The seller provides one dark and blurry photo of the interior. It's all-business and no-nonsense, swathed in dark plastics and leather.

In the rear is the stuff of fantasy. The Cizeta is powered by a two transversely mounted 90-degree flat plane V8 engines in one 5,995cc block. That's right. This monster has 16-cylinders working to move it from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds!

The Cizeta was launched with a glittery presentation at the 1988 Los Angeles Auto Show, beating the Diablo by two years. The press was excited, and the idea of having synth maestro Moroder's involved upped the glamour and coolness factor by an infinite degree. The car was priced at $300,000. It made quite an impression, but this was out of reach for all but a select few. The economy was slowing down, and tastes were changing. As such, just a mere 8 were made until the company dissolved in 1994. It was also never made street legal for North America, and a red example was famously (and shamefully) confiscated by the U.S. government in 2009, with a local agent snootily claiming it posed a threat to "public safety and health". What a load of sh*t. Don't they have anything better to do than steal private property? Bill Clinton's infamous Show & Display law (to help pal Bill Gates nab a Porsche 959) still lets people import non-street-legal cars, but just not for use on public roads. So what gives?

It's not exactly clear what has happened to Cizeta in successive years. And although Moroder invested in the car and original press releases bore his name, it never actually appeared on the car except on the prototype. Sources say Moroder pulled out in 1990, and the original Italy-based Cizeta company went bankrupt in 1994, but a website is up and running and accepting orders of the vehicle at a build-on-demand basis. Zampolli was last heard moving to California and founding Cizeta Automobili USA. Did he own the red car that was confiscated? Is Cizeta still alive? Will they ever be road legal here?

Fortunately, this example is somewhere in Europe, where it must be legal to drive. The seller states it is one of 3 built in right-hand drive, and the only one in blue. They don't list an odometer reading, but say it is in excellent condition. I'm betting it's been barely touched.

This thing has enormous history, super-low production volume, and tons of style and power. The fact that it's such a naughty car to have here only makes it more seductive and elusive. I love it.

Find the dealer listing here in the Czech Republic, and a classic car site ad here, where they say the price has been reduced to $500,000.

Late Giugiaro: 1996 Subaru SVX LSi AWD

The Subaru SVX was one of legendary designer Giugiaro's last major designs for a mainstream auto manufacturer.

SVX stood for "Subaru Vehicle X" and was based off of Giugiaro's concept that debuted at the 1989 Tokyo Auto Show. The concept was a hit and sent to production available in North America in July 1991 as a 1992 model. It replaced the 1985-1991 XT.

While the XT was an exercise in 1980s design themes of pyramidal edges, angles and cuts, the SVX attempted to set a new tone for styling of the 1990s. Giugiaro had been best known for his angular wedge shapes like the 1975 Lotus Esprit, but he always had an eye for simply good design, and towards the end of the 1980s he began to adopt more aerodynamically friendly curves and smooth, minimalist body panels.

The SVX is marked by simple shapes, rounded off corners and as little detail and extraneous flair as possible. The front features a futuristic slim single-peice wrap-around headlight cluster that dips in the center for engine air intake. This theme is mimicked in the rear with a single taillights strip, reminiscent of the Alfa Romeo 164. The hood cowl melds into the side mirrors. All pillars are covered by door seams and glass for an aircraft inspired look and feel. Only the lower portion of the side windows roll down for a low drag coefficient of C_d=0.29. The rear melts neatly into a layered spoiler and hatchback deck.

Most of these are seen in black, white or dark green but this example looks more exotic in red with aftermarket gold-lined cross-spoke wheels that work somehow. I dig the vibes it's giving.

Inside, occupants are treated to an equally performance-oriented interior of soft curves, flowing side door design, and light-colored plastics. I could do without the wood trim, however.

Just one engine was offered, a 3.3-liter 6-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that provided more power than the outgoing turbocharged 4-cylinder of the XT. A very healthy 231 horsepower was sent to all four wheels for superior traction in all types of inclement weather. All SVX came with automatic transmissions.

Despite its svelte body, decent power and AWD layout, the SVX could be considered a failure. It was much more expensive than any other Subaru at the time with asking prices of over $30k, so the public was hesitant to spend top dollar on them. Just 14,257 were sold here until 1996. Only an additional 10,000 were sold worldwide. Subaru lost $75 million on the SVX. It didn't help Japan was going through the start of an awful economic slowdown that would remain for the rest of the 1990s (and one they really haven't recovered from since).

Despite the lack of a more sporty manual transmission, I think these are awesome. It looks great, handles well in bad weather, and Subaru currently offers nothing else like it. At the very least, it is a classic Japanese car of the 1990s.

This example has only 97,396 miles on it. The seller states it runs and drives great, and the leather has no rips or tears.

Available here on ebay in Mount Olive, New Jersey with bidding at $1,025.