Odd One Out: 1978 Dodge Challenger

Here is a lost chapter in Dodge history: the awkward second generation Dodge Challenger.

The original Challenger was a legendary all-American muscle car from 1970-1974. Then, in 1978 the name was revived for a car based on the Mitsubishi Galant Lambda coupe from a corporate business deal with Chrysler. It was also sold as the Plymouth Sapporo.

The Challenger/Galant Lambda/Sapporo chassis was front-engine with rear-wheel drive. Gone were the six and eight cylinder engines of the early '70s, and in were less fuel thirsty, more efficient four cylinders.

This example looks fresh and funky in two-tone baby blue and creme and seems to be all-original, from the incredible louvers down to the alloy wheels. The radial tires also give it a champ look. The styling is from a transition era for Japanese car manufacturers when they were just coming into prominence on the world stage and is a peculiar hybrid of American dimensions and Asian cues.

Under the hood is a large 2.6-litre 4-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The seller states the car starts, runs and drives fine. Cosmetically, they do mention it has some dings and scratches and some rust on the lower rocker panels. The list the odometer as reading 94,990.

The interior is a total blast with red white and blue plaid seats and round gauges.

This car is immaculate as is and doesn't need a restoration, but could use a loving owner who will continue to drive, maintain and garage it. You just don't see these anymore.

Find it here on ebay in Palm Springs, California.

Not Quite A Convertible: 1982 BMW 323i Baur TC1

Baur is an esteemed coachbuilder in Stuttgart, Germany who performed drop-top conversions for BMW cars. They work very closely with many German automakers, although the exact nature of their relationships is unclear. Bauer cars were even photographed in some BMW brochures, but it was not offered as an official model (as the convertible was), and was never sold in North America. However, it was sold with the authorization of BMW and was covered by their factory warranty. Bauer did help design the E30 convertible.

This is no hackjob. Bauer patented their roofless design in the early 20th century and would employ it until the '90s. It features a retractable soft top roof that peels back like a sardine can to the rear, but with key support b and c pillars intact, as well as a cross-top roll bar connecting the thickened b pillars. This was done to enjoy the open air that a convertible woyld otherwise provide, but with the structural integrity they could not. It's ingenious, quirky and tasteful.

Bauer converted 4,595 E21-chassis cars.

The seller says this vehicle was a grey market car that was specially imported by an individual and then federalized at their own expense. It's unfortunate the slim euro-bumpers didn't make it through, but it's still good to see the rest of the car unscathed. It's an otherwise typical delightfully designed E21 323i.

However, the seller says the replaced the engine with a M20 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine from an early '90s 325i that was recovered from a rear-end wreck with only 20k miles on it. Depending on your take, this could be a good thing, as it's a larger and better engine than the stock 323i. The car's whole roof was modified after all, so a different engine is in keeping with the switcheroo theme. The seller also mentioned the original 323i engine can be included as an extra.

They also say the engine is mated to a rare "dogleg" 5-speed manual transmission, where reverse is the first gear.

The seller says the body has about 101,000 miles on it but has no rust and is clean and straight, having spent life in San Francisco before ending up in New Mexico where it is now.

BMW never made an official factory convertible for the E21, so if you dig the car but want to feel the sun and wind blow through your hair, this is a chance to snag a nicely preserved example of a rare and charming car. The owner mentions they are a BMW club member and the car was never rallied or tracked, though they say it is fun and lightweight.

Find it here in Albuquerque, New Mexico with reserve not met and a buy-it-now price of $5,000.

Never On The Roads Anymore: 1984 Nissan Pulsar NX

When is the last time you saw one of these?

Up for grabs is a Nissan Pulsar. Not the later bizarre 3rd generation, but a second generation Pulsar that was made from 1982-1986.

These were basic transportation, with front-wheel drive and four-cylinder engines. The second generation also shared many parts with the Sentra, so replacements should be cheap and plentiful.

The seller says this '84 survivor has a 5-speed manual transmission and is great on gas. With a tiny shape, simple mechanics and relatively low weight, you can bet it will be more fuel efficient than the average new car.

They say it also has a sunroof, (small) rear seat, and a new battery.

Find it here on craigslist in Goochland, Virgina for $1,600.

Non-Taxi: 1974 Checker Marathon Sedan V8

The Marathon was a rear-wheel drive sedan and wagon produced by Checker from 1961-1982. It also served as the iconic taxi cab for several major American cities during that same time span. In fact, I just watched Taxi Driver for the first time last night and Travis Bickle's ride is none other than a Checker cab.

This here is the infrequently seen non-cabbie civilian sedan version, and the owner also states it was never used as an official cab, a plus for buyers not interested in extra wear, tear and abuse.

It looks beautiful in metallic navy blue paint, charming white roof, whitewall tires and the elegant pre-5mph mandate bumpers.

Styling is an instant classic, with excellent proportions and just the right amount of chrome accents. The quad round lights and broad grille in the front are pitch-perfect and the rear is utterly charming with a gently sloping c pillar, bubble rear window, rounded trunk and pointed off corners. I like that it was released in 1961, but looks more like 1955, and then continued unchanged for 20 years.

This '74 survivor has a 350 GM V8 engine, much more desirable than the smaller 6-cylinders these sometimes came with.

The seller states they are only the second owner in the past 38 years.

Mechanically, they say the vehicle starts, runs and drives fine and the V8 is strong and doesn't smoke. They do say it leaks transmission fluid, the a/c doesn't work and the dashboard doesn't light up.

Cosmetically, they say the vehicle appears to never have been in an accident and panels line up straight but it does have some rust. However, they say it was never amateurishly filled.

This example also has the quirky 'jump' seats in the rear.

This could be a great opportunity to acquire a very handsome non-taxi Checker Marathon. The colors are just right and the car seems to be good as either a plain driver or potential total restoration at some point. They were made for a long period of time but are definitely not commonplace nowadays.

The seller is open to inspections and test drives.

Find it here on ebay in Pottsville, Pennsylvania with bidding at $1,457.54 and no reserve.

Lost Offspring: 1989 Merkur Scorpio

The Merkur Scorpio was the second and last model offered by the short-lived spin-off brand from Ford.

Merkur had some moderate success with the two-door XR4Ti, and apparently it was enough for Ford executives to justify adding another model. Like the XR4Ti, the Scorpio was based on a European counterpart, in this case the same-named Ford Scorpio. They were modest front-engine, rear-wheel drive family cars, nothing special.

Styling is intriguing, and in some ways it looked better than the European version. The blackened c-pillars give the car a streamlined, futuristic look, and make the plentiful greenhouse glass airy and appealing. Four-door hatchback bodies are quite rare but the sloped lift gate back is handled well. Note the gratuitous use of red plastic for the taillights, a classic late '80s design trend. That said, the overall smooth jellybean shape and stance has aged well.

Engine-wise they were equipped with an adequate but by no means powerful 2.9-litre V6 engine. The vast majority were mated to automatic transmissions, but it's believed around 60 came with stick shifts.

The seller states the vehicle has 109, 344 miles and has been in the family for over 20 years. They say the leather has no rips but the car was not originally black. Mechanically, they say it's been sitting indoors but the a/c doesn't work and the transmission has problems. They say potential buyers should expect to not be able to drive it away.

Apparently only 8,765 Merkur Scorpio were made in 1989.  These are a minor footnote in the history of Ford, but they do have a devoted cult following. Still, they have absolutely no inherent collector value and are going for dirt cheap these days, if they haven't already been junked. If you want to drive an obscure car that will be the only one on the block, you might want to check this one out.

Find it here on craigslist in Imperial, Missouri for $1,000.

All-Original: 1969 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750

I'd be surprised if this craigslist ad makes it to the end of the day.

The 1969-1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 was based on the 1963-1977 105/115 Series Coupe. Their values have jumped in recent years as their numbers dwindled, rally history was recognized, and general aesthetics have gained a many an appreciative eye.

The GTV 1750 featured many improvements over previous versions. Most notable was the increased engine size. They had 1.8-litre four-cylinder engines powering the rear-wheels.

The Bring a Trailer staff love these cars, as a couple appear every month in varying condition and prices. I didn't understand the appeal until a couple days ago, when they just magically fell into place in my mind. I also saw one for the first time yesterday in dark grey-blue. Rear-wheel drive, classic styling, rally heritage. They do look great, as the boat/bathtub high-beltline Euro shape and quad-round headlights give it almost a BMW look, perhaps even better, and these seemed to have never been slapped with ugly U.S. government mandated 5 mph crash test bumpers. These were designed by Giugiaro in his pre-wedge days.

The seller states this vehicle is all-original plus a few slight performance mods. They say the delicious mustard yellow paint is original, but there is rust in the door sills. They say the floors and jack points are solid, however.

The interior looks stock and fresh with a wood steering wheel and black leather seats.

Mechanically, the seller says it runs and the engine and transmission have low miles.

Hemmings estimates a '69-'74 GTV 1750 Coupe at in fair condition to be worth $8,500, good $15,000 and excellent at $28,500, making this car's asking price of $11,500 seem fair, depending on the underbody and engine specifics.

Find it here on craigslist in Spokane, Washington for $11,500.

Designer Family Sedan: 1990 Eagle Premier ES

The Eagle Premier was the last sedan made by American Motors.

It also bear's Giugiaro's styling. While he is better known for his edgy supercars of the '70s, it continually fascinates me to know he and his Italdesign studio actually sat down in the mid '80s and drew the lines for this ultraconservative family sedan. I love it. It looks great. Although he was no doubt inspired by the Audi 5000, the same philosophy of large, clean, flat planes he applied to two-door coupes is also used here and it works, miraculously. I especially appreciate the luggage rack on the trunk that incorporated the third brake light. We will probably never see these on new cars again but they have a wonderful charm.

This example is an upper-level ES trim, so it has large, comfy looking leather seats and alloy wheels. 1990 was the year they replaced trouble-prone electronics with a more reliable Chrysler system. '90 cars also had four-wheel disc brakes and a stainless steel exhaust system. They also mercifully did away with the 4-cylinder engine and offered just the V6. Unfortunately, they deleted the Design Giugiaro badges but I suppose they could be added on if you grabbed them from a wrecked model in a junkyard.

The seller says they are the original owner and the car has a '92 engine with only 30k miles on it, but is not running. They do say it has been "barn-kept" since 1995.

These were only made from 1987-1991 in relatively few numbers and many get junked every year. This could be chance to grab a neat looking survivor in bright red.

Find it here on craigslist in Piqua, Ohio for $1,500.

Gullwing Glory: 28k-mile 1975 Bricklin SV-1

The seller says this vehicle is up for sale just in time for the Bricklin Nationals in Michigan July 18-22.

The SV-1 was the vision of auto entreprenuer Malcolm Bricklin, who had previously founded Subaru of America. SV stood for Safety Vehicle and was his idea of a fast, safe and efficient sports car. They had rear-wheel drive, reinforced fiberglass bodies, bright acrylic "safety" colors (should you get lost in the mountains or buried in snow), no cigarette lighters or ashtrays, power gullwing doors (an industry first) and intentional 5 mph government mandated bumpers built into the design.

Unfortunately the SV-1 wasn't very fast or economical, although it could be seen as safe by 1970s standards I suppose. While powered with V8 engines, they were still heavy and their small radiators were prone to overheating. Customers were offered a choice of colors and transmission in 1974, in 1975 the only options were colors as the only transmission available was an automatic, hurting any chances of being taken seriously by enthusiasts.

The styling isn't half bad. It's a prototypical '70s wedge shape (who started that anyways? Gandini's Countach in 1971?). Tapered nose with hidden headlights that widens to a steeply raked windshield, then gently sloping c pillar that drops to an angular rear. Fortunately the Bricklin pulls it off quite well. It's a little cartoonish, almost like an imaginary Hot Wheels toy, especially in neon green, but it's still eye-catching and really cool looking. The black lower panels help give it a low, long appearance.

The Bricklin story ended sourly, actually lot like the Delorean only a couple of years later. Bricklin secured funds from a local government in New Brunswick, Canada for factories to build the Bricklin, but the money was wasted and the factory eventually shut down, millions in debt. Only 2,854 cars were made from 1974-1975. Shame on both parties for getting involved in a deal that shouldn't have been made. All that resulted was a couple thousand cult cars.

The seller mentions this survivor is all-original and still wears its rare acrylic Safety Green paint. They also say this car has the presumably more desirable 351 cubic inch Ford V8 engine, and that it has under 28,000 original miles on the odometer. They say the car runs fine and they are selling only because they don't use it enough.

These are certainly rare and kitschy cars. You'll never see one on Bring a Trailer. But I like them for the design, and as a cautionary tale on private-public partnerships gone awry, something we still see today, over and over again (Solyndra, 38 Studios).

Hemmings values a '74-'75 Bricklin in fair condition at $4,200, good $7,500 and excellent $15,750.

Find it here on ebay in Springfield, Illinois with bidding at $12,445 and a buy-it-now of $18,999.

Back Again: 1963 Porsche 356B Super

I believe this is the same Porsche I spotlighted back here. It seems like it's being advertised again on craigslist, but the seller has uploaded much better photos this time.

The 356 really needs no introduction - it's a classic car of infinite charm and appeal. They are not fast by today's standards and are expensive to maintain, but they look great, are still fun to drive and are instant indicators of status and good taste.

This is a B model Super. It has a rear-mounted 4-cylinder engine powering the rear wheels. B cars also had some cosmetic changes such as higher headlights and a more rounded front nose.

The seller says it wears an older repaint, some of the chrome is pitting, and there is rust in the door sills.

More importantly though, they say it's a "solid little driver", having done new brakes, a tuneup, and an oil change recently. They say it's a correct, matching numbers Super engine with dual carbs.

Imperfect runners like these are getting harder and harder to find, as most left these days are exorbitant concours-level restorations or barn find rust buckets. This one seems like it's ready to hit the California desert highway.

Find it here on craigslist in Hollywood Hills, California for $31,000.

Start Over Fresh: 37k-mile 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300D

Most Mercedes-Benz diesels of the '70s and '80s were purchased by owners who did a lot of driving and wanted comfort, reliability and fuel efficicency, so their cars are typically beat by now, many with 200-300k miles before a whole engine rebuild. Imagine just finishing using an old Benz diesel and then finding a pristine low-mileage example like this one? You can start all over again.

Or, just get started if you're new to diesel cars. This is a beautiful 300D with only 37,126 miles on the odometer. The W124 diesels were even better than the legendary W123 cars. For one, the W124 Benz is a far better looking car, much more chiseled and aerodynamic. The underbody parts were streamlined to make air flow smoother.

The 1987 300D was also a one-year only model. It featured a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbocharged engine. It was then replaced by a the 2.5 turbodiesel, which had a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder turbocharged engine. I am not sure if this is the same troubled engine as in the 300SD/SDL, but it could be.

The seller states this is a one-owner vehicle that was purchased in Florida by their grandparents and then passed down. They say they have all service records to document the low miles. The ivory exterior is tasteful and uplifting, and contrasts well with the tan interior, which looks immaculate.

The seller also says it has always been garaged and has never been in an accident and has no chips, dents, or scratches. This thing seems ready to hit the road. While slightly heartbreaking that the low miles will soon be no more, I say buy it, treat it well but use it as they were meant to be used. Unless this car has a fatal flaw, with regular maintenance it should be solid transportation for a very long time.

Find it here on Hemmings for $15,900.