Never This Nice: 41k-mile 1992 Honda Accord EX

I use the Honda Accord as a benchmark of banality.

If a vehicle is fairly basic but dependable transportation, I will deem it Accord-like.

Although the Accord is a respected nameplate that practically defines the whole company and was a bestseller for years, it is just a basic family sedan. Front-wheel drive. Four or six-cylinder engines. Simple electronic systems. Nothing cutting-edge, experimental, or exciting about it. That said, the Accord tried to be the best boring family sedan out there. Solid build quality. Reliability. Ok-styling. They were also reasonably priced (before Honda foolishly tried to upmarket them and rip off the consumer on what are essentially still basic fwd sedans).

This is a fourth generation Accord produced from 1990-1993. The fourth gen was a huge leap forward and featured totally new styling and new engines. This was when Japanese designers were paying close attention to the ultra-functionalism and common sense styling of the German automakers. Following suit, the Accord has a huge greenhouse for maximum viability in and out and lean sheet metal for a low, sleek shape. Note the rear window kink a la BMW.

The interior is possibly the best part. The dashboard is extremely clear, bare, and highly useable. This is an EX-trim car, so it has leather seating. Note how the dashboard is entirely in black plastic - dark colors don't distract the driver and absorb dirt, wear and tear better. I do see some wear on the driver's seat which is odd for a 41k-mile car, as well as an unsightly stain on the rear passenger seat belt, but both can be remedied with some work.

1992 saw a facelift, and this Accord wears the modified taillights that came with other slight changes.

The seller says this is a one-owner vehicle and the mileage is accurate. Most Accord were bought by people who drove a lot, and wanted spacious, affordable but frugal transportation, so finding one in overall good shape with this low miles is rare. This isn't a desirable model unfortunately, with an automatic and only four cylinders. But if you want some basic transportation the way they don't make it anymore, check out this car.

Find it here on ebay in Philadelphia, PA with 15 bids at $3,300.

Seventies Wedding: 1972 Checker Aerobus

The Checker Aerobus was a factory made super long wheel base version of their iconic Marathon model.

This thing is half Ghostbusers mobile, half Studio 54 curb candy. Most stretch limos based on sedans are appalling looking. This one, complete with muscle car white-text Goodyear tires, looks utterly amazing.

The Marathon needs no introduction. It was THE taxicab of America's major cities during the 60s, 70s and 80s. The design is timeless and infinitely charming.

The Aerobus expounds on the Marathon's role as a utilitarian people hauler. It was made from 1962-1977 and offered in two lengths and in either sedan or wagon bodies. Only a total of 3,568 were ever made.

Fortunately, all Aerobus cars with V8 engines, not the already underpowered 6-cylinders.

The seller says this Aerobus is the larger 9-door, 12-passenger version. They say it has an odometer that reads 30,556 miles, but do not know if it is actual or not. They say the car runs and drives, and has no structural rust issues, except for poor paint. They seem to suggest everything is original, including the interior. Cheap purple window tinting has obviously been added, however.

I would give it a fresh tuneup and a new coat of extra glossy white paint, then just let this thing roll. Limos are popular in the suburbs during prom season. Even in hipster urban areas like Brooklyn, there has got to be right occasion for this thing. If you can market the appeal, it could be a nice addition to an existing limo fleet or a viable little business of its own.

Find it here on ebay in Hillsboro, Wisconsin with 6 bids at $4,650 and 1 day left.

Forgotten Rear Engine: 1967 NSU Typ 110

NSU Motorenwerke AG was a German auto manufacturer who were eventually acquired by Volkswagen in 1969 and merged with Auto Union to make what is now known as Audi.

When they were still making cars under the NSU name, however, they offered some very interesting vehicles. NSU made about eight different vehicles during the postwar era, culminating with the Ro80, styled by Claus Luthe, who later became the mastermind behind BMW designs of the 1980s.

The Typ 110 was produced from 1965 to 1972. It was updated with a revised model called the1200 from '67 onward.

The most striking feature is the rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The advantages of that all but neglected setup were once a core philosophy of German auto engineering, emphasized and utilized by Volkswagen and Porsche, but have been almost entirely abandoned, at least by Volkswagen.

All Typ 110 had four cylinder engines and a 4-speed manual all-synchromesh with hydraulically operated single plate dry clutch. Performance was decent, with the car being lightweight and the engines relatively sprightly. However, the car swayed in Autobahn crosswinds.

This is '67 Typ 110 that the seller describes as a runner with original paint. It is in need of a restoration however. The seller says it is solid with no rust on any suspension points, but the body and interior have a lot of obvious corrosion.

The seller says the car was raced in the 1970s and retains one racing seat but the remaining interior has been gutted. They say the clutch is good, the brakes work but the pedal is sticky, and the shifter will need a small bushing. Glass is good.

There is also a parts car that comes with the sale, an added bonus. The parts car has no title, but the running car does have an Ohio title.

This could be a rare opportunity to acquire a vintage rear engine car from a storied German car maker. Unfortunately, given the condition, it really does beckon to be brought back to glory, which is expensive and time consuming.

Find it here on ebay in Canal Winchester, Ohio with 10 bidders at $1,500 and 2 days left.

Basic Brick: 67k-mile 1991 Volvo 240

This 1991 Volvo 240 is being offered by a seller who claims the car has only 67,982 original miles.

Although more than 2.8 million units were sold from 1974-1993, the 240 were basic family transportation that racked up usage and mileage pretty quickly, so finding relatively low mileage examples is is difficult.

These are modern classics. The 240 is almost as iconic as the VW Beetle. At the very least, it's one of most important cars for Volvo and was their best seller for years.

Styling by Jan Wilsgaard is ultra-conservative and utilitarian looking, almost befitting of a military or diplomat. The car is long and narrow like a train. The hood and trunk deck are flat planes. Angles and corners are soft up close but the overall shape is an exercise is the beauty of squares and rectangles. The headlights are enormous, wide-eyed and kind of geeky looking. The hard porous ribbed headrests are still fascinating. I believe they were intended to give the interior an airy feel.

Under the hook were workhorse 4-cylinder engines powering the rear wheels. Some were turbocharged. It's too bad Volvo never but a 6-cylinder in these. I always thought they would be cool as more powerful, more luxurious cars since they are already large and roomy.

This is a base model in silver over blue cloth, automatic transmission, plastic wheel covers, mudflaps. The seller says it is a one-owner car with all records and books, always garaged, and runs and looks great. If your 240 with 300k miles is starting to get a little creaky, you might want to look into this one and basically
start over again.

Find it here on ebay in Subury, MA with one bid at $9,000, reserve not met and 5 hours left.

Fashion Faux Pas: 1988 Chrysler TC By Maserati 5 Speed

Ah, the Chrysler TC, lost in the hazy days of the late '80s only to be revived in on the computer screen in front of you.

What brought about the unlikely (and unholy) union of Chrysler and Maserati? Two words: Lee Iacocca.

The legendary head of Chrysler, who to his credit eventually turned the company around, became friends with Alejandro De Tomaso while they were both at Ford. Iacocca then left for Chrysler and De Tomaso for Maserati. Their bromance was far from over though. In the midst of the Reagan Revolution they decided to make a car together...because, heck, Chrysler and Maserati were both known for reliable, quality products, so why not join forces? The result was the TC.

The TC is awkwardly called the "Chrysler TC by Maserati". So which is it, a Chrysler or a Maserati? Neither, it's a Chrysler by Maserati. Like double breasted suit by Armani. Or maybe something more horrific, like novel by Stephen King. In an era when designer names were all the rage and lended instant credibility to brand-conscious consumers, I'm sure this seemed like an awesome idea then. Today it just plain stinks, although the hilarity that must have ensued on the second hand market ("Honey, look at the Maserati I bought for dirt cheap") is almost worth the name fumbling. But who I am to argue. The badge features a Maserati trident inside the Chrysler pentagon, the automotive equivalent of a practical joke. Or maybe just a big middle finger. I swear somebody somewhere was having a great laugh.

Essentially, Iacocca used a shortened Dodge Daytona platform, slapped on an ever-so-slightly modified Lebaron body, and put a four or six cylinder engine under the hood. Power went to the front wheels. There was also a removable hard top with porthole side windows, to up the kitsch factor.

To its credit, the interior has these enormous padded leather seats that look more like La-Z-Boy recliners than something you sit on in a car to drive.

Not surprisingly, the TC (by Maserati) never caught on. The car borrowed the worst from each manufacturer: poor engineering, bland styling, front-wheel drive, lackluster performence and a general pointlessness. Iacocca expected the TC to usher in a new era of respect for the brand. Instead it became a joke on late-night TV (not true but that would have been hilarious) and symbolic of everything that was wrong with the '80s.

They expected to sell between 5,000 - 10,000 units per year, but sales never went past 3,800. 1991 was the last year (for a lot of things actually, it turned out).

This example has come roaring back for our viewing pleasure. TC cars are worth absolutely nothing. Nobody takes them seriously, though I am sure there are devoted rings of cult followers throughout the U.S. You can grab them for nothing, despite few being made and the odd backstory.

This '89 example is notable for its overall good body, turbocharged four-cylinder and very rare 5-speed manual transmission. These were just boutique cruisers, most with automatics. It's somewhat funny to see a stick shift, but considering that only 501 came with one, somewhere out there, a collector's heart is racing.

The asking price to buy the fruits of a high-powered 1980s friendship? Just $3,200, and it's all yours.

Find it here on ebay in Staten Island, New York.

Rolling Cigar: 21k-mile 1980 Aston Martin Lagonda

This Aston Martin Lagonda looks like it came right out of an old episode of Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous. There is an instant air of pomp and circumstance about it. Maybe because it's a British car. And maybe because of the rather astounding styling. Can you imagine pulling up to Studio 54 in this thing?

The Lagonda was front-engine, rear-wheel drive four-door executive sedan. It was powered by a 5.3-litre V8 engine and came with either a manual or automatic transmission.

Only 645 cars were made from 1974-1990. US sales commenced in 1982.

They were styled by William Towns, a noted British car designer from the '70s and '80s. It's really something to behold. Wide, low, long and sleek, it's decadent but extremely well done. It was ahead of its time then and still looks cool today. You have to give a stodgy company like Aston Martin some credit for going out on a limb with this one.

These were known for their space agey interiors with digital instrumentation that was glitchy and failed often.

Fortunately, the seller has replaced the old system with a new digital readout that is in keeping with the futuristic trappings but actually works.

The seller also says the interior was redone in black leather with tan ostrich inserts.

In addition, the entire engine and transmission has been replaced with a late '90s Ford 4.6-litre V8, for improved reliability and performance. These were such fussy, oddball cars that the different engine isn't much of a detractor, and would help make this a fun, hassle-free cruiser.

With only 21,500 original miles, the rest of the car looks to be in great shape. This is a unique chance to grab an extremely rare car without the headaches they originally came with.

Find it here on ebay in Downey, California with bidding over $10k but reserve not met.

It's Back...155-mile (yes, 155) 1982 Oldsmobile Omega

The infamous '82 Olds Omega with just one-hundred-and-fifty-five miles that made the rounds on car blogs earlier this year (click here to see Just A Car Geek's post) is back!

The story goes that a little old lady purchased this vehicle new, then just never drove it.

That's about it.

Her family drove it around the block to keep it going...but not much else, hence an odometer that reads just 155 miles.

This is probably the lowest mileage 1982 Oldsmobile Omega in existence.

It's sort of a running joke that these extreme low mileage survivors that pop up are often the most boring cars ever. This Oldsmobile is no exception.

There were only three generations of cars that used the Omega nameplate from 1973 to 1984. This is a third and final generation Omega, the "X-body" platforms, produced from '80 to '84.

These were basic economy cars, front-wheel drive and four cylinder engines. They were ugly, slow, and poorly made, with a high number of recalls.

Still, it's amazing to see a survivor in this condition.

The seller said they acquired it from her estate a couple of years ago, but didn't have the heart to drive it and so the mileage has remained low. They say the paint is dull and the headliner sagging, but needs nothing else.

Did you miss out on the Omega when new? Do you want to own an internet legend? Check this thing out.

Find it here on ebay.

Affordable Mid-Engine: 75k-mile 1988 Toyota MR2

Remember when mid-engine cars were being offered at prices accessible to most U.S. consumers? If you can't, don't blame yourself. It was a long time ago.

The superiority of mid-engine layout - in handling, balance, and common sense - needs no introduction.

What's more interesting is how this concept trickled down from outlandish Italian supercars of the late '60s and early '70s to frugal, affordable and efficient Japanese cars of the '80s and '90s. It's proof that the market, when free of collusion, truly does work in a top-to-bottom fashion, where fancy ideas are introduced on expensive models before they work their way into every car. I'd rather wait for good technology than never be offered it at all.

The first-generation 1984-1989 Toyota MR2 is an example of good things that come to those who wait. These featured a mid-mounted engine towards the rear powering the rear wheels. Prior to the MR2, I can think of only the Fiat X19, Porsche, Ferrari, Lambo and the like that have that setup.

With the MR2, Toyota offered consumers the advantage of mid-engine without the hassle of maintenance previously associated with it. Everybody won. Toyota had good sales and bragging rights. Consumers actually got an intriguing choice of vehicle. Competitors were influenced to come up with rival cars (like the ill-fated Pontiac Fiero). Prices went down as quality and selection went up (and even the Fiero got better each year).

Non-supercharged cars were powered by a 1,587 cc straight-4-cylinder engine producing around 112 horsepower. That's very modest by today's standards, but with a weight of only 2,350 lbs., it moved the car amply from 0-60 mph in around 8 seconds. How nice it would be if the lowest weight possible was still a priority for auto manufacturers. Instead of emissions controls, light cars are probably the key to unleashing true fuel efficiency.

This example looks awesome in navy blue over blue. It seems to have none of the tacky aftermarket modifications that plague survivors. Styling is somewhat typical of the time with the pop-up headlights and body cladding, but the overall micro-wedge shape has also transcended its era and become a minor classic of lean, folded-paper design that a broad spectrum of people appreciate.

The interior shows some wear, but nothing major.

The seller says the manual transmission shifts smoothly, power equipment works and engine runs properly. They list the odometer as reading just 75,761 miles, and say it is accurate.

Plenty of them were made, but not many are left in good shape, and even fewer with this low mileage. If you have a craving for fun, reliable transportation with a unique engine placement, this MR2 is a good bet. Today, there simply are no affordable mid-engine cars anymore. This increases the importance, if not value, of the MR2 by tenfold in my humble opinion.

Find it here on ebay in Philadelphia, PA with no reserve and bidding at $1,125.

Never This Nice: 75k-mile 1993 Volvo 960 Wagon

This Volvo looks to be in the kind of exquisite condition you never find them in anymore.

The 900 series were made from 1990-1998 and were, sadly, the last rear-wheel drive cars they made.

This is a pre-facelift '90-'94 960, before the car was moderately updated in 1995. Both the pre- and post-facelift models are nice looking, but the black plastic side molding on this early model absorbs wear better than the all-body-color strips on later cars.

The car is powered by a 2.9-litre, 24-valve DOHC inline 6-cylinder engine.

Exterior design is ultra-conservative, but it works so well. It's boxy and relatively simple but the price paid for not being stylish is a wonderful amount of useful interior space. And that's what a station wagon should be (as opposed to the loony Dodge Magnum, for example).

This one is pitch-perfect in gold over saddle leather interior. The alloy wheels are also really nice.

Since these were the mom car of the '90s upper middle class suburb, they were often driven a lot and with children in the back seats. Seeing one in this great shape is kind of bittersweet, as if it was never used as intended, but so nice to see it almost as nice as new.

The seller states the odometer clocks in at just 75,466 miles.

The vehicle is being offered by a dealer who are "Volvo specialists" and was driven by the seller and his wife.

They say it has also never been in an accident, reaffirming the low miles are just due to sparing use.

These are great cars. Since the mileage is unusually low but not museum-quality low, I would keep driving it for another 100-200k miles, as they were designed to go.

The price for this all this? A buy-it-now of just $4,975. You won't find another one like it, and you won't find any new car with this kind of build quality.

Find it here on ebay in North Miami, Florida.

Micro Traction: 1989 Mazda 323 GTX

This little Mazda is one of only 1,194 special cars built by Mazda to qualify for Group A rally car racing.

The 323 was your typical Japanese entry-level compact hatchback with front-wheel drive and four cylinder engines. Styling was decent, but overall the car was nothing spectacular.

That changed with the GTX. Mazda swapped the engine for a turbocharged and intercooled 16-valve unit producing 132 horsepower. Rigidy was strengthened and the track widened. Finally, all-wheel drive was added for superior road traction.

Some styling changes were added too, including a rear spoiler and alloy wheels.

Since so few were made and they are so desirable, finding any example, let alone a mostly untouched example, is almost impossible.

Fortunately, the seller of this vehicle says it's a 139k-mile survivor that has spent most of its life in New Mexico and has little rust as a result of the arid climate there. It also looks mostly stock, with no tacky tinted windows or aftermarket paint job. The seller says this has the analogue gauge package, a sunroof and cd player. They say the head was recently rebuilt and the transmission shifts smoothly, but the car is consuming some oil and may have a fuel pressure issue. The seller says a new job has left them with little time to tend to the car.

This is probably the most GTX you'll find out there, next to a pristine low mileage example which would command probably double or more. With some mechanical and cosmetic attention, it could continue to be a fun driver.

Find it here on craigslist in Minneapolis, Minnesota for $3,250.