Archive for gray market
1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SE (350SE) 4-speed manual
The W116 is perhaps one of the most forgotten Mercedes-Benz S class generations, but even this staid sedan had a few interesting versions. We are all familiar with the beast that is the 6.9, but here is an interesting version with what looks to be a 4.5 V8 and a 4 speed manual. Also included are a few tasteful modifications.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Paul who found this beauty and wrote the post, like the seller and the original importer has been duped. This car is not as the seller states a 450SE, but likely a much more significant Euro market 350SE. It could be the importer called this a 450SE to help ease the importation. A 450SE with a manual was almost unheard of. This car shows its Euro heritage with the Euro bumpers and headlights and also has only had the speedometer converted, the other gauges in the instrument cluster and the climate controls remain the original Euro, German language ones. The VIN number indicates a 350SE. Without seeing the actual engine data plate it is easy to confuse the two models, particularly this one which seems to have an air cleaner like the 4.5, earlier 3.5 engines had a smaller, circular, air cleaner with the intake on the passenger side. The 3.5 liter V8 was marked as a M116 engine in the W116 chassis. The 4.5 liter V8 was marked as the M117 engine in the W116 chassis. Many consider the smaller 3.5 V8 to be the better engine. It was a marvelous piece, very high revving and nimble. Couple that engine with a manual transmission and the short bodied 116 chassis car and this must be quite a fun ride. I would get rid of that particular set of aftermarket rims. Replacing the stock 14″ items with 16″ or bigger is a good idea, but there are much nicer looking rims for classic Mercs. A set of expensive AMG Ronal 5 spokes would complete the authentic AMG look. This is a great find and likely to only be appreciated by those in the know so look for a possible bargain here if it doesn’t attract too much attention. Though the price already is that of what a similar mileage 450SEL can be had for.
~Evan
Back to Paul’s comments:
The seller states:
Hey everyone up for sale we have a mint condition 1978 450SE Euro model with 81k original miles and a manual 4 speed transmission. Not sure if it is a 3.5 or a 4.5 (Bureau of Automotive Repair says 4.5) I am the second owner of this beautiful car, The first owner was an elderly man that drove it seldomly and kept it garaged under a car cover most of its life. It runs great, engine runs very smooth and powerful, absolutely no leaks whatsoever, Shifts perfect, clutch feels like new, temperature is always steady at 80C. The two front windows are electrically powered while the two rear windows are manual (set up available for euro models only). It has Michelin Pilot tires with 85% tread left and an almost perfect interior as you can tell by the photos. The only minor defects are: a slight vibration at 55-60mph and the AC needs to be recharged. I have a clean California title thats ready to be handed over to the winning bidder.
Values of W116 S classes have been notoriously low for Mercedes-Benzes in recent history, except for that of the 6.9. There are 14 bids on this already as I write this with two days left in the auction, so we’ll see if the reserve is met and where the value goes.
-Paul
1984 Porsche 911 Targa DP For Sale in Portland, Oregon
Here’s your chance to get your hands on a Porsche modified with period correct pieces from DP Motorsports. I spotted this Porsche 911 Targa on Portland, Craigslist ($20500, 85k original miles):
quote from Craigslist ad:
This is a beautiful white 911. Not your regular 911. Besides being a European Model it has all the bells and whistles. Approximently 300hp. Origional BB Rims. New low profile tires.
Race clutch, Dual stainless steele exhaust. Whale tale. 964 cams. Same as the Turbo. 930 body with wider steele fenders. Just put in a New starter and Battery. Car is Garaged
and not driven much. 85,000 origonal miles. Engine had a total rebuild at 62K. Origonally purchase in 1984 for 50k which includes the shipping. The origonal owner wanted the
turbo look but not the turbo during that era because the Turbo’s had allot of engine problems. Ordered the car from Porsche but made Body Modifications at DP Motor Sports in Germany.
before having it shipped to Seattle. Never wrecked and is in excellent condition. Must see and drive to appreciate. Have all the Paperwork on this car to verify. Thanks
This isn’t the first time we’ve posted a DP modified 911, but this one is a bit more attainable at only $20k. And 85k original miles would be good for a regular run-of-the-mill 84 Carrera, let alone a gray market spec car with DP goodies and BB wheels! I like it and the price seems about right too. Hope it finds a good home!
dc
1979 Mercedes-Benz 500SLC
The car we see below represents one of the rarest post-war Mercedes-Benzes to be produced. They were manufactured to homologate the 450SLC for rally purposes. Fewer than 100 cars were imported into the United States as gray market cars during production. A few more were brought into the US during the 1980s as a one time “personal” exemption.
The 450 SLC 5.0 was introduced in 1978 and it differed from the stock 450SLC in that its hood and trunk lids were crafted from aluminum. Also included were front and rear spoilers which resulted in better aerodynamics and a higher top speed of 142 mph. This model was also the first application of the aluminum/silicon alloy V8 engines. Lighter in weight than the standard 4.5 V8, it produced 240 (DIN) horsepower (over 300 HP in today’s SAE HP terms). In 1980, the 500SLC replaced the 450SLC 5.0. A four speed automatic replaced the previous three speed box and a smaller diameter steering wheel came standard. With only 1,154 units produced, this was the rarest of all SLC models.
1979 Mercedes-Benz 500SLC on Hemmings
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The seller explains:
With maybe 4 roadworthy examples left in the US, this special run rust free/dent free coupe is ready to go for historic racing, rallies or car shows. Aluminum hood and trunk deck, limited slip differential, working A/C, sunroof, fresh interior and recent paint this car is ready to enjoy or re-market to Mercedes collector and “double your money!”
While this is hardly a concours quality car, $11,500 seems very reasonable considering the rarity and pedigree of this particular model. Much like it’s ancestor, the 300SL Gullwing, this is a Mercedes-Benz that brought racing technology to the street.
(Source: Faszination SL R/C 107, Copyright 2001 DaimlerChrysler Konzernarchiv)
-Paul
Euro 1984 BMW 320 Baur spotted in the Pacific Northwest
I found this gray market Euro 1984 BMW 320 Baur at a dealer in Seattle that specializes in BMW’s, especially the hard to find variety. Baur is a coach builder based in Stuttgart Germany, home of that other car maker. Specializing in convertible design and manufacturing Baur began building BMW convertibles in 1930′s. Available as an aftermarket option at first, many Baur convertibles were later covered by the full BMW factory warranty. Precious few examples made it to our shores, even fewer still exist today.
Euro 1984 BMW 320 Baur for sale
This very rare Euro 1984 BMW 320 Baur has just been placed for sale on consignment by the current local owner/BMW CCA Member. The Baur model was never imported into the United States, but you will find a small number that were imported on the gray market. This car has been owned by a few collectors over the years, and is in great condition for the year. It has black exterior with black leather interior, black soft top, 5-speed manual, upgraded Hartge wheels, rear spoiler, steering wheel, front strut brace and front/back badges. Custom stereo, Cruise control. Recent clutch work, with 160K miles. With records.
$10k seems on the high side given the miles, at 160k this Baur has been driven over the years. It will definitely take the right buyer to pay the premium the dealer is asking. But isn’t that how it always it is with rare and exotic autos? What premium would you place on the Hartge upgrades? The wheels alone have to be worth $2k, maybe more? The steering wheel? What is a full set of records and a documented history worth? Before you know it you are dangerously close to the asking price.
~Aaron.
1985 BMW M635CSi For Sale in Kansas
R.B. emailed me his fantastic looking M635CSi to post on the blog. Check it out:
quote from the eBay listing:
1985 BMW M635csi, VIN WBAEE310201050476, 112K miles. Dinan Stage IV, Haltech, Racing Dynamics RGR’s with new Falkens. Diamond Black over Schwarz. Originally Polaris Silber. Original Options…415mm cross-spoke alloy wheels, green-tinted glass, power sunroof, warning triangle, power front comfort (non-sport) seats, interior headlight adjustment, air conditioning, Becker radio with power antenna. Engine M88 Engine Replaced about 30K miles ago with a rebuilt S38 by a previous owner I was able to track down. Engine Compartment stripped and completely refinished in KBS RustSeal Gloss Black. New heater valve. All new Belts – factory BMW. New fan and new fan shroud. New Coil, Distributor, Plugs and Wires All new fluids, brakes just flushed. Haltech Platinum Sport 1000 ECU with Datalogging, custom wiring harness, 60-2 M30B35 trigger wheel and Cherry Hall Sensor, so no more Reference Sensors
. New High Impedance 440cc injectors from five-o motorsport. Innovate LC-1 Wideband O2. Engine retained SS bundle of snakes headers from M88 and M88 throttles. Cone filter attached to professionally refinished plenum, refinished valve cover. Dinan air sock. Interior Nice interior, I installed a dash cap due to cracked dash, looks great. New M6 floormats. Carpet in good shape, Custom package shelf in black vinyl. Repaired sunroof header with epoxy and new clips. SI Lights fully functional, all gauges and lights working properly. Installed Nakamichi CD-400 with Bostons all the way around including perfect late model pods in the rear. Brand new Bosch wipers. Drivers seat missing some piping, passenger seat excellent. Comforts were RARE on the M635csi. AC Just finished conversion to R134A, new receiver dryer, all fan speeds and settings work, (replaced transistors), new heater valve. Suspension Has the E24 shimmy I have not addresed yet. Sits on a verified Dinan Stage IV suspension (Front Camber, Rear Camber, Sway Bars and Bilsteins). Needs the usual bushings replaced. Body Repainted Diamond Schwarz by a PO (originally a desireable Polaris car). Some chipping on the repaint, but very nice considering the age. Car looks great. Absolutely no rust anywhere. Solid, clean underbody. Car is a SOLID TEXAS car has been in MO since 2001. Always garaged at my house while the E46 M3 convertible sits outside crying. Rear bumper, slight bend due to a mailbox, looks fine, no structural damage. Rear rubber spoiler in good shape. FRONT – SLIGHT damage to kidney metal. WILL NOT require anything other than minor bodywork. New factory roundels, new factory kidney grills. New OEM Euro turnsignals converted back from DOT. No ugly front side reflectors, somehow this one escaped. Tires and Wheels New 16″ Falken Ziex, Italian made Racing Dynamics RGRs in fantastic shape. Exhaust Excellent condition, no CAT, Innovate Wideband 02 installed.
Clearly this car has had loving owners and the $12k asking sounds very reasonable! Good luck with the sale R.B.!
dc
Two Ruf Turbo’s on eBay Right Now!
First up is an eBay listing for a . This car is advertised as 1 of 5 imported that year and a very low 12k miles! I’m a little late getting to this one, so bid soon
($39k reserve not met currently)
quote from seller’s eBay listing:
This Porsche Ruf is an Autocheck certified car with only 12,152 actual miles!! This Ruf was stored by court order for ten years and it’s amazing condition shows! We contated the RUF Performace shop in exas and they confirmed that this car is authentic and an actual RUF model.
This extraordinary 1986 RUF Porsche 930 Turbo has been factory finished in gorgeous grey metallic with a supple tan leather interior. This car is equipped with some excellent features including:
*high performance 3.4 liter horizontally opposed 6 cylinder air cooled engine
*5-speed manual transmission
*high performance turbo
*enlarged high performance air to air intercooler
*high rear spoiler
*quad tip exhaust system
*fog lights
*massive air intakes
*Ruf front spoiler
My second pick for the night is this specification according to the listing. Current bid is $25k (reserve not met) with 5 days remaining.
quote from seller’s listing:
1978 Porsche 930 converted to Ruf 930 by Exclusive Motor Cars in New Jersey. Car is in truly immaculate condition – vehicle has 14,000 miles on odometer and a total of 67,000 miles on vehicle. The following was professionally installed or modified 13,000 miles ago, including a flawless better than factory repaint.
RUF Stage-1 BTR Engine (3.4 liter) 400 hp 400 ft lbs — RUF Twin Exhaust — Factory re-geared 5.12 rear end — RUF High Capacity Intercooler — RUF Front Spoiler with Fog Lights — RUF Rear Quarter Brake Vents — RUF Alloy Wheels (18 in) — Michelin Tires Pilot SX — RUF Suspension — RUF Boost Gauge with Telltale — Andial Manual Boost Control — Custom Three-Spoke Momo Leather Steering Wheel with Porsche Crest — RUF Speedometer — RUF Tachometer — Full Dashboard Gauges — Auxiliary Front Oil Cooler — Recaro Leather Sport Seats — Alan Johnson Center Console with extra gauges and cassette storage — Clifford Alarm System — H4 Headlights — Electric Windows — Factory Original Blaupunkt Frankfurt Radio — Electric Antenna — Factory Automatic Heat Control System — Factory Air Conditioning with extra Vents and Larger output Compressor — Electric Sunroof — Original Body, Original Whale Tail — Triple Black — Passed New Jersey Inspection — Second Owner — Always Garaged
I’m personally digging the 78, though I’d probably go with the period correct Ruf rims of the day. Just saying…
dc
Beautifully Restored 1987 Hartge H5S on BringATrailer.com
Well I’m not going to lie: I’m not crazy about the brown. Now that we have that out of the way, this is a phenomenal example of one of the finest BMW e28 tuner cars there is. It enjoys a full restoration and a very tasteful list of departures from stock.
Check out this H5S, one of 5 believed to be imported, on BringATrailer.com:
This 1987 Hartge H5S has been extensively restored by the current seller including restoration of the engine compartment with the engine removed. When the car was re-painted its original color with all glass and trim removed, the plastic side skirts, lower rear valence, and decklid spoiler were also discarded. Those components tend to make M535i and tuner E28s look horrible, so this car really comes together nicely as a result. Most recently it won first place at the Central Coast BMW CCA Concours last month in Monterey. It is available in Southern California for $45k obo.
$45k is a chunk of change, but as one of the BaT commentors mentions, is there anything in the current BMW model range that you’d rather have for that money? Me neither!
dc
1984 Hartge H7S BMW e23 For Sale
When James P. forwarded this car to me, I was pretty sure I had already posted it, but going into the Hartge archives I couldn’t find it. Now I realize I posted it on my personal blog before I had ever started GCFSB. It’s been for sale by BimmerBrothers since late 2007 at least, and what’s interesting is that it was listed then for under $9k. Maybe it’s seen some love since then and thus the higher asking now at $10884. See the listing that is currently on Craigslist SF Bay:
quote from seller’s listing:
I am offering for an appreciating new owner this super rare and unique 1984 BMW Hartge H7S 5 Speed
IMMACULATE rust-free superbly-maintained example one of three believed in existence.
Hartge engine, suspension, wheels, stripes, shift knob and wheels. MUST SEE!
Doing a quick search Hartge H7S brings up hits on what I believe to be the same car that date all the way back to 2004 and 2007, which it suggests it has changed hands a few times. One of the previous owners chimes in on this thread on mye28.com. From what I can tell, it was originally being traded for under $5k and then each owner has added some work of some kind to make it a little better. What do you think — good enough to warrant $10k?
dc
Alpina B6 e21 For Sale in Georgia
Here is one of the more affordable stateside, early Alpina’s we’ve featured. A BMW e21 platform Alpina B6! This one has a 3.5L big six swapped in, but comes with the matching numbers Alpina engine as well.
Check it out on Atlanta Craigslist for $9000:
quote from the seller’s Craigslist post:
Alpina B6, all the right sounds – 3.5big six, close ratio 5 speed, 3.91 limited slip gear. Not fast but quick! Numbers matching Alpina motor comes with the car. Daily driver but has not seen rain in at least 10 years. 3 small spotrust spots (very small!). Alpina vin 6549828 Alpina B6 #89. Rare and fun!
According to the entry on the Unofficial Alpina Pages, the B6 had a massaged 2.8L originally that produced the same horsepower as the motor that now sits in this car. While it’s probably a touch heavier, it’s a period correct alternative that makes sense, and the added torque probably more than makes up for the weight.
Seems like a cool and easily attainable entry into genuine Alpina ownership!
dc
1983 Hartge H3 e30 For Sale in Washington
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I’ve always been a sucker for BMW e30′s. They’re great little enthusiast machines with light weight, willing engines, solid handling, and rear wheel drive. Classic BMW formula for sure! The pick of the litter is the M3 of course, followed by the 325is model. But what if you wanted something in-between and even more rare than the M? Check out this 1983 Hartge H3 on Seattle Craigslist for $10k:
quote from the Craiglist post:
[...]
The car is one of the 5 H23s imported through Performance Plus in Florida during the 80s. It is the only Hartge they imported in Burgundrot Metallic. Out of the 5 that came in, I can only guess how many are still around. I hear there is another in San Diego. Scott Epstein formerly of Performance Plus was able to verify that my VIN was in fact one of theirs and also provided me pictures of the car when it was brand new.The car was ordered with just about all of the Hartge options.
- Hartge cylinder head and valve cover
- Hartge header and exhaust
- Hartge Oil Cooler
- Hartge suspension including sway bars and strut braces
- Hartge long range fuel tank in the trunk
- Hartge steering wheel, shift knob, extra guage cluster
- Hartge Mono Wiper
- Hartge Valance, rear skirts and decklid spoilerThe car has 171,000 miles on it. It runs very well. I wouldn’t hesitate to drive it anywhere. Over the last year I sourced Hartge sideskirts and 15″ wheels from the wonderful BMW community. They aren’t correct for an 83 but they look great. The originally came with BBS RAs and no skirts. The car received a nice complete respray a few months ago as well. Glasurit was used all the way from primer to clear. I also swapped out the very tired tan cloth interior for a beautiful grey cloth interior out of a Baur. I still have the original Recaro seats as well.
[...]
Considering clean and well looked after 325is models can fetch something in the neighborhood of $7-9k (if you can find one!) and M3 models often hover in the $20k range, this very rare and exclusive gray market import looks pretty fetching at $10k, even with 170k+ miles. Throw on these 3 piece Hartge rims and really look the business!
I had trouble finding information on the e30 H3 model. Can anyone provide any details about this model in the comments?
dc
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