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Hopefully, Nate’s E28 M5 ownership inspired you and you’re ready to jump into the M5 market. Bad news; you missed the cheap E28 M5 train. They bottomed out a few years ago, when is was briefly possible to get a pretty clean example under $15,000. Well, they’re back on the rise, in some cases outpacing their arguably more desirable brother the M6. However, if like Nate you’re willing to take a bit more of an adventure in ownership; if you’re willing to accept that you don’t need a perfect example; if you like your car with a bit more character in its lines, then there are still options available. Today’s 1988 M5 is one just such example:
VW vans are not usually known for their speed, with a few amazing skunkworks exceptions. There’s a reason my continent-traveling friend’s blog is titled 63mph – that’s about the best his Weekender can do on the highway. While those in search of more power usually go OEM+ or Subaru routes, this owner clearly does things his own way. He bought a 2.0l Ford Zetec crate engine pushing 130hp, as well as fabricating some fun bits himself like the bumpers and some funky wood interior panels. I happen to like the Mad Max-styling, especially the steel wheels. The Zetec is a completely new direction; can you handle a little American in your German?
With our resident Mercedes-Benz expert Paul out of the country, we’re going through a bit of a classic Mercedes-Benz drought here at GCFSB. I’ve tried to fill in a few gaps, but the reality is that Paul has a knack for finding the best examples of the stars from Germany. So until he comes back, you’ll have to make due with our admittedly second-tier examples, two of which we’ll feature today and both of which at W116s. Right now I have a one of the lesser examples – a 1979 350SE. It doesn’t have the big 6.9 motor and it’s not the long wheel base, but it’s a slick Euro model which appears clean – so certainly worth a look:
As E30s go bonkers, E24s continue to be the dark horse in the 80s M-cars race to the top of the appreciation charts. Those who know appreciate the great styling, fantastic engine, and impeccable cruising ability. Those who don’t, well – don’t; they see it slip by as innocuously as any other old Bimmer. Today’s comes in a very subdued blue (sublued?) with just 68k miles. The asking price of $24.5k seems, for once, pretty darn reasonable. You could drive this another 30k miles in the next 5-10 years and sell it for a hefty profit, having a great time while doing so.
It is interesting how classic automotive values evolve and change; take, for example, today’s 1968 Karmann Ghia Type 34. Originally launched as a celebration of the new Type 3 and sporting arguably some of the best looking bodywork ever fit to a Volkswagen, the Type 34 was expensive even by Volkswagen standards in its day; for the asking price, for example, you could buy two Beetles. In some regards, that makes it the Phaeton of its day, and similar to the Phaeton, it has a small and devoted crowd that love these cars. Despite that, values on the Type 34 are below some of the top values for the “lesser” contemporary Volkswagens – notably the Sambas, though good examples do really shine through. Today’s is one of the best; finished in original Lotus White with black roof, this all-original Type 34 is simply stunning: