Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
At the other end of the gray market scale from the 500SL we featured a few days ago sits this car, the 280SL. For most of its lifespan, European customers were able to specify a six cylinder variant of the popular R107 roadster, the first examples having the engine we see here, the twin cam M110 inline-6. This example for sale in Wisconsin has remarkably low mileage and features a few nice options like alloy wheels, heated seats and the rear “kinder†seat.
Even though it spelled the demise for the air-cooled 911, the 1990s were a great time for Porsche. Vibrant colors, the legendary 993 Turbo, all-wheel drive Carreras and introduction of the mid-engine Boxster were all cause for celebration. Quietly, we lost two of the greats, the 928 and 968. The 968 was the final evolution in the front-engine, four cylinder sport car formula and to this day is idolized as one of the best balanced vehicles for the track that we’ve seen in the last few decades. Offered in both coupe and cabriolet forms, this 968 Cabriolet for sale in Georgia has an extremely low 14,000 miles on the odometer, used as a weekend toy for a pilot. And yes, it is equipped with the desirable 6-speed manual gearbox.
Not many people would dare to accuse the E28 M5 of having faults, but I will. First, the engine was turned down for the U.S. market. That’s a reality of the 1970s and 1980s, I know, but it’s still a gripe. Second, it only came in black to U.S. shores. And that too is a shame, because the E24 M6 really shows what a little color does to those classic lines. Third, on top of the black-only stance, it had bumpers that easily double as benches – for Americans, even. Fourth, though wide 16″ wheels were pretty advanced for the day, the reality is that there are increasingly limited good options for filling out those rims. Fifth has to be the interior. My dad has an 88 M5, and it’s a very nice car – but the seats are well worn and look nearly double the mileage they actually are. It’s often the case when I look at an E28 M5 that the seats either look completely redone or wrecked. Sixth has to do with the engine again – because the reality is that 25 plus years on, keeping the S38s running in top condition can be an expensive proposition. Okay, so maybe I’m overstating my gripes a bit, but it just goes to show that there’s at least room for improvement with the U.S. spec M5. How do you fix my list of gripes? Well, buying this car would be a pretty good start:
I wrote up a cool-but-quaint light blue Syncro Doka last week, and while they are very cool and unique cars, it wasn’t quite the look I’d go for in a Vanagon Truck. Today’s Doka wears the same Vanagon Carat Cafe wheels that I took issue with on the Baby Blue, but brings a badass orange-and-black paint scheme to liven things up. It also has the Bostig Ford Zetec shared with another Vanagon I wrote up recently, making it a tasty proposition indeed. The reserve is probably considerable, but bidding started pretty low, giving hope that this could be a great chance at a rare and awesome truck.
If you’re looking for something that combines luxury and speed in one package, you don’t have to look too hard today. Maserati is back in the game with two four-door models, Mercedes-Benz is cranking out AMG sedans at a good clip and even Porsche jumped into the segment with the Panamera. But before the Panamera, the Porsche 928 made a name for itself as the penultimate choice for those in need of fast, executive transport. Sure, it only had two doors, but it had plenty of space and loading practicality for a long distance weekend jaunt along with modern day levels of oomph from the V8 up front. This 928S4 for sale in California was originally purchased in New York and has been lovingly cared for over the 55,000 miles it has covered.