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Month: June 2015

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1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa

For the second of my value-911 posts I will move on to the model that followed upon the success of the 911SC. There is little that separates the 3.2 Carrera aesthetically from its predecessor, so for those in love with the design of the G-Series 911 in general either model makes for an excellent option. As the model name implies, the fundamental distinguishing characteristic of these 911s is their 3.2 liter flat-six as an upgrade over the 3.0 liter engine of the SC. Both engines are fantastically reliable when maintained properly and though their overall character may show small differences these two models stand shoulder to shoulder on nearly every 911 enthusiast’s list of cars to own. With the 3.2 Carrera available from 1984-1989, I have purposely chosen an example from the years prior to 1987 as the change to the G50 5-speed transmission for that model year has garnered the later models quite a bit more attention and as such prices can rise dramatically relative to their earlier peers. The particular example we see here, a Guards Red 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa located in California with 42K miles on it, will come at a premium due to its low mileage, but it seemed too nice to pass up and ultimately, even with the higher initial cost, it should stand an excellent chance of maintaining, or even gaining, in value over the course of its ownership.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa on eBay

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1990 BMW 325i w/ S52 Swap

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As the decent E30s still out there reach for ever higher miles or higher prices, engine swaps make even more sense. No longer just a tuner’s choice, this can be a great way to keep a high-mileage car on the road while simultaneously boosting performance. This clean 325i received the M-built S52 from a Z3M a few years back and was given a new lease on life. With 240hp on tap out of the same silky inline-6 that many fell in love with in the E36 M3, this car should haul some serious butt while looking fairly subdued other than the lightweight but pleasantly right-sized wheels. The interior is in nice shape given the age and mileage with a few cracks but impressively tear-free bolsters. The seller sounds knowledgeable and thorough despite the brief description, the real question is if a 230k mile E30 chassis can command $11k.

Click for details: 1990 BMW 325i S52 on eBay

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1987 BMW 325is

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In the first year of the “is” sport package, the 1987 325is came with a front spoiler that protruded so strongly that they’re called “cow catchers.” BMW softened it up a little for the next few years, but I’ve always dug this specific year because when I was little and drawing BMWs during class, they all had this type of curb-taunting front spoiler. While this one only had 72k miles on it, the seller decided to step up their game and take advantage of the E30’s recent popularity by giving it a thorough refreshing. The fresh coat of Hennarot over a nicely redone Natur and black interior really help this car stand out. It may not be all original, but it’s an outstanding example of this one-year-only look.

Click for details: 1987 BMW 325is on eBay

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1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II

Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: this 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E’s asking price is $700,000. No, I’m not joking. For that amount, you could purchase many things; planes, sailboats, vacation homes – all on top of your normal home. You could send many disadvantaged youth through secondary education, or you could feed most of Darfur through the rest of the year. But you’re not into those things, you’re into cars – so what makes this Batmobile-inspired W201 so special? Like the M3 and V8 quattro, it was a DTM star, and like all of the Evolution models they were not imported to the United States. That makes them covetous for marque fans, cars that adorned true racing fan’s walls and imaginations in the late 80s and early 90s, and gives you instant credibility at any European event you turn up to. Well before “Evo” became synonymous with Mitsubishi’s physics-defying Lancer, Evo meant that BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz were attempting to homologate some aero tweaks and a hotter motor to win in the DTM race series. Along with the M3 and Quattro, these were the cars that spawned an entire generation of go-faster flares, vents and wings that can still be seen evolving on the WRX and, aptly named, Lancer Evolution. But while the M3 is a known quantity and the market star of the three big DTM cars from the early 1990s, to me the Mercedes-Benz was the one that really nailed the look with their road going version. The Evolution II looked the business; more aero and extreme than the M3, more special looking than the V8 quattro’s Evo kit, it stood apart from the crowd. All of them were special, but somehow the Evolution II was a bit more special:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II on eBay

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1985 Saab 900 Turbo

“Hey, Saab is Swedish, not German.”

Yes, yes, we’ve heard this line many times before, but we here at GCFSB appreciate the machinery from our Nordic neighbors, especially when it comes to a vintage icon like the Saab 900 Turbo. The 900 Turbo was the car that put Saab square in the crosshairs of many a yuppie in the 1980s. For those who thought a Mercedes-Benz or BMW was just a bit too mainstream, the 900 Turbo was unique enough to satisfy the anorak of car enthusiasts. It was also one of the first mainstream production cars to feature a turbocharged engine, years before other manufacturers discovered this technology as a way to maximize economy without sacrificing performance.

This 900 Turbo for sale in Kentucky is a low mileage example that sat for a number of years before being rescued by Saab enthusiast.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1985 Saab 900 Turbo on eBay

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