This beautiful E34 Alpina B10 is of the tamer 3.5/1 variety, not the Biturbo monster that Carter posted a few months back, but it still had a healthy 46hp more than the standard 535i. Beyond the breathed-on engine, it comes with about as much style as an E34 can handle, rocking Alpina 20-spokes, pinstriping, seats, and freight-train front spoiler all installed in Beuchloe, Germany. This was just the 9th example made out of a run that reached 572. Personally, I appreciate the omission of the rear spoiler, helping it looks just about perfect inside and out. All factory Alpina cars command a hefty premium over stock examples, but this will get you pretty much all of the Biturbo’s show, just with a bit less go.
Month: May 2016
While we’re probably all familiar with the legendary Mercedes-Benz 600, one little fact of which enthusiasts may be unaware is that these behemoths were produced all the way up until 1981. It’s fairly amazing this über sedan that was introduced in 1963 outlasted the W116 S-class that was introduced in 1972 and lived on to see the birth of the W126 S-Class. In its time, this was quite possibly the best car money could buy, favored by dictators, celebrities and the well-to-do alike. The car wasn’t just a pretty face, however. It was also a technical tour de force, with a SOHC 6.3 liter V8 under the hood, a hydraulic pressure system that powered everything from the windows to the self closing doors and trunk as well as adjustable air suspension. This right-hand drive example for sale in London is not only rather uncommon due to its late build date, but has a rather muted cloth interior in place of the usual leather we see in these limousines.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1978 Mercedes-Benz 600 SWB on Classic Driver
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Tempting. If I were to sum up the 335i 6-speed coupe in one word, that would have to be it. When it originally launched, I felt that the E92 looks were too heavy compared to the outgoing E46 model, but I have to admit that I think this car has aged pretty well. One thing that couldn’t be argued was the performance on tap from the new twin-turbocharged N54 inline-6. While it didn’t offer quite the spin of the S54 in the previous generation M3, it had more usable grunt. Coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission, the performance figures in real world driving generally indicated that the 335i was as fast as the M3 had been. Inside, the E9x was thoroughly modern, too – if the E46 was the last of the classic driver-oriented dash designs dating back to the late 1970s, the E9x ushered in the new era of electronic-heavy dash design to the 3-series. Is it all bad? No – in fact, in a recent car search the 335i coupe was pretty high on my list of potential candidates because of the sheer bang for the buck quotient. Enter my usual complaint; my searches sifted through hundreds of gray and black examples, but this one really caught my eye because of the unusual combination of Deep Green Metallic and Beige leather:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2008 BMW 335i Coupe on eBay
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My disdain for the common SUV is well documented here on GCFSB, but a funny thing happened in 2014. Porsche released the Macan. At first glance, I wrote this car off as a smaller Cayenne. And yes, I’ll call this a car because anyone who has seen one in real life knows about its compact dimensions. My attraction to the Macan has grown over time to the point that I would be tempted to pull the trigger if a 6-speed manual were available. I’m not writing off the perfectly fine 7-speed PDK transmission, but three pedals is really how I’d prefer my car to be configured, especially if I’m going to drop down this much coin. Nevertheless, after a discussion with my father, the Macan is a serious contender to replace my mother’s trusty 17 year old C-class. So maybe a Porsche will finally wind up in the family somewhere after all. If you’re looking to be shouty about your P-car purchase, check out this Macan S for sale painted in a vibrant Paint to Sample hue of Gulf Orange.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2016 Porsche Macan S on Cars.com
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Thanks to a Road & Track tuner feature, AC Schnitzer (along with Ruf, TechArt and HPA) was one of the first tuners to really catch my imagination. Big chunky 5-spokes and wings fore, aft, and midship were plenty to turn middle-school me into a daydreaming Autobahn master. In this day and age and much like the cars they tune or the pop stars we are force-fed, aftermarket design has become a caricature of hyper-stylized aggression. There was a time, however, when bodykits and wheels were subtly aggressive extensions of classic designs. This 325i sedan is exactly that, having received a bodykit, exhaust, wheels, and suspension that make it look more like an appetizing foreign model rather than a crazy tuner cartoon. Originally a Euro model that was imported to Japan and then Florida, it’s covered 43k miles on the road and nearly half that amount in shipping. The automatic is a bummer, but with so few miles and such beautifully restrained modifications it can be forgiven. The exhaust and suspension will help make the drive more exciting (as long as it doesn’t have the sad sound of good exhaust droning across an auto trans’ overly-smooth revs), and the bodykit and wheels will put a smile on any BMW fan’s face. Eventually a manual swap and some engine mods would help it keep up with its appearance, but for now it’s a very cool E30 that won’t break the bank.