Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
Well. Okay then. What we are looking at today is a 2019 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG with some unique modifications. Some very unique modifications. As you can see, extra body work has been added along with some very wide wheels. The suspension has also been removed and replaced with an air bag system and modified control arms. Did I mention it rides on Toyo R888 tires? Let me try to make sense of this.
After the aircooled Porsche price spike about seven or eight years ago, prices have been pretty stable. This has been true for the G Body market given the crazy number of them out there in every single variant you could want. From the early 2.7-liter cars all the way up to the 3.2-liters with the G50 gearbox, you can pretty much guess they’ll all be in the ballpark of the same price. What really made one car worth more was the condition, mileage, and of course the color combo. If you brought somewhere between $35,000 to $50,000 to the table, you could walk around with a car that way probably close to what you wanted. Then 2020 happened.
What I’ve seen over the past eight months are so is strong rise for the best G Body example and it seems to be raising all boats. The very best cars are into six-figures now, and even somewhere average cars have bumped up in price. I think this has to do with forces outside the Porsche world in general, but I’m sure a lot of people are trying to get in while you still can. Or rather if you can. Today’s car, European-market 1981 911SC Targa, is still priced somewhat competitively given what is going on. Plus, I love Moss Green Metallic. Speak now or forever hold your peace.
The conundrum of the Z3 is for me wrapped up in the model’s signature appearance in Goldeneye. There was lots of promotion for the new model; after all, the change from Bond’s signature Aston Martin must have been for a car worthy of such a distinction. Granted, Audi beat BMW to the punch when James sported twin Type 44s in The Living Daylights but the fanfare surrounding the leap to BMW was unprecedented. And, as it turned out, largely unwarranted. Despite the hefty amount of advertising and anticipation of the debut, the 1.9 liter light blue convertible barely appeared in the movie at all – in fact, only long enough for James to toss the keys to someone else. This seems to largely sum up how enthusiasts feel about the successor to the Z1; cute, but a little too soft and not very BMW. Of course, as the model progressed it became more in keeping with the brand – especially true of when outfit by the M division. The resulting M Roadster and especially Coupe versions of the Z3 have become hot commodities in the marketplace, but if you’re willing to forgo the Roadstars, quad exhaust and especially the “S†motors in the front, you can still get a nice inline-six tied to a manual in a roadster.
Did I say I wish that Beetle Pickup was a more fun color? Well here we go. In 2002 Volkswagen launched the Color Concept editions of the New Beetle, which allowed specification of the funky Golf-based retromobile in several unique shades. Options included Snap Orange, Double Yellow, Blue Lagoon, Red, and or today’s example of Cyber Green, and you got not only the exterior shade but color-matched wheel accents and interior upholstery as well. Under the frunk hood was the 1.8T, and here it’s linked to a four-speed automatic. But we get one of the more fun shades to consider, so let’s take a look:
Okay, the last converted Pickup was a bit of a letdown in everything but concept:
Well, as luck would have it, another popped up. This one is based on the much curvier Beetle, and as you’d probably guess (or can see) the results are as retro-inspired as the New Beetle was. So let’s check out the execution of this kit and what it’ll set you back today:
