Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
Here’s a good standard-bearer for all of those Vanagons I post. It’s a clean, non-Syncro pop-top with just 117k miles; about all you could ask for in a clean Westy. The omission of 4WD keeps it about 50-75% cheaper, but it’s still pretty steep for a 27 year-old van and speaks to the desirability of what many see as the ultimate vacation (or living, in many cases) vehicle.
Every time I think I’m out, another one pulls me back in. I’ve pretty well documented my love/hate/love relationship with the Audi V8 quattro, and today’s example has placed me firmly back into “Camp Love”. It’s funny, too, because I really don’t think the big-body Audis look particularly good in Tornado Red; I once joked upon seeing a red V8 Quattro “Here comes the Fire Chief!” But something about the condition of today’s example has me rethinking that stance; perhaps it’s the low miles; perhaps it’s the rare to see great and clean condition; but more likely than not, it’s just that it’s a non-Pearlesant White V8:
Earlier this year, I struck a few chords with my AMG 500SEC post. The questions of AMG authenticity were once again brought up, reminding us that pre-merger there is still some fuzzy areas regarding these AMGS. As with that SEC, the full documentation of production and maintenance records were key to the value of these boutique cars, and enthusiasts are willing to pay for the right one. Also like that SEC, this later run 1990 560 SEL is fully documented from Japan – but unlike that earlier car, this SEL has the full-fat 6.0 V8 fitted:
It has been nearly 40 years since Porsche first brought the 928 into the world and almost 20 years since the last one rolled off the line. It began life with a 4.5 liter V8 producing 219 hp and saw gradual increases in displacement and power before finally reaching the 5.4 liter 345 hp producing V8 of the 928 GTS. Cosmetically, the 928 saw a similar level of gradual evolution retaining the same basic design and appearance, but in a more refined package. From inception to final production these were what a proper GT should be: a car combining luxury and comfort with performance that was effortless yet unstrained. The example we have featured here is a paint-to-sample Silver 1993 Porsche 928 GTS Coupe with 5-speed manual transmission, located in California. This particular 928 also holds a place in Porsche media history, which should provide its owner with a nice bit of trivia.
The 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL that Carter featured last week highlighted a very rare option for the manufacturer at the time, the ZF 5-speed manual gearbox. But the roadster wouldn’t be the only model to employ this advanced transmission. The rather staid looking W114 Coupe would feature the 5-speed in the six cylinder models, complimenting what was, at the time, the newest chassis in the lineup. This 250CE for sale in Michigan was imported into the US in the 1990s and featured at one time in the Mercedes-Benz Club of America’s magazine, The Star.