E30 fanatics (am I automatically considered one for using alphanumerical platform codes?) love digging deep for special editions and casually name-dropping things like “Sport Evo,” “Cecotto,” and “M-Tech 1” or even “M-Tech 2!” Today’s right-hand drive Sport Edition is a new one for me and was available in Europe, Japan, Australia, and South Africa. If you like shifting out of “Park” with your left hand and enjoy constantly wondering where the double yellow lines are, this special-edition 325i could be yours for just a bit more than a standard E30. That’s right: as bonus feature, it has a rebuilt Sport slushbox! The 325i Sport’s autotragic was way before its time, incorporating BMW’s now-ubiquitous and seemingly-endless shifting options in the form of 3 settings – choose your adventure! Redlining the M20 isn’t just for clutch-capable teenage hoons anymore, Americans! With moderate mileage and the subdued Delphin Grey, you can confuse children in a car that appears to have no driver while appearing to enthusiasts like just another dude in an E30 with a mediocre bodykit and some rust bubbles.
Tag: 1987
One of my favorite cars from the 1980s that has seems relegated to obscurity these days – at least in the US – is the Volkswagen Scirocco. This isn’t too surprising, as it has been 27 years since the last one left showrooms. Like the Karmann Ghia which preceded it, its underpinnings came from rather humble origins but strove to attract the VW shopper who wanted something perhaps a little bit more sporty and unique. Late in its life, the Scirocco got a shot in the arm by way of the 1.8 liter 16 valve engine and some styling tweaks such as monochrome bumpers and fancier alloys. This 1987 Scirocco 16V for sale in California isn’t original, but has benefitted from a thorough refresh to ensure it is on the road for a good number of years to come.
Click for details: 1987 Volkswagen Scirocco 16V on eBay
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I have to admit, when I heard that my father had finally bought a Porsche after years of contemplation, stopping by dealerships, test drives and dreams I was hugely excited. However, those dreams were dashed on the rocks of reality when the tatty Zermatt Silver 1987 924S pulled up. At that time, I didn’t really know what the 924S was – other than that it was clearly not a 911 or 928. It didn’t even really look like a 944, though there were several obvious similarities. I had a hard time wrapping my head around it, and I was brought back to when I was a much younger lad and my father’s friend invited us over to go for a ride in his then-nearly new 1982 924. Although the wheels were larger on my father’s example, it seemed that there was little different. I was further disappointed because this was my father’s new track car, replacing his 1988 M5 as the car of choice to head to the circuits. That seemed especially odd, and admittedly I didn’t get it until I got to drive the car on track a few years later. Those know Lime Rock Park before the repave will recall that at the bottom of “The Downhill” there was a compression mid-corner that if you hit wrong would result in some unexpected and unwanted turning. I found myself there at full throttle, 90 m.p.h. in the 924S; hitting the compression, the car was instantly pitched sideways to the point that I was looking down the straight through the driver’s side window frame. While I’d like to say that it was my supreme driving ability that pulled us out, I think the reality is that the 924S proved what made it a great driving car in that instance – a quick correction on the wheel, no lift and with little drama we continued down the straight. I finally got it – this car was all about driving:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1987 Porsche 924S on eBay
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The last few months I’ve found myself examining all manner of Vanagons, from aged DoKas to pristine GoWesty Syncro Westfalias, but today’s 7-passenger Syncro is an interesting case. Aesthetically, it’s not all that, with some ill-fitting wheels and lackluster paint. Inside, the non-camping setup is contrary to my intended use. However, the Syncro 4WD is an awesome option box that usually comes with a huge price tag. It’s covered well under 100k miles, and has my favorite of all Vanagon grills, the South African quad-light setup. The asking price is a mere fraction of what most Syncros go for, making this all-terrain Vanagon a pretty decent deal and a solid starting point for the intrepid adventurer.
Click for details: 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro on eBay
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If you were looking to make a splash in the late 1980s with some serious German iron, there were three cars that stick out in my mind. The Porsche 928, the Mercedes 560SL and this car, the BMW M6. These were the dream cars of my childhood and for me formed an almost perfect triumvirate of engineering, performance and status. Out of the three, however, the BMW will always be my favorite. It combined grand touring luxury with a nice serving of aggressiveness to form one lusty high-performance express. The original M3 is still getting a lot of attention in the collector market but it seems as if there has been an awakening to the original 6er as of late. This M6 for sale in Connecticut is one for the purists, with under 40,000 miles on the clock and no alternations to speak of.