Press "Enter" to skip to content

Tag: Convertible

This site contains Ebay partner affiliate links, which may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.

1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL

1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL

Published September 3, 2015 by Paul

Few automobiles make a bolder style statement than a vintage Mercedes-Benz SL. The original 300SL Gullwing and later Roadster were going to be a tough act to follow, but Mercedes succeeded in producing a smaller, more agile roadster for the 1960s, the 230SL. The W113 chassis SL would last into the early 1970s, culminating in the form of the 280SL. Many who bought these roadsters preferred the option of the automatic gearbox, but a few came equipped with a 4-speed manual. One option that appeared in 1966, however, was the ZF 5-speed manual gearbox. This was a very rare option on the 230/250/280SL and would be discontinued in 1969 and available only as a special request through the end of the production run. This 1970 280SL is one such SL so equipped, having undergone a complete frame-off restoration. For the W113 fan, it doesn’t get much nicer than this car right here.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL on Hemmings Motor News

Read Our Post1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL
4 Comments
Tuner Tuesday: 1982 BMW 628CSi Convertible with 11,000 Miles

Tuner Tuesday: 1982 BMW 628CSi Convertible with 11,000 Miles

Published August 25, 2015 by Carter

While tuners like Ruf, Alpina and AMG captured the hearts and minds of performance-oriented enthusiasts in the 1980s, turning normal or even fast versions of standard cars into custom creations capable of supercar levels of performance, others took a very different route. The affluence of the 1980s coupled with the near extinction of convertibles between the mid to late 1970s meant that there was an active community of aftermarket companies ripping the tops off everything from Ferraris to Fords. Some of the companies are more notable; in the BMW world, for example, companies like Baur enjoyed a long history of converting coupes to convertibles for the firm, but there were new companies giving it a go, too – Oldenburg, RPM, ABC Exclusive, Schulz, and Lorenz & Rankl all made custom drop-top version of the E24. It was neither cheap nor pretty to remove the roof structure; look under this 628CSi and you’ll find giant steel girders welded to the floor for support. And while the mechanisms for the top varied by design, non of them every looked completely at home top up or down. The origin of this particular conversion isn’t clear from the listing; the seller mentions Euler but they were better known for a custom E23 Touring we previously featured. One thing is for sure; this convertible Euro-spec 628CSi is surely a rare bit of kit:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1982 BMW 628CSi Convertible on eBay

Read Our PostTuner Tuesday: 1982 BMW 628CSi Convertible with 11,000 Miles
3 Comments
1999 BMW Z3

1999 BMW Z3

Published August 23, 2015 by Andrew

Just the other day a friend of mine was complaining about the lack of “pure” sport coupes available on the used market for a reasonable price. They aren’t interested at all in roofless options which does eliminate fan favorites like a Mazda Miata, Honda S2000, or Porsche Boxster. I then asked, “well what about a BMW Z3?” and my perfectly reasonable question was met with a chuckle. I don’t know what it is about the Z3 that so many people so dislike but when thinking of driver focused sport coupes, it’s always the first thing that comes to mind. M Coupes are more powerful and aggressive looking, but they’re also highly sought after, therefore the reasonable price part of the equation goes right out the window. I love the odd styling and the wonderfully simple interior. Driver position is amazing in these cars and they’re surprisingly functional as well thanks to the hatch. The Z3 roadster might be what comes to mind when the name is mentioned, but it is the coupe that is the real star.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1999 BMW Z3

Read Our Post1999 BMW Z3
1 Comment
1993 BMW 325ic

1993 BMW 325ic

Published August 22, 2015 by Andrew

 

The majority of the E30 convertibles that I come across suffer from two common issues: they’re usually in very rough condition and they have an automatic transmission. The former is due to the neglect of owners who never thought they’d become a sought after classic and the latter is a symptom of the non-enthusaist buyers who took these things home by the boatload. There is no vehicle that reminds me more of smarmy, yuppie folks than the E30 ‘vert. At launch, this was the official car of the abundant 80s nouveau riche, perfect for whisking guys with names like Barry, Gordon, or Donald away from the office, and out to where ever they were summering.

By 1993 things had changed, Barry Gordon, and Donald were either broke, working the Asian markets, or quietly cruising along in a legitimate line of work. The the E30 sedan and coupe had died off in ’91, giving way to the larger, softer E36 body style. The convertible however, it clung to the 80s for dear life, soldiering on until 1993. This example is advertised as having had only one owner, I’d love to get their story on why they chose this car, and more importantly why they opted for the manual transmission. It’s very rare to see a a drop top BMW with a 3rd pedal, let alone a one owner car that appears to be in great condition, so you

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1993 BMW 325ic

Read Our Post1993 BMW 325ic
Comments closed
Feature Listing: 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet

Feature Listing: 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet

Published August 13, 2015 by Paul

There is no doubt that modern day Porsches are impressive machines, with power and performance almost second to none. But when I scan the current lineup, there’s something missing. I’d never deny these are great machines, but I almost feel like there’s a bit of a carefree nature that was apparent in Porsches from the past. Case in point, this 1997 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet for sale from our friends at Automobili Limited right outside of Philadelphia. The owner of the dealership, Tony Kasser, was kind enough to invite me for a visit this summer and it was an impressive collection of enthusiast machines, mostly of German origin. This 911 Cabriolet is another in a long line of classic Porsches in their collection. In Guards Red over Cashmere leather with a 6-speed manual gearbox, this is a great way to enjoy one of the last of the air-cooled 911s.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet at Automobili Limited

Read Our PostFeature Listing: 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet
Comments closed