Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
At the other end of the gray market scale from the 500SL we featured a few days ago sits this car, the 280SL. For most of its lifespan, European customers were able to specify a six cylinder variant of the popular R107 roadster, the first examples having the engine we see here, the twin cam M110 inline-6. This example for sale in Wisconsin has remarkably low mileage and features a few nice options like alloy wheels, heated seats and the rear “kinder†seat.
Even though it spelled the demise for the air-cooled 911, the 1990s were a great time for Porsche. Vibrant colors, the legendary 993 Turbo, all-wheel drive Carreras and introduction of the mid-engine Boxster were all cause for celebration. Quietly, we lost two of the greats, the 928 and 968. The 968 was the final evolution in the front-engine, four cylinder sport car formula and to this day is idolized as one of the best balanced vehicles for the track that we’ve seen in the last few decades. Offered in both coupe and cabriolet forms, this 968 Cabriolet for sale in Georgia has an extremely low 14,000 miles on the odometer, used as a weekend toy for a pilot. And yes, it is equipped with the desirable 6-speed manual gearbox.
Beginning in the 1970s, the split between US and Euro market vehicles of foreign manufacturers became more pronounced, leading some US customers to import more and more non-US market vehicles. Oftentimes these imports would be more powerful, have features unavailable on US models or, in an era of changing safety rules, have slimmer, lighter bumpers. Such was the case with the R107 Mercedes-Benz SL. Before the 560SL arrived on the scene for the 1986 model year, the holy grail of forbidden SL fruit was the 500SL, with the 240 horsepower V8. This was considerably more than the 155 horsepower offered from the 3.8 liter V8 in the 380SL sold in the US at the time. This 500SL for sale in New York offers the SL enthusiast a chance at an R107 in one of its ultimate forms.
Shortly after we had posted it last week, the Estoril Blue M3 Convertible sold. That car set off an interesting debate with our readers about how acceptable an open-roofed M car can be. Most people seem to be in agreement that they would rather have the enjoyment of top down motoring at the expense of weight or chassis flex, as most folks aren’t hitting the track on a regular basis. This M3 Convertible for sale in California has a bit more mileage under its belt, but is also a 5-speed manual example, arguably the more involving gearbox choice.
The 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL320 we featured earlier in the month is back up for sale once more, just in time for someone seeking a looker for the summer months.