Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
The 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280CE Convertible we featured yesterday afternoon got me thinking about what other models I wish the company would have contemplated. High up on my list is this tribute that we see here, a 1991 E500 Estate. Technically, we should call it a 500E Estate as the nomenclature change didn’t take hold until the 1994 model year. Regardless of the name, this beefy, modified W124 T-model for sale south of Hamburg has stealth written all over it.
We knew the onslaught of E30 wagons was coming, but that doesn’t change the entertainment with which we watch these attractive but rarely seen (in the USA) longroofs. We’ve seen them imported through several channels, but this is the first Allrad, or four wheel drive, version I’ve seen. The 325ix seems like a great option to me for colder climes, as it would allow plenty of fun and stand out against the Audis and Subarus. The slushbox is a bummer and always seems like a silly choice on an E30, but the combination of rare wagon form, four wheel drive, and overall cleanliness with low miles makes it easier to overlook. It’s a little harder to overlook the price, which is dangerously close to E30 M3 territory, and would seem to open the door to find a good manual version across the Atlantic to bring over yourself. If you’re ready right now though, this is in great shape for an E30 of any iteration, let alone such a unique combo.
The unique 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD pickup is back up for sale, giving someone with light payload duties one last crack at this classy hauler.
We’re doing our best to keep up with a popular modern classic now migrating to US shores given the 25 year importation threshold has been met: the BMW E30 Touring. By the time they make it to these shores, prices are not exactly bargain basement, nor have they hit the stratosphere like their M3 counterpart. Need a reason to go on holiday to Europe? Why not take a side jaunt to Germany to pick up one? This 1989 325i Touring for sale north of Munich was owned by an elderly gentleman and has the desirable combination of the M20 engine and 5-speed manual gearbox.
One of the most popular automotive forbidden fruits for US car enthusiasts is the BMW E30 3 series Touring. Now over 25 years old and eligible for importation, it seems that a steady stream of these small estate cars are arriving on these shores. For E30 fans who may have given up their beloved rides years ago with the pressures of family and a changing lifestyle, this car solves many of those space needs. There was even a four-wheel drive variant available for those who may need added traction, but we have yet to come across one in the US. Imported from England last year, this right-hand drive 1988 325i Touring for sale in Florida is an original car with some tasteful modifications.