As mentioned before, many people like to talk up the joys of driving a manual transmission classic car – more control, more usable power, blah blah blah. And in a fantasy world, that is a great belief to which to cling, but if real life criteria keep surfacing in your dream, maybe it’s time to accept those in the name of being able to practically continue your obsession, and possibly pull your best beloved in with you. It would be interesting to find out how many of the people who say they don’t like an automatic in their 2002 have actually tried one – based on a test drive and near purchase of this 2002, they may not be as fast and responsive as a manual car, but they still are quite drivable and responsive, and retain many of the other charms of the species like the vinyl and horsehair interior, big steering wheel, narrow pillars, and boxy exterior. The RustyButTrusty 2002 has served as child transport, so we know it can do that too. Check out this 1974 BMW 2002 for sale for $2900 just outside of Minneapolis, MN.
Archive for October, 2015
Automatik-Getriebe – 1974 BMW 2002
October 6, 2015Whirlwind – 1968 Oldsmobile Toronado
October 5, 2015Let’s face it, when you think of a classic car with some outstanding technological features for the period and appeal for the entire family, Oldsmobile coupes are not necessarily the first thing that come to mind. But look a little deeper, and you’ll realize that not only were these one of GM’s most successful designs of the period, they were also one of the out-of-the-box GM cars of the 1960s (along with the Corvair, Tempest, and more), and being American, were only available with an automatic transmission. Conveniently, they’re also back in style with the influence of Mad Men on our aesthetic sensibilities. Check out this 1968 Oldsmobile Toronado for sale for $4500 in Winnsboro, TX.
Alfamatic – 1991 Alfa Romeo 164L
October 3, 2015Continuing our search for family-friendly enthusiast cars with an automatic transmission, it didn’t take a lot of looking to find an Alfa 164. Many were sold in the United States, particularly in the coastal cities, and while it’s more of an expert-level car, it’s got the appeal of that amazing Busso six-cylinder, which can’t be stifled by the automatic. In fact, the interesting thing about the automatic on the 164 is it does seem to be set up to hold gears and downshift a bit more than your average automatic of the period. While the Pininfarina design of the 164L is beautiful, the six shiny intake runners are a kind of mechanical beauty you can share with anyone in the family. Just look away long enough for them to roll their eyes at you. Check out this 1991 Alfa Romeo 164L for sale for $2950 in San Mateo, CA.


