Archive for the ‘Feature’ Category

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Cheap Auntie – 1957 Rover P4 90

April 21, 2011

Not only is this the oldest car featured here, I believe, but it is also arguably the most elegant. Featuring a beautiful chrome waterfall grill, all-wood dash, and leather interior, it’s quite a luxurious vehicle that has some of the features people most strongly associate with British luxury sedans. No doubt it also smells like a 50-year-old British car: oil, fuel, leather, and who knows what other chemicals.

This particular car appears to be a top of the line model originally sold in New Zealand, judging by the front plate. The 2.6-liter six-cylinder engine puts out 90hp and pulls the car to a top speed of around 90mph. Even better, 0-60 took an epic 19 seconds. What the heck was that car geared for? Any modern 90-hp car will better that – I’d even wager my 83hp Lancia Beta is quicker. Back to the car, it’s also finished in an elegant silver/black two-tone paint job. You can find it for $2900 in Monterey, CA.

1957 Rover P4 90 front left

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Bav-nanza! Pair of 1972 BMW Bavarias

March 21, 2011

Well, I’ve talked in previous entries about my desire to own one of these old New Six sedans. I really do love the E9 coupes, but I already have an Alfa coupe, so this would help me maintain the full convertible-coupe-sedan lineup in my little collection. And there’s something really cool about old-school European luxury – just a big engine, some firm leather seats, and no modern distractions or toys, since the car’s able to keep you entertained in a more mechanical way. I could even go for an E12 5-series, but the smog testing most of them require, plus the big bumpers, mean the ownership experience is not as easy.

So let’s start with the first car for today. The word about writing proper descriptions of a car you want someone to buy seems to be getting out. This car is exceptionally well-described (as is the other one), although I’m not sure where the seller gets the idea his car has a slant six – maybe he’d popped the hood on his Dart and had temporary confusion. The car seems to have had a lot of work done, including a recently rebuilt engine with 1983 head, full fuel system service, recent brakes and tires, dual Weber carbs and electronic ignition. This Bavaria seems to be a steal at $3300 in Sacramento, CA.

1972 BMW Bavaria left

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Small & Pretty – 1967 Fiat 850 Coupe

March 17, 2011

Fiat really was at a high point back in the late 1960s. Okay, so they had a bit of a rust problem, but at that time most cars rusted rather readily. Just think of what they had coming out at the time, though – the 850 coupe, the 850 spider, the 124 coupe, the 124 spider, and the Dinos if you count those. Sadly, due to the aforementioned rust issue and the fact that the 850 and 124 were considered cheap daily driver cars, most of them have disappeared or been made into refrigerators. However, some were fortunate enough to end up in places like Texas, and even if their mechanicals didn’t hold up, their bodies lasted long enough so that with some love they could live on in the hands of nuts like us.

With that, I’ll share this example, which is available in Pasadena, TX for $3000. A little rich for an 850, maybe? Well, consider the body work that most of them need. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that this Texas car (with period TX plates, so you can guess it’s been there for a while) has very limited rust, so you can postpone any body repairs and focus on the brakes and running gear.

1967 Fiat 850 coupe left

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