It’s been a while since we’ve featured a pre-1980s Japanese car, so it’s time to revisit that part of the market. Looking around at old Datsuns, the 510 came to mind, and it’s surprising how few are currently available, even on the west coast. However, they are still out there in all their different versions, among them this first-generation 510 wagon, currently at $1500 with 1 day’s bidding left to go in Chico, CA.
After the 1980 Saab 99 GLi featured yesterday, we did another search and found the same seller (not by admission, but really, how many Saab 99 owners could there be in Bow, WA?) selling his 1978 Saab 99 Turbo. Now, if you think an oddball transitional model like the 1980 99 GLi or the 1979 900 GLE 5-door hatch gets us all wobbly in the knees, the 900 Turbo can make us fall flat on the floor. While these probably have a greater survival rate than the other models, the spoilers, turbo badges, and red interior add up to a combination of Swedish avant-garde and their interpretation of what the North American market would find appealing. You can find today’s 99 Turbo listed at $3800 in Bow, WA, about an hour’s drive north of Seattle.
Last week, we here at RustyButTrusty were up in the Pacific Northwest (which, incidentally, is getting a new nickname of Pacific Northwarm – instead of Northwet – after this summer). As usual, the scenery was inspiring, but there was a major lack of interesting old cars on the road compared to the old-car-loving San Francisco Bay area. That didn’t stop us from spotting an MGB, a Citroen DS, a BMW 2002, and the resident Alfa Milano on Airport Road in Everett. However, upon arrival back home, we were shocked and disappointed to discover that not one, but two Saab 99s had popped up on craigslist in Skagit County, home of the RustyButTrusty in-laws. Find the first of two, a Saab 99 GLi, in Bow, WA, just north of Mount Vernon, WA (where the I5 bridge collapsed).
Rusty But Trusty 