Overlooked – 1979 BMW 528i

October 8, 2015

So you want an old BMW, but the gorgeous E9 coupes have always been out of reach, the 2002 and even the E3 Bavaria etc. have moved up in price, and even the newer E28 is experiencing a price lift in its old age. What do you do if you want that classic BMW feeling – a clean car with great visibility and a simple interior lacking most luxury nonsense? If you need adequate space for 4 passengers and possibly a self-shifting transmission, the 1979-1981 E12 5-seriesis definitely worth a look. Check out this 1979 BMW 528i for sale for $1 in Portland, OR.

1979 BMW 528i right front

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Automatic American – 1969 Austin America

October 7, 2015

Here’s another old car that fits into the same category as the BMW 2002 from yesterday – a fun, light, simple car with sporting pretensions. While the Austin America was certainly a cheaper car, the “Big Mini” nickname is absolutely true, and with the low beltline, large glass area, and decent room for four in comfortable seats, it is a pretty compelling and often-overlooked classic. Unfortunately, part of its undoing in this country was the 4-speed automatic transmission, but if you can look after it properly – not too hard assuming limited mileage on a classic car – this is a great candidate for sharing your love of car shows, club tours, and the friendships that come with the hobby. Check out this 1969 Austin America for sale for $1495 in Portland, OR.

1969 Austin America OEW right side

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Automatik-Getriebe – 1974 BMW 2002

October 6, 2015

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.

1974 BMW 2002 automatic right front

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