Let’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.
Whirlwind – 1968 Oldsmobile Toronado
October 5, 2015Alfamatic – 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.
Automatic for the People – 1983 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel
October 2, 2015Ask most people in our corner of internet-land, and you’ll find they love manual transmission cars, won’t buy anything without a speck of rust, and only if there’s a financial upside. But as we all know, the rules of physics (and the other practical aspects of life) don’t apply there – it’s like building a a dream garage, where factors like budget, your family, and the commute don’t come into the discussion. But if you can accept that real life is a consideration, and if you want to be able to use your classic car more than four times a year – you know, for those two annual shows, a club drive, and the one time you can convince the family they want to ride in a noisy old car that smells of vinyl, burnt oil, and exhaust (the holy trinity!) – then maybe it’s worth compromising on the dream a little to engage some of the most important people in your life in the hobby and still be able to engage in it yourself. And that’s where we come to a great, family friendly classic – the W123 series of Mercedes sedans. Check out this 1983 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel for sale for $3900 in Walnut Creek, CA.


