Posts Tagged ‘german’

Subaru Conversion? 1974 Volkswagen 412 Squareback

October 9, 2013

Surely, you’ve thought to yourself, “Boy howdy, I’d love to have a VW Brasilia, VW Gol, or even the 1969 EA 276 VW Golf prototype, but golly, those are so hard to find!” Well, look no further young whippersnapper, because there is a solution to your woes: the 1968-74 VW Type 4. This car has very similar styling to those other cars, but with over 100,000 sold in North America, they are easier to find than any of the other cars (although there are a handful of privately imported Brasilias here). They are still fairly thin on the ground, and a recent spotting encouraged a search for a Type 4, which resulted in this 1974 Volkswagen 412 Squareback, available in Wolfeboro, NH with bidding at $589 and 5 1/2 days left to go.

1974 Volkswagen 412 Squareback left front

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Tasteful Eco-Rocket – 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit Turbo Diesel

October 9, 2013

As part of the childhood RustyButTrusty fleet, the VW Rabbit has a special place and consequently is featured on a frequent basis. Unfortunately, surviving Rabbits (now between 29 and 38 years old!) are either slammed and bagged with wide 13-inch wheels wearing thin rubber, or they’re rough projects needing plenty of attention. Occasionally you do get a nice original example, or a tastefully modified car. And the latter direction is apparent in our feature car, this 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit Turbo Diesel available for $3800 in Pinson, AL. That’s only $400 more than yesterday’s 1983 Mercedes! Wait, what?

1984 Volkswagen Rabbit TDI right front

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Autobahn Bruiser – Gray Market 1983 Mercedes Benz 380SE

October 8, 2013

European market cars of the late 1970s and 1980s still have a forbidden fruit quality to them that makes them especially appealing (and for that matter, any newer car that wasn’t sold here), and that characteristic makes cars that otherwise wouldn’t merit a second glance worthwhile. While we here had to contend with outsize bumpers, sealed beam headlamps, smog-strangled engines, and in some makes’ case, the same style of wheel on every model (think 1980s BMW and Mercedes in a general sense – bottlecaps and bundts were near-universal), the Europeans had trim design, a variety of accessories, and power! For a good example of forbidden 1980s fruit, have a look at this 1983 Mercedes 380SE offered for $3400 in Millstone Township, NJ.

1983 Mercedes 380SE left front

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