Posts Tagged ‘gt’

Sleep With One Eye Open – 1979 Lotus Eclat

August 13, 2014

Lotuses are a rare feature here – their reputation is for being needy, their exotic status makes them rare, and some of the more affordable models suffer from questionable aesthetics. In fact, the most likely way you’ll find a Lotus here is under the hood of a Jensen Healey, in the form of the 907 engine. However, for today we’ve got a full-on Lotus for you, in the form of a four-place GT with wedgy, fastback styling that epitomizes some of the design and aerodynamic trends of the time. Check out this 1979 Lotus Eclat for sale for $3500 somewhere in southern Washington near Portland, OR.

1979 Lotus Eclat right front

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Long Lost Cousins – 1981 VW Scirocco and 1976 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT

July 30, 2014

One of the major shortcomings of most car shows, aside from the fact that the owners aren’t driving their cars, is that they’re mostly arranged by marque or by year. What if show organizers arranged cars by more esoteric themes, such as designers, design trends, or social themes? You could tell much more interesting stories that way – juxtaposing Engle-designed Lincolns and Imperials, for example, or a progression spartan post-war European cars through the 1980s. Or you could set various cars from the wedge styling trend together so you could look at a VW Scirocco, Isuzu Impulse/Piazza, Lotus Esprit, Lamborghini Countach, and Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT all in the same row. Well, some of those are out of our budget, but perhaps these two cars can get you started on your own wedge collection. Check out this 1981 VW Scirocco 16v for sale for $3000 in West Hollywood, CA.

1981 VW Scirocco 16v left front

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The Seventies auf Deutsch – 1975 Mercedes 280 SLC and 1978 Mercedes 450 SLC

June 27, 2014

Now we’ve seen the 1970s from an American perspective, let’s look at a super-depreciated German take on a 1970s personal luxury coupe. Mercedes SL roadsters are another car that’s seen a huge upswing in value in the last couple of years, led by the iconic 300SL, but trickling down to the milquetoast 190SL and the later pagoda-roof SL cars. The C107/R107 series of cars has yet to see as much of an impact, but if you want to guarantee to be the last on the appreciation train, take a look at the C107 coupes. Or, if you want the solidity and style of a Mercedes on a short budget, take look at the C107 coupes. You can find the first of two for sale, this 1975 Mercedes 280 SLC for $3495 in San Rafael, CA.

1975 Mercedes 280SLC right front

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