We generally lean towards posting cars up through the 70s here, but on occasion, there’s an interesting car or a great deal that merits our attention. In this case, we found a car that evokes the 1980s, not in the way an E30 3-series BMW does, but as the smart alternative for snow or rally drivers. This is the last year of the 4000 before the transition to the very modern 80/90 series, and included the 2.2 liter 5-cylinder and a close ratio manual transmission. Finished in tornado red over quartz grey velour, this is also the most sporty-looking iteration of this car. You can find today’s 4000 listed on craigslist in South Tacoma, WA (near Seattle) for $2300.
Posts Tagged ‘sedan’
First AWD – 1987 Audi 4000 CS Quattro
August 12, 2013Faded Glory – 1964 Cadillac Sedan de Ville
August 7, 2013While I’ve never owned a floaty boat of a car like a Cadillac, Lincoln, or Chrysler, I’ve long been curious about the other side of the fence. Nobody expects taut suspension and easy parking in this genre, but mid-century luxury cars evoke a certain style and a period when people aspired to American luxury, instead of the current day British, German and Japanese leaders. And as leaders, Cadillac offered some futuristic equipment including power seats, locks, and mirrors, fully automatic heating and air conditioning, front cornering lamps, and dual speed wipers. Luxury features included a 340hp engine, optional wood interior veneers, and leather or wool seats. They also had the (relatively) stark look of mid-1960s GM cars, with cleaner, less ornate styling as also seen in cars like the contemporary Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado. Today’s 1964 Sedan de Ville is available for $3300 in South Lake Tahoe, CA.
Original Raptor – 1962 Ford Falcon
August 3, 2013Recent reading led me to see if I could find a usable, affordable Ford Mustang. However, it appears that as we approach the 50th anniversary of the Mustang, the slightly mangy but affordable ones are gradually disappearing, leaving complete projects, nice drivers, and beyond. So what to do? AMC AMXs or Javelins might be cheaper, but unfortunately hard to find. Maybe an average sedan with a powerful engine, like a Nova? Guess again, it appears most anything beyond a basket case is over $4000. And then I realized I’d forgotten the Ford Falcon (approved by 9 out of 10 Argentinean government spooks!). The Mustang’s more dowdy older sister, the years have been kind to it and it now looks like a tidy little compact sedan. Save yourself some time poring through all kinds of listings and reach out to the seller of this 1962 Falcon two-door, listed at $3900 (still not cheap!) in Port Orchard, WA, just west of Seattle.


