It’s been a while since we’ve featured a pre-1980s Japanese car, so it’s time to revisit that part of the market. Looking around at old Datsuns, the 510 came to mind, and it’s surprising how few are currently available, even on the west coast. However, they are still out there in all their different versions, among them this first-generation 510 wagon, currently at $1500 with 1 day’s bidding left to go in Chico, CA.
Back before Subaru broke into the mainstream in the late 1990s with its Legacy Outback, it was making something unusual that seems commonplace now – a turbocharged all-wheel-drive car. Granted, some parts of the concept had been done before by cars like the Jensen FF and Ford Mustang with Ferguson AWD, but these were very expensive, limited production, or both. Subaru brought this technology to the compact class in the early 1970s, well before the Audi Quattro or AMC Eagle. While on a recent trip to the Pacific Northwest (PNW), I was reminded of my search for one of these to use as a daily driver in the late 1990s, and decided to find one to feature here. Even back then they were hard to find, and our car today is one of the few remaining turbo Loyale wagons in Multnomah County, near Portland, OR for $1250.
Lose track of the classifieds listings for a couple of weeks, and all kinds of rarities pop up. Among others in the last couple of weeks, there are a couple of French cars their sellers would gladly foist upon you. Since it’s a sunny day out, we’ll start with this handsome Peugeot 204 Cabriolet. The seller wastes no time in pointing out this car was styled by Pininfarina, who also designed the “FERRARI TESTAROSSA”. Which is like the seller of a Hyundai Excel saying his car was done by the same guy who did the “ALFA GTV”. Find it in Los Angeles for $1500, which is a total steal for anything designed by a guy who did Ferraris.
Rusty But Trusty 