Posts Tagged ‘under $2000’

Costco Twin-Pack – Pair of Running 1972 BMW 2002s

May 26, 2010

Wouldn’t it be great if you could go to Costco and get a multi-pack of your favorite classic car? Well, this seller has got a jump on the concept and is selling a bundled pair of 2002s. I’ve probably rambled on in the past about how I was brought home from the hospital as a baby in one of these (1970, Colorado orange, probably with plenty of rust by the time I was born since it was a Montreal car, and because my father pretended to be Roger Clark on the backroads of Vermont), and how I think they’re fun, simple cars to own and drive. Anyway, I’ve been trying on and off to realize my dream of having one since looking for a car in high school, and Alfas always got in the way. If you’re like me and you’re up near the seller, and this doesn’t make you fulfill your need to have an ’02, I don’t know what will. I found these on a mailing list I’m part of for the Melee, but they’re also listed for $3000 in Quincy, CA (near Chico).

1972 BMW 2002 pair

The listing is very brief, so this post will only be a quick hit, but the seller does say both cars run. The caveat is they both need restoration, according to him. While the picture is not super-clear, the cars are cream-colored, and no major rust is visible. At this price, you could probably even part them out and make money. Let me know if you’re up near there and able to check them out – they do look to have a lot of potential, even without a full restoration.

Finally, one bit of administrivia – I’ve taken on a new job that doesn’t allow me to write as frequently as I’d like to. That said, I seem to spend more of my time looking for candidates than actually writing about them, so if you spot a car while looking around, let me know and I’d be happy to feature it. My guidelines when looking are simple – under or around $3000, running, and unusual. Let me know what you find!

Gran Turismo Alleggerita?? 1987 Renault GTA

May 4, 2010

Here’s a car that had a promising future when it debuted in the US in late 1982 – the Renault 9/11, the best-selling Renault ever. And yet they just weren’t right for the US market, as was often the case for French cars. They were some of the least costly cars on the market, with great mileage ratings and some innovative comfort features, but actually came out as a decline in the small-car market was starting. Combined with poor longer-term quality ratings, this meant the Alliance, Encore, and GTA only lasted for 5 model years.

And that brings us to our specific car. Brought out in 1986 as a performance model to boost sales, it packed 95 hp, thicker anti-roll bars, body kit, sports exhaust, upgraded wheels, and a closer-ratio gearbox plus stiffer engine mounts. This package added up to something pretty fun to drive, but low cost and sporting intentions mean there aren’t that many left. I’ve been waiting to write about one for a while, so
now you can see one for sale, with bidding currently at $102.50 with only 4 days to go and no reserve.

1987 Renault GTA front

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Best Documented – 1981 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce

April 5, 2010

Update: Price is now up to $1900 – he must be getting more calls than expected. Even at this new price, the car is a pretty decent deal.

Here at RustyButTrusty, I try to totally favor Italian cars show an even selection of cars. That said, I realized I hadn’t featured an Alfa Romeo in a while.. and it’s easy to find plenty of expensive Alfas, project Alfas, and listings with a phone number and not much else, there is the occasional thorough, well-written listing for a reasonably priced driver that has plenty of summers’ worth of fun in it, and can legitimately qualify as a classic (later spiders and 164s don’t really fall into that category just yet, although they’re getting close).

This is a pretty rare example of a well-written ad for a very reasonably-priced car. The seller has thoroughly photographed the car with a good selection of decent-sized pictures, and a clear description of the car’s good & bad points, as well as recent work. You can find it in Springfield, PA (near Philadelphia) for just $1300… incidentally, the same price I paid for my spider in 1991, and it was not nearly as nice.

1981 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce left

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