Posts Tagged ‘under $2000’

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Still Alive? Fiat 128 sedan double happiness

February 25, 2010

So I was trying to name this in honor of Lunar New Year…. hmm, maybe I should write about a Sunbeam Tiger. If only they were still $3K…. so instead I’ll write about a Fiat 128. Hey, 8 is a lucky number, right?

I’m still fascinated by these cars, although experience is starting to tell me I should keep my fascination to rear-wheel drive cars. Access in the engine compartment is easier, thanks to nobody trying to squeeze in a transmission and drive shafts where engine stuff should be. That said, it’s pretty rare to find one of these, let alone in Kentucky, and apparently rust-free. So that brings us to our first car, whose seller has the same sense of irony (or resignation) in light of the Fiat takeover of Chrysler as the seller of last month’s 124 spider. Find our first example, a 1978 128 sedan, at Mann Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Richmond, KY for $1980.

1978 Fiat 128 left

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The Heartbeat of…. England? 1975 Austin Marina Coupe

February 19, 2010

Well, here’s something you don’t see every day – an Austin Marina. I’ve been to a fair amount of oddball car shows, plus I live in California, and I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one of these, on the road or off. To many people in England, this would be a good indicator that I’m lucky enough to go out and buy a lottery ticket, but having never been exposed to one, I’d like to find out why. Check out this ad from Unique Cars and Parts, which is apparently convincing the 1975 version of me to consider something other than the Hillman-based Plymouth Cricket at the dealer lot across the street.

Here’s the text (technical #$@%$ is keeping me from pasting the video into this post):

“Life, performance – they depend on your heart – same goes for a car! It’s power, it’s efficiency depend on its heart.

That’s why we’ve taken the heart of the MGB sports car and put it into the Austin Marina, where it yields economy at a beat of over 20 miles per gallon, based on government tests.

The Marina, the family car, with the heart of the MGB sports car.”

Wow, over 20mpg!! During a fuel crisis. In a 4-cylinder compact sedan. I think I know what part of the problem is!

1975 Austin Marina front

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Geely-licious! 1972 Volvo 145E

February 5, 2010

There’s been quite a bit of talk about Volvo lately, what with the sale of the company to Geely wrapping up, and in my little world, a recent feature of a 142S on BringATrailer.com. So I thought I’d try to find an interesting Volvo built in the times when things were simple. When Geely was just a glint in Li Shufu’s eye, and when Volvo was a purely Swedish company. When selling 3 versions of the same brick-shaped car (and a mildly sporting coupe/shooting brake) was considered sufficient to run a business.

So here it is, the 1966 Teknikens Värld car of the year, the fuel injected Volvo 140-series wagon, or 145E. My fantasy has always been that one of these might be fun to drive, or maybe to flog on a dirt road in the mountains. Like many older Volvos, it’s well-used, but underneath it appears to be a well-loved car that’s had some cleaning up already done to it. You can find this Volvo in North Portland, OR for $1500.

1972 Volvo 145 front

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