The BMW 2002 (1968-1976) was one of those hidden classics that wasn’t expensive to buy, maintain, or drive on a regular basis. Prices shot up a few years ago and now the Tii version is stupidly expensive, but you can still find the occasional basic 2002 for a reasonable chunk of cash. Today’s next example has a Gulf Racing paint scheme and some rust, but has some potential. Find this 1974 BMW 2002 offered for $8,500 in Long Beach, CA via craigslist.
Most of the modified/custom cars out on the street are poorly built piles of Pep Boys junk, but this next car is an example of when a car enthusiast takes the original OEM design and improves it with a few subtle alterations taken from other models from the same OEM. I call this OEM+. A manual gearbox wasn’t available in the USDM E38 7-series, the last 7 with a stick was the E32 735i. The central element of this custom is the 6-speed manual from an M5 mated to a limited slip diff, but the builder focused on the interior with a slick M5 gauge cluster install and an OEM style radio nav system. It is shockingly well done. Find this 2001 BMW 740iL 6-Speed offered for $7,995 in Wareham, MA via craigslist. Tip from Cory.
This next car comes from Jim H who writes; You guys love these. Yes, guilty as charged. But who wouldn’t love a cream colored beauty with a manual gearbox, manual roll-up windows and a super MB-tex interior. It would be nice to have the extra cylinder found in the 300D version or a turbocharger…but the non-turbo 240D engine will outlive the AI that will eventually turn us all into soylent green, so I approve of this next car. Find this 1983 Mercedes-Benz 240D offered for $6000 in Wilbramah, MA.
This next car comes as a friend of the seller submission from Cory who writes; Can you to write this one up? I helped my friend write up the listing for the car. I think it poses an interesting question regarding Merc vs BMW. All things being equal is it worth paying the E30 tax as opposed to something like this? Find this 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300E Sportline offered for $10,000 buy-it-now or make-offer located in Bridgewater, CT via eBay.
The C5 generation (2002-2004) Audi RS6 is a car that should need no introduction to the modern car enthusiast. But in case you need a refresher, allow me to give you the details. The RS6 was based on Audi’s A6 sedan platform, but added a 4.2 liter twin turbo V8 that pushed 450 horsepower and 428 ft-lbs of torque into a 5-speed auto and all four wheels via Audi’s torsen-base Quattro system. It was also, lower, stiffer, brakier, and wider than the standard A6. In its day it was a monster and today the RS6 offers one of the best $/hp you can find on the street. Find this 2003 Audi RS6 offered for $13000 in Sioux Falls, SD via craigslist. Seller submission from Ben.
The strangest car you could find in a Buick dealer in 1972 wasn’t a Buick…but it did have styling that was hilariously similar to the Corvette and used transverse leaf spring suspension like the Vette. But where the size was 7/8ths scale of the Vette, the engine was only 1/8th the size, so performance isn’t exactly blistering…but GM sold an astonishing 103k example of these little West Germany assembled oddballs from 1968-1973. Today’s example has a nifty looking body kit and is offered at a premium price for a GT. Find this 1972 Opel GT offered for $14,995 in St Augustine, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
This next car almost got thrown to the bottom of DT’s email trash bin because it didn’t look like much. The wheels are too flashy, the seats are ripped, and the paint is flaking like a Texas sunburn, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a C43 with an E55 engine swap. The original 1998-2000 C43 AMG was a capable and fun with its 4.3 liter 306 horsepower V8 — but shoving the 5.4 liter V8 from the E55 AMG for 349 horsepower should be a nice upgrade without ruining the car’s character. Find this 1998 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG with 5.4 liter V8 swap offered for $7000 in Mascotte, FL via craigslist. Tip from Cory.
I am convinced that the first generation Audi TT is going to be a sleeper classic for future appreciation. It won’t be in the next few years, but sometime in the self driving neural networked googlepod future people will start paying decent amount of money for Audi TT Quattros with the upgraded 225 horsepower 1.8T engine and 6-speed manual gearbox. But today’s example is going to be even more desirable because it has the super cool amber leather baseball stitch interior. Find this 2004 Audi TT Quattro 225 HP Baseball Interior Edition bidding for $6950 reserve-not-met with $7995 buy-it-now located in Painesville, OH via eBay.
I was going to apologize for posting yet another kit car on the pages of DT, but then I remembered two of my New Years Resolutions that weren’t obliterated by COVID19 — 1) I wasn’t going to apologize to anybody for anything and 2) I was gonna post more kit cars on DT. So, here is an unapologetic and enthusiastic feature for a Vokaro, the vokiest kit car you’ll see sitting on a Bug frame. Find this 1974 Volkswagen Vokaro Kit Car bidding for $4150 in Ogden, UT via eBay with 2 days to go.
This next car comes to DT as a seller submission from Sean C who writes: I love wagons and I love ’80s/’90s boxy Euro cars (I know you like Saabs). This is my first Mercedes wagon after many Volvos and Toyotas and Fords. To say this vehicle is an upgrade from every other wagon I’ve owned is an understatement. This was THE big step up. I feel like a king whenever I drive it. Problem is with the pandemic, I am not driving it and I want a motorcycle so I’m selling my dream car—my forever wagon—my 1990 300TE: I’m in L.A. and it’s available for a test drive. Find this 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300TE W124 bidding for $5,500 reserve-not-met with 9 days to go, located in Los Angeles, CA.