Nicely preserved European classics have gotten ridiculously expensive in the past few years — forget getting a Porsche 911 for anything less than a hipster’s ransom, and even the lowly BMW 2002Tii demands some serious scratch. What’s a guy (or gal) to do? You gotta dig deep and find something that isn’t on the top […]
Today we bring some good news to the classic car market, good news for buyers at least. If you scan the recent auction results over at Hemmings auctions, you will find some decent buys in the completed auctions section (like this ‘86 Porsche 944 that sold for $8k). Is this an indication that some of […]
This next feature is probably the best ratio of used dollar to new dollar of any DT feature — including the half of million dollar Bentley Continental R. I don’t know what a box of 124 hand brakes for a Fiat Spider might have cost when new, but I can tell you that I want that box. Mostly because if I had a Spider, I’d have some spares. Lotta spares. The same goes for the handful of door panels, hoods, driveshaft support brackets…and oh…wait…that’s a box of Fiat 124 hand brakes, not a 124 count of hand brakes…well, this is still a steal for $1500. Why so cheap? Because the seller is getting out of the Fiat/Lancia business so he can concentrate on Maserati Biturbo parts….can’t find fault in that logic. Find this Warehouse Full of Lancia & Fiat Parts offered for $1500 (bring yer truck) in Santa Rosa, CA via craigslist.
The Saab 9000 was built on a shared Saab/Fiat platform that was also used in the 1984-1998 Lancia Thema, Saab 9000, Fiat Croma, and Alfa Romeo 164. This next example of the Saab/Fiat Type 4 platform features an unbeatable combo for a sub $1k car — executive class luxury, front drive safety, and Giorgetto Giugiaro styling. Tow it home, fix it stock, or start pushing up power with the easy to modify Saab B-series 4-cylinder. Find this 1996 Saab 9000 CSE offered for $600 in Castle Rock, OR via craigslist. Tip from Zach.
The Lancia Beta Zagato was a quasi-convertible version of the Beta coupe along the lines of the Baur Targa-ized BMWs from the same era. The Zagato (or Spyder) is a very affordable way to get into an Italian car designed by Pininfarina produced in limited quantity, and it was super cheap…at least until a few years ago when people figured out that it was a Lancia. LANCIA! This is the Italian marque that was founded in Turin in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and his buddy Claudio Fogolin. Sure, Lancia was taken over by Fiat in 1969 and it turned into a has-been “other brand” like Fiat’s version of Pontiac/Oldsmobile/Buick…but Lancia was the company that won Formula 1 races in the 1950s and Juan Manuel Fangio wont the 1956 championship with a Lancia-Ferrari racing car that pioneered the use if the engine as a stressed chassis component. Later Lancia won the 1972 World Rally Championship with a rear-drive Stratos (and later the 037) when everyone else (ahem, Audi) was running all-wheel-drive. But this car is a Beta, so it is as far from racing as you could get…but Lancia won the 1981 World Sportscar Championship (with races at Dayton, Sebring, Monza, Silverstone, Riverside, Nürburgring, LeMans, Spa, Road America, and Brands Hatch) with a heavily modified Beta Montecarlo. Bottom line…buy this 1981 Lancia Zagato Spyder offered for $11,500 in Syracuse, NY via craigslist.
To the average guy walking down the street, the Lancia you see here is just another cool older car. He probably won’t know it is Lancia, but might guess it is European and assume it is an Alfa Romeo or some kind of Fiat. However, the Lancia 2000 was the direct descendant of the Flavia and was the last car designed by the in-house team at Lancia before they were acquired by Fiat in 1969. To say it excludes cool is like saying that a foot needs a shoe. It is as cool as you can get in a 4-door car and it features a flat-4 mated to the front wheels. If Niki Lauda approves, you should too. Find this 1971 Lancia 2000 offered for $9,100 in Santa Barbara, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
This next car comes as a tip from Matt C who puts it eloquently when he writes: I realize saying it’s an ’80s Italian car with sketchy electronics may be redundant, but this is sketchier than most. Still, could be a good deal for someone who’s not afraid of rewiring and has a lot of time […]
Hey, Happy St Valentine’s Day to all you people out there in cyberspace — St Valentine was a 3rd century Roman saint who is commemorated on February 14th, which is a nice coincidence because we are in the middle of an Italian week over here at Daily Turismo. Valentine’s feast day became associated with “courtly […]
The term “rare” gets tossed around in craigslist car advertisements like an old chestnut, but sometimes rare doesn’t mean rare when new, but rarely seen on the road anymore. Like this 1964 Lancia Fulvia Berlina offered for $7500 in San Francisco, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck. From the seller: 1964 1964 Lancia Fulvia Berlina VIN: […]
Nicely preserved European classics have gotten ridiculously expensive in the past few years — forget getting a Porsche 911 for anything less than a hipster’s ransom, and even the lowly BMW 2002Tii demands some serious scratch. What’s a guy (or gal) to do? You gotta dig deep and find something that isn’t on the top […]