“Auction prices are too damn high!”
We’ve heard that. Said it, too, on more than one occasion.
Blame the big sales, as they grab the big headlines: Porsche 917K unsold at $25 million, a Benz Grand Prix car headed to a new owner at double that. And then all the others. So many others.
What about those of us shopping at the other end of the spectrum–you know, the ones watching egg prices? Can we still find something fulfilling for four figures?
Let’s look.
These 10 cars–all fun to own while telling a story–come from Mecum’s recent Kansas City sale. It’s not as high-profile as the Mecum affair held soon after in Kissimmee, but as we saw, it offered a little more at the humbler end of the market.
1976 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ
Personal luxury coupes were once a thing: Eldorado, Thunderbird, Toronado, Riviera.
Number of doors? Two.
Cylinders? Eight.
Ashtrays? Plenty.
It’s what you drove to the club, the office, the marina. The styling announced your arrival.
Pontiac’s long entry in the class was its Grand Prix. It dated back to 1962 and at one point could be had with eight-lug aluminum wheels. Very cutting-edge stuff.
Even after Detroit’s early-’70s downsizing, the Grand Prix continued. So did the sales: more than half a million just for the 1976-’77 model years.
This 1976 example looks clean and original, down to those now-iconic Pontiac five-spoke mags.
$8250
1973 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE
Classy, stately.
You can hear those doors click closed, right? And smell that M-B Tex.
You don’t drive a car like this Mercedes-Benz 280 SE. You motor it. Comfortably. You turn heads. This is what the upper crust kept out in the Hamptons.
This one wears timeless blue-over-blue, with the proper hubcaps still in place. Some trim might be sagging, but that can be fixed.
$7700
1982 Chrysler Imperial Frank Sinatra Limited Edition Coupe
How about a car boasting several legacy names?
The Imperial brand now goes back nearly a hundred years, debuting as a Chrysler luxury model in 1926.
And Frank Sinatra? Well, he needs no introduction.
Imperial became a standalone brand under the Chrysler umbrella in 1955. You’d mention it in the same breath as Cadillac and Lincoln. It’s where you found the day’s latest technology and styling, from tail fins to push-button automatic transmissions. Had CDs existed, the Imperial would have accommodated them.
After 1975, though, the brand went silent–until its 1981 rebirth under the leadership of Lee Iacocca. Could Imperial lead a fledgling Chrysler into a new era? Yes, he said.
And who better to help promote the return but Ol’ Blue Eyes?
This new Imperial lineup included the Frank Sinatra Edition, with Chrysler claiming that its Glacier Blue Crystal matched his eyes. Also included: a Mark Cross leather case carrying 16 Sinatra cassette tapes.
The experimental Imperial lasted three model years, with 148 Sinatra cars built for 1981 and 279 the following year.
$7150
1975 Mercedes-Benz 450SL
It’s the ’80s. Hair is big. So is Hollywood. A car that captures so much of that decade’s decadence? How about an SL Benz? Perfect for “Hart to Hart,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “American Gigolo” and many others.
An SL Benz remains timeless. Plus, support awaits.
This example has the smaller, 4.5-liter V8 and matching hardtop. It shows nearly 125,000 miles but, according to the listing, sports a rebuilt transmission and fuel system work.
Cool enough for Hollywood, cool enough for you?
$7150
1976 Cadillac Mirage
Luxury up front, business out back. And rare: According to Car and Driver, Traditional Coach Works built maybe 240 copies of these Mirage Caddy pickups. In the collector car world, we call that a coach-built classic.
$6600
1962 Nash Metropolitan
Not many details were given for this example, but it’s cute and looks clean. Roll the bones on this one? It could be the lowest point of entry to a local concours.
$5500
1988 Lincoln Town Car
Forget the latest luxury sedans from Porsche, Maserati and Lexus. Roll up in this $5000 Town Car, and everyone will know that you’re a player. So much velour, so much chrome, so much woodgrain. Plus, parts as close as your local NAPA.
$4950
1992 Ford Crown Victoria
Don’t have the space for a fire truck? How about the fire chief’s car? The kids will go crazy over it. It’s got lights, a radio and some fancy gold graphics down the side and across the back. Dalmatian not included.
$4400
1981 Ford Thunderbird Heritage Edition
Digital dash, flip-up headlights, two-tone paint, landeau top. Then add in a 5.0-liter Windsor Ford backed by a four-speed automatic. Yeah, ’70s cruisers are cool, but have you taken a Turbo 350 on the interstate lately? You’ll appreciate the overdrive gear found here.
Malaise-era cars are cool now because you don’t need to impress anyone. Relish in those overstuffed seats and remember the days before cable deregulation.
$2750
1988 Cadillac Allante
An Italian-America ragtop worthy of Lemons, Radwood or even your local cruise-in. Take the family. Don’t worry about someone dripping ice cream on the seats.
The Allante recalls a time when the future was as close as your local Caddy dealer. The big asterisks on this one: It’s been sitting a while so it might need freshening. Still, it looks all there.
$2200
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Comments
Great list!
Technically, the Mercedes "280 SE" is a "280" ...neither an "S" (Sonderklasse) nor "E" (Einspritzung). It's a carbureted E-class.
Minor details - the price is right. I have a 1971 250 and love every mile of it. Good parts support from Mercedes, plenty of aftermarket suppliers, and lots of inventory on Ebay etc. The purchase price, of course, is only the entry point - said parts can be expensive. They rust when you look at them funny.
The driving experience of the "stroke 8" (a reference to its launch in 1968) is incredibly modern when you consider the 1970's competition. Four wheel disc brakes, indepenedent rear axle, and a suspension geometry that carried over to subsequent models through the 1990s.
Thanks and fun piece to put together.
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By David S. Wallens
