The ’80s were fun. I remember them fondly. We had the best cars, the best music, the best times. We beat the Russians both on and off the ice.
Who cares if we didn’t have the internet or iPhones? We had three networks plus MTV. And really, we were out exploring all of creation on our B…
I own a 1982 Porsche.
I have owned for almost 20 years. I have had problems getting it back on the road. Finally, it runs well. I have tried to sell it over and over. As I have several other collector cars. The last offer was for $8K .
A guy came with his 16 year old son. Looked the car over and left. Soon sent me a text and offered $1200.00! And since I have well over $6K in the car, I turned down.
Why is this?
Simple. It is a despised car. It is 924 turbo. FRONT ENGINE , REAR TRANSAXLE AND IS WATER COOLED. SOME WILL SAY, IT'S NOT A REAL PORSCHE. It was designed for VW. Yet it has the same brakes and suspension as a 911! It has 150 HP. which was good for a 2 litre engine in 1982.
So what to do?
I think my car is desirable - 91 turbo MR2
Get lots of comments and such about it regularly and it looks rough (needs paint).
I love that thing
In reply to Dwight :
I think your car is cool. I'd hold onto it and hopefully enjoy it, pretty much every other Porsche has gone up like crazy so maybe your 924 Turbo is next. I'm sure there are a decent amount of people out there that unloaded an old Porsche and now look at what they are worth and wish they had held on.
Rare? 1500ish made that year.
Desirable? Eh. Kind of?
My '91 trans am convertible is in that weird spot where it's really an 80s relic but had that GM "refresh" to bring it's style into the 90s. Don't get your mullet caught in your fanny pack kind of thing. But I've had it for just under 20 years so I'm definitely sticking with it.
Rare? Not at all when new
Desirable? To about a few dozen crazies in the lower 48.
Share with class? Who wants to take an autocross fun run in a 93 Escort GT, think of it as a 2 door protege LX of the same vintage with a much cooler grill and hatchback sensibilities.
Mine is more of a rarely seen model (Datsun 1200); while it is a 70s car we bought it in 1984. We were broke 20 soemthings and the car could be had for $270.
Did a few road trips to things like Oingo Boingo's New Years Eve show in Long Beach.
This grainy pic is from back in the day.
First post --
I own a 1995 Nissan Skyline GTR VSpec, a 1991 Toyota MR2 with a 3VZFE V6 swap, and a 1982 Saab 900s.
None of these were particularly rare when new, but would be considered as such from my neck of the woods today. I would say each is desirable to the groups of people to which they appeal.
We also have a Radwood Era race car, a 1987 Novakar F500.
Formula 500 started in the early 80s as F440 using snowmobile engines and went to 500cc engines in the early to mid 90s.
This is the car number 3 of the original 6 that Ford engineer Jay Novak built. Anything that's the size of a golf cart and goes 140 mph has to be rad.
Not exactly what you are looking for, but the only car I have that is desirable is probably the Samurai. It draws a lot of comments and thumbs-ups.
1999 Honda Prelude Type SH. Maybe not too unusual, but the Type SH version is relatively rare. And people seem to like it.
Rare? Not really, but they are rarely seen on a typical commute. Too many people went 2 fast and 2 furious with them over the decades...
Desirable? Definitely, to some, but often overlooked by certain types. I believe the 2 seat, twin turbo, manual transmission is the proper configuration to tip it towards sport versus touring.
Share? To those who don't know me: the key is in the ignition, don't bother being gentle with her because I sure as hell aint! Warm her up a little, cool her down a bit... but dont sweat it broken parts can always be replaced.
I am planning on taking my '91 300ZXTT to my first Radwood in a few weeks and am looking forward to it. I've had it less than a year but I really enjoy the driving experience of it. Everything feels very direct and analogue, all of the switches need to be activated by the driver and the infotainment system just plain doesnt exist!
Personally, I dont love to show off much and am new to having a shiny car with fancy rims parked in the VIP section... mostly I want to show my daughter all of the cool cars the I remember from back in the day that I used to drool over, lose races to or show my tail lights to back when cars where cooler and I was kinda rad.
That seems to be my trend for the last two years, have a bunch of "rare" cars at this point, all run, but do need various levels of restoration.
Most recent pickup is a 1972 Citroen SM.
1977 Lancia Scorpion (found here on the GRM forum)
1980 TR8
Less rare, but still fun are the 1973 914 (recently restored), 2nd 914 is a 914/6 tribute project, also have an X1/9 and a GT6 project, and the MR2 V6 that is current for sale and my turbo Spitfire.... might have too many cars.....
They seem more desirable every day.
My '97 Bathurst X with a few RZ and Spirit R parts, Re-A widebody, maxed-out twins, all new suspension and some other goodies. Like most FDs it's due for a rebuild, and will soon be blessed with an EFR single.
Stock cars are great to look at and reminisce , but I'll choose to drive modded every day I live.
'86 Fiero GT fastback 4spd is the rarest of my cars
I think they imported 269 of these with the factory supercharged option. It was featured here: Classic Motorsports Article. I bought it a month after the feature and didn't see it in the magazine until after I had it.
In reply to tb :
I'll have to look for you at Radwood Philly as though we talked and I bought a car from you we have never met. I'm bringing the NSX and 84 Vette.
In reply to Sonic :
Definitely, I'll keep an eye out for you as your cars are pretty distinctive and desirable, too. I showed my daughter an NSX recently and she was blown away that the enging was in the back!
My memory is full of holes these days but I think we met at the challenge sometime around 2010ish? My cell is still:
2 one 5 2 eight 0 0 seven three 0
If you are searching for me there
one of 35 lapis blue 97 neon acr that my daughter and i fully restored
I'd say all my cars are somewhat rare. The 190e sportline being the rarest age the XJR being the most common but none of them are particularly desirable. A manual w108 is rare but it's a low trim inline model so not desirable.
Oh and I have an 87 Conquest sitting in a lot in California. The property owner recently asked when I'm coming for my cars to which I said "cars? You mean car?" And he replies "your 88 Starion is here too". I COMPLETELY FORGOT THAT HE WAS HOLDING TWO CARS FOR ME FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS! 
This is one of 150, all built in December of 1993 as the 1994 BMW 325is. The M Technic was built as a proff of concept for BMW USA, someone needed to be convinced that the M3 would sell in the american market.
Mine is a 205,000 mile, driver. This shot is me at Laguna Seca, headed down the cork screw. Yes, this is really that fun. Really.
I have some neat stuff but I can't really speak to rare or desirable.
My Rampage is pretty rare really, MR2 is less rare but still cool
I like rare cars, usually doesn't equate to desirable though.
1 of 2800 total
1 of 1800 that year
1 of 48 so optioned (according to 128addicts)
In the past I've owned three 2.3 16v 190e, a few AMG built Mercedes, an individual 528it sport manual, a 67 Triumph 2000, a special order 97 Dakota R/T, a triple blue 91 944 S2 cab, etc...etc...
Mine is fairly rare. E46 2006 330ci ZHP. 140k mile driver quality car with auto trans, so no doubt less desirable than its stick counterparts. However the car has been well cared for throughout its life and has both decent power and handles well.
I think the color and overall design are absolutely beautiful.
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