Tag: German
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Almost as cool as an M5: E34 540i 6-Speed
Every enthusiast knows the manual trans-equipped BMW 540i is among the best sedans ever made. Yes, the M5s ramped things up, but 540s offer more than ample power in a true sleeper package. The E39 is still seen fairly often with low-ish miles, but the E34 example has become pretty rare in good shape, and…
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The Badge that Lies: BMW Z3 “2.3”
For a few years after the four-cylinder version was killed and the base Z3 gained the 2.5L I6, the car wore an exterior badge reading “2.3”. Why did BMW lie about the displacement, you ask. Well, they spewed forth a couple of lies after the demise of the four-cylinder and, frankly, Bimmer naming has gone…
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Another rare BMW X5??
Recently, we posted the high performance X5 4.8is, which was essentially an X5M before its time. That’s not the only rare X5. Enthusiasts will also remember that the X5 was once available with a manual transmission. The manual was never offered with a V8, but the smooth inline six should provide good, clean, shift-it-yourself crossover…
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Not Cheap, but Lots of Thrills: E63 Wagon
This is an awfully new vehicle for Oddimotive, but, even at $38K, this offers a lot of fun and weirdness for the dollar. Unlike BMW, Mercedes has, at times, chosen to bring its performance wagons to the US. This best offers all the torque you’ll ever need, plus The seller claims 88K miles and the…
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A Whole Lotta SUV Performance for Not a Lotta Dough
The BMW X5 4.6is, and later and 4.8is, was essentially the X5 M before the M division sold its soul and decided to make an official M version of its SUV/crossover vehicles, known only to BMW as Sports Activity Vehicles. Most enthusiasts, and us in the industry, considered this an unofficial M, and it lived…
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Which one would you pick at the same price?
These two beauties are each offered at $19,500, represent opposite ends of the collector car spectrum and are local to me. Which one would you choose? First up is the 1957 BMW Isetta 300 we featured less than one week ago. The seller claims this is in good, original condition, and the photos seem to…
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BMW Isetta 300. Is this a deal, these days?
Here was have the classic BMW Isetta, in claimed original, unrestored condition. This 1957 model is a 300, which means the classic one-door, two-seater and not the three-wheeled version. Of course, it also means the single-piston engine displaces 300cc, or 0.3 liters. If this checks out as a true runner in original condition, is this…
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Another WTF Pickup Conversion
This obviously started as some sort of Volkswagen Type III. These rear-engin, rear-wheel-drive cars were offered in notchback, wagon, fastback and delivery bodies, but not pickups with beds. The paint only ads to the weirdness factor here, but we wonder what the interior looks like, as the seller provides no images and no details. Also,…
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Quickie: Rare, manual R107 280SL
Most famous among the R107 Mercedes SL is the 560, as it offered the largest displacement and highest horsepower and torque ratings. It was also the primary offering throughout the second half of the go-go 1980s. All US-spec SLs, however, came with automatics gearboxes in this generation, so that means some others are quite desirable…
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Would you like a small, German Wankel?
This little car was the first production car powered by a Wankel rotary. Yes, it’s true, NSU was there long before Mazda. Of course, NSU was absorbed into Audi, while Mazda lives on and currently doesn’t sell a Rotary. Which fate is better? I guess we should ask Ducati. This is a project car, as…