Yes, that is a car. And no, that is not a vintage golf cart, even though it actually looks like one. This vehicle my friends is a classic 1970 Subaru 360. Despite its weird construction, this vehicle is actually quite popular. This mini-car ranks among the favorites of collectors next to the 2CV and Morris Mini. Heck, it’s even appeared in the anime cartoon Pokemon and GetBackers.

While this current version may need a little polishing here and there, in terms of mileage, it’s only clocked around 12,133 miles. The car sports a 2-cylinder gasoline engine and a manual transmission. It’s also a convertible which is why it comes with a tan top.

So if you’re interested in parading around town in this mini convertible, start placing your bid for the Subaru 360. And if you manage to win this auction, do us a favor and get a better top than the one being used. And while you’re at it, give it a set of doors. Just for that added protection.

Source: eBay, Wikipedia

We don’t know which is hotter, the 1970 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible, or the model posing on top of its hood. But as the old saying goes, chicks love cars. So if you have a cool looking ride, chances are, you’ll end up with a hot chick as well. Anyway, this convertible comes with an array of features that can help you charm your way to a woman’s heart. It’s got a set of two-tone leather seats, decals, chrome bumpers, customized door skins, speakers, and best of all, a rear view camera. That can either help you navigate better or spy on people better. So if you’d like to get a girl as hot as the model shown here, you might want to invest $25,000 and get this classic Bonneville. You may have to fork up a lot, but if you end up with a beautiful woman, it’s going to be an amount worth paying for.

Source: Jalopnik, Cache gawker

No matter how cute your wife or girlfriend thinks this 1958 BMW Isetta 300 Convertible is, it’s not a good idea for you to get caught driving this thing. First, it looks like an oversized baby-carriage. Second, it’s so cramped that we’re pretty sure that you won’t be able to move your legs after getting out of this thing. However, if these things don’t deter you and for some weird reason you’d really like to get your hands on this, here’s what you’re getting.

Licensed by Italian refrigerator maker Iso.s.p.a. (hence the cramped look), this air-cooled vehicle sports a 247cc BMW engine that lets it go up to 53 mph. It also comes with a 911-like rear fabric section that can be lowered and a foldable roof. It has a manual transmission and an all-white interior and exterior.

Now, let’s talk about how much it’s going to cost you. For the price of a better model, you’ll be able to land this 1958 BMW Isetta 300 Convertible by forking up $39,650. Yup, that’s how pricey this little dude is. Given that, we strongly advise you to look for something else. Unless, of course, you’re really a glutton for punishment. Otherwise, start bidding for it.

Source: Jalopnik, eBay

]]> http://www.rearviewed.com/a-convertible-you-wouldn%e2%80%99t-be-caught-dead-driving/feed/ http://www.rearviewed.com/classic-1984-mercedes-benz-500sl-auctioned-for-85000/ http://www.rearviewed.com/classic-1984-mercedes-benz-500sl-auctioned-for-85000/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:08:11 +0000 admin http://www.rearviewed.com/?p=961

Getting a Mercedes Benz comes at a high price. And if this seller had his (or her) way, you’d get it at a very, very, high price. Spotted by the peeps from Jalopnik being auctioned off at Craiglist, this 1984 Mercedes Benz 500SL can be yours for a whopping $85,000.

Yes, even we had to blink our eyes, adjust our monitor, and took another look. Even though it’s a luxury convertible, its current price tag seems a bit steep. Of course, there’s a reason for the steepness in price. According to the seller, he (or she) had to spend an astounding $50,000 just to restore this 1984 Mercedes Benz 500SL in 2000. Of course, counting inflation, the cost the owner put in could be considered more now than it was 9 years ago. So maybe in the back of his (or her) mind, adding an additional fifty grand isn’t all that bad. And the car is a convertible.

Anyway, if you’re interested in this 1984 Mercedes Benz 500SL, here’s a brief backgrounder on what the convertible has to offer. Packed with a 4973cc, 2-valve per cylinder engine, this vehicle can hit an amazing 231 horsepower. Its interior doesn’t look that bad either, with a mix of wooden finish for its steering wheel and center console. Nto only that but based on the image posted at Craiglist, it seems that this 1984 Mercedes Benz 500SL even has a miniature television at the center. I guess it could prove useful during those long hours that you’re stuck in traffic. Also, the Mercedes convertible got to enjoy an 18-year run after replacing the brand’s 280 SL.

So if you’ve got nothing better to do with your money and want to add a classic convertible to your collection, this 1984 Mercedes Benz 500SL could be just the thing for you. On the bright side, the car looks really nice. However, on the flip side, it sure as hell doesn’t come cheap.

Sources: Jalopnik, Cache.Gawker.com

When it comes to online auctions, it seems no body can do it better than eBay. It’s got everything, including rare automobiles. Take for example the unfinished vehicle above. At a glance, you’d think that it’s just some ordinary, unfinished vintage car that somebody just wants to get rid of. That is, until you see how much it got sold for. So if you’re wondering how come this car managed to fetch this amount, read on below.

The car you’re looking at is the Prototype Tucker 48 Convertible a.k.a, Project Vera (sounds like some classified government program huh?). A spin-off or variant of the 1948 Tucker Sedan, the vehicle was produced in the same year as its sedan sibling. The convertible stood out from the rest thanks to having its roof cut out, a reinforced chassis, lengthened doors, a shortened windshield frame, and an added modified header, with all other modifications worked on by Lenki Engineering.

However, the Prototype Tucker 48 Convertible failed to enjoy any type of production run whatsoever since the company that made it folded a year later. This made it hopeless for the convertible to see the light of production day. So after Tucker Corporation closed shop, the car was sold but its new owners failed to do anything to it. No revisions or changes were made, leaving it the way it was since it was first created.

Even though it had an interesting back story, you must be thinking that it isn’t enough to warrant the car’s price tag. And you’re right on the money there. What made the car hit the five million dollar mark was the fact that only one of these babies exist. Just ONE. That’s why car collectors couldn’t get their grubby hands off of it. Imagine owning a vehicle that’s literally one of its kind? That’s like owning an endangered species right there. So you can now understand why an unfinished vintage ride would prove to be so expensive.

Given the exclusivity of the Prototype Tucker 48 Convertible, we find it highly unlikely for something like this to occur again. But then again, you can’t be too sure. Stranger things have happened. After all, no one expected this rare car to appear and reach this unbelievable price tag. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, now won’t we?

Sources: Car Domain Blog, Wikipedia, Autabuy

Not all vehicles can claim fame by being associated with a gruesome murder. And that’s the distinction that the Mercedes-Benz 190SL owns. Dubbed the “Nitribitt-Mercedes”, this vehicle was able to achieve its claim to fame after call girl Rosemarie Nitribitt, who happened to own a 190SL, was killed.

Of course, that distinction isn’t the only thing that made the Mercedes-Benz 190SL popular. The two-door, grand touring convertible served as a more economical version to the more expensive Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. It even carried the same double wishbone suspension at the front and swing axles at the rear. However, what made it standout from the 300SL was its use of the R121 platform.

Aside from its platform, the Mercedes-Benz 190SL also sported a different type of engine. This was the 1.9-liter straight-four SPHC engine. While it allowed the 190SL convertible to produce 104 horsepower, it did have one major drawback: it was known for not running smoothly. The blame fell on the engine’s use of a set of twin-choke dual Solex carburetors. The use of this component presented synchronizing problems which caused the car to run into problems.

As for its appearance, Mercedes-Benz designed the 190SL to come in two versions: one that comes with a soft top or another that comes with a removable hard top. Aside from these two, the 190SL also had a sports version created that’s equipped with small perspex windscreen and aluminum doors.

Even if it managed to have 25,881 units built - fairly decent number – the Mercedes-Benz 190SL was ultimately cancelled and replaced in 1963. But even if it was cancelled, people will definitely find it hard to forget this unique convertible.

Source: Wikipedia