In reply to stroker :
I'll admit that I didn't watch the video in its entirety, but I do feel there's a lot of potential in importing classics from Europe.
Not sure if it's the smartest financial move (neither is playing with cars in general), but you'll definitely stand out from the crowd–and everyone else who imported their car from Japan.
That's a very well produced video and I'm surprised he only has 2k subscribers.
He mentioned he's in Spain. I heard yesterday that many cities in Spain will soon be cracking down hard on all cars made before 2006? I think. It's for the environment. It might send a lot of older cars to the auction block.
Parts? A 25 year old car will need parts. If they didn't import them plan on calling France or Italy speaking French or Italian to the guy and asking for a water pump or alternator.
Then with transportation, import duty, and Paperwork fees sell your left Kidney to pay for it. Only to find it doesn't fit or yours is a different one.
There are plenty of rare cars that were imported. Without having to cross an ocean.
Want reliable? There are cheap Jaguars like that. Want power, performance, etc. Yeh, they are out there. Not Just Jaguars, ( all that I really know about) but plenty of others. Overlooked Undervalued, and already here.
I thought he had an interesting selection. I actually had a Gamma coupe and a 320/6 (and a 323) but I think the 504 Coupe was the best choice there.
Peugot 504 coupe? Hardly an "overlooked" classic. Good luck finding a decent one for a fair price.
FIAT 130 coupe? Uglier and less reliable than the Peugeot. Good luck finding one that isn't rusted into the ground. Also, zero parts availability: they hardly made any and most (all?) were automatics.
BMW E21 323i? Nice cars, but they don't handle as well as the 2002 or the E30. Need a lot of work to be good drivers. And most have been driven into the ground. Clean ones are totally overpriced: well into E30 territory.
Lancia Gamma Coupe? Ugly as E36 M3. Wrong wheel drive. 70's FIAT build quality made with Soviet steel. Yuck.
Matra Bagheera? OK. That's a new one for me. I don't know anything about those.
Martin Buckley of C & SC magazine has run a Gamma for years.......his reports catalog why you don't want one.
I would like a 1st gen 124 coupe,I have a line on one that looks very solid but its 1800km from me.
Going to make the trek in the spring.
Never seen one in person, but always thought the Bagheera was cool. Mid engine, 3 across seating.
Gordon Murray basically just copied this when he made the McLaren F1
I'd actually rather have a Murena than a Bagheera, mainly because the latter has a really nasty habit of rusting out its steel frame and by the time it's noticeable, there usually isn't much left.
Re getting parts from Europe - I occasionaly have to do that for some of my motorcycles, and it's usually not that much of an issue from a LOE perspective. Heck, I can usually get parts for my wife's Range Rover quicker and cheaper from the UK than buy it from a US supplier with minimal to no additional paperwork.
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