I feel the need for a manual gearbox equipped European sport sedan...and I want it big enough for a family. And don't give me some domesticated import that has had its European mystique neutered, I need something without airbags, that only shows kilometers on the speedo, is grey market and unregister-able in California. Oh. Here. Find this 1990 BMW 535i E34 offered for $5900 in Pasadena, CA via craigslist.
This next car might not be the barn find big block muscle machine that you've been searching for and it will probably never be featured on some Velocity Channel TV show...but it does have a certain combination of utility, cheapness, and cool-factor that makes it worthy of a feature. Find this 1980 Mercedes Benz 280TE offered for $3800 in Dallas, TX via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
Back in the 1970's through the early 1990's euro cars from the motherland were often fitted with more powerful engines than their USA exports. Euro 1982-1984 Porsche 928S's were conservatively rated at 310hp (published reports were more like 330hp) versus 240 hp engine for the USA spec engine. The most obvious way to spot a euro 928 is to look for the rear mounted fog light to the left of the license plate. The 928 engine has the distinction of having the longest timing belt fitted on any car production engine. Find this 1984 Porsche 928S for sale in La Crosse, MN for $10,500 via craigslist. Tip from MB.
Not too many years ago, you could pick up a clean BMW E30 for reasonable money. It is a completely different market for these cars in 2018. Nice condition plastic bumper cars are very difficult to find under ten grand. Today's feature is a interesting euro import that could be a really nice car with a little handiwork and ingenuity. It is equipped with the low revving diesel-esque 2.7 "eta" inline 6 engine. All is not lost because the hot-rod solution is to fit an "i" engine cylinder head onto the "eta" block to create a 2.7 stroker. The "i" cylinder heads are plentiful and not overly pricey. Without proof of it being done, you should change out the timing belt and water pump on on these engines right away so this would not be a ton more extra work. Find this 1985 BMW 325e for sale in West Haven, CT for $4,000 via craigslist. 
The American spec Porsche 928 wasn't a bad piece of metal back in the mid 80s -- trust me, I owned a 1984 edition of the famed V8 Porsche -- but those stingy Germans saved the best version for themselves and shipped a low compression, single cam versions to the USA. However, this next one immigrated as an adult and kept the good engine with over 300 horsepower and a cat-less meaty sound. Find this 1985 Porsche 928S Euro offered for $14000 in Long Island, NY via craigslist. From Cory.
Ford has never had much of a reputation for building small cars in the USA. The first generation euro import Fiesta was only sold over here from 1978-1981. These cars were wildly popular in Europe and seem to be a far superior drivers car than the Escort that followed it. Today's Fiesta seller has one of the most honest opening lines I have seen in a CL ad when he says, "Due to life kicking us in the balls, I have to sell my beloved project car." Find this 1980 Ford Fiesta for sale in Rollinsford, NH for $2,900 via craigslist. 
Almost all Mercedes W123 E Class cars sold in the USA were diesel powered. The OM617 diesel engines move these cars at a snails pace, but have the reputation for being nearly un-killable. The rest of the world had much greater choice in both engines and transmissions. Large USA spec bumpers were an definite eyesore in comparison to their slim euro counterparts. Today's euro spec wagon has a 2.3 four cylinder engine most commonly found in the later W201 190E. Find this 1980 Mercedes 230TE 4 Speed for sale in Kinnelon, NJ for $5,000 via craigslist. 
The E30 generation 3-series was the gold standard for a compact luxury ride for the yuppies of the 80s/90s but is driven by a totally different demographic these days. Those yuppies have aged and moved on to Lexus/Mercedes/Tesla suvs and now those old 3-series are driven by their kids...hopefully not into the ground. Today's E30 isn't just another 318/320/325, but has a strange badge and stinky exhaust. Find 1986 BMW 324d E30 here on eBay offered for $4,500 buy-it-now or make-offer located in Salisbury, CT.
The E30 generation BMW 3-series was gobbled up by enthusiastic yuppies in the American market, but for some strange reason BMW didn't offer the wagon version here in the USA. Of course you can find them around, because over the years they have been imported by wagon fanatics and BMW lovers alike, but expect to pay a premium. Find this 1988 BMW 325IX Touring bidding here on eBay for $13,100 reserve-not-met with 1 day to go, located in East Rutherford, NJ.
The gorgeous Mercedes-Benz R107 generation SL roadster was introduced in 1971 and lasted for an incredibly long 18
years of production. It was finally replaced in 1989 by the smoother but
less cool looking R129, but if you want a deal on a classic, reliable and drivable 2-seat roadster, the R107 is the way to go. Find this 1975 Mercedes-Benz 450SL offered for $4,950 in San Rafael, CA via craigslist. Tip from Alex.
The E28 generation BMW 5-series is regular star on the pages of Daily Turismo, because it offers an extremely useable sedan for hauling around your family while still being fun for the back roads or maybe hitting the track on the weekend -- all for a bargain price. Today's E28 535i isn't just a good deal, it is also a European bumper equipped beauty. Find this 1988 BMW 535i E28
currently bidding on ebay for $6,600 with 2 days to go, located in New Fairfield, CT.
The E21 generation BMW 3 Series is one of the better generations of BMWs to pick up clean examples for next to nothing for a number of reasons. First, the E21 doesn't have the cachet that the E30 has and as such the market isn't flooded with stanced E21s or buoyed by fanboy dreams of the ultimate driving experience. Sometimes being in the minority is a good thing...certainly for your pocket book if you pay attention. Find this 1980 BMW 323i Euro Import for sale in Portland, OR for $7,500 via bimmerforums.com
The e24 generation BMW M6 was sold around the world in limited quantities (just over 4,000 produced) with a sweet sounding inline 6 mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox. The Europeans received a hotter engine making an additional 30 horsepower because of the lack of restrictive US EPA mandated emissions after-treatment. A few grey-market escapees have made it to the USA and today we've found a 1984 BMW E24 M6 Euro grey market import for sale in Holliston, MA currently bidding at $11,400 with a few hours to go.
Most of the W123 Mercedes-Benz diesel sedans for sale in California today smell like soybean oil and/or hippies, are laden with hideous diving board bumpers, but can't be killed by conventional means. In the words of Ellen Ripley, "nuke the entire site from orbit; it's the only way to be sure [that a W123 is really dead]." The fact that a given car is the automotive equivalent of a cockroach can be reason enough to consider it as your next Daily Turismo, but today we have an especially nice W123 Euro model that offers style along with invincibility. It is for sale in Los Angeles, resplendent in its green-on-green color scheme, thin bumpers and composite headlights. Find it here on ebay with reserve not met, and bidding near $6k. |
| The "thistle green" paint looks fantastic and is rarely seen on US market cars. |
Late-model 240 wagons are not rare cars by any stretch - that is, in their standard US trim with the 2.3L gasoline engine. However, a 240 wagon from 1990 with a diesel...from Germany...now that is rare! Even rarer when paired with a 5-speed manual transmission, wearing Nordic Racing Blue vinyl side stripes, and transported to the US. The God of Thunder would be proud - but maybe today we should call him the god of "clack-clack-clack" instead? Check out this 1990 240 Diesel Wagon for sale for $3700 asking price, in Anaheim, CA (via craigslist).
The W116 Mercedes chassis was the first MBZ to officially be called the S-Class, S for Sonderklasse or "special class". It was indeed a special car - with a 112 inch wheelbase (or 118 inch long wheelbase) and 4.5 liter V8 (or 6.9 liter monster!) it was a stately cruiser sold at high prices to wealthy bankers, politicians and other aristocrats. The hedge fund managers have long since moved on to newer models and left these depreciated classics for hedge pruning managers and this 1973 Mercedes-Benz 450 SE Euro version is for sale Pasadena, CA for $5500 is a great example (via Craigslist).
We will try to refrain from making any Smurf jokes about this car. Not even one smurfin' joke (okay, maybe just that one). What we have here is an interesting beast - a claimed "GTV-AM" model. We are not Alfa snobs, and not sure that such a variation even existed - but perhaps it is a tribute to the GTAm factory race cars built for the European Touring Car Championship series. Regardless, the widebody flares and tricolore Italian stripes make us want to spill our espresso and casually wave "ciao" as we hustle this street-legal beasty past some posers in newer Ferraris and Lamborghinis. It's in New Jersey and is offered here on ebay for $16k Buy it Now.