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.
Apparently, Canadians have a few major advantages over their neighbors to the South. First, they are born with an extra set of chromosomes that makes them funny (John Candy, Mike Meyers, Norm MacDonald, Martin Short, Phil Hartman, Leslie Nielsen, Dave Foley, Rick Moranis...do I need to go on?) and, more importantly, they have a shorter 15 year import rule for grey market automobiles, so you can drive sweet 2000s Alfas without fear of the man storming into your house with concussion grenades. Not sure the Mounties even use shape charges in their "knock and breech" protocol, but they'll certainly apologize if they forget to read you your the right to remain chilly. Find this 2000 Alfa Romeo 156 Momo Edition offered for $6000 CAD ($4,479 USD) located in Vancouver, BC. Tip from JB1025.
Back before people were rolling their eyes at Chrysler's PT Cruiser and gouging their eyes out at the HHR, there was a properly cool postmodernist series of cars -- known as the Pike models from Nissan. The Figaro is the cutest of the Pike cars and it was retrostyled to resembled a 1960s Datsun Fairlady. The little machine has a cool convertible roof that rolls down the center of the vehicle, but keeps the C-pillars in place. The Figaro was built on the K10 Nissan Micra/March chassis and the interior (designed by Shoji Takahashi) was also styled to be a throwback to the past, with a simple padded dash, two big round gauges, sweet toggle switches, and a bunch of chrome. Find this 1991 Nissan Figaro offered for $12,500 in Naples, FL via craigslist. Tip from Dascpcu.
The BMW E30 323i was not exported to North America, so we yanks never got the L-jetronic fuel injected M20B23 inline-6. After 25 years of age, foreign-market cars can be legally imported into the US and this one has reportedly been through the rigorous California BAR certification process and has been 50-state legal for the past 10 years. Find this 1985 BMW 323i Baur Targa for sale in Allentown, PA for $6,250. Tip from David K.
The Mercedes-Benz 500SEC was a large luxury coupe based on the S-Class W126 chassis. Back in the day, the Europeans always saved the hottest versions for their local market and the North American bound exports were always de-tuned, catalyzed and fitted with big bumpers. Get a taste of the good stuff with this 1984 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC euro grey-market import for sale in Tiburon, CA for $7900 via craigslist.
The E21 BMW 7-series was a large upmarket sedan produced from 1977-1987. The hottest version (the 745i) was only available to continental European customers, but a few have immigrated to the USA. This 1985 BMW E21 745i Turbo Grey Market import is for sale in San Diego, CA for $3999 via craigslist.
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.
The e24 BMW 6-series was a luxury grand tourer with a large trunk and colossal price tag. Only bankers, financiers, stock brokers and other criminals could afford them when new. It was a good car in standard 630/633/635 spec, but an absolute wolf in sheep's clothing in USA M6 trim but an even faster M6 hunted in European showrooms -originally called the M635CSi. This 1986 BMW M635CSi is a Euro grey market car and for sale in NYC for $13,200 reserve not met on ebay.
The W116 chassis Mercedes-Benz was the first to use the S-Class nomenclature and was the premium luxury barge Benz, selling for approximately $20k in 1979 - a price that only a well connected mobster could afford. Today the W116s are bargain luxury classics with supremely durable build quality, expensive parts/labor and lots of examples to choose from. This Euro 'grey market' 1979 Mercedes-Benz 350SE stands out from the crowd because of its unique European only engine and bumpers - and is for sale on ebay for $2900 buy it now (located in Cold Springs Harbor, New York).