The Forgotten Classics.



"What you need is a car that's not yet a classic, but that, one day, will be [a classic] . . . What you're looking for is a car that's young enough to still be good to drive and reliable, but old enough to have been forgotten."

This is the wisdom of Top Gear's Richard Hammond describing the niche once occupied by the VW Corrado VR6 and the Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Cosworth. According to Hammond, these are forgotten classics.

Indeed. Sleepers awake. It's easy to chase after those sexy icons everyone lusts after. The Speedsters, the Gullwings, the XKEs, the Lussos, the Miuras. Those obvious low-slung must-haves. Who wouldn't want one of these curvy seductresses? They were desirable then and now. The long arm of history has judged these machines favorably. In fact, the long arm of history has groped them. And it's done that for decades.
Audibly exotic Alfa GTV6 

What's more interesting to me are those cars with similar qualities, but that are off the radar. I'm thinking of the ones the market forgot. These are cars that are beautiful to look at from any angle (including underneath), nimble, durable, stylish and comfortable. And most important of all, though people think they cost a princely sum, they are priced like a used car instead of an Old Master painting.

Mind you, very few cars that fit this description exist today. In an economy flush with cash, good money is constantly hunting these vehicles down. It's a full-time job, in fact. Mad money always seeks a home. Think of what it cost to buy a nice 280SL in the mid-70s or 80s. Prices were stuck in the teens in what seemed like a permanent malaise. They were a gorgeous, pedigreed thoroughbred that cost a tiny fraction of what they cost today. (Put a diamond in the garbage and it's still a diamond, is how my father described things undervalued by society.) Needless to say, those days are long gone, with exceptional original examples routinely fetching 200 grand or more.
EVO II: Already unobtainable 

Sit in a Pagoda and it's hard to believe it was ever anything but a $200K collector car. Acres of fragrant, thick Roser leather, tripled-plated chromed brass as far as the eye can see, French maple dash trim . . .  even long after the luster of any newness has worn off, every inch of it just feels like money. Old money.

I think  you know where I'm headed here. Today's forgotten classics include the A124 Cabriolet, but I'm going to add a couple more to my list:

  • Mercedes W201 190E 2.3-16 and 2.5-16 (aka "Cosworth") - Mercedes' answer to the BMW M3, the Cossie is a piece of M-B history that's impossible to ignore. Its spoilers, Recaros and even its dog-leg first gear all shout "boy racer" in a way that was completely uncharacteristic for the brand in the 80s. It was youthful. It was outrageous. It was fun. What a novel concept. (Having Ayrton Senna's name plastered across the windshield didn't hurt either.) 
  • Alfa Romeo GTV6 - This 2+2 mates the angular Alfetta hatchback with a more muscular V-6 paired with a 5-speed via transaxle. It's beautiful and has loads of Italian charisma, starting with its uniquely seductive exhaust note.
  • Mercedes W108/9 sedan - Despite the fact that exceptional examples of these cars can now be had in the teens, I believe these S-Class sedans will appreciate. I say this because they have that rare combination of timeless styling, durable construction, and modern utility/driveability. This is a beautiful classic you can justify owning and driving on today's roads. It turns heads, yet doesn't scream midlife crisis. Ask owners of the W111 Cabriolet or W113 Pagoda SL. Many choose this sedan as a companion to their vintage Mercedes because it is a great driver that shares many of the qualities of their far pricier convertible.

Oh, and let's not forget the A124 Cabriolet. Prices have recently plumped up, but it's still an outstanding value that has all the right fundamentals. It's an open-top Mercedes that's fun to drive, beautiful to look at, and a rare bird. Total production: 33,952 units, with a mere 6,400 imported to the US.

For now though, let's keep this between us. We need to enjoy this undervalued Benz for as long as possible until the Cabriolet inevitably claims its due of garage queen status.

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