Wanderlust

Category: Aquired Taste

  • Euro Market Find: Violet Blue Metallic over Tartan Porsche 968 Cabriolet

    Euro Market Find: Violet Blue Metallic over Tartan Porsche 968 Cabriolet

    What: 1992 Porsche 968 Cabriolet
    Color: Violet Blue (violettblau; metallic UNI; 57 / L37E; Porsche))
    Chassis #: undisclosed
    Mileage: 199,722 km, 124,101 miles
    Price: €28,750
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Kruibeke, Belgium
    Auction Link: Link

    It’s a funny thing about bold factory specifications. They can go full Buffalo Girl and go ’round the outside, coming back into solid ironic cool status. On the surface, we don’t know many Porschephiles who place the 968 Cabriolet on their short list of cars to own. Same goes for Viola Metallic – a medium metallic purple in a world where purple can be polarizing. Red interiors can also be hit-or-miss, but then you throw in tartan like the 968-era correct Studio Check and things are getting really interesting really fast.

    The 968 you see here is in Belgium, so it’d be in need of importation if you’re one of our predominantly North American audience. This is the sort of car you’d see Germans diving deep into the product catalogue then surfacing months later doing a factory delivery with their true unique creation.

    For the factory-spec perfectionists, we think we see an aftermarket shift knob in these photos, which is a shame because finding a matching factory replacement may prove to be a challenge… though if there’s any brand we’d feel more confident about being able to source it who’d be better than Porsche we can’t think of them.

    Also, the wheels appear to be 993 Targa specification. Likely this car came with cup 1 wheels from the factory – either 16-inch as would have been standard on a 968, or perhaps upgraded to 17-inch like the 968 Clubsport.

    Okay, for sure this car is polarizing. Even still, it’s so unique that we think it’s the sort of car that gets snapped up in a heartbeat by someone seeking something where they definitely won’t stumble over a twin at cars and coffee, or perhaps the collector who has everything.

    So, what say you? Totally cool or totally terrible?

  • Market Find: Pastel Yellow on Green 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

    Market Find: Pastel Yellow on Green 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

    What: 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S
    Color:  Pastel Yellow (non-metallic UNI; Q1; Porsche)
    VIN: WP0AA2991WS321041
    Mileage: 29,206 miles
    Price: $275,000
    CarFax: Link
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Holt Motorsports, West Chester, PA
    Dealer Listing: PCarMarket

    Green on yellow was a thing for a hot minute amongst some cars in the 1970s. Outside of that moment in history, it is a unique and acquired taste sort of decision. No doubt polarizing, we have equally no doubt that such a combination on a rare and low mileage 993-generation Porsche 911 Carrera 4S would be treasured by the right buyer.

    If you’re that right buyer, you’re definitely going to want to take a closer look at this.

    Other options include:

    • X54 – Stainless steel tailpipes, oval
    • 030 – Sports suspension
    • 139 – Seat heating, left
    • 159 – Engine sound package
    • 340 – Seat heating, right
    • 437 – 8-way electrical seat, left
    • 438 – 8-way electrical seat, right
    • 446 – Wheel caps (Arctic Silver, MY1998) with colored Porsche crest
    • 454 – Automatic speed control
    • 490 – Sound system
    • 513 – Lumbar support, right seat
    • 586 – Lumbar support, left seat
    • 650 – Sun-moon-roof
    • 688 – CD-radio Becker Porsche CDR-210 USA
    • 939 – Pleated leather rear seats
    • 981 – Leather dashboard and door panels
    • 982 – Pleated leather front seats
  • Is this Violet / Rubystar S/T the Definition of Aquired Taste?

    Is this Violet / Rubystar S/T the Definition of Aquired Taste?

    Porsche Centre North Toronto made waves this week when they shard photos of a recent 911 S/T arrival in their showroom. Specced by Marty @OneMan1138, this S/T is laden with Sonderwunsch special wishes touches in a way that’s highly attention-grabbing and likely also polarizing.

    The basic specs provided by Porsche Centre North Toronto are these. The car includes 44 bespoke options, including most obviously the color scheme in Ultra Violet, Ruby Star Classic and Racing Yellow. As you can see from inside shots, the interior follows along on the colors and the theme.

    First up, Porsche Ultra Violet (ultraviolett; non-metallic UNI; M4A / G7; Porsche) is a 911 GT3 RS color from the 991 era. Ruby Star Classic a.k.a. Rubystone Red (sternrubin; non-metallic UNI; 82N; Porsche) is effectively a hot pink that was a 964-era Carrera Cup color that has remained a cult classic since its inception. The two together are an interesting pair in their own right, though throw in Racing Yellow (renngelb; non-metallic UNI; 1S1 / P3; Porsche) and the net effect goes so much further.

    The car, known as “ONEMAN”, isn’t for sale. We’re classifying it in our Market Find – Acquired Taste section in addition to color check because it is such an opinion-generating build. Congratulations to Marty on the new S/T. We hope it’s everything you expected, and it is truly unforgettable.

  • Acquired Taste Market Find: Estoril Blue Audi S7 with Avantgarde Interior Choice

    Acquired Taste Market Find: Estoril Blue Audi S7 with Avantgarde Interior Choice

    What: 2017 Audi S7 Sportback
    Color: Audi Estoril Blue (estorilblaukristalleffekt; metallic UNI; LX5P; Audi)
    VIN: WAU2FBFC6HN050272
    Mileage: 89,223 miles
    Price: $26,999
    CarFax: Link
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Morrie’s Inver Grove Mazda, Inver Grove Heights, MN
    Link: Morrie’s Inver Grove Mazda

    When it comes to Audi exclusive builds for the USA, cars with special exterior paint are most likely to be encountered. Special interiors are rare, and extravagantly custom interiors are even rarer. Take for example this Estoril Blue S7 Sportback, looking pretty normal on the outside. Open a door and climb inside though, and you’ll find a multi-tone interior likely very specifically made for the car’s original owner.

    Technically on the build specification, we’re seeing Audi exclusive leather-covered seat trims (YRB), Controls in Audi exclusive leather (YZ2), Audi exclusive leather trim in Valcona leather (package 2).

    In the photos, we leather in two shades of brown on the orange side of the brown spectrum. This includes rare places like the shifter and seat bases. There’s even a two-tone steering wheel including partial covering in tone of the brown colors. The distinctive wood trim with pin striping was a factory option in this C7-era S7, though looks even more exotic in this very distinctive interior specification.

    By our measure, the look is polarizing. It’s not for everyone, but there’s no doubt it’s highly unique and likely one-of-one.

  • Market Find: Continental GT S in Lilac Frost at Bentley Beverly Hills

    Market Find: Continental GT S in Lilac Frost at Bentley Beverly Hills

    What: 2024 Bentley Continental GT S
    Color: Beluga over Lilac Frost (lilacfrost; metallic Uni; 6392; Bentley)
    VIN: SCBCG2ZG6RC017453
    Mileage: 33 miles
    Price: $374,580
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: O’Gara Coach / Bentley Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, CA
    Dealer Listing: Link

    Maybe it just makes sense, but Bentley Beverly Hills has established itself as one of the foremost stockists of pastel-colored Bentley motor cars. We’ve highlighted them before on this site, and this particular purple Continental GT S fits snugly within that mold.

    The color is Beluga over Lilac Frost, a pastel purple unlike anything you’re likely to see on a modern car. Although, in the home town of Paris Hilton and her own pink Bentley, it’s not hard to get why this purple GT S would make a compelling case.

    The additional details of the specification include

    Other manufacturer options include Mulliner – Colour Split S, GT Black Roof Mulliner Range Solid & Metallic, Styling Specification, Touring Specification, Leather Spec w Precision Diamond Quilting, Bentley Rotating Display, Panoramic Glass Roof, Front Seat Comfort Specification, Single Finish – High Gloss Carbon Fibre, 22-inch 10 Spoke Sports Wheel – Black Painted, Colour Specification, Mulliner PCG – Mulliner Overmats (Front), Mulliner PCG – Contrast Stitch Diamond Quilt Area, Standard Brakes with Black Calipers, Heated Windshield, Self Leveling Wheel Badge – by Mulliner, LED Welcome Lamps, Deep Pile Overmats – Front.

  • EU Market Find: BMW Individual Velvet Blue Metallic 528i

    EU Market Find: BMW Individual Velvet Blue Metallic 528i

    What: 1998 BMW 528i
    Color: BMW Individual Velvet Blue Metallic (metallic UNI; 379 / 576; BMW)
    VIN: Unknown
    Mileage: 6,990 kilometers
    Price: €29,784
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Neustadt, Germany
    Link: Autohaus Cuntz

    Europe in the 90’s, man. What a strange time. The kind of time, in fact, where a well-to-do professional would put down real money for a brand new 528i, opt for BMW Individual Velvet Blue Metallic (great!), and also check the box for whatever this two-tone blue and beige, umm, statement piece is. Then, we can only assume, the owner came-to from whatever they’d ingested, and simply never drove it. Having covered just 6,990 kilometers in the past 27 years, a lot of statements can be applied here, but we can all agree that those who saw this car likely never forgot it.

  • EU Market Find: 1 of 1 BMW Individual 316ti Compact in Fiji Green

    EU Market Find: 1 of 1 BMW Individual 316ti Compact in Fiji Green

    What: 1997 BMW 316ti Compact
    Color: Fiji Green (fidschigrün; non-metallic; 413; Porsche)
    Interior: Black and Yellow
    VIN: N/A
    Mileage: 99,000 km / 61,515 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: € 18,000
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Erkner, Germany
    Private Party Listing: Link

    Why we love mention it:

    This color combination isn’t for everybody, but we suspect anyone who fully embraces automotive trends of the 1990s, particularly the quirkier German side of those trends, then we think you’ll love this car.

    The E36-generation BMW 3-Series “Compact” you see here is reportedly one-of-one. While exceptionally rare, the striking and more-saturated-than-mint-green Fiji Green paint doesn’t quite get it one-of-one status. However, that two-tone black and yellow interior likely does.

    We’ll share the car’s listing (translated to English by Google) below, and in that you’ll note the mention of its presence at the Essen Motor Show. Given this car is far from a tuner special, we’re guessing it was displayed there in period as part of a BMW brand stand. In that time period, the German manufacturers would often show up with some entirely stock but still radically built cars by their internal tailoring departments. BMW Individual appears to have had at it with this one, though curiously built in a relatively tame drivetrain configuration.

    For starters, there’s an automatic transmission. Next, the ad doesn’t confirm which motor it is by name, but the power figures suggest it’s a 316 (so drop us a note if we’re wrong on that one). Whatever, it’s still a very interesting car that’s been owned by the same owner since 2000. For the BMW collector who has everything, we’re guessing they don’t have one of these.

    This is one of our Euro market finds, so the usual caveats apply for our primarily North American readership. For Europe and other markets, we focus on cars older than 25 years, meaning a relatively easy import into the USA. This is often done by working with firms such as our friends at Orchid Euro, you can have the car purchased, transported to port, shipped to America and cleared through customs for clients seeking this sort of service.

    BEGIN TRANSLATED LISTING TEXT:

    This vehicle has been in our possession since 11/2000, and there have been plenty of documents since then.
    As well as all keys

    The vehicle is professionally polished and ceramic sealed.
    Original paint documented

    The vehicle was last exhibited at the Essen Motor Show.

    Connoisseurs know what this is.
    In very excellent condition.

    Proven to have been parked in the garage since 11/2000.

    In summer 2024, the original chassis was replaced by a Bilstein B6 with new standard springs, including strut mounts and coupling rods.

    09/24 air conditioning service, ~150g filled, full at over 800g filling weight

    Private sale, no emergency sale, happy to go to collectors or enthusiasts.

    The vehicle was actually invited to the 50th anniversary of the BMW 3 Series event at Lake Como in 2025, but I cannot attend due to a private appointment.

  • EU Market Find: Nogaro Blue Audi S2 Avant?

    EU Market Find: Nogaro Blue Audi S2 Avant?

    What: 1994 Audi S2 Avant
    Color: Nogaro Blue (nogaroblau; pearl effect UNI; Z5M; Audi)
    VIN: Unknown
    Mileage: 78,000 km / 48,467 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: €35,000
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Private Seller, Wünschendorf, Germany
    Listing: Link

    Why we love mention it:

    Wait, it’s a low mileage Nogaro Blue S2 Avant and it’s an “Acquired Taste” car? What gives. Okay, yes, it’s perfect spec color choice and modifications that are there appear to be tasteful, but if our translation tool is reading that ad correctly, it’s a color change to Nogaro Blue from the original color listed as Burnt Orange for which the seller states and Apple translated “according to Audi only three vehicles in the color were delivered”.

    We’re not entirely sure what “Burnt Orange” is. We’ll keep looking, though it’s listed in English so we’re not translating there. Perhaps they mean Audi’s Glut Orange (a.k.a. Solar Orange) where “glut” translates from German to “embers”. Even still, the rarity of it is kind of less impactful when the car has received a color change. It makes you wonder why they didn’t change the color on a more common specimen, but who knows.

    Another interesting note about the color, we don’t think Audi was producing Glut Orange at that point, while Audi exclusive builds were largely limited at the time to factory specials or “Lifestyle Colors” that we’ve covered on this site before. If so, that color was likely Inka Yellow Pearl Effect and we’ve seen that on an RS2 from the time period. It is indeed very rare.

    Worth noting, the seller also states that the engine bay still needs addressing regarding the color change, though no photos of that are provided. We also used AI tools to clean up some of the photos, specifically distracting elements in the background. In each of the photos we edited, the only change made to the car was to fix a bent registration plate. However, please use the original photos as the final reference as we’re just passing along this car’s availability.

    So, if we’re translating this listing accurately, technically this is a factory tailored car that was resprayed to a totally different factory tailor color. You don’t see that often. And though it may be a color change car, we suspect it’s also about as affordable as you’ll find a turbocharged Nogaro Blue Audi B4 Avant. RS2s, even in rough shape, always seem to be above €50,000 nowadays. This one looks well kept, low mileage and a bargain way to get an RS2 without stepping up to an RS2.

    This is one of our Euro market finds, so the usual caveats apply for our primarily North American readership. For Europe and other markets, we focus on cars older than 25 years, meaning a relatively easy import into the USA. This is often done by working with firms such as our friends at Orchid Euro, you can have the car purchased, transported to port, shipped to America and cleared through customs for clients seeking this sort of service.

  • Market Find: Pink on Pink Final W12 Continental GTC in Beverly Hills

    Market Find: Pink on Pink Final W12 Continental GTC in Beverly Hills

    What: 2024 Bentley Continental GTC Mulliner W12
    Color: Pink Frost (pinkfrost; unknown; unknown; Bentley Mulliner)
    VIN: SCBDT4ZG3RC017079
    Mileage: 33
    Price at Time of this Writing: $459,260
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: O’Gara Coach, Beverly Hills, CA
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love mention it:

    There’s no doubt the Bentley Continental GTC you see here is polarizing. When the Bentley dealership in Beverly Hills commissions a special order car from Mulliner to celebrate the final W12 twin turbo delivery to the store, maybe it shouldn’t be so surprising that they’d go with something as bold as pink over pink.

    Not much is known about Pink Frost at this time, though it’s an incredibly light and almost white pastel pink, light pastel in the vein of Porsche Chalk or Audi Cumulus Blue… but pink.

    We also don’t know much about the interior specification. The car’s listing states it as “Beluga”, though it’s definitely got Bentley’s Mulliner – Bespoke Interior Color Split on the build list and we’re guessing that may have been to mirror the Pink Frost exterior color.

    Whatever, the car is a one of one build by Mulliner for Bentley Beverly Hills, with other options including Mulliner – Personal Paint – Solid & Metallic, Mulliner – Bespoke Interior Colour Split, Bang & Olufsen for Bentley, Mulliner PCG – Pinstripe Fascia/Door WR, Mood Lighting with Personalised TP, Mulliner PCG – Bespoke Treadplate Plaques, Mulliner PCG – Mulliner Overmats (Front) and Mulliner – Quilted Tonneau Cover.

    There’s no doubt this is a fascinating build, and a significant one named explicitly on the sill plate. For the right buyer seeking this sort of car, it is spectacular. For many others, it will no doubt cause discussion.

  • Market Find: Grinch-Colored Porsche 911 Targa 4S Just in Time for Holidays

    Market Find: Grinch-Colored Porsche 911 Targa 4S Just in Time for Holidays

    What: 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S
    Color: Birch Green (birkegrün; non-metallic UNI; 253; Porsche)
    VIN: WP0BB2A9XMS235494
    Mileage: 47,671
    Price at Time of this Writing: $149,989
    CarFax: Link
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Johnson Creek, WI
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love mention it:

    Okay, here’s the deal. We don’t always love them all, but we also recognize that polarizing specifications are often a matter of taste… or maybe acquired taste. So while we’re greatly entertained by Instagram accounts like @worstspec on Instagram, we’re not going to go so far as to jeer something outright. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we’ll use this as an opportunity to begin our Aquired Taste subsection. Check that for more polarizing builds, but let’s focus now on this seemingly Seussian 911 Targa 4S.

    The exterior color in question is Porsche Birch Green, one of several neon greens in the Porsche color palette. That, in and of itself, isn’t necessarily polarizing. However, pair it with Bordeaux Red leather interior and it’s not just a green/red Christmas theme, but an eye searing green Christmas theme that more than casually harks The Grinch.

    If you love it, and how could some not, we’re sharing it hopefully in time for a Yuletide P-car acquisition, great for any Whoville Cars & Coffee.