Wanderlust

Category: European Market Finds

  • Market Find: One of One Audi exclusive Bordeaux Violet B5 RS 4 Avant

    Market Find: One of One Audi exclusive Bordeaux Violet B5 RS 4 Avant

    What: 2001 Audi RS 4 Avant
    Color: Bordeaux Violet (unknown)
    Chassis #: undisclosed
    Mileage: 42,000 km, 26,097 miles
    Price: €115,0000
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Garage 11, Oxie, Sweden
    Auction Link: Link

    While we find any tailored car to be special, cars in the rarest of colors built in eras where rare specifications weren’t that prevalent grab us a little extra hard. Now, make it a car like and enthusiast legend like the B5 RS 4 with its Cosworth-tuned-from-the-factory 2.7-liter biturbo and wagon configuration and we’re even more enthused.

    Specifically, this is a B5 RS 4 painted in Bordeaux Violet from the factory according to the dealership Garage 11 in Oxie, Sweden. We researched and couldn’t find any further reference of the color, so have not included a color code.

    According to the listing, the car was sold new in Sweden and was held by its original owner until 2016. The listing states three owners, but also that Garage 11 has been in possession of the car since 2016 so the second owner wouldn’t have kept it long. In that time, it’s been driven just 42,000 km, which translates to about 26,097 miles.

    The listing does mention a very few modifications. Namely, it’s got AP Racing brakes and a slightly lowered suspension.

    Pricing is robust for a B5 RS 4, but we’d argue fair for rarity and low mileage condition. It’s doubtful you’ll find much of any direct comps for this car, but B5 RS 4s can run the sub-$100K spectrum depending on modifications and miles. As mentioned, Audi exclusive examples are more rare than you’ll find today because tailoring was a less popular business at the time.

    One last thing, the car’s first registration is 06/2021 meaning you’ve got about a year until it’s importable into the U.S.A., though is eligible for Canada today. We’re guessing this car will appeal to a serious collector who probably doesn’t have a problem dealing with waiting for a year for importation, but wanted to make a note of it just the same.

  • 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?

  • EU Market Find: BMW Individual Dakar Yellow M5

    EU Market Find: BMW Individual Dakar Yellow M5

    What: 2000 BMW M5
    Color: BMW Individual Dakar Yellow 2 (dakargelbii; non-metallic uni; 337; BMW)
    VIN: Unknown
    Mileage: 285,000 km
    Price: €32,000
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Jihlava, Czech Republic
    Listing: Link

    One of a claimed 11 produced over the span of production, and one of 4 said to be in Europe, this E39 M5 represents peak BMW in more ways than one. Tailored brilliantly in Dakar Yellow 2 paired with the incredibly cool M Texture cloth and without a sunroof, it’s an emphatic book-end to what some traditionalists call the golden era of BMW. And importantly for us, the price point is seemingly reasonable- even once you factor exchange rate, shipping and whatever tariff awaits its arrival.

  • Market Find: 2017 Range Rover Custom by Chieftain in RM Sotheby’s Cliveden House Sale

    Market Find: 2017 Range Rover Custom by Chieftain in RM Sotheby’s Cliveden House Sale

    What: 2017 LAnd Rover Range Rover by Chieftain
    Color: Undisclosed Black
    Chassis: SALLAAA135A311116
    Mileage: Undisclosed
    Auction Price Estimate: £80,000 – £120,000 GBP
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Taplow, Berkshire, United Kingdom
    Sales listing: Link

    Fancy yourself a modernized Range Rover Classic? Then the car you see here may be the perfect answer. Yes, we all know they didn’t build Range Rover Classics in 2017, but this one’s been built on a Discovery 3 chassis.

    The truck you see here was built by Chieftain as a reimagining of the classic, one of the first examples built by the firm and used as a demonstrator, appearing in multiple magazine stories and company promotional materials. From there it was sold from JIA Ltd—parent company of Chieftain to its current owner in July 2020.

    The colors and miles aren’t in the listing by RM, but we’d be surprised if they can’t provide that for you.

  • Euro Market Find: Jazz Blue Volkswagen Bora VR6 4Motion Wagon

    Euro Market Find: Jazz Blue Volkswagen Bora VR6 4Motion Wagon

    What: 2000 Volkswagen Bora Variant V6 4Motion
    Color: Jazz Blue (jazzblau; pearl effect UNI; LW5Z; Volkswagen)
    VIN:  N/A
    Mileage: 91,000 km, 56,544 miles
    Price: € 17,490
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Ath, Belgium
    Listing: Autoscout24.de

    Does a perfect spec qualify as tailored? We can debate the issue, but I tend to land on the side of yes, assuming the desirability of a car finely and perfectly specified from a robust factory order book represents a different sort of tailoring. It’s the sort of thing that goes with budget cars, from companies that don’t typically offer tailoring services. Nevertheless, cars like this are special and it’s with that in mind that we present to you this Y2K Volkswagen Bora.

    First off, it’s Volkswagen Jazz Blue, effectively the same paint as Audi’s highly desirable Nogaro Blue, storied as it is in its association with high performance Audi wagons. And in the lexicon of VWs, this Bora is both high-performance and also a wagon.

    In Europe, the Bora Variant (Jetta Sportwagon to Americans) was offered with the brand’s potent narrow-angle V6 a.k.a. VR6. A 6-speed manual was one transmission choice, while the same Haldex-based 4Motion all-wheel drive system found in cars like the Volkswagen R32 and Audi TT could also be specified. Though a Bora was pretty commonplace, a car built to this specification would have been exceedingly rare.

    The perfect spec doesn’t end at drivetrain. This car also has rare factory HID headlights with their unique dual round design, and factory Recaro seats in always fashionable simple black leather.

    For the most part, this car is well preserved and factory fresh. The wheels and suspension appear to be OEM, and the mileage is quite low at just over 56K miles. Yes, the odometer is metric, but should you import you can hack that by finding an equivalent Sport Edition instrument cluster out of the UK but showing miles. It’s a relatively easy swap if you can locate the parts.

    There are a few modifications worth pointing out. The navigation radio system does not appear to be factory, nor does the pretty terrible fake carbon fiber dash trim. Likely this car would have had wood trim from the factory, though handsome aluminum trim from period Sport Edition Golfs and Boras is also an easy swap. And while Volkswagen didn’t offer navigation in the Mk4 era in the USA, finding a navigation unit in Europe shouldn’t be hard if you desire it.

    At the end of the day, this is an excellent specimen. You could just buy it and enjoy it as is, convert it fully back to factory and preserve, or go the VW enthusiast OEM plus route and swap in various partsibin bits (looking at you MkIV R32) in order to take it to a whole other level. Whatever your choice, we suspect you won’t be disappointed.

  • Market Find: BMW Individual E36 M3 Coupe in Daytona Violet

    Market Find: BMW Individual E36 M3 Coupe in Daytona Violet

    What: 1994 BMW M3 Coupe
    Color: BMW Individual Daytona Violet (daytonaviolett; metallic uni; 283; BMW)
    VIN: N/A
    Mileage: 150,000 km
    Price: €36,999
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Görlitz, Germany
    Link: Mobile.de

    If an E36 BMW M3 Coupe isn’t on your bucket list of 1990s cars then we need to have an intervention. If you already like E36 M3s then read ahead with interest. If you’re not, well, be prepared to be won over.

    What’s that, purples like Daytona Violet aren’t your thing? Okay, we’ll give you a pass on that one. Purple’s aren’t for everyone. But, if they were, then we suspect BMW Individual Daytona Violet is up there when it comes to likable purples.

    Now throw in a manual transmission, well-kept vader seats and black leather and you have a really incredible specification. This one’s located private party in Europe, so you’ll need to import it.

  • Euro Market Find: 1 of 1 1996 Mini Cooper S

    Euro Market Find: 1 of 1 1996 Mini Cooper S

    What: 1996 Mini Cooper S
    Color: Porsche Paint to Sample Riviera Blue (rivierablau; non-metallic Uni; S8 / L39E; Porsche)
    VIN: N/A
    Mileage: 40,000 km
    Price: €32,500
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: DT-Motors, Darmstadt, Germany
    Listing: Link

    This car’s a bit of a puzzle. It’s an “ur” Mini. “Ur” means “original” in German, which is how Germans designate the original Audi quattro from every other Audi with quattro. Given this Mini is in Germany, not far from Frankfurt, the German descriptor sort of works.

    The car itself is listed as “1 of 1” in Porsche Riviera Blue, with bespoke blue leather interior as well. It’s possible it wasn’t done by the factory, though the amount of interior details and “1 of 1” description makes us wonder if it’s some sort of factory special.

    The dealer ad isn’t all that revealing in this regard, so we’ll just not that here. Otherwise, if you’re into something unique and don’t mind going through importation, this Mini makes a compelling case.

  • Market Find: Rosso Winner Ferrari 512TR in Belgium

    Market Find: Rosso Winner Ferrari 512TR in Belgium

    What: 1992 Ferrari 512 TR
    Color: Rosso Winner (rossocorsa metallic UNI; 229120; Ferrari)
    VIN:  undisclosed
    Mileage: 55,588 km, 34,540 miles
    Price: €279,950
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Oldtimerfarm BV, Aalter, Belgium
    Listing: Link

    There’s something about a unique car from a time when acquiring something tailored wasn’t just a matter of chatting up a sales guy at a dealer and wandering into a lounge where all your options are laid out readily in front of you. Yes, it’s not always that easy today, but it was much harder back in the day… say 1992, when this very unique 512 TR was manufactured.

    Rare paint? Check. Rosso Winner, a deep dark cabernet of a red that doesn’t look a thing like every other red Testarossa on the planet. Now, add in tone-on-tone red leather interior for good measure and you have something particularly tasteful? Don’t like a red-on-red Ferrari? Too bad. Literally every F40 that hasn’t been re-trimmed or sold to the Sultan of Brunei is red-over-red. Alas, none are Rosso Winner over red. That’s a shame.

  • Market Find: 1 of 1 Porsche 959 ‘Speedster’ Heads to RM Sotheby’s Milan Sale

    Market Find: 1 of 1 Porsche 959 ‘Speedster’ Heads to RM Sotheby’s Milan Sale

    What: 1989 Porsche 959 ‘Speedster’
    Color: Porsche Grand Prix White (grandprixweiß; non-metallic Uni; 908 / P5 / 9A5; Porsche)
    VIN: WP0ZZZ95ZHS900142
    Mileage: 8,304 km, 5,160 miles
    Price Estimate: €1,100,000 – €1,500,000 EUR 
    CarFax: N/A
    Location: RM Sotheby’s Milan Sale, May 22, 2025
    Auction listing: Link

    Imagine, in period, being one of the few who can afford and even attain a car as exclusive as the Porsche 959. Now, imagine you take said 959 and have it converted to a roadster. Well, it happened, and that fascinating car is headed to RM Sotheby’s upcoming Milan sale.

    The conversion was performed by Karl-Heinz Feustel in 1989 to a car reportedly sold new to Jürgen Lässig, a racecar driver with a 24 Hours of Daytona victory under his belt along with a runner-up at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

    Upon completion, the 959 was displayed at the 1989 Essen Motor Show. Think of it as Germany’s SEMA (but with some public and press days thrown in) and you’ve got the idea. No doubt the car, built in Grand Prix White with blue interior and matching soft top, left an impression amongst those who came out for the show.

    The car’s called a ‘Speedster’ and perhaps that applies. The painted A-pillar and windshield frame appear to be more 911 Cabriolet than Speedster, but it’s still incredibly unique. The exclusivity of the configuration goes up even further when you consider that the car came with a color-matched removable hardtop in a transport case, a tonneau top and spare ‘Speedster’ windscreen that makes one wonder if the conversion utilized a windshield incompatible with either the 911 Cabriolet or the Speedster of its time.

    Whatever the case, it’s a very special car, one you can find more information on via the RM Sotheby’s link above.

  • EU Market Find: B5 Audi RS 4 Avant in Nogaro Blue

    EU Market Find: B5 Audi RS 4 Avant in Nogaro Blue

    What: 2001 Audi RS 4 Avant
    Color: Audi exclusive Nogaro Blue (nogaroblau; pearl effect UNI; Z5M; Audi)
    VIN: Unknown
    Mileage: 204,500 km
    Price: € 45,944
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Paulmann Das Auto Zentrum, Dachwig, Germany
    Dealer Listing: Link

    With the B5 Audi RS 4 production beginning 25 years ago, we’re just now seeing cars that are qualified as importable. And while those early cars are basic cars in basic colors, it’s only a matter of time until the options begin rolling in. Getting ahead of the game and purchasing a car before it turns 25 is a great way to nail down a good price without the inflation of American buyers.

    Got a friend in Europe who can store it? You’ll likely need one.

    All that said, an RS2 in similar spec and mileage would be much more expensive than this B5 RS 4. Getting in on the RS 4 action early seems like a solid move for netting a much-loved enthusiast model.

    One last thing, Nogaro Blue isn’t Audi exclusive. It was added as a stock color, but it’s icon status in the Audi fold is somewhat unique, so we included it anyway.