Wanderlust

Category: European Market Finds

  • EU Market Find: 1994 Audi S2 Avant in Porsche Onyx Green

    EU Market Find: 1994 Audi S2 Avant in Porsche Onyx Green

    What: 1994 Audi S2 Avant
    Color: Onyx Green Metallic (onyxgrün; metallic UNI; LD6V; Porsche)
    Chassis Number: N/A
    Mileage: 284,000 km, 176,469 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: €30,500
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Private Seller, Kronstorf, Austria
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    Here’s an interesting specimen that popped up on the European market recently – an Audi S2 in the ’80s era Porsche 924 color Onyx Green Metallic. We’ve never seen an Audi S2 in this color before and the listing doesn’t state that it’s a respray, so we’re guessing it’s a very early example of Audi exclusive paint. In this period, custom paint did happen on these cars though it’s more common (yet still uncommon) on the hotter RS2.

    What’s an S2? Though they never came to America, Audi continued installing its now 20-valve turbocharged I-5 in its B3 and B4-era cars, beginning with the B3-based S2 Coupe and then later the wagon (a.k.a. Avant) and much lower production sedan body styles. Though the Porsche-built and tuned RS2 gets more love from the automotive community, Audi connoisseurs often prefer the more subtle look of the S2. Now, throw on some rare-at-the-time custom factory paint and you have a winner.

    This car is modified in some respects, and it’s also high mileage. From our perspective, that makes it a great candidate for a daily or weekend driver and less attractive as a museum piece bound to tucked away untouched as part of a collection.

    As S2s go, it may be a bit on the high side. Even still, it’s probably half of what the equivalent RS2 will cost, which still makes it a bargain. If its condition is as good as presented and it is actually factory paint in a Porsche color, we’d also argued it’s priced appropriately.

    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.

  • EU Market Find: 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 in Signal Green

    EU Market Find: 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 in Signal Green

    What: 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 2
    Color: Signal Green (signalgrün; non-metallic UNI; 22S; Porsche)
    Chassis Number: N/A
    Mileage: 9,347 km, 5,807 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: €128,000
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Stowasser & Schmalzried, Weinstadt, Germany
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    This isn’t a pristine collector 964-era 911. Like a lot of European market 911s, this very early 964 (July 1989 first registration) has been loosely cloned to look like a 964 Carrera RS / N/GT or Cup including Cup 1 wheels, Recaro Pole Position seats and a few other things. Like a lot of these early 964s that became RS clones, some liberties were taken like black paint on the Cup 1 wheels, fitting later brakes that appear to be OEM, (a.k.a. “big reds”) and a few other things a real RS wouldn’t have. It may have also been track weaponized given the suggestion of a 3.8 engine rebuild and that color-matched cage. It’s intriguing for someone looking for a driver or track car, though likely red flags for a purist collector.

    There are a few other things we note here. For starters, it’s not clearly stated that it’s a Carrera 2, though we’re guessing it is because C2s were available for Europe for 1989 even if they didn’t arrive in the USA until 1990. It’s also got some significant upgrades we found in the general marketplace site listing but not on the dealer site.

    There’s another oddity. The listing translates that it was restored around 2010/2011. That’s likely when it received all of the modifications. However, its mileage logged is quite low, so it’s unclear whether the chassis has very low mileage or more likely that it has logged so very few miles since being restored and built.

    Our next question is whether the Signal Green paint is factory Paint to Sample or a respray during the aforementioned restoration. Signal Green was a Carrera Cup color and the so cars in that color did happen on occasion. The dealer doesn’t list details here, and since it’s a European listing the inclusion of a VIN number for reference isn’t common. That’d be something worth checking for anyone thinking seriously on this car.

    All that said, we’d still argue this car is worth the premium. For starters, a 964 Carrera 2 Coupé in decent shape will already run you into six figures. You’d never be able to build this car for that number, and the 3.8 and other mechanical upgrades suggests it’s more than just the usual basic RS clone bolt-ons. For someone seeking to make a more convincing RS clone, it wouldn’t take much more than removing that cage, respraying the wheels in either silver or signal green and getting some replica leather seat covers for those Pole Positions. No, it wouldn’t be real, but you’d be having an outlawed RS experience for about half the price of a similar condition Carrera RS. And, given it’s a clone and the price, you could drive it without too much concern over mile-ing up something as rare and collectible as a real RS.

    And what of that green paint? Well, if it’s real and those miles are accurate then it’s still probably worth putting it back to factory specifications. That’d be a hell of a specimen for those purist collectors. And if it’s not, you still have a very unique thing. Unlike Maritime Blue or Rubystar that are more common in this era, Signal Green is decidedly rare. The actor James Spader was known to have one that he used in and around Los Angeles, which is great trivia to know if you own it. Also, real deal Signal Green 964s are anything but common.

    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.

  • EU Market Find: Cypress Green Mercedes 280 CE Coupe with Period Lorinser and Zender Upgrades

    EU Market Find: Cypress Green Mercedes 280 CE Coupe with Period Lorinser and Zender Upgrades

    What: 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 CE Coupe
    Color: Cypress Green (zypressengrün; metallic UNI; 876; Mercedes-Benz)
    Chassis Number: N/A
    Mileage: 222,000 km, 137,944 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: €18,990
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Autozentrum Frankenthal, Frankenthal, Germany
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    Nowadays, the W123-generation Mercedes Benz 280 CE is a pretty rare thing. Built in a day when nomenclature and badging actually stood for something, the 280 CE is an E-class Coupe (a.k.a. “CE”) with a 2.8-liter V6 (i.e. 280).

    This one is Cypress Green metallic, making it a rare spec but neither a custom build from the factory nor a special limited edition factory model. Hawk-eyed viewers of our “tailored driver” qualification rules may call foul here as a result, but we’re also keen on occasionally listing the very tasteful and/or very rare specifications that may have been off the factory standard option list, but are nevertheless still both rare and sought-after. We think this car qualifies.

    In the tailored car collector space, sometimes points are also deducted for modifications. Here again, we tend to give leeway for modifications from iconic aftermarket brands that are period correct. In this case, that includes wheels from longtime Mercedes tuning house Lorinser, a wooden steering wheel from Raid and color-matched bumper covers / body kit from 80s European car accessories house Zender. While these changes may boot this car out of a hallowed space at a Mercedes-Benz factory museum, we suspect they’d definitely earn you street credit at the local cars and coffee.

    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.

  • EU Market Find: Viola Hong Kong Ferrari 512 TR

    EU Market Find: Viola Hong Kong Ferrari 512 TR

    What: 1994 Ferrari 512 TR
    Color: Viola Hong Kong (violahongkong; metallic UNI; 0155 / 0167; Ferrari)
    Chassis Number: N/A
    Mileage: 66,500 km, 41,321 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: €199,900
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Autohaus Blöchl GmbH, Osterhofen, Germany
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    We’re not sure about 1994, but in 2025 Viola Hong Kong has become recently popular as an extra range Tailor Made option. This two layer metallic is said to price in around as a $33,000 option. Back in 1994, it likely wasn’t that expensive though custom paint from the factory was exceedingly more rare. So, finding a 512 TR in that color was remarkable. Then, reading over the listing we noticed that it was painted this color in 2023.

    Was it originally this color? The dealer doesn’t list that, though they do mention that they’re in the process of acquiring a certificate from Ferrari Classiche. So, follow up on that should you inquire, but a translation of the German listing seems to suggest it may have been a 2023 color change. If so, at least it was done with an OEM Ferrari color.

    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.

  • EU Market Find: Red-on-Red 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI

    EU Market Find: Red-on-Red 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI

    What: 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI
    Color: Peru Red (perurot; non-metallic UNI; 042; Porsche)
    Chassis Number: 9114600829
    Mileage: 40,877 km, 25,399 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: €169,911
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Witmer & Odijk, Warmond, Netherlands
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    Nothing like a highly unique car in a highly unique build. In 1974, one year after producing the legendary 911 Carrera RS 2.7, Porsche introduced the 911 2.7 with mechanical fuel injection (MFI). And while it had gone to G-body construction including bigger and heavier bumpers, it made up for that with countermeasures such as lighter seats an aluminum arms in the rear suspension. All told, it weighed in at 1075 kg (2370 lbs) and was capable of 0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds… in 1974. Though they don’t command the premiums of the Carrera RS 2.7, there’s no question that 1974 911 Carrera MFI specimens are sought after. Now throw in a sensational build specification and you have something really special.

    Having had just two owners, the first was an Italian show manufacturer and that’s likely the reason for the very unique specification. Color over like color is always an interesting choice, and this Peru Red over red example would be already very distinctive, though that’s made even more unique due to the presence of the 1974 Carrera sport fabric also seen here in red that is both very rare and appears to be very well kept.

    Peru Red was not a Paint to Sample affair, but it was offered during the 1974 model year. For the casual observer, it might be hard to spot the differences from Peru red to more common Porsche reds such as Guards Red or Signal Red. Park it next to the others though and it’s immediately obvious that Peru Red has more of a brick or terra cotta quality to it.

  • EU Market Find: 1998 Evergreen on Green BMW Z3 M Roadster

    EU Market Find: 1998 Evergreen on Green BMW Z3 M Roadster

    What: 1998 BMW Z3 M Roadster
    Color: Evergreen (immergrün; non-metallic uni; 358, BMW)
    VIN: WBSCK9335WLC86934
    Mileage: 97,000 km (60,273 miles)
    Price at Time of this Writing: € 27,450
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Sougné-Remouchamps, BE
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    This isn’t a paint to sample BMW Individual specimen, nor is it technically a variant North America never received. Even still, we find a low mileage Evergreen on green BMW Z3 M Roadster like this noteworthy enough for a mention.

    Though the install rate was low likely due to its polarizing hue, Evergreen was a factory color for the Z3 M Roadster. Often paired with the two-tone green interior you see here, it makes for a striking combination that stands out from the crowd.

    Alas, Evergreen hasn’t been a popular color from BMW Individual, but maybe it should be. Pastel takes on colors has been on the rise over the last decade, and maybe should be reason enough for Evergreen to make a comeback.

    As for this particular specimen, it’s worth mentioning that by nature of being a European market model it has the more desirable S52 engine. It’s listed in a private sale over on AutoScout24.de and we’ve gone ahead and copied its listed options below.

    • S710 M Sports Steering Wheel, Multifunction
    • S410 Window Lifts, Electric, Front
    • S440 Non-Smoker Package
    • S481 Sports Seat
    • S494 Seat Heating Driver/Passenger
    • S674 Hi-Fi system code aanwezig
    • S692 Preparation, BMW 6-CD Changer I-Bus
    • S530 Air Conditioning
    • S540 Cruise Control
    • S209 Differential Lock 25%
    • S314 Door Mirror, Driver Lock, Heated
    • S354 Windscreen, Green-Tinted Upper Strip
    • S380 hardtop preparation
    • S388 soft top, black
    • S395 Rollover Protection System
    • S398 soft top, Electromech. Semi-automatic
  • EU Market Find: Ex-Factory Porsche 993 Targa in Blue Turquoise plus MT6 in Belgium

    EU Market Find: Ex-Factory Porsche 993 Targa in Blue Turquoise plus MT6 in Belgium

    What: 1996 Porsche 911 Targa
    Color: Blue Turquoise (blautuerkis; non-metallic UNI; J1; Porsche)
    VIN: N/A
    Mileage: 131,000 km (81,400 miles)
    Price at Time of this Writing: €114,993
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Schoten, Belgium
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:
    In the lexicon of air-cooled Porsche 911s, the 993 Targa is both obscure and hard to find. By the final air-cooled type 993 generation, Porsche had ditched the full-width open top with roll hoop-style design it had pioneered throughout F-body, G-body and 964 generations, replacing them with a more livable (and heavier) glass panorama-style panel that slide back underneath the rear window glass. It’s a design that would stick around through 996 and 997 generations. During the 993 generation, it wasn’t terribly popular, making it a rare find today. Now add a very rare paint color and you have a very unique find indeed.

    The hue is Blue Turquoise, paired over Classic Grey (Code TT) leather for a beautiful appearance. It’s also got a manual 6-speed. Given most of the ones we’ve seen have Tiptronic automatic transmissions, we’d wager this makes it even more rare and desirable.

    This particular car shows as having been delivered first to Porsche AG as a company car of some sort. Maintenance history, performed exclusively at Porsche facilities, show the carefully logged history of the car.

    – 29 km: Delivery by Porsche Stuttgart
    – 17,412 km: Maintenance by Porsche AG
    – 39.314 km: Maintenance by Porsche AG
    – 57,180 km: Maintenance by Porsche AG
    – 84.978 km: Maintenance by Porsche Centrum Levallois, France (Invoice available)
    – 108,994 km: Maintenance by Porsche Centrum Levallois, France (Invoice available)
    – 126,859 km: Maintenance by Porsche Centrum Antwerpen (Invoice available)

  • European Market Find: 2000 BMW Individual Carbon Black Metallic 328i Sedan with Individual Arizona Sky Leather

    European Market Find: 2000 BMW Individual Carbon Black Metallic 328i Sedan with Individual Arizona Sky Leather

    What: 2000 BMW 328i
    Color: BMW Individual Carbon Black Metallic  (carbonschwarz; metallic; C49; BMW)
    VIN: Unknown
    Mileage: 260,327 km (~161,757 mi)
    Price at Time of this Writing: €8,495 (~$8,912)
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Oss, NL
    Listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    Yes, in just a few days we’ll be 25-year survivors of the Y2K panic. And while our computers didn’t all self-destruct when asked to display ’00’ in a date window, the cars coming out of German and Japan were equally exciting- just in a much more controlled, less stressful way. This E46-generation 328i sedan was delivered in May of that year (making it importable soon!), having been ordered by a Tailor with taste. BMW Individual was chosen both inside and out, making this an incredibly interesting, relatively cheap proposition. The listing is low on detail and basic translation points to a few mistakes, so rather than the Frozen Black Metallic mentioned due to the gloss nature and blue/black shade depending on light, we feel safe in our assumption that the exterior is actually BMW Individual Carbon Black Metallic. We’d be doing a disservice though, if we didn’t share that our assumption may be just that, and that it could also could be the very complex BMW Individual Petrol Mica Metallic, although this does appear darker. More certain, however, is the Arizona Sun leather sport seats found within. We love this generation nearly as much as we love a deal, and at $9k plus shipping, we struggle to find a more interesting vehicular use of funds. Just make sure you validate VIN before putting it on a boat.

  • Market Find: Singer “UK 1” Porsche 911 Classic Study in RM Private Sale Listing

    Market Find: Singer “UK 1” Porsche 911 Classic Study in RM Private Sale Listing

    What: 1990 Porsche 911
    Color: Egg Yolk (non-metallic UNI; no code; Singer)
    VIN: WP0ZZZ96ZMS400589
    Mileage: 4,650
    Price at Time of this Writing: £845,000 GBP Asking
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: London, UK
    Listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    The cue for a Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer is measured in years, so for those seeking to own one and not hung up on creating their own commission, purchasing one off the pre-owned market is the most likely play. Granted, they don’t come up often, and when they do we tend to expect them in prestigious places like an RM Sotheby’s private listing.

    That’s the case with the car you see here. Note the name of the commission, “UK 1”, which designates it as the first UK registered Singer. Are you surprised it’s right-hand drive? That should be obvious, but maybe adds to the cool.

    Another cool note on this car is the history. Singer used this car for promotional activities, including display at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed where it was driven up the hill by Chris Harris and Marino Franchitti. Noted automotive journalist (and 964 Carrera RS owner) Dickie Meaden also drove the car for a feature in the December 2015 issue of Evo Magazine for which they also shot a video (see above).

    Since this is an early Singer commission, it’s fitted with a Cosworth-built 3.8-liter version of Porsche’s flat six. It’s also finished in Egg Yolk paint over a relatively subtle black leather interior with comfort seats, Becker stereo with navigation and a roll bar.

    Check out more photos below.

  • European Market Find: 1994 BMW Individual Violet Blue 318is Coupé in Switzerland

    European Market Find: 1994 BMW Individual Violet Blue 318is Coupé in Switzerland

    What: 1994 BMW 318is Coupé
    Color: Violet Blue Metallic (violettblau; non-metallic; 528; BMW)
    VIN: WBABE51000JG28978
    Mileage: 83,890 km / 52,126 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: CHF 22,900 (est. $25,928)
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Noville, Switzerland
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    However special or deep the options list may have been for European market BMW buyers in the 1990s, cars remained expensive to own and operate. Seeing an exceedingly well appointed and appreciable specification with a small displacement engine wasn’t uncommon, which is how you end up with such a special build on what would otherwise be a more mundane BMW model.

    Yes, this is a 318, which means just the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder. However, visually it’s full-on M-spec M3 with all of the proper body kit, wheels and more. Even better, it’s got BMW Individual Violet Blue paint and very tastefully coordinated sport cloth interior. On top of all that, it’s a manual.

    Back then, it was BMW allowing you to have an M3 without the money or the pace of an M3. Today, that advantage remains the same, because if this were an M3 Coupé in like condition it would be anywhere from double, triple or possibly nearly quadruple the price!

    For the collector, we’d suggest buying it and leaving it the way it is while enjoying the great chassis. And, if you got tired of the slow pace, you could probably swap a more potent M-spec engine into it and not lose any money. Either way, we’d count that as a win.

    As with any of our European Market Finds, this car is older than 25 years, making it an easy import into the U.S.A. should you be so inclined. Notably, this car is in Switzerland, which is an interesting pocket in the European space. Switzerland hasn’t adopted the Euro, meaning you don’t often find Swiss cars in the typical European sales channels. They also tend to be well kept.