What: 2024 Bentley Continental GTC Speed Color: Bentley Mulliner Personal Red Violet Metallic (Code TBD) VIN: SCBDT4ZG8RC014369 Mileage: 508 Price at Time of this Writing: Auction CarFax:Link Window Sticker: Pictured below Location: Scottsdale, AZ Auction listing:Link
Why we love it:
This Tailored Driver is an incredibly big swing at individuality, and frankly we’re here for it. With a $462,680 original MSRP ($23,680 of it representing love it or hate it Red Violet Metallic paint by Mulliner), and enough Magenta inside and out to make Barbie blush, the original Tailor of this Continental GTC Speed certainly isn’t afraid to flaunt. They also seem to embody a “have fun, die smiling” mentality, frankly we’d love to shake their hand.
What: 1980 BMW 323i Color: Biscay Blue (biscayblaau; non-metallic; 140; BMW) VIN: Unknown Mileage: 115,000 km (71,457 mi) Price at Time of this Writing: € 29.999 CarFax: N/A MonroneyLabels.com Window Sticker: N/A Location: Palm Harbor, FL Private party seller listing:Link
Why we love it:
Though not as iconic as the 2002 that came before it, nor as loved by enthusiasts as the E30 that came after it, BMW’s E21 3-Series still captures that classic 80s BMW style and makes for an excellent driver… particularly in top-of-the-heap 323i form. Alas, we didn’t get the 323i in the States, which means you have to look in Europe for cars like this private party listed example from Haren, Germany.
Likely its color, Biscay Blue, wasn’t a BMW Individual specification but rather simply a color that is exceedingly rare today. In this case, it’s also a respray as perusal of the listing will show in both description and ample photography you don’t always find in a European mass market listing. That it also has Alpina kit like those wheels and wooden shift knob doesn’t hurt either.
Check out the full listing description below, and a mix of photos below that. For the full mix of photos and further details, check out the link above.
We offer here on behalf of the customer a fully restored BMW E21 323i in the rare and beautiful color Biscay blue with black leather interior for sale.
As usual with these European market finds, a car older than 25 years is easily importable into the United States (15 years for Canada). Our European Market Find listings take this into account, only focusing on cars old enough for easy import. Any number of companies out there cater to American buyers seeking to bring vehicles such as this one here to North America.
Details: • Engine REVISED incl. attachments, timing belt and water pump • Bilstein chassis with H&R lowering springs, HA height adjustable • Rims from OZ King 6 & 7×15 with 195/50R15 and 205/50R15 Hankook • Alcantara canopy • ESD BOSI • With TÜV, H license plate, accident-free, approved, restored and ready to drive immediately. • Extensively and expertly restored. • (German) vehicle documents, TÜV and service reports. • The restoration was documented with photos. • Expertly completely repainted. • New tires and brake system. • Hollow sealed and preserved underbody. • With sunroof and radio. • Very good overall condition.
What: 2017 Audi A4 Color: Audi exclusive Toucan Yellow (Tukangelb; LY1H; Audi) VIN: WAUENBF40HA067620 Mileage: 42,000 Price at Time of this Writing: Auction CarFax:Link MonroneyLabels.com Window Sticker: N/A Location: Palm Harbor, FL Auction listing:Link
Why we love it:
If Tailored Driver is about anything at all, it’s about the desire to be uncommon. By that metric, the initial owner of this 2017 Audi exclusive Toucan Yellow A4 can certainly be considered a kindred spirit. Beyond the fairly rare Toucan Yellow exterior, this Tailor opted for Nougat Brown sport seats with Dark Walnut high gloss trim. We like all of these thing independently. Together? Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
What: 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 Color: Porsche Paint to Sample Birch Green (birkegrün; 253; Porsche) VIN: WP0AC2A88GK191175 Mileage: 17,253 Price at Time of this Writing: $139,900 CarFax: N/A MonroneyLabels.com Window Sticker: Link Location: Portland, Oregon Dealer listing:Gran Prix Motors
Why we love it:
We’ve long been fans of the Cayman GT4, and equally fans of the more ‘acidic’ greens like Lotus’s Krypton Green which was one of the less common colors applied to their Exige and Elise models. We’re also suckers for detail and theme. Here, Paint to Sample Birch Green flows from the exterior to the cabin of this Cayman GT4, with Birch applied to the cloth door pulls, seat belts, and key fob. Rounding out what we feel to be a top tier GT4 spec are Bucket seats, extended leather dash (with Race Tex on the lower half), and steel brakes.
What: 2021 Aston Martin V12 Speedster Color: Aston Martin Racing Green (racinggreenmetallic; metallic UNI; AST1140; Aston Martin) VIN: SCFWMLAV5MGS90079 Mileage: 46 km Price at Time of this Writing: Estimated €780,000 – €1,080,000 EUR CarFax: N/A MonroneyLabels.com Window Sticker: N/A Location: RM Sotheby’s Münich Sale, 2024 Dealer listing: RM Sotheby’s
Why we love it:
Whether or not you’re in the income bracket that can choose to buy an Aston Martin with no top nor windshield, or have the means to enjoy it in whatever capacity one would, we still find cars like this “barchetta” style 2021 V12 Speedster to be fascinating. Aston Martin only built 88 examples of this open cockpit two-seater as tribute to the DBR1 that won the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, and they rarely come on the market. So, it’s notable when this single family owned example with just 46 kilometers on the odometer hits the market, as this one will very soon from now as part of RM Sotheby’s Münich sale.
This particular car represents Aston Martin’s racing pedigree well, finished as it is in Aston Martin Racing Green, then accented with Clubsport White roundels (a.k.a. meatballs). Inside, its Conker saddle leather is finished in Virdian Green and Caithness leather accents. It also comes with its books and a pair of Aston Martin Racing Green helmets.
What: 1977 Mercedes Benz SL 280 built by BB Manufaktur Color: Cayenne Orange (cayenneorange; non-metallic UNI; 406; Mercedes-Benz) VIN: UD | F10095 Mileage: 17,500 km Price at Time of this Writing: €61,990 CarFax: N/A MonroneyLabels.com Window Sticker: N/A Location: Nuremberg, Germany Dealer listing:Auto Zitzmann GmbH
Why we love it:
While the third-generation Mercedes-Benz SL (C107) isn’t hasn’t proven as graceful at aging as the second-generation W113 Pagoda, it has come into its own as 80s cars begin to bask in the glow of Radwood and other Reagan era automotive celebration. Technically though, cars like this 1977 SL 280 pre-date the 80s/90s cut-off of an event like Radwood, but if you can talk your way through the entry line then we think you’d have a good chance at winning with a car like this example. Built by BB Tuning, Rainer Buchmann Frankfurt-based customization shop that built some of the wildest cars you might see, and with a heavy focus on Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.
Interestingly, this is a stock period correct Mercedes-Benz color. Like the build itself, Cayenne Orange appears to be peak trendy and bordering on kitsch-cool back in the late 1970s. In some ways it was so unique that it aged out quickly and today is undoubtedly cool… even if ironically so.
And speaking of both ironic cool and period trendy, that’s probably the best way to describe how BB Tuning builds such as this car remain today. Likely largely untouched from the day it finished its aftermarket tailored build by BB Tuning, the car commands a presence and a premium well above its bone-stock period counterparts… probably even over pristine Cayenne Orange examples.
Look past the Cayenne Orange paint and color-matched BBS wheels and you’ll find a most interesting interior. Tailored in marbled leather, popular at the time but seldom seen today, it’s not exactly tasteful by today’s standards, but it’s so period and unique that we have no doubt the new owner will love it just the same.
Embracing the period theme even more so is the audio system with components by Blaupunkt. Given the anemic audio comping from the factory at that time, aftermarket stereos were virtually required on builds such as this. Brands like Blaupunkt led the way in the German aftermarket, and this system is based on a Monza head unit with no less than 12 speakers throughout the marbled leather cabin.
Okay, this car’s not for everybody. But, we suspect if you get it then you’ll probably want to get it.
What: 2024 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet Color: Porsche Paint to Sample Albert Blue (albertblau; 325 / 1818 / 387; Porsche) VIN: WP0CD2A99RS257847 Mileage: 1,747 Price at Time of this Writing: $334,898 CarFax:Link MonroneyLabels.com Window Sticker: Link Location: St. Louis, MO Dealer listing:Porsche St Louis
Why we love it:
We see a lot of blue Porsches, and we even see a lot of Paint to Sample Porsches, but we don’t see a lot of Albert Blue Porsches. We also don’t see a lot of non-metallic dark and almost navy blue colors, making it even more unique. Albert Blue is believed to have first dropped in 1970 on the F-type “long hood” 911s, and specifying it as was done here is a great nod to a lesser known hue from the Porsche history books.
This 911 Turbo S Cabriolet continues its throwback nod on the inside where the Heritage Design Interior pairs black/semi-aniline pepita (a.k.a. houndstooth) fabric with rich cognac leather. There’s a long list of adds on this car as you’ll see via the link or the Monroney label listed above. The car’s also a enrolled in Porsche’s Certified Pre-Owned program, meaning extra piece of mind.
Why we love it: Audi’s B9 generation RS 5 is pretty tough to beat- good power, great size, and featuring a modernized interpretation of box flares. This Tailored Driver is finished in Audi exclusive Nogaro Blue (LZ5M) over Black leather with Rock Grey stitching, alu-optic exterior trim, and was optioned with the dynamic package which raises the speed limiter and adds Carbon Ceramic brakes. For a quite reasonable $52,999, this West Coast two-owner example would be an impactful addition to your Tailored fleet.
Fans of air-cooled Porsche 911s will want to take note. A 964 Speedster is already a rare bird, but one built to an extremely choice specification such as this Maritime Blue (maritimblau; non-metallic UNI; 5MB; Porsche) example going available on the market is a truly special thing. We’ve just run across it available in the south of France (because of course) and wanted to make you aware.
While the Porsche Speedster became an icon during the early 356A portion of Porsche’s history, the idea of the low-slung windshield and lightweight take on Porsche’s mainstay sportscar didn’t return until the G-body 911 Speedster of the late 80s. And while those G-body cars were very cool with their wider Turbo fender flares, the Speedster would go back even more to its roots in the guise of the 964 when it went narrow body and took even further measures to emphasize light weighting.
According to the ad over on the website for the dealer Alsphalt Classics, only 936 examples of the Porsche 911 (type 964) Speedster were ever produced. That makes them rare, although not altogether unseen as they were federalized and sold in America as well. Even still, many of the ones you tend to see are a standard color such as Black or Guards Red, and when Paint to Sample was used they always seem to be some form of yellow.
Also popularized during the 964 era was a Porsche Carrera Cup color called Maritime Blue. One of many Porsche takes on classic French Blue, non-metallic Maritime Blue became a popular standard color on the 964 generation Carrera RS, often paired with blue interior accent such as color-matched Recaro Pole Position seats with Maritime Blue painted shells and gradients of blue leather on the seat centers.
No doubt whomever specced this 911 Speedster was influenced by the Carrera RS. The car makes use of the same gradient and color-matched Recaros, going several steps further with color-matched leather on the dashboard and one-piece shift knob with boot, plus webbing on the lightweight door pulls. It even gets the optional color-matched wheels also in Maritime Blue.
Interestingly, the background on the Alsphalt Classics website reveals this car to be a pre-production model with pre-series engine and gearbox. Given it’s a 1993, that’s more intriguing than it might be concerning as the 964 had been in production since late 1989 and with few changes. We’re guessing what would have made this pre-series was simply early production of the Speedster body style.
The dealer reports this car has spent its time in Spain and the South of France, while the clear side markers on the fender also confirm it’s not German market specification, as that would have no side repeaters just like North American models.
It’s logged 99,500 km, meaning about 60,000 miles. Looking at the excellent photos from the dealership, it appears to be in relatively original condition with some wear on things like door pulls. Priced at 244,900 Euros, it’s about what we’d expect for a rare and incredibly tasteful specification of the 964 Speedster. Also, being older than 25 years makes it a relatively easy import for any of our North American readers. Check out further details HERE.
Beige the world. There is an interesting theory that as the world’s economy goes up and down, consumers will change their color preference to either be more flashy (things are great!) or more subtle (things aren’t great!) when it comes to their new car. The post-COVID economy is proving complex as it is either great or awful depending on your perspective, and our color choices are reflective of that. Such is the case with this Tailored Driver.
Finished in Creme White (cremeweiß, code: 51A) you’d be correct to categorize this 2024 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (VIN: WP0AF2A91RS272490) as being on the more tame side of the spectrum, especially with so many others on the secondary market in much brighter, bolder colors. Chalk it up to one person’s understanding of the current economic climate, this 3RS could very easily be seen as the bearish RS.
Moving past the Paint to Sample finish, this Tailored Driver is downright tame on the inside as well, with a mix of Black Leather upholstery and Race-Tex fabric covering nearly all surfaces. Of note, the CarFax does mention this car was an export from Canada, which may complicate things for a prospective buyer.
Sadly though, this could also be categorized as the introvert’s RS based on mileage- just 447 since new. In other words, it’s not had its engine break-in procedure completed. Be the one to right this wrong, by calling Kearns Motor Car in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin and writing a $434,989 check.
Get all the details on this Tailored Driver, here.
