What: 2004 Audi TT 1.8T quattro Roadster Color: Audi Goodwood Green(goodwoodgrünperleffekt; metallic UNI; Z6X; Audi) VIN: TRUUT28NX41025899 Mileage: 53,667 miles Price: $11,977 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Milwaukie, OR Link: Volstice Auto
As regular readers of this site will know, special orders aren’t always the only path to achieving tailored status. In our mind, rare specifications also qualify and that’s where a Goodwood Green first-generation (Mk1) Audi TT comes into play. Goodwood was standard in the latter half of Mk1 TT production, and was offered quite commonly across the Audi range in the early oughts. Even still, it was rarely chosen. So, while we wonder what those early 2000s Audi buyers were thinking not ordering Goodwood, we know it left a mark because Audi’s British Racing Green-ish hue parked itself in the Audi exclusive catalogue where it remains a very popular choice for buyers who today seek something special.
We’d classify this particular TT then as an interesting curiosity, perhaps more for someone seeking a unique budget daily driver or an affordable cars-and-coffee toy. On the up side, it’s a solid specification with rare and loved paint color matched with black leather that better holds up to aging than the much more common grey or the much more sought after beige. It’s also got remarkably low mileage for its age.
We should probably also draw attention to why we shouldn’t recommend the car for hardcore collectors who place originality over most other things. This car’s got some wear – like lightly curbed wheels and some bumper rash, with possibly a few knicks on the back edges of the doors. We also note some modifications including a replaced lower center console to fit an aftermarket stereo, replaced vent to fit aftermarket boost gauge, and modifications under the hood that likely signal an augmented 1.8T engine that may or may not affect reliability.
What: 1990 Mercedes-Benz E300 Color: Surf Blue a.k.a. Deep Blue (surfblau; non-metallic; 900; Mercedes-Benz) Chassis #: Unknown Mileage: 52,000 km, 32,311 miles Price: €43,000 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Lestizza, Italy Private Seller Listing:Link
Why We Love It:
Log this car in as under the tasteful and rare factory specifications column, and maybe something you only would find in a market like Italy. Yes, it appears to be an order guide specification, but its combination an exercise in extravagance more akin to a passionate Italian than a logical German.
The car in question is a 1990, a C124 (a.k.a. coupe-version of the W124 E Class). While its 3-liter V6 engine wasn’t the V8 of its era, it was still an extravagance in markets like Italy that love to tax displacement. Also, the V6 still came with a manual as did this car, making it exceedingly rare in Mercedes-Benz circles where automatics were even ubiquitous during this era.
While the ad doesn’t confirm it, we believe this car was painted Surf Blue (a.k.a. Deep Blue) that was offered in that model year. While that medium blue hue isn’t quite as eye-catching as some other cars in the palette, it’s handsome and bold in context of what was offered. Now throw in red leather and it bestows the car with the flair you’d expect from a wealthy Italian buyer.
This car isn’t an AMG, nor is it the era darling that was the Porsche-developed 500 E. In as much, it’s more obscure. However, for a Mercedes collector or someone seeking something truly unique, we think it qualifies.
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.
There are fewer and fewer deals to be had in the Porsche world, particularly amongst rare models, performance models or in rare colors. That’s why the never-sold-new-in-America 968 Clubsport is a favorite of ours.
Built at the end of the front-engined so-called transaxle era, the 968 was the final evolution of the 924/944 lineage. By the end of the run, the 968 featured a normally-aspirated 3.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Other than an exceedingly rare 968 Turbo S, the 968 Clubsport was the most extreme of the range. It featured a track-tuned chassis, 50:50 weight distribution and further excellent kit from the factory including larger Cup wheels and optional Recaro Pole Position. Six colors were offered, including Grand Prix White, Black, Guards Red, Maritime Blue and Speed Yellow.
Yes, Speed Yellow was a standard color, on elf six . So, the car you see here isn’t a Paint to Sample Porsche. Even still, we believe it’s worth mentioning. That’s even more-so in this case, because it also has the optional color-matched Recaro Pole Position shell seats and is priced very competitively on the 968 Clubsport spectrum.
This car does have a few modifications worth noting for collectors. This includes a cage, Momo steering wheel, upgraded sport suspension and a 993 “Big Reds” brake upgrade. We’re guessing it was someone’s track toy, a task at which most 968 Clubsports excel.
The dealer also states that the car is damage-free.
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.
What: 1999 Audi A4 Avant 2.8 quattro (MT6) Color: Laurel Green Metallic (lorbeergrün; metallic uni; LY6R / 7N; Audi) Chassis #: Unknown Mileage: 185,664 km, 115,366 miles Price: €11,350 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Lahn Dill Automotive, Herborn, Germany Dealer listing:Link
Why We Love It:
It’s cars like this that make our staff come to blows. Why? Perhaps a better question is why not?
How does one define a “tailored driver” and thus, should a car be posted to this website? So far, we’ve focused with few exceptions on cars that are special ordered from a marque’s in-house tailoring department or others remastered by firms with a niche specialty for building consistent and commissioned reimagined automobiles.
So, what of a truly exceptional standard spec built from the factory order book? In their day (particularly days when brand order guides were vastly deep and rife with costly complexity), they were a clearly tasteful expression by a buyer who knew their way around the configurator without necessarily ringing up the tailor. Take for example this 1999 Audi A4 Avant we’ve found for sale in Germany.
We actually dug out our 1999 A4 catalogue to verify this one. Laurel Green Metallic (a.k.a. Vorbeer Metallic) was indeed a standard color in that year. In the stock color palette, it suffered from a relatively low take rate that made it somewhat rare, rarer still in North America where we don’t believe it was offered at all.
At the time, Audi had an interesting way of pre-packaging color combinations, with three grades of A4 – Advance, Ambition and Ambiente. Laurel Green was offered in Ambition and Ambiente, optionally paired in either case with Ecru (light tan) Buffalino Leather as seen in this car. This car was built to Ambition spec.
As factory specifications go, this car is a notably luxurious German build. It foregoes sporty options like a wild color or sport design steering wheel, yet focuses on a handsome color combination, luxurious cabin and large displacement engine (2.8-liter V6). For that, it offered a comfortable environment that was perfectly capable of autobahn-storming.
By 1999, Audi’s A4 had received its mid-lifecycle product improvement, also known more commonly as a facelift, which included updated door handles, lower inset foglights and other subtle upgrades. This particularly well appointed survivor also got quattro all-wheel drive, ESP, and a host of options listed below. Add that to the enthusiast-darling Avant (station wagon) body style in a rare or never-available color and you have the makings of a winner for the discerning aficionado seeking a car from this late 90s / early 2000s era.
The dealer shares that the car appears to have had two owners prior to this, with maintenance carried out regularly. The service book was maintained without gaps to 66,969 km by the Audi dealer. The original car invoice is also included and seen in photos shared.
That said, the dealer also shares that the car did have “an encounter with a bollard” that required the hood, bumper and associated parts to be replaced with original Audi parts. Beyond that, some wear and tear can be seen in photos, but surprisingly little given the age.
All things considered, a nicely appointed A4 Avant is a great way to affordably get into this space. The hotter S4 and RS 4 versions are definitely more sought after, though few will be appointed as uniquely as this A4 2.8 quattro.
Options Listed:
ABS
ESP
electric glass sliding roof with sun protection/blind
Concert
All-wheel drive
Factory-fitted navigation system in the speedometer
Xenon headlights
Headlight washer system
Roof rails chrome
Full-leather seats Ambition leather Buffalino
PDC rear
Seat heating with seat bolster heating
Leather steering wheel
Decorative inlays, walnut root wood
Armrest front and rear
Heated windscreen washer nozzles, front
Leather handbrake lever and gear knob
Servo
Tachometer
ASR
Central locking with radio
Electric windows 4x
Electric exterior mirrors
Electronic immobilizer, with anti-theft alarm system and interior monitoring
Through-loading with ski bag
Make-up mirror 2x
Airbags (head, front and sides)
Split rear seat
Original 16-inch alloy wheels
Automatic climate control
Lumbar support, electric. adjustable in front seat backrests
Outside temperature display
Cup holder
Fog lights
8 speakers (active)
Colored glazing
Rear headrests
Front seat adjustable
Spare wheel in driving tires
Three-point automatic belt for middle rear seat
Side protection strips in vehicle 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.
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.
