German Classic Cars

No Reserve: 1971 Volkswagen Beetle

It is sometimes challenging to determine whether a particular classic is desirable and ticks the boxes for potential buyers, but this 1971 Volkswagen Beetle leaves no such doubts. It has already received an impressive sixty-five bids, signaling that people… more»

Rare Hatchback: 1971 BMW 2000 Touring Tii

BMW’s 2002 set the benchmark for practical performance vehicles. Introduced in 1968, the car sat on a shortened “Neue Klasse” chassis,  which itself sat between BMW’s small cars including the 600/700 compacts, and the luxe “Baroque Angels.” The 2002… more»

One Family Owned: 1964 Volkswagen Beetle

The question that invariably sparks debate is: What was the most important car of the 20th Century? The Ford Model T is an obvious choice because, at one point, 50% of the cars plying the world’s roads were Model… more»

Oval Window Yard Find: 1956 Volkswagen Beetle

The Volkswagen Type 1 (aka Beetle or Bug) was conceived in the 1930s but didn’t see significant production until after World War II. The Beetle paved the way for the imports invading the U.S. market from the 1960s-forward. For… more»

Part Car, Part Boat: 1964 Amphicar 770

I would describe my automotive taste as eclectic, and find myself drawn as much to quirky classics as motoring icons. However, vehicles like the 1964 Amphicar 770 leave me torn. While I can think of few experiences better than… more»

Future Collectible: 1996 Mercedes-Benz CL600

There was a listing for another W140-chassis Mercedes-Benz CL600 on craigslist I had intended to write up (thanks to Barn Finds reader Rocco B. for the tip). As predicted, the listing disappeared – and I believe that’s because this… more»

M3 Alternative: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16

The Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 is a model that has lurked in the shadows of the iconic BMW E30 M3 for years, and sadly, it appears destined to continue doing so. As the owner of a 1986 example that I… more»

Ran When Parked: 1966 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE

Oftentimes, in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the big-body coupe is the car that sits atop the family food chain, along with the long wheelbase models. These coupes often featured pillar-less designs that make for a striking profile and were the… more»

Barn Find 1983 Euro-Spec Porsche 928S

Porsche’s 928 was the factory’s attempt to replace the 911; obviously that ploy didn’t work, but the 911’s persistence does not subtract from what is a bona fide luxury grand tourer. The saga began in the early 1970s. America… more»

BF Exclusive: 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 “Boonie Bug”

Popular Mechanics has long been a source of excellent DIY projects, and the magazine typically offers comprehensive instructions and material lists for those with a sense of adventure. This 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 “Boonie Bug” is one example of… more»

Head Shop Billboard? 1960 Volkswagen Type II

When I first encountered this 1960 Volkswagen Type II bus it immediately reminded me of a parking lot positioned dumpster emblazoned with a “Do Not Park In Front Of This Container” warning affixed to its front. I’m not trying… more»

Euro Spec Shark: 1984 BMW 635 CSi

To this day, my ears still perk up if I hear of a European-market car come up for sale. As a clearly hopeless automotive enthusiast, I like to make my life more painful by not only buying cars with… more»

One-Owner 1969 Porsche 912

Since I began driving in 1993, I’ve been lucky enough to have at least one ’60s car in my garage or driveway, and since then, not a year has elapsed that I didn’t regularly use it/them for day trips…. more»

Road Ready Westfalia: 1970 Volkswagen Type 2 Vanagon

While Volkswagen currently struggles to find its niche in the American market, at one time the company could do no wrong.  The Volkswagen Beetle was an unlikely candidate to set sales records on this side of the Atlantic, but… more»

Rare 1993 Porsche 928 GTS is a Pristine Example

In Goddard, Kansas, and listed on eBay, lives perhaps the world’s best-preserved example of the Porsche 928 GTS. It’s a 1993 model and one of only 54 built that year with a five-speed manual transaxle. The condition is attached to a… more»

Sold By Buick! 1972 Opel 1900

Who remembers that you could stroll into your local Buick dealership in the 1970s and buy a German-made Opel product? I do, and that’s because General Motors owned Opel at the time (and for almost 90 years in total)…. more»

Barn Finds