European Market Finds
EU Market Find: BMW Individual Velvet Blue Metallic 528i
Will·
Europe in the 90's, man. What a strange time. The kind of time, in fact, where a well-to-do professional would put down real money for a brand new 528i, opt for BMW Individual Velvet Blue Metallic (great!), and also check the box for whatever this two-tone blue and beige, umm, statement piece is.
1991 “Oppenheimer Commission” Singer DLS Goes Sealed Bid with RM Sotheby’s
"The Oppenheimer Commission" was named for the Oppenheimer Blue diamond and not for the nuclear physicist.
1 of 25 Subaru Impreza P25 Reimagined by Prodrive
If you were going to pick the ultimate company to reimagine Subaru's first-generation Impreza Coupe (type GM), then we suspect Prodrive would be the likely choice.
EU Market Find: 2000 Evergreen “Clownshoe”
This particular BMW M Coupé isn't low mileage, though not hatefully high. It's not a one-off BMW Individual paint, though it is fairly rare. At the time, BMW offered Evergreen with dual-tone black and green interior. That was the late 1990s / early 2000s when such combinations were kitsch cool for those in the know. The take rate wasn't high, which made them rare. And Evergreen, we'd argue, should be due to have its day again given the uptick in pastel colors we've been seeing in paint to sample catalogues.
EU Market Find: VW T3 Multivan “Limited Last Edition” Oettinger WBX6
Known as the "Vanagon" in the United States, the Volkswagen T3 may be the 964 or 993 of the VW van lineage. While note quite as elegant as earlier T1 and T2 versions (a.k.a. Microbus), the more modern boxy shape retains the same rear-engine configuration that put Volkswagen (and Porsche) on the map. Also, its production run from 1979 to 1992 (practically the same as the Mk1 Golf/Rabbit Cabriolet) makes it a darling of the budding "rad era" car collector segment, while it was also a staple in the early #vanlife movement. All this combines to make for a robust collector market for T3s, meaning rare and special examples have realized appreciable gains. Throw in a special edition breathed on by a relevant remaster like a period German tuning house and you definitely have our attention.
EU Market Find: 1 of 50 Swiss BMW E30 M3 Johnny Cecotto Edition
Why We Love It:
The E30 generation M3 is already one of the most sought-after classic BMWs on the planet, now throw in one of the rare limited editions and that compounds the value to enthusiasts – particularly enthusiasts of the 80s “rad-era” variety. In this case, the E30 M3 in question is a 1990, one the Johnny Cecotto Limited Edition models, and one of just 50 to be sold to in Swiss specification.
EU Market Find: Box-Flared 1991 Audi S2 C5 by ABT Sportsline
When Audi retired its iconic quattro in 1991, replacing it with the all-new S2 Coupé, the now loved 90s-era 2-door wasn't exactly well received. Sure, it had an updated version of the brand's turbocharged 20-valve 5-cylinder engine, but it was a bit heavier and... let's face it... it was missing a certain something... a je ne sais quo as the French say.
EU Market Find: Rare Saab 900 Turbo S Ruby Edition Hits Market in Netherlands
Nothing says 1980s quite like a Saab 900 Turbo. Back in the Reagan era and even then quirky, Saabs came into vogue for their unique shape, hatchback and early use of turbochargers... not to mention kitschy yet trademark three-spoke wheel designs. The Swedish brand from Trollhättan built a cult-like following, long before being purchased by GM and later shuttered by GM during the great recession.
EU Market Find: 1992 Porsche Paint to Sample Violet Amaranth 968 Cabriolet
Will·
The prospect of an "internal" car is always an interesting one. Generally ordered by a executive, a board member, or simply a department looking to get a reaction, a given brand rarely orders a vehicle without some larger purpose.
EU Market Find: Great Spec Manual Mercedes C124 E 300 Coupe
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.