There are some cars that just haven’t been properly replaced. It might be because of safety and emissions laws; in other cases its because the manufacturer changed their focus (or went out of business). Me though, I would buy a brand new Mercedes W123 if they still made ‘em. I just love the bulletproof build and the dictatorial image. What car would you get, price not being an object, right now if you could get your hands on a new one? (And no, picking random exotic cars from the past so that you can resell them at auction is not part of the game).
Click through for my favorite Nigerian scam.
DEAR SIR.
I am HAJIYA MARYAM ABACHA, I am managing director of the modern Nigeria
MERCEDES-BENZ OF NIGERIA, LTD. l am contacting you in view of the fact
that we will be of great assistance to each other likeness developing a
cordial relationship.
I am very proud to inform you that the MERCEDES-BENZ OF NIGERIA, LTD. is
now re-entering production of W123 MERCEDES-BENZ series. W123
MERCEDES-BENZ is very reliable, proven sedan design that offers a lot of
advantages to the newer designs on African roads. W123 is the old body
style that predates the V-boot Mercedes of Europe that were made from
late 1980s.
We currently have within our reach the sum of THIRTY FIVE MILLION US
Dollars (US$35,000,000.00) which we intend to use for late investment,
and to set up import/export business specifically in your country.
Production of W123 MERCEDES-BENZ is already been planned starting in
2004 and apart from the sum mentioned above we have done a lot of
research and also receive help from MERCEDES-BENZ, STUTTGART (GERMANY)
which was given to us in a bit low-key approach as the number of W123
MERCEDES-BENZ car finished in Nigeria will certainly be low and not
satisfy every customer’s needs.
However, we also stay in contact to a Russian Firm on behalf of our
countries multi-billion dollars Ajaokuta Steel Plant Project which will
help the production of the Proud Nigerian MERCEDES-BENZ W123.
The Russian Partners returned my husband’s share of USD$35,000,000.00
after the death of my husband and lodged in my husband’s car supplier
company of which l am director right now, the new Civilian Government
have intensified their probe on my husband’s other financial and oil
company. In view of these, we are now finally able to start production
of W123 series MERCEDES-BENZ as follows, and would like to invite you
for asking more information material, or place your order now to be one
of the first to enjoy this Proud new Automobile.
W123-SERIES PRODUCTION PLAN
W123-MODEL: 240 SEDAN
this is base model with 4-cylinder 8-valve 2.4 litre Engine. The engine
is very reliable design from Toyota/Hindustan which will be of perfect
power for the W123-series MERCEDES-BENZ. Power output is 94HP-DIN and
car will be equipped with 6-speed gear box of W210 which we were able to
source in big number from MERCEDES-BENZ STUTTGART. This exiting project
of cooperation between TOYOTA and MERCEDES-BENZ and gives you the very
best in quality from JAPAN AND GERMANY THE TWO LEADING CAR MANUFACTURERS
IN THE WORLD!!
THIS ALL IS NOW PRODUCED IN NIGERIA – ORDER NOW !!
choose model 240-SEDAN:
base
USD 8.490,–
w/bi-fuel installation gas/petrol
USD 9.232,–
w/aircondition system TOYOTA
USD 8.832,–
w/aircondition system TOYOTA and bi-fuel installation gas/petrol
USW 9.522,–
Due to the current situation in the country concerning government
attitude towards my family, and production facilities in LAGOS/NIGERIA,
we encourage you to place order NOW to be able to get one of these
fascinating classic MERCEDES-BENZ cars brought to you with NIGERIAN
CRAFTSMANSHIP. If you order now I can assure you to receive 30% low
price. In order to do this please send ORDER NOW ON TELEPHONE, the
number given below in this letter.
We propose you to pay in advance as follows: a percentage of 30% of the
total sum to you for the expected service and assistance, 10% for
offsetting minor expenses incurred in the course of this transaction.
Your urgent response is highly needed as to be on the top line to get
first production cars MERCEDES-BENZ OF NIGERIA.
All correspondence must be by the email address and / or phone number
below.
l have decided that this transaction be kept in utmost secrecy, remember
to include your private Telephone or fax number for easy communication.
TO PLACE ORDER NOW FOR BRAND-NEW W123 MERCEDES-BENZ CAR PLEASE CONTACT
MERCEDES-BENZ OF NIGERIA LTD.
Addo Kaloma
HELP STUFF SENIOR MANAGER FOR SALE AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
on his telephone number:
+234-8033-053799.
email:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Best Regards.
DR. (HAJIYA) MARYAM ABACHA.
MERCEDES-BENZ OF NIGERIA LTD. (c) 2002 NOVEMBER
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145 Comments on “Question of the Day: What Out of Production Car Would You Buy New Now?...”
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I’m weird. Gimme a Vega with galvanized body panels and an Ecotec engine… or a Fiero with an Ecotec. Or not.
2002 E-class. It’s classically beautiful and feels like a tank.
Mazda Millenia. Beautiful and luxurious. :)
1995 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series Spinnaker Edition in blue
EZ. Last gen TSX. 6 speed MT, of course.
Ford Focus SVT. No, really. By now all the gremlins woulda been worked out.
1993 Cadillac Allante in Pearl Flax Metallic with contrasting black fabric top.
Pearl flax was a kind of a buttery yellow and was only ever used on the Allante in the 1983MY. Only 88 were produced in this colour and I passed on one many moons ago.
Suzuki Samurai, or an AMC Pacer.
69 Camaro.
Wait, you said out of production. Does it count that it’s not in production again until spring? Oh, never mind. Make it a 55 Nomad.
I’d love a W123 6.9. In fact, I recently found one here in Boise (California car) but it had a poor respray, some shoddy re-wiring under the hood, and a few small puddles underneath. But damn was it a solid car.
Oh, I’d go with an AMG Hammer Wagon. Classy. Or maybe a 50s SL/SLR.
Assuming we are looking at relatively recent vehicles, i.e. 80s and up, I’d have to say the last generation Supra turbo.
Nissan 240 SX or last gen RX7
manual transmission e39 bmw 540i
Alfa Romeo GTV… I wish they could revive that sexy little sports car and bring them over here (in North America) with their newer products… I saw the Alfa when I visited Hong Kong, and every now and then, I kick myself for not taking pictures of that beauty. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind if they bring 156s, also. It’s def. better looking than current Brera faced 159s.
1995 Nissan 240 SX – It was the best car I ever owned. Not too big (my G35 6MT sedan), not too small (my MR2 Spyder), just right. Alas they have all been riced to hell, crashed or both. Unmodified ones in good condition, but often with over 100K, are regularly listed for $7-9K. For a 14 year old Japanese four-banger.
Runners Up:
Toyota Corolla AE86
Porsche 914
Datsun 510
A modern Corvair, in all its ass-engined glory.
I would have to go with a W123 as well. Or maybe a Jaguar Mk. 10.
Mercedes 500E
Skyline R34. Or a Quattro Sport
BMW M Coupe, the high-top sneaker looking one.
A Volvo 240 with an updated engine and transmission and the heater fan relocated to a place where you can easily replace it if needed. Skip the dorky black tape around the windows as was installed on later model versions.
Or, a W123 wagon priced under $30k!
“Or maybe a Jaguar Mk. 10.”
Huzah! Talk about obscure references. I happen to own a very nice Jaguar Mark X and it is nice to know that at least one other person in the world likes them :).
Datsun 510 (north american spec) with modern rustproofing and a more powerful motor.
Volvo P1800ES
FD RX-7
Jeep Commanche
Suzuki Samurai with a pick-up bed
TEXN3
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/880321452.html
I’d go for the 1987 300 td wagon with a modern 6 speed manual.
I’ve got a soft spot for the Mazda 323 GTX too.
Easy: BMW E36 M3. Currently in the middle of buying one used, and it was a bitch to find one in good condition.
Ah, what a great question.
I drool for the late-80’s BMW M6. They still haven’t built a car with such perfect proportions.
Other than style, I’d also got for a mid-90’s Porsche 928 GTS: the ultimate GT car.
Thanks for the fantasy.
Oh, I want to add a sedan:
A Mercedes-Benz 500E “Hammer”.
Cause it’s called “Hammer”.
Cause it was the first Super-Sedan in the same groundbreaking way that the BMW 2002 was the first sports sedan.
Euro-spec 450 SEL 6.9 or a 63 or similar Lincoln Continental.
Probably an FD3 RX-7 for fun and a Volvo 240 wagon for utility. I do have a soft spot for the 98+ Honda Preludes, 92-95 Honda Civic hatchbacks, and the first generation DSM cars (AWD Turbo forms), but really the RX-7 with a warranty would make me happiest.
The crackhead in me would sell the house, cars, and valuables for a Ferrari F40, though.
1988 Pontiac Fiero GT
So many vehicles I’d like…
Subaru Brat – preferably with turbo and T-tops.
1st gen Toyota 4Runner – my ‘89 is in dire need of restoration. I keep telling people I’d buy a new one if Toyota still made this 4Runner.
‘91 Audi 200 Avant quattro – preferably with the hydraulic systems properly sorted.
My first auto love, yes the first crush is hard to kill, might still be rekindled.
My 1982 Golf/Rabbit is available as a 2008 in S-Africa.
http://www.vw.co.za/models/citi/colourandtrim/
Toyota MR2. The original one, from the 80s. Why doesn’t Toyota make cars like that anymore?
E30 M3
Oh wait, money no object?
Ferrari F40 perhaps…
If I’m allowed a European option, a Peugeot 205 GTI would be on my test-drive list as well. Hang on, if we’re going there a Lancia delta integrale has to be worth a mention too…
People may laugh…but I had a 95 Ford Probe GT that I actually liked. Drove a few hundred thousand miles til it started to be worth more to fix than it was worth. A car that size, with a more power.
Late 80s Honda Prelude.
Studebaker Silver Hawk
1971 BMW 2800CS. White, 5 speed. It’s the first car I ever went fast in. Everything about that car feels light and alive.
It’s a bit ambitious to jump directly from spears to automobiles. I’d wait for version 2.0.
hmm…
Dodge Neon SRT4 (I know I can still get them not-very-old, but not the point)
Jeep Scrambler
AMC Eagle SX4
Dodge Omni GLH/Charger GLHS
Lots of old school Mopar stuff, but answering with 1969 Dart GT Convertible just sounds too easy.
Hmm lets ee..
1st gen AWD DSM, 1st gen rx7 gslse, 3rd gen rx7, v8 w124 Mercedes, Mark iv supra turbo, mark 1 and 2 MR2 sc/turbo, mark 1 golf gti, 16v scirroco and vr6 corrado.
Regarding the 89 4 runner, I just found and purchased a 91 Toyota Pickup (4cyl, 4wd, stick) with 57k orig miles from orig owner. This thing is going to last me a very long time!
PG :
October 17th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Toyota MR2. The original one, from the 80s. Why doesn’t Toyota make cars like that anymore?
Because they can’t sell enough of them to make a profit. At some point, Toyota realized that the non-Lexus sports/sporty cars they made all sold so poorly that they basically never recouped the tooling costs. So, they said screw it, and stopped making them. Toyota doesn’t do loss leaders. This is how they make ten billion dollars a year.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider with a modern powertrain, maybe from a Miata.
Mercedes 190SL, updated powertrain too.
I still have my Fiero, but wished GM kept refining subsequent models. It was close to being a great car, but never close enough.
I also had a Vega at one time. Again, GM threw it into the marketplace without completing the project. It was possibly a good in concept.
Other cars I’ve driven before and wished they still made, Fiat X/19, Alfa Romeo GTV…actually anything Alfa with the twin spark motors.
Any small-ish Chrysler with the slant-6 engine in it.
Many more…
Datsun 510
Lancer Evolution III
Nissan Pulsar GTi-R
Honda CRX Si
FD RX-7
another vote for the w123
I can’t believe someone said AMC Eagle SX/4. That was my first car and I loved it so much. I’ll second it!
Quasimondo beat me to the CRX, so:
86 Regal T Type
3000GT VR4
And something with a 454!
So many cars, so little time… brand new old cars, eh?
1967 Peugeot 404 Luxe sunroof diesel sedan, burgundy
1973 Citroen DS Pallas, dark blue
1964 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk, supercharged, power steering, power front disc brakes, air conditioned, T-10 four speed, black with red interior
1963 Chrysler Turbine (the bronze blowtorch)
1934 Packard eight dual cowl phaeton
That’d be the top 5 for me…
1973 BMW 2002Tii.
Chevy S-10 Pickup, regular cab, short box with ZQ8 suspension. Stick. Bucket seats. Red.
And a 69 Camaro Z28, orange with RS equipment for the weekend.