This week’s episode in the further adventures of searching the docket of AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, reveals a quartet of imported gems.
Quartet, of course, is a group of four, or quattro in Italian, and one of the cars we found on AutoHunter has a Quattroporte, as in the Maserati with four doors.
And speaking of quartet, it is open for bidding only until noon (Pacific) on September 27:
We’ll get to that car in a few moments, but we begin with…
1988 BMW M3
The AutoHunter website presents this 1988 BMW M3 as a “largely unmodified” E30 example driven 62,914 miles since new.
The car carries its factory-installed 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine linked to a factory-installed Getrag 5-speed manual gearbox and limited-slip differential. The engine was rated at 192 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque when new, and the M3 was among the best handling cars of the era.
It’s been equipped with an aftermarket aluminum strut-tower brace and, in 2014, a new radiator and work on the air conditioner.
The car rides on 15-inch factory “Style 5” wheels wrapped with new 205/55 tires.
1980 Triumph Spitfire
Another ‘80s era sports car is this 1980 Triumph Spitfire, offered up for bidding after 40 years in the seller’s possession. Amazingly, perhaps, the car has been driven only 26,754 miles since new.
This final-year Spitfire 1500 roadster wears yellow paint — with 1500 decals in factory locations — and has a black and houndstooth interior with woodgrain dash trim. It also has a two-piece tonneau cover.
The Spitfire launched in 1962 and went through four generations. In 1979 it lost its chrome bumpers to black rubber “federal” bumpers.
The AutoHunter description notes that the car has been garage kept but needs new tires. The seller also suggests the 4-cylinder engine is due for new belts and hoses due to age. The engine feeds its power to the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual gearbox.
1985 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC
Yet another sporty car from the 1980s, albeit a luxurious one, is this 1985 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC traveling only 63,00 miles since new and offered in original condition.
The car has a Mercedes’ 228-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 linked to a 4-speed automatic transmission and recently had maintenance work done to its power-operated sunroof. It also has had its roof, both doors and right-rear quarter panel repainted.
It rides on refurbished 16-inch Lorinser OEM-spec wheels with Vredestein Performance A/S tires that were installed in the past year. The air conditioning compressor was rebuilt in 2020.
The car’s suspension has H&R springs and Bilstein shocks and has been lowered 3 inches from stock for an enhanced stance and performance.
1967 Maserati Quattroporte
While those previous cars are all 2-door models, we haven’t forgotten the “quattro” promise we made and thus this 1967 Maserati Quattroporte.
Coming out of Canadian family ownership for more than 20 years is this 4-door Maserati, designed by Pietro Frua and with its bodywork done by Vignale.
Maserati introduced the Quattroporte at the Turin Motor Show in 1963 and launched its Series II models, featuring dual headlamps, in 1966.
Power is provided by a 4.1-liter V8 rated at 260 horsepower. The engine got new pistons in 2014. Power reaches the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox.
To view these and other cars available for bidding, visit the AutoHunter website.
I am chasing an MG TF. Any clues?