departed

Sold 2021

I didn't have this one very long. After sorting it out a bit and making it as close to perfect as I could, I took a long hard look at the cars in the barn, including some new additions and decided I should choose between the two e30's I had. I opted to keep the convertible. This was purchased by a classic car dealer in South Dakota. ___________________________

If you are a BMW fanboy or girl, you know this as an E30. This was the 2nd generation of the BMW 3 series- built from 1982 to 1994. There is also a later 91' convertible in the collection. These cars really strengthened BMW's presence in the American market as the "Ultimate Driving Machine", and became synonymous with the 80's Yuppi culture. I tried to culture that look in the 80's- complete with Girbaud jeans with my Genera sweaters... and I may have put highlights in my hair- but it just wasn't complete without this car.  The E30 has held up much better than my 80's look, and are also far more desirable today. As with most cars of the 80's- the horse power numbers are bested by economy cars today, however their small size and low weight make them a blast to drive. This model- the eta, was a larger engine with lower power output designed for fuel efficiency. The inline 6 in these cars are some of the best to ever leave Bavarian Motor Werks for the US. This is one of the more recent additions, acquired in January 2021.

SOLD 2021

As much as I would like to hold on to all of these cars- because there was something that made me want to own it in the 1st place, I can't. I didn't build a large enough building. I wanted a BMW when I was a teen something- but I couldnt pull it off. This car went to a 17 year old from southern MN... very sharp and polite, and excited to get it. It really made it fun to sell, knowing how excited the new owner was and thinking about how 17 year old me would have felt driving it home.
* He put it up for sale 3 months later for more money. _____________________
The successor to the e30, the 3rd generation BMW 3 series e36 was built from 1990 to 2000. This 97' had the more powerful inline 6, a manual transmission, and some sporty bits that gets as close as I could to the vaunted M3... on a budget. This is not a particularly collectible car (yet), nor is there anything really super special about it- but it was a fun way to have a stick shift convertible I could take with my 3 kids. I know- that's a bit nuanced, like choosing between shoes that look pretty much the same. I guess that happens when you have a large collection of anything- you start to focus on the small differences. 

SOLD  2021

Sometimes I just need to make room for something new. This was my daily driver sports car- simple, reliable, and worry free. This was never intended to be an investment. However, after two years and 6,000 miles- Carvana paid me thousands (plural) more than I paid. It may be because, as I said in my story below- they would be missed. The 370z went out of production with the 2020 model year and their prices are now on the rise. Who knew. 

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This is an old car that you can still buy new. It was introduced in 2008 as a 09' model- and really has not changed since. Nissan seems to do that as a matter of course- if it ain't broken, sell it as long as you can. The 370z is a rear wheel drive, manual transmission, naturally aspirated, hydraulic steering, with all analog instrumentation- not a single color LCD screen in sight. All of which will never return in a single car. Great you say- who wants old tech, right? For those who prioritize cushy transportation, this isn't for you- and there are some days it's not for me either and I drive something else. However- as a drivers car that connects you to the machine and the road through most of your senses- its great, and when cars like this are gone they will be missed. One of the nicer aspects of this car is its reliability and that I never worry about the check engine light coming on, like I do every time I start some of the others in my collection. I also trust it to withstand teaching my younger son and soon to be driving daughter how to drive a manual transmission. 

Sold 2021

I knowingly purchased this car as an investment. I loved having it in the collection and admiring it, however low mileage, pristine, and valuable collectable cars are part of the formula that pays for the barn and everything inside it. This one sold at auction and has shipped off to the new owner in Los Angeles.

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So- really the Honda NSX. It was only Acura in the United States. The New Sports-car eXperimental was revealed in 1989 (go back to the 89' Caprice Wagon to see the then status quo) as a Japanese competitor to the Ferrari 328. This 30 year old car could easily pass for something new on the show-floor from the last few years- that's how advanced it was. All aluminum, mid-engine, and one of the best manual transmission cars... ever. I 'm pretty sure my neck snapped a few times in the '90s when one of these passed by. These were handmade- with about 9000 total produced over its original 15 year run. And- they are also taking off in the collector market. I was lucky to get this one as part of a handful I purchased from a local dealer liquidating their collection. It's also about as new as they come- with just over 13,000 miles on it. The downside to owning a 30-year-old car that is rising sharply in value with low miles like this one... is you want to keep it low miles, so I usually pick something else to drive. I do enjoy walking past it- like another painting in the gallery. 

SOLD  2024

Traded this in on a new Dodge Charger Daytona.

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 get teased about this... why would I want to drive the cheapest model Subaru, in the most basic trim level when I have 1 or 2 other nicer cars I could be driving. From a standpoint of efficient, dependable, safe and innexpensive transportation- I can't think of a better choice. And there are many times, most in fact, where I am completely content with that. I don't need to worry about a check engine light costing $10,000 to shut off, or 11mpg of Premium gas, or the ability to park at Target without worry. I also get teased about how slow I drive- which is usually the speed limit unless I'm on the highway- then a bit over so I don't get run over. I don't really need to give law enforcement a reason to notice me, beyond one of those other cars I'm driving. With this car- I'm always under the radar. 

Here's a plug for Subaru- I get asked a lot what kind/brand of car I think is best. That's a loaded question- with the 1st response being "Best for what"? However, if the answer is reliable and safe transportation, then it comes down to this: A car is made out of Metal, Electronics, Rubber, Plastic, and Glass. It is a machine. I think from a safety, reliability, and value standpoint- you can't buy a better machine than a Subaru. 

SOLD  2021
After 5 years, Thor has a job and it is time to get a brand new car- he's currently thinking a Toyota Tundra. The Mercedes went to a local family, so maybe we'll still get to see it around town.

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Now I bet you think I'm just including pictures of our neighbor's cars for fun. Among the fleet, there are a few that are just used for transportation. Imagine that. This one happens to be my oldest son's 1st car. We purchased this in June of 2016 for his journey to Mankato State. The main criteria's were safety and all-wheel drive. One of the salespeople who has taken care of our family for years kept an eye out, and we landed on this. Mark is in the picture with Thor. Admittedly, this was not the sexiest choice for a 1st car for Thor...but having a safest car we would find in his price range won out.

SOLD  2021

Sometimes I just need to make room for something new. This was my daily driver sports car- simple, reliable, and worry free. This was never intended to be an investment. However, after two years and 6,000 miles- Carvana paid me thousands (plural) more than I paid. It may be because, as I said in my story below- they would be missed. The 370z went out of production with the 2020 model year and their prices are now on the rise. Who knew. 

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This is an old car that you can still buy new. It was introduced in 2008 as a 09' model- and really has not changed since. Nissan seems to do that as a matter of course- if it ain't broken, sell it as long as you can. The 370z is a rear wheel drive, manual transmission, naturally aspirated, hydraulic steering, with all analog instrumentation- not a single color LCD screen in sight. All of which will never return in a single car. Great you say- who wants old tech, right? For those who prioritize cushy transportation, this isn't for you- and there are some days it's not for me either and I drive something else. However- as a drivers car that connects you to the machine and the road through most of your senses- its great, and when cars like this are gone they will be missed. One of the nicer aspects of this car is its reliability and that I never worry about the check engine light coming on, like I do every time I start some of the others in my collection. I also trust it to withstand teaching my younger son and soon to be driving daughter how to drive a manual transmission. 

Sold 2021

This one was really hard to let go- more so than any other car I can remember selling. Not because it was particularly special- lots of families have them, but because it was our family car though most of our kids schools activities and cross country trips, and because it was Cherri's car. But- it sat unused for years, save one final trip to Delaware this summer. As you can read below- I was holding on to it... just in case. However, the car market in 2021 is crazy, and it became worth many thousands more than it was worth years go. So- a new family has it now with several young kids, and I hope it takes care of them too.

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This was the family car. Lots of kid after school activities, several cross country trips, and all the stuff a family car does. It has been parked for the better part of two years. But- I might need it, so I better not sell it.  I know, that is crazy. Since you made it this far looking through the cars in the barn- I'm sure you already think I am.  What is crazy and actually has kept me from selling it is that I priced out the equivalent 21' model and it was $83,000!! Granted, this one was not cheap, but $83k or more for a truck?! That got me wondering how we arrived at supersized price-tags for trucks- including $100k Escalades and Navigators. Looking back- a 2000 Honda Accord LX had an MSRP of $18,540. The same year Suburban was $25, 711- or about 37% more than the Honda. For 2021, the similar Honda MSRP is $24,970, but a basic Suburban is now $58,795- 137% more than the Honda. That price disparity seems to be true for many cars vs trucks over the same period of time.  So in 2042 when my daughter is 36 years old and needs a Suburban- it will cost $134,000 give or take. That is crazy. I should just give her this one instead.

Sold  2021

Assuming this website lasts far beyond 2021...2021 was a crazy year for the car market. Covid and resulting supply chain issues drove new and even used car priced over MSRP. Sometimes way over. I purchased these cars for the reasons listed below- and we did get some miles on them. Callie's 1st time driving a car was on a stick shift (I'm so proud). However- the opportunity arose to sell these and come out ahead right before I'd have been putting them away for winter. I hope to pick up one next spring.

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THE WORST CAR EVER!!! So proclaim the automotive pundits. I ran out and bought three brand new ones! Remember when you could buy a new car that didn't cost what you make in a year (or a big chunk of it)? Simple, efficient, reliable? The VW Bug or Rabbit, Dodge Colt, or recently the Fiesta, Cruise, etc. Yes- everything else is bigger and more powerful than a Mirage, but consider this- 10 year warranty, airbags everywhere, Stability/ABS, Auto braking collision mitigation, auto climate control, touchscreen Infotainment with CarPlay/Android, Camera, Cruise, etc, etc, on a NEW car that cost about $12 thousand dollars OUT THE DOOR (including tax and fees). It also gets the best MPG of any car that is not a hybrid- I regularly average 47MPG. That is an amazing value. Reviewers blast the 78hp engine, however engines with less power did just fine for decades. 78hp is just the right fit for a car that probably weighs at least a 3rd less than yours, and it does not sacrifice fuel economy. If it was bigger or cushier- well then you would have Civic... a great car that would cost more than twice as much. Why three you ask? I have kids that I want to be competent with a manual transmission, great cars for school, a low key daily driver for me (sometimes I just need the right tool for the right job) and ultimately when I sell- I bet I get 2/3 of what I paid for them or better. 

Sold  2021

Another car that was really really hard to part with. One of my favorite cars, and certainly my wife's favorite. However, it was a summer only vehicle, and with everything else in the Barn, it simply did not get driven. I try to maintain a collection of appreciating assets, or at the very least holding their value. Unfortunately this was not in either category- and the Covid car market allowed me to get more than the car had been worth in years. 

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This is the flagship of Lexus, even to this day- save the super limited LFA @ $400,000, and you had to lease those. This was also the 1st time that a hybrid powertrain was utilized to gain performance, comfort and quite, over efficiency. During its production run it was ranked as the quietest car in the world. Specifically, the LS600HL mission was to best the 12 Cylinder competitors with the reliability of a Lexus. There were a lot of other technological firsts, including the ability to park itself (you had to keep your foot lightly on the brake), auto leveling and tracking LED headlights, and CVT transmission for Toyota. Unfortunately, not enough people were willing to spend $40,000 or more on top of the price of a LS460- the car was based off of. The current successor- the  LS500, while nice, doesn't really reach the level of this car. From a technology and performance standpoint- this car was so far ahead of its time that it still stands up today. This used to be my wife's car. The truth is that we really don't drive it enough to warrant keeping it, but some things are hard to part with. 

Specifications

- 438HP Combined

- 5.0L V8 / AC Motor

- Curb Weight 5,470 lbs

- 0-60 6 Seconds

- Top Speed of 155 MPH

Want to know more?

Another Doug DeMuro video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3AuT-wxvmg

Sold 2021

I usually do a pretty good job of picking the right cars. Here and there one doesn't work out. With the 2021 car market, I had the unusual opportunity to walk away without getting hurt a few months after purchasing this. 

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When I was 32 I bought a brand new Corvette- two weeks after my 2nd child was born. Oh my goodness- that is top of the list of things not to do. My wife assumed I was having a midlife crisis. Actually- it was because cars were not selling well after 9/11 and Corvettes were on sale with 0% interest for the 1st time ever. But, I never considered it a midlife thing. Enter the 2021 Honda Type R. This is absolutely a Hot Hatch aimed at a completely different demographic. Remember- I own a station wagon. It is arguably obnoxiously over-styled- with a massive wing and aero effects, super skinny tires, racing seats, and the list goes on. It is also the fastest around a track production front wheel drive car... ever. You have to get in line to buy one, and a super deal is you get to pay full sticker price- as most people have payed a-lot more. I don't even think it will go up in value- because it will likely be eclipsed in the race to the best. So... why? Well, I think it is super cool. I also think (desperately hope) people will think I'm 32 years old when I go zipping by. Ergo- mid life crisis car. I do plan to park it next the 72' Honda N600 in the barn.

Specifications

- 306 HP 

- 2.0L Inline 4 Turbo

- Curb Weight 3,121 lbs

- 0-60 5.2 Seconds

- Top Speed of 169 MPH

Want to know more?

Sarah-n-tuned review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFjE3DgHxAA

Sold 2022

I am doing my best to downsize out the regular cars- and the daily drivers that I have to be on the more basic side.

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This car definitely blends in with most every other car in the Costco parking lot. It is our daily driver. So, instead of elaborating on the car itself- I'll share my thoughts on buying a regular use car.   Cars are almost always a terrible investment. Yes, I said that.  A good way to mitigate loss is to buy a 2-3 year old car coming off of a lease, and buying that car from the manufacturers dealer as Certified Pre Owned (CPO) vehicle. You save up to 50% off of MSRP, you get a warranty, and some assurance you are not buying someone else's problem.  Another tip-  often the store will buy several to dozens of a popular model car from the manufacturer lease auctions. Even though the MSRP and options packages may vary wildly- they usually end up on the lot priced very closely. Take some time to do research on their website- look for the highest MSRP cars and their options, and look for the lowest milage cars. Often a car with, for example, 31k miles may only be priced a few hundred more than one with 46k miles. That is a year's worth of wear and tear on every part of the vehicle. It's not worth saving $500 over. This X3 had almost $10,000 in additional options, including the bigger engine and all the advanced safety systems, plus 10,000 fewer miles- and I paid about $1,000 more for all of that over the 30 to 40 other CPO X3's for sale at the time. There are exceptions- Jeep Wranglers, Toyota trucks, and a few others depreciate very slowly- and if you are within 15% to 25% of MSRP for a 2-3 years old car, and you plan to hold on to it- then probably better to buy new with a new car interest rate and the full term of the warranty.  My advice on the subject, however I have not always taken my own advice either... hence this website.

Sold  2022

Same as the BMW X3, the COVID car shortage allows me to sell off cars that I might have normally held on to for longer. I will be replacing this with Callie's 1st car.

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This car squarely falls into the category of daily driver. No investment potential, it will age and may follow one of the kids to college someday. The C300 was really the bread and butter car for Mercedes- as such many are leased and while all are nice, most have only limited options to keep the price down. I searched for months to find one as well equipped as this one. As I've mentioned with other cars- buying a 2 year old, low mileage Certified Pre Owned from the manufacturer is the way to go. This was the last C300 made in Stuttgart Germany, before production moved to the United States. 

Sold 2022

I might own too many cars. I put about 100 miles on this over two years. I didn't even use the up the two year old gas in the tank. I have made the decision to reduce the fleet  to something where I can at least drive them a full week, and this is the 1st one of that effort to be sold.

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Isn't this just a car? like... collecting a washing machine? This Honda was the top selling car in USA in 1991. Japanese cars ruled the late 80's and into the 90's- with the Accord at the top spot from 89' to 91' followed by a few years of the Taurus, and then came the Toyota Camry. Honda's just didn't break, unless the timing belt did, then they really broke. Honda uses an Interference Engine: if you lose your timing belt, the valves will be crushed by the pistons. Honda owners- replace your timing belt when prescribed. So- nothing really special about this EX, other than cars like this were used like appliances, and discarded. There are not many left, and very very few with under 50,000 miles like this one. And that is what makes it collectible. Adult collectors want the car their family had, or they learned to drive on, or had in high school- and for a generation, this was likely it. This was part of a collection I acquired from a local dealer in 2019- and was to be displayed in a Honda dealership. Plans changed, and it ended up at the Car Barn. Best retro feature- those short-lived automatic seatbelts before airbags became the standard. I love watching Millennials see those in action... or looking for the switch when the car has roll down windows...

Sold 2022

I love the OBS F150's. In a short period of time I ended up owning 3 of them- a 150, 250, and 350. That, even for me, was too much- and took up a lot of room at the barn. This one found a happy owner in April of 2022.

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Behold an old Ford Truck?  The OBS (Original Body Style) is heating up in collector market. Built from 1980 to 1996 (1997 for the F250), this truck represents the last of the era when a truck was just that... for hauling and towing stuff. Simple design, those small pivoting windows to let air in, and bench seats- I think people miss that. Someone missed a 1980 F150 so much that one gem just sold for about $100,000 at auction. I used to own a 1996, similar to this one. I traded that in on a nicer one, then a nicer one, then a super nice one... and then missed those flip out windows, and kind of crappy FM radio. I think I also missed my 20's- and everywhere we went in that truck. The trick today is to find a nice one- as I don't think anyone would have expected these to become collectible. This came out of Wisconsin- and while not quite my style, is complete with hand painted frilly pin striping, running boards, a house sized truck topper, and a "Moon Visor". However- as a time capsule, those items make it perfect. The radio only tunes in country music stations...curious. 

- 205 HP  - 5.0L V8 Same engine as the 5.0 Mustang - Curb Weight 4,300 lbs - 0-60 9.2 Seconds - Top Speed of 90 MPH

Sold  2022

Oh, this was hard to say goodbye too. In fact there was some family argument and strife over letting it go.  The collection briefly tipped over 40 cars in 2021- and I had gas that was three years old in some cars. The decision was made to substantially reduce the fleet, including a couple of the "super" cars. 

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Godzilla- That is really the name associated with this car. The Nissan GTR has been for years a benchmark for other wannabe cars- like Lamborghini, Ferrari, and McLaren to beat... sort of. Those companies make exceptional cars, but you should expect that when you are north of $300,000.  The GTR is one of the fastest and best performance cars in the world- beating out competitors that cost 2-3 times the price. It has a massively powerful V6- hand built by a single craftsman (of a team of 4) in Yokohama. While the GTR has been for sale for decades in the Japanese market- they only came to the US in 2009. Every year the car has been improved- taking input from racing programs and owners. While I have only done it a couple times- it will launch you from 0-60 in a neck snapping 2.9 seconds. It is exhilarating, but it is also borderline violent and I hesitate to do it too often. While cars like this are often featured in video games- the graphics used in the instrument display were created by the company with one of the most popular racing games. It is reasonably comfortable to drive as a regular car, however there are instructions included with the owners manual stating that clattering eminating from the engine and transmission are normal for a race car- and not to call your dealer to complain. 

- 545 HP  - 3.8L V6 Twin Turbo - Curb Weight 3,915 lbs - 0-60 2.9 Seconds - Top Speed of 192 MPH

https://usa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/nissan-s-legendary-takumi-four-master-craftsmen-who-hand-build-every-nissan-gt-r-engine

Sold  2022

And another favorite car off to a happy new owner- part of the great fleet reduction of 2022. This one went to good home-  the buyer owns a couple cars I would love to have myself, including a Volvo 1800.

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This is a true British grand tourer, in the right color. The XK cars were launched in 1996 (as a 97' model) and shared the same platform as the Aston Martin DB7. Beyond that... there's nothing super special. They are, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful modern cars that Jaguar has produced. It is powerful, competent, and comfortable to drive. Pressing the Sport button actually makes a huge difference and wakes the car up- unlike most other cars where I'm pretty sure it's just connected to the blinker fluid reservoir. This one came out of Iowa- a very low milage for its age that was owned by the Jaguar dealer's owner. Low milage cars often look good, but are also likely have problems are not sorted out yet. Higher milage cars are cheaper, and maybe have had the common issues addressed- but everything has been shaking, bumping, going through hot/cold cycles that many more times. Cars from cold climates have corrosion (unless always stored in winter), cars from hot climates bake under the sun- withering plastics and paint. Fortunately, this one was very well attended to over its ownership and is just as good as it looks.

- 290 HP  - 4.0L V8 - Curb Weight 3,876 lbs - Top Speed of 155 MPH

I just like listening to this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpqhCVN2rfU

Sold 2022

Common theme here- Great Fleet Reduction of 2022. 

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You wouldn't know it now, but Porsche was in serious financial trouble in the early 90s. They made legendary cars, but they became too expensive to build to their own standards. The market was also changing, forcing them to drop most models. Additionally- the air cooled engine couldn't meet upcoming EPA/MPG regulations. The solution was two completely new cars- the Boxster and new 911 (986 and 996... in Porsche jargon). To save development and production cost, both cars were virtually identical from the A pillar (that holds your windshield) forward. The interior and basic engine design  (now liquid cooled... like everything else) were also greatly shared. The result was Boxster buyers got a slightly smaller, less powerful, but arguably more agile car that was 100% a Porsche- with much of the far more expensive 911 bits baked into it for a bargain price. And Porsche sold a lot of them. 911 buyers hated it for the same reason, the Boxster was too similar- so early on the Boxster was somewhat disparaged. However, those sales saved Porsche. 25 years later- the original Boxster is now being recognized for what it was then- a great car, and they are roaring into the collector market. This one has less than 20,000 miles and looks brand new- making it a good investment when is sat too long at a dealer with snow piled up outside. Side note- many 986 and 996 cars have a tendency for their engines to self destruct. Really. Huge design flaw- however solutions have now come to market to prevent that. 

- 250 HP 

- 2.7L Flat Six 24-Valve

- Curb Weight 2,778 lbs

- 0-60 6.1 Seconds

- Top Speed of 155 MPH

https://www.pca.org/news/2017-09-20/model-guide-first-generation-boxster-affordable-flat-six-powered-roadster

Sold  2022

This one I will miss dearly. It was truly unique. Unfortunately, due to it having less than 2000 miles-  I simply could never drive it. And, well, it helped pay for something I love to drive now.

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Not just any Mazda B2000. This may be the lowest milage - like new off the show-floor - B2000 in the world. Yes. 1,948 miles and absolutely showroom condition, with the window sticker still on the window (it was- I'll get back to that). In fact, if you Google "1986 Mazda B2000"- the 1st image you see is this very truck! It has been passed around a few times- through Barret Jackson and other auctions. Small pickups like these were ubiquitous in the late 70's and 80's- and inexpensinve. You could buy a new B2000 in 1984 for $5,995- about the same price as the 1st Apple Macintosh system of the same year (and way less than a Lisa... for vintage computer nerds). It has a radio and a horn. And heat- although I've never tested it. This rolled into the barn (from an enclosed trailer of course) in 2019 and was one of five cars I added from another curated collection owned by a local dealer. Unfortunately, someone on the cleanup/delivery crew of that dealer thought it best to remove the window sticker prior to me picking it up- and lost it! I can't wait to add a 1 mile drive to it this summer!

- 86 HP 

- 2.0 L 4 Cylinder 

- Curb Weight 2,788 lbs

- Top Speed- Can't find that anyone ever tested that

- 0-60 Time- See above

https://www.automobilemag.com/news/mazda-b-series-pickup-truck-sale-history-auction/

Sold  2024

I would love to have kept this as there are no more Manual transmission Subaru wagons, however as is often the case-  there was something I wanted more.

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BASE MODEL! Keys and heat- as they used to say in the business. Although- todays base model cars are not nearly so spartan. For $19k- you get power windows, locks, cruise control, and air conditioning! That hardly seems worth mentioning anymore- however adjusted for 30 years of inflation, that's about $9,300 in 1992 dollars and you would not have had all those features at that price. This is also All Wheel Drive and has CarPlay. That is to say despite the cost of modern cars, many like this are a tremendous values over decades past.  This car is for my daughter- who insisted on learning how to drive on a stick shift. I'm a proud dad. Her own incentive is to be better at it than her older brother- and that's a fine reason with me. Gas at the time I write this has hit a high of $4.25 a gallon... nice to have something that's averaging about 34mpg to get groceries.

Specifications

- 152 HP 

- 2.0 L Horizontally Opposed Flat 4

- Curb Weight 3,100 Lbs

- 0-60 8.5 Seconds

- Top Speed of 120 MPH

Want to know more?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuEFTs-vWvc

Sold 2023

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This is last model of the much vaunted 2nd generation BMW 3 series- known in the community as the E30. These cars were built between 1982 and 1994, overlapping its successor (E36) for a couple of years in the convertible trim. In high school, this was on the short list of cars I obsessed over. More because the other two I really wanted- the Ferrari 328 and Mercedes 560 SL seemed to far out of reach for mere mortals, but the BMW seemed doable if I met immediate success right after high school... I had big dreams. This is a really basic, small, fun car to drive- as are all E30s. It wasn't too heavy, it had a tight "European" suspension (in comparison- see my 'glide over railroad tracks on your couch'  89' Caprice Wagon), adequately powered, and really good seats. The hard part of recreating the experience of an E30 today is primarily weight, due to safety requirements- let alone modern comforts. When you add all that in, it takes a lot of power and advanced suspension dynamics to re-create what a simple small lightweight car can provide. Good thing these are fairly plentiful, but the good ones are starting to get hard to find, and prices are heading north. This car was a bit of a project when I acquired it in summer of 2018 and more that I usually bite off. It took a couple months of wrenching and chasing down trim pieces- but it cleaned up well. One interesting thing with old cars- you often want less options. The power convertible top on these are notoriously problematic and very expensive to repair. This one had a manual top- thankfully.

- 168 HP 

- 2.5L Inline Six

- Curb Weight 2,601 lbs

- 0-60 8.1 Seconds

- Top Speed of 135 MPH

Sold 2022

This was my 5th Yellow C5 Corvette. It is a pretty safe bet I'll get another- hopefully a 2003 or 2004 EXACTLY configured the way I want to keep for the long haul. 

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Not just a 2000, but a Millennium Yellow Corvette because YEAR 2000!! (that was a big deal once). So, this was my 1st true sports car. Not this exact car, but one almost exactly like this. I actually owned 4 of them- an 01' that had to be lemon lawed back to GM, the replacement 02', that I traded that in on a 03' convertible, then traded on a 04' convertible with a manual (that I traded in on a Ferrari and have missed it ever since). All Millennium Yellow. So when it came time to add one to the Car Barn... well you know. The C5 (every Corvette generation is a C something) was a huge leap forward from the C4. Due to a number of delays- the C5 benefited from 7 years of development, and it was one of the best performance cars you could buy at any price. So good, it still stands up today against cars 20 years newer. GM really put the emphasis on the drivetrain and weight savings- it had 1/3rd fewer parts than the C4, along with quirky things like the floorboard being made of Balsa wood sandwiched between fiberglass. The car had to fit within a budget- so some sacrifices were made in the interior, and it received some knocks for having a cheap plastic interior- which it kinda does.  Last Corvette to have pop-up headlights- and the last car ever to ever to have them, as I think pedestrian safety requirements would now prevent them.

 345 HP 

- 5.7L Pushrod V8 

- Curb Weight 3,245

- Top Speed of 172 MPH

- 0-60 Time: 4.7 seconds

https://www.autolist.com/chevrolet-corvette/chevy-corvette-c5-generation

Sold 2022

I loved owning this car- however as mechanically over engineered as this car was- it also demanded to be driven regularly to keep everything in good order. This went to an enthusiast who dreamed of owning one. Those kind of sales make it easier to let go.

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The last Mercedes built to a standard. Don't get me wrong- Mercedes makes nice cars, and a few great cars, but for the most part- there always needs to be an eye to the competition with cost in mind. This car is the successor to my 560SL, built from 1990 to 2001. The SL was built to be the absolute best car it could be- then priced accordingly. There really wasn't a competitor- so they could do that. This was also the last Mercedes before Chrysler got involved between '98 and '07- and quality took a sharp turn sideways. Things are better now. This car feels as solid as it did 22 years ago, and its performance is still on par with some of today's best cars. Although it is a convertible, we have kept it fitted with its hardtop. The collector market is beginning to reflect the rising popularity of R129 (car people speak for the chassis) and nice examples like this one are going up. Which brings me to a question I do often get asked... "Why all the cars?" My answers range from- "I'm not too bright,"or "I'm sacrificing my children's future", or I'm making up for certain other deficiencies."  While the daily drivers and a couple other newer cars will depreciate like everything else- most are part of a portfolio.  As long as that portfolio value is growing at a rate better than a comparable conservative investment strategy- well, then I get to have more fun than staring at a mutual fund report. It's also a little less volatile. 

- 302 HP 

- 5.0L V8

- Curb Weight 4,012 lbs (that's as heavy as a SUV)

- 0-60 6.1 Seconds

- Top Speed of 155 MPH

https://www.hagerty.com/media/buying-and-selling/definitive-1990-2002-mercedes-benz-r129-sl-buyers-guide/

Sold 2022

I bet I'm going to regret selling this one. I would have held onto it for a long time, however it was the final piece that made the 2022 Ferrari possible. 

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The Civilized Viper- complete with side windows, exterior door handles, Air Conditioning, and non-2nd degree burning exhaust. That is to say that the 1st Viper had none of those. Other than that- this 2nd generation car looks very similar- and they are Hot Wheels come to life. A massive 10 cylinder engine that Lamborghini (then part owned by Chrysler) developed, with a body from the Lamborghini designer of the Diablo. The reality is a lot of people crashed and worse with these early cars as 450hp and no safety systems met with drivers who had the money, but not suitable experience (that includes self restraint) crashing 2 miles after leaving the dealership. Not too many cars scare me- this one does, as does the 2014 Viper in my collection. They feel alive- there is not a much more visceral driving experience. Vipers are often compared to Corvettes, and I would argue that the Corvette is hands down the best value, and can be called America's Sports Car- but the Viper is not a comparison. They are purpose built for performance, much like the Cobra's of the 60's. They are almost totally hand built- when my son and I visited the factory there was only one robot, and that checked the tolerances of the frames on the 2-3 cars built per day. There have also been fewer Vipers produced in its entire 92'-17' production than a single year of Corvettes produced. It is, in my opinion, the American Supercar.

- 450 HP 

- 8L V10

- Curb Weight 3,375 lbs

- 0-60 4.3 Seconds... in 1999!

- Top Speed of 193 MPH

Another Doug DeMuro video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ8rhpxVpqs

Sold 2022

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This is the 1st Honda built in the USA, and a departure from the smaller Japanese cars that preceded it. This 2nd generation Accord was built between 1981 and 1985, and introduced the world to in car navigation- called the Electro Gyro-Cater, using a helium gas gyroscope and transparent maps illuminated on a screen...think 1960's James Bond. This is one of those every day cars that no one thought to hang onto- but also a really important piece of automotive history as it solidified Honda in the US car market and began the dominance of Japanese cars in the 1980's. This car was on display at a local Honda dealership before landing in my collection in 2018. 

- 75 HP 

- 4 Cylinder OHC 1.7L

- Curb Weight 2,169 lbs

- Top Speed of 104 MPH

- 0-60 Time: 13 Seconds

Sold 2023

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Ah... yes, why would I own my grandfathers car? This is the last great American cruising vessel. Rear wheel drive with an emphasis on completely isolating you from the road for the smoothest cushiest ride possible. The Town Car was the luxury version of the Ford Panther platform- the basis for just about every Police Cruiser, Taxi, and Limousine in the United States for decades, ending production in 2011. If you see one still in service, you can be sure the owner is holding on tight to keep it going- because there is nothing like it you can buy today. Well okay- you can buy a big Mercedes S class, but not too many of those become Taxi's. They were also bulletproof- 300 thousand miles, no problem- unless you live in Minnesota where the body of the car will have disintegrated before then. Check out all of the chrome, the hood ornament placed right over the hood ornament (in case you missed that this was a Lincoln), and that Vinyl Landau top...that ladies and gentlemen meant LUXURY. This is actually a special car- the Designer edition was the top end of the Town Car from 2006-2007, after which features started to be removed as production winded down. Low milage and no winter driving make this one about as nice as you can possibly find- and collectors are taking notice. 

- 239 HP

- 4.6L V8

- Curb Weight 4,345 lbs

- 0-60 8.5 Seconds

- Top Speed of 112 MPH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vNUXUA526s

Sold 2023

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This is a monument to pickup-truckdom. A OBS F-350 Dually Custom Conversion. Translation- OBS is Original Body Style, a term that refers to Ford full size trucks built between 1980 and 1997. The F series trucks are segmented by tonnage- 150=1/2 Ton, 250= 3/4 Ton, and the mighty 350=1 Ton. Dually means it has 4 tires on the rear axle. Back in the 80's and 90's- a truck was just that, a truck- and pretty spartan. No King Ranch or Escelades. However- there did exist a couple companies that took those base trucks and added Lazy-Boy size captains chairs, lights, paint schemes, and lots of wood trim to dress them up. Centurion was one of those companies, and this truck is the Pacifica. All that truck bling added about a 3rd to the price- however in the current landscape of $100,000+ trucks and SUV's... that's not too bad. This one lived on the west coast, which is why it has no rust. It also has less than 50,000 miles- making it a perfect candidate as a collector vehicle for the Barn, and  rounds out the collection of three OBS Ford trucks.

- 245 HP

- 7.5L V8. 11mpg with or without pulling a railroad car

- Curb Weight 5,380 lbs

- 0-60 8.8 Seconds

- Top Speed of 90 MPH

Here's an article about this very truck:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/articles/rare-1994-ford-f-350-centurion-pacifica-is-amazingly-well-preserved/

Sold 2023

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In the 90's and early 00's- this mustang was everywhere. Mostly on rental car lots. There are still a lot of them around, but most are pretty used up. This was not a car on my radar- but I'm always looking. Usually until the ipad hits me on the forehead when I finally fall asleep. This one is unique as it was pulled off the regular assembly line once the body was built and sent over to the Special Vehicle Team at Ford. It got a 320 HP hand built engine, some other performance bits, and- an INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION! The latter was kind of a big deal as the rear axles on Mustangs were always solid (like a Jeep Wrangler) to save cost. That was old technology that dulled it's handling, and was often maligned by car reviewers. The SVT Cobra with IRS was built to compete with other performance cars of the time- with production ending in 04'. IRS didn't return to the mustang until 2015. What sold me on this particular car was the previous (and only) owner. That guy was way more meticulous than even me, and that's saying something.  It came with a binder that contained the delivery pictures- and every single bit of protective wrap, labels, production information-- EVERYTHING that the car left the factory with. All services at the selling dealer that I in turn purchased it from. Of all the used cars I have ever purchased- this may be one of the best cared for. I couldn't pass it up.

- 320 HP 

- 4.6L Hand Built V8

- Curb Weight 3,285 lbs

- Top Speed- 149 MPH

- 0-60 5.5 Seconds

Sold 2023

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This is was the longest running Corvette, made from 1967 (68 model year) through 1982. It went through a lot of changes moving from the 60's to 80's- starting with a huge 435HP engine in 68' to just 165hp in 75' due to the 70's gas crisis and ending in 82' with 200hp. 1982 was the 1st year you could not buy a Corvette with a manual transmission, although that changed with the C4 successor. Regardless of the year it is pretty recognizable from the exaggerated body lines, sooooper long hood, and very narrow body. They made a ton of them- almost 54,000 in for 1979 alone. Not particularly rare cars that never really held or gained in value up until very recently. As such, they were driven and used up like most cars- and finding a good one is a bit of work. Fortunately there is a large community of owners and companies that support older Corvettes with just about every part available, down to proper screws and fasteners. I won this on an auction site and had it shipped from Pennsylvania. Unfortunately it wasn't quite as advertised- as is often the case. Before Covid I might have gone to take a look 1st. It will take some TLC to make perfect- but that also makes it a great winter of 22' project. I'm also feeling like I need to head to Ragstock for some vintage cloths... and maybe wear a few gold chains while I'm driving this.

- 200 HP 

- 5.7L V8 Crossfire Injection

- Curb Weight 3239 lbs

- 0-60 7.9 Seconds

- Top Speed of 126 MPH... I think some mini-vans go faster.

Sold 2023

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I love the Corvette. I love Camaro and Mustangs too, but I see the Corvette as the American Sports Car. There's a lot of history there- and much better places than here to read about it. This is a C4- the 4th generation (current model is a C8) built from 1984 to 1996, it was one of the longest production Corvette ever, and one of the longest of any GM car ever(I think my 1982 Corvette was the longest). It also had the distinction of being one of the most complex cars to build from an assembly standpoint. There was some delay getting it to production- so no 1983 Corvettes exist- except for 1 test model in a museum.  The seating position is very low inside the car, giving you the sensation of being completely enveloped. For a 25-year-old car it still has a good amount of power and torque- and it feels fast. The entire body is composite material- so no rust in Minnesota and this one looks as good as they come.

- 300 HP 

- 5.7L Pushrod V8

- Curb Weight 3,285 lbs

- 0-60  5.8 Seconds

- Top Speed of 167 MPH

Sold 2023

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This is one of the most classic Mercedes roadsters- undoubtedly familiar to you (unless you are my daughters age or younger).  Built from 1971 to 1989, it is also one of the longest running production cars, ever. I can't count the number of placements this car had in TV and movies- but, Eddie Murphy's girlfriend in Beverly Hills Cop had one- making me want one (or was it Stephanie Powers, or the Ewings). The SL went through a-lot of mechanical changes over 17 years, however the basic profile really didn't change and it maintained the great big school bus sized steering wheel throughout. This is the last iteration made from 86' to 89'. The build and ride quality is amazing for something designed in the late 60's- and with the V8 engine- feels as powerful as you would expect of many modern luxury cars. And, it has an analog clock that ticks... and outside temperature gauge. Very retro cool. I acquired this in summer 2017 and it has been a favorite for myself and my two sons to drive in the summer.

- 227 HP 

- 5549 cc V8 rear wheel drive

- Curb Weight 3,650 lb 

- Top Speed of 140 MPH

- 0-60 Time: 6.6 seconds

Sold 2023

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Up until 1969, Honda was primarily known for motorcycles in the United States, with the slogan "You meet the nicest people on a Honda". The N600 was the first Honda officially exported to the US in 1969 as a 1970 model. As my mother in law recalls, they were often referred to simply as "Honda Cars"- then sold through the motorcycle dealer network. This car was part of a Heritage Collection owned by one of the large Minnesota based dealerships. I took ownership in 2019 along with a 1991 NSX- the other bookend of my Honda collection. This is as tiny as it looks- and for sure okay to drive wearing a foam clown nose. The most common reaction I get when people see it is to ask about my Mini (Cooper)- until they see the Honda badge... followed by a perplexed expression, and then a fun conversation. 

- 36 HP 

- Air Cooled Two Cylinder 598cc Engine 

- Curb Weight 1,119 lb (that's less than a 3rd of your car)

- Top Speed of 81 MPH

- 0-60 Time: Yes, eventually-  better if on downhill slope