Five future classics that are still waiting to be discovered?
I recently received a newsletter from an American insurance company that listed five "stealth collectibles", i.e. cars that are still waiting to be discovered as classics and collectors' vehicles. Such suggestions are all too readily made and usually don't even elicit an "aha". In this case, however, the list included cars that would probably be worth a closer look in this country.
The Isuzu Trooper, built from 1981 to 1991, was one of the cars listed. The first generation impressed with its straightforward and simple styling and high-torque engines. And it was available with manual transmission.
Then came the Suzuki Samurai, which was sold between 1986 and 1995. It was part of the legacy of the Suzuki LJ80 (Jimny), which was also very popular in this country. It was marketed almost all over the world as the SJ413 or Samurai and, like its predecessor, it excelled with good off-road characteristics. Some call it the Land Rover of the little man.
-1993.jpg)
The Nissan 240 SX was third on the list. Better known in this country as the Nissan Silvia and marketed as the 180 SX and 200 SX, the elegant coupé with rear-wheel drive embodied Japanese sportiness for reasonable money. Many were converted into special drift vehicles. Few have survived.
The VW Golf GTI Mk 2 certainly doesn't need to be introduced to anyone in Europe; for some, it is the best GTI ever built by Volkswagen. In the USA it was also sold with square headlights, in Europe it retained the round headlights familiar from the Mk 1.
The fifth "insider tip" went to several BMW model series, including the E30, E36 and E46 (pictured above). It simply had to be a Touring (i.e. a station wagon, "long roof version") with a manual gearbox. These models already cost considerably more in the USA than comparable automatic saloons.
Our American friends are a little different, but they have recognized that a manual gearbox can increase driving pleasure. That's a good thing!
