Lincoln Premiere, BMW R50/5, Lancia Fulvia Coupé: Mercedes’ Marketplace Madness

Welcome back to Mercedes’ Marketplace Madness! As you know, I love picking up dirt-cheap cars and motorcycles and then telling you lovely readers about the dumb things that I do with them. Since I’m shopping all of the time, I always have an evolving list of vehicles I want to buy. Here’s what I’ve been obsessed with lately.

This week, I’m taking a look at vehicles I’d love to add to my fleet if only I stopped spending money on other vehicles I’d add to my fleet. Oh heck, I’d add just about any car to my fleet. Today, we have some Mopar firepower, pretty vintage American iron, and some neat imports.

Here’s what I’m looking at this week!

1999 Mercedes-AMG C43 – $9,000

Here’s an AMG for less than 10 fat stacks! As Car and Driver writes, when the C43 was revealed in 1997, AMG was still an independent firm. A year later, Mercedes-Benz purchased a controlling interest in AMG, eventually renaming it Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Here’s a little more backstory on AMG:

In 1967, former Mercedes-Benz engineers Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher opened AMG Motorenbau und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (AMG Engine Production and Development Limited). The German company in those early days was focused on racing engine development.

The company gained fame in 1971 when its AMG 300 SEL 6.8 crossed the finish line of the 24 Hours of Spa in second place, winning its class. The Red Pig, as it was nicknamed, was a big luxury sedan competing in a field of lighter, sportier cars. But the V8 under the hood (originally a 6.3-liter making 250 HP, bored out to 6.8-liters and making 428 HP) allowed it to blow the pack out of the water. You can see the company’s future in the works, here.

For the C43, AMG started with the W202 C-Class, which was launched in 1994. AMG shoehorned in the 4.3-liter V8 from the Mercedes-Benz E430. Each engine was assembled by hand and thanks to better cooling and intakes, the AMG version cranks out 27 more ponies than standard at 302 HP. That called for a 60 mph sprint in under 6 seconds. Despite this being the first time a Mercedes C-Class got a V8, it fell on deaf ears. In a Car and Driver showdown, the C43 arrived dead last behind a BMW M3, Audi S4, and a Saab 9-3 Viggen.

About 1,100 of these made it over stateside and they sold for a starting price of $52,750. Today, these have seemingly been forgotten and could be had for cheap. This one has minor modifications in the form of a lowered suspension. It’s $9,000 or best offer from the seller in Puyallup, Washington with 212,000 miles.

1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR – $23,500

As a kid, I adored drifting digital versions of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution in video games. An Evo was always a solid choice in just about any racing game. And beyond gaming, one of the more memorable Top Gear car reviews for me was watching Jeremy Clarkson try to keep up with a Lamborghini while behind the wheel of an Evo VIII. It’s no surprise to see enthusiasts importing these cars to live out their own racer fantasies.

America didn’t get the racer-turned-road car Lancer Evolution until 2003. So, these earlier ones, like the Evo IV here, had to be imported. Here’s what Mitsubishi says about the Evo IV:

The Lancer Evolution’s base model the Lancer compact passenger car underwent a full model change in October 1995 and this led to the Lancer Evolution series moving into its second generation. The rally machine was based on the Lancer Evolution RS model with its functional equipment specification designed to meet the wishes of the WRC Works Team. The Lancer Evolution GSR, meanwhile, was built for sport driving enjoyment and was equipped to allow regular drivers to extract its superior driving dynamics with confidence.

Launched in August 1996, the Lancer Evolution IV used Active Yaw Control (AYC) technology which controls the driving and braking forces between the left and right wheels by judging driving conditions precisely controlling the vehicle’s yaw moment, enhancing cornering performance and braking stability. The 4G63 intercooled turbo engine was modified with a high-speed cam profile, forged pistons and a twin-scroll turbocharger to squeeze out another 10PS and deliver a maximum output of 280PS. Following the full model change of the Lancer base model, the Lancer Evolution IV used a new design multi-link suspension at the rear. The RS trim level was available with a choice of super close ratio transmission (with high or low gearing).

This Evo IV is largely stock, save for a Deatschwerks fuel pump, aftermarket wheels, Tein coilovers, additional gauges, and a few other small modifications. This car also sports an aftermarket U.S. radio. The seller notes that the rear wheels do rub and that the vehicle has been repainted at some point in its life. It’s $23,500 from the seller in Yukon, Oklahoma with 130,000 miles.

1973 Lancia Fulvia Coupé – $25,000

With summer now in swing, it’s the perfect time to get behind the wheel of a classic car. If American iron doesn’t do it for you, perhaps some Italian style will. This Lancia Fulvia looks fantastic inside and outside. The seller calls it an “honest car,” and I take that to mean it has nothing to hide. Sure enough, look in the pictures and you do see imperfections and dirt, stuff you see on a car that’s actually driven.

Here’s what Lancia has to say about what you’re looking at here:

Ownership of Lancia transferred to Carlo Pesenti in 1959, following which the brand’s Technical Director Antonio Fessia successfully ushered in a new era of mass-produced front-wheel drive cars beginning with the Flavia in the early 1960s. A professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin, Fessia was a staunch advocate of this technical solution, which was innovative at the time but would later become the most widely adopted configuration by all car manufacturers to this day.

It was customary for Lancia to launch cars with a larger or smaller sister model, as in the case of the Aprilia/Ardea and Aurelia/Appia. So in 1963 the Flavia was followed by its “little sister” the Fulvia, which combined innovation and tradition in its technical solutions. The Fulvia also adopted the new front-wheel drive setup but with a narrow V 4-cylinder engine in keeping with Lancia convention. Four efficient disc brakes, another rarity for the time, underlined the excellence of the equipment, which borrowed heavily from the Flavia.

The Fulvia Coupé was created two years later from the pen of designer Piero Castagnero. Drawing inspiration from the contours of Riva motorboats, the then manager of the Lancia Style Centre designed an elegant 2+2 sports coupé with a bright interior, featuring large windows and a much more raked windscreen and rear window compared with the saloon version. The first Fulvia Coupé was fitted with a 4-cylinder 1216 cc engine producing 80 hp, which was soon raised to 1.3 litres and subsequently to 1.6 litres.

This Fulvia coupé sports a 1.3-liter narrow bank angle V4 making 89 HP. That drives the front wheels through a manual transmission. It’s $25,000 from the seller in Austin, Texas with 48,000 miles.

1982 Honda GL500 Cafe Racer – $5,500

I don’t often feature vehicles with heavy modifications. In fact, I usually seek out stock versions of everything I find. I’m making an exception here because, in my eye, this build was done so well. This motorcycle started life as a humble Honda Silverwing, now it’s a striking custom.

The origins of the GL500 date back to 1978. Honda designer Shoichiro Irimajiri was responsible for some of Honda’s now coolest historic motorcycles like the GL1000 Gold Wing and the beastly CBX. The CX series featured a longitudinally-mounted V-twin and a few then-noteworthy features like electric-only starting, a shaft drive, liquid-cooling, and Comstar wheels with tubeless tires.

The first bike to come out of the CX series was the CX500, which featured an 80-degree V-twin mounted like Moto Guzzi places its engines. However, the Honda interpretation features an engine with a narrower bank angle.

This motorcycle is a GL500 Silver Wing. Introduced in 1981, this is a variant of the CX500 that’s geared toward touring. GL500s have a similar engine as the CX500, but benefit from a more reliable transistorized ignition. These could be had in naked form or with fairings for a midsize touring experience. This one? Well, it has been stripped down and turned into a cafe racer.

The seller says nothing about the build, but my eyes spot remote reservoir shocks, pod filters, a custom exhaust, and more. Of course, the motorcycle’s frame and body were modified into that classic cafe racer look. It looks well done down to the paint. Power comes from a 497cc V-twin making 50 HP, or at least that’s what it made stock. It’s $5,500 from the seller in Crown Point, Indiana with 37,000 miles.

1957 Lincoln Premiere – Auction

What caught my eye with this classic Lincoln was its striking teal paint. I wish the cars of today were even just a little bit as colorful as the vehicles of decades ago. Aside from the color, this Lincoln Premiere looks like the perfect car for a summer evening cruise.

The Lincoln Premiere launched in 1956 as a model below the Continental Mark II, but above the Capri. The Premiere was offered in two-door and four-door models, both were capable of hauling six occupants. Its competitors included the Imperial Crown Coupe, Packard Patrician, and Cadillac Series 62. One neat feature of the Premiere was its air-conditioning system, which dispensed air through overhead ducts, not unlike an airplane. The Premiere was also known for its plethora of colors, which at one point included 32 two-tone colors. At launch, one could be had for $4,601, or $52,081 in today’s money.

The seller of this 1957 Premiere says it’s painted in Horizon Blue with a white top. It’s just a three-owner vehicle, and the previous owner had it for 56 years. Amazingly, this paint and the vehicle’s interior are said to be original! Power comes from a 368 cubic inch Ford Y-block V8 rated at 300 HP and 415 lb-ft torque. The rear wheels are driven by a Turbo-Drive three-speed automatic.

It’s up for auction on Hemmings by the seller in Wayne, New Jersey. The vehicle has 92,654 miles and bidding is at $10,000 with 11 days left in the auction.

1962 Chrysler New Yorker – $13,500

If teal isn’t your jam, how about a classic car that’s closer to pink? And for $13,500, this 1962 Chrysler New Yorker is almost certainly going to be a far cheaper summer ride.

The Chrysler New Yorker enjoyed a long run. First introduced in 1938 as the New York Special before becoming the New Yorker in 1939, Chrysler kept the name alive in some way until 1996. As Hemmings writes, K.T. Keller was at the helm of Chrysler and the climate wasn’t great. The Airflow, despite its forward-thinking, was a terrible flop. One series launched in response was the C-23, which matched the Imperial with its 125-inch wheelbase. These early cars were a sub-model of the Imperial and shared components with the Imperial. Some highlight features include a six-volt electrical system, illuminated speedometer, powered clock, and hydraulic brakes.

By 1960 the New Yorker remained on the high end of Chrysler’s lineup and gained notable traits like unibody construction. In terms of design, the New Yorker got a recessed grille, but maintained Virgil Exner’s characteristic “Forward Look” massive fins. By 1962, this car’s year, those fins were deleted.

The seller of this car says that it’s a road trip-ready car, but it has had a somewhat rough past. The floorpan had to be replaced and the air-conditioner apparently needs a recharge. That said, the car was repainted in a rose color and given a matching interior. There’s a 413 cubic inch V8 under the hood rated at 340 HP. It’s $13,500 from the seller in Orlando, Florida.

1971 BMW R50/5 – $5,500

Ever since I sold my Triumph Tiger, I’ve been stuck between two strong desires. Should I buy a Triumph Rocket III from the 2000s? Or should I get an old BMW Airhead? I’ve been stuck on this conundrum and have found myself unable to make a decision. I mean, the Rocket is ridiculously huge and quick, but I can’t stop staring at old BMWs. Just look at this 1971 R50/5.

Here’s what BMW has to say about this beauty:

In the mid-1960s, the image of the motorcycle changed completely from a means of transport to a leisure vehicle. In keeping with the spirit of the time, BMW launched the /5 models as a model range that featured lots of innovations and a dynamic styling line: lightweight double-loop frame with bolted rear frame, long-stroke telescopic fork and rear swing arm. The electric starter was supplied as an option for the R 50/5 and was regarded as revolutionary. The BMW R 50/5 was intended as a successor for the BMW R 50/2 used by government agencies. Private customers saw it as the “little” (“kleine”) five hundred cc, which consequently tended to stand in the shadow of its big sisters.

Power comes from a 498cc boxer twin making 32 HP. BMW advertises a top speed of 96 mph for this little guy. The seller notes that this one runs and rides well. It’s $5,500 from the seller in Wautoma, Wisconsin with 24,198 miles.

1971 International Cargostar 1950B – $19,450

Do you have a need to haul some cars or other toys around? This vintage International Cargostar would be a stylish way to do it. International’s Cargostar series launched in 1970, replacing the Loadstar series. The departing Loadstar trucks featured conventional layouts while the Cargostar adopted a cabover configuration. Due to this change, Cargostar trucks boasted better tight space maneuverability.

Power in this truck comes from a 392 cubic inch V8, though it’s unclear what kind of power it’s making. The engine is backed by a four-speed manual transmission and the ramp bed has a 9,000-pound winch. The seller says the truck was owned by an Illinois municipality and has spent most of the past 50 years in storage. It runs and drives but will need new tires. The truck is $19,450 from the seller in Overland Park, Kansas.

2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 – $48,500

The original Viper traces its roots to Chrysler’s Advanced Design Studios, where Bob Lutz expressed interest in reviving the famed AC Cobra. Designer Tom Gale got straight to work on drawing this idea up.

This Viper comes from the super snake’s third-generation. It features a design penned by Osamu Shikado, a man who had experience designing the Toyota Camry and Corolla. The new Viper was a bit more restrained and had features that the original Viper didn’t, like a folding clamshell roof that could be stowed in the vehicle.

Don’t let the softer appearance fool you, this is still a seriously quick car. Power comes from an 8.3-liter V10 making 510 HP and 535 lb-ft torque. That reaches the rear wheels through a Tremec T-56 six-speed manual. That’s good for a 60 mph dash in about four seconds.

It’s $48,500 from the seller in Altamonte Springs, Florida with 32,000 miles.

That’s it for this week, thank you for reading!