Diego’s AutoHunter Picks

When you read Based on my AutoHunter picks, I will be heading to Michigan for the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race, a great event held in the middle of nowhere 45 minutes north of Ionia. I will be seeing over 100 cars in person and looking forward to seeing cars that have never been to the event.

This week’s selections are varied: a beautiful Sunday-driving convertible, a fine homegrown muscle car, a vintage Sunday-driving car, and a low-mileage GT you can buy for pennies. I know which cars impress me, but what about you?

1999 Mercedes-Benz SL500
The 1990s SL is a Palm Beach favorite, a rugged, well-engineered convertible that still handles the modern world with aplomb—if you can use your phone as a GPS. I drove one across the country 20 years ago with a Danish friend and a dog, and I couldn’t praise the car enough.

This 1999 SL500 is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 and a five-speed automatic transmission, but you might think the car’s appeal is that it’s painted in an unusual color—black or pewter would be boring. While the SL has all the features you could want, it’s the 302 horsepower that’s the most appealing. And the roar of its V8 engine never seems to fade over the years.

1968 Buick Special Limousine
Shame on the Buick Special! It was overshadowed by the more luxurious Skylark model, so it never gained any favor. Also, it was never offered with any high-horsepower engines, so collectors were never interested in this least expensive Buick model. Almost no one knew this car existed, because almost every midsize car was either a Skylark or a Gran Sport.

But some enterprising enthusiast restored this 1968 Special Deluxe by installing a 430ci V8 (which is what you’d get from a Wildcat or Electra). The car is now a true muscle car, with 360 horsepower and low-down torque, all packed into Buick’s lightest car. If you’ve got dreams of a 1970 Phase One, this 1968 is like your homemade predecessor.

1965 Imperial Crown Convertible
If you don’t know, Imperial convertibles have always been rare. I believe only the 1957 model was built with over 1,000; the 1965 model was 633. It was a luxurious, solid car that probably drove better than a Cadillac or Lincoln. The interior door handles reminded me of jets of the era. This would have been a distinctive car in the Hamptons at the time.

This 1965 Imperial convertible is painted Persian White and has red power bucket seats, a nice sporting feature for a true luxury car. Air conditioning in a convertible? Yes. Power windows? Of course! AM/FM radio with power antenna switch? Awesome. This car costs less than a low-end Cadillac.

2013 Porsche Panamera S
I’ve always found the Panamera a bit clunky, a bit like a modern-day Rambler Marlin (before it was moved to the Ambassador platform). But if you don’t like SUVs, this four-door hatchback is probably the best combination of practicality and Porsche dynamics, and it’s something I could live with for the rest of my life.

This 2013 Panamera S is so interesting for a few reasons: It’s a V8, it’s an S model (which means it has an upgraded engine that makes 400 horsepower), it has less than 23,000 miles on it, and this Porsche was originally listed for $113,680, so anyone who bids on this car will get a pretty nice payout after waiting 11 years for it.