Diego’s AutoHunter Picks

Remember the cartoon The comic strip “Motley’s Crew”? The name comes from a phrase about a colorful group of people, and a certain heavy metal band borrowed the name, although it was also somewhat inspired by Slade.

This week’s AutoHunter picks include a wide variety of vehicles, both vintage and modern, but if you can’t wrap your head around the idea that a modern car is 23 years old, you’re not alone. Which one will you pick?

1956 Chevrolet 3100 Stepside
Last week I wrote about a ’56 Stepside listed on AutoHunter. It was lightly modified with a small block 350 and stock configuration, and then there was this stock example that perfectly showcased GM’s prowess in that era. Who would have thought practicality could be so beautiful? I wonder if the Italians paid as much attention to this as they did to everything else Harley Earl did.

This 1956 3100 Stepside was restored from the ground up and painted in Tropical Turquoise with an Indian Ivory top. Power comes from a torquey 235 Thriftmaster Six engine, which was common in Chevy trucks of the time. The red oak cabin adds a natural touch to the designer’s creative work – a nice contrast. The custom interior might scare purists, but it was done with respect so it doesn’t look out of place.

1978 AMC Pacer D/L Station Wagon
As a refugee from the advertising world, I understand the creative process and how a project might be presented differently once completed. This was the problem with the Pacer, which was designed to be powered by a Wankel rotary engine and then had to be redesigned and reengineered to accommodate a conventional powerplant. As an AMC product, the ridicule it received in the past may have been mitigated, but pop culture has returned and the Pacer is practically MOMA fodder.

The AMC Pacer station wagon lost some of its 1970s novelty by having its nose stretched, as this 1978 wagon shows. Plus, that year’s new facelift gave the Pacer a 1970s neoclassical look. Add in AMC’s powerful 258ci straight-six engine, an automatic, air conditioning, and individual reclining seats, and you had a reliable, practical car that brought to mind Nash and “Wayne’s World.”

2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 Supercharger
These mini SLs were stylish when they were first introduced, and I still think so. Sure, the retractable top might have seemed a bit too complicated for a less premium model, but that’s Mercedes style. The supercharged inline-four was also a novelty at the time, though its 192-horsepower rating seems a bit dated today.

This 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 with 34,766 miles has the usual cool styling for a two-seater, no doubt thanks to the 17″ Touren wheels. Everything you need for modern life is on the options list except for GPS, but there’s no shame in using a cell phone, right? This is an agile convertible that can weave in and out of traffic while drawing envious glances from poor SUV drivers.

1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
For all the complaints and gripes about the “bad economic times,” I have to give a shout out to GM for making the 1971 cars look great a few years later. They were better for several models, though I don’t know if I would argue that the 1975 Eldorado was better than the 1971. Certainly the Federal bumper looked better than the 1973!

This Firethorn Metallic 1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible has a claimed mileage of 41,232 miles. The tan roof and two-tone interior look nice, but this is not a car for purists, as you’ll see once you take a look inside. Still, a big old American convertible with low miles, all-electric, and a stereo upgrade is definitely a good buy. If you’re hands-on, this car has a lot of potential.