Last week on our Kijiji roundup, we gathered five vintage pickups and 27% of you said that the 1983 Chevrolet C10 454 for $2,500 was the best deal. Today, we’re finding cars from a country not so renowned for its pickup trucks — we’re gathering up some budget Italian cars. Italian cars are for those who truly enjoy driving (as well as wrenching), and here are five vintage Italian cars on Kijiji right now for less than $5,000. Which one do you think is the best deal?
1984 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
1984 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
Supplied, Kijiji
The Alfa Romeo Spider is a timeless automobile. It was produced largely unchanged from 1966 to 1993. Oh sure, it gained impact bumpers, emissions equipment and a more modern interior, but the basic design remained for a very long time. This oh-so-red 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce is available in Hamilton, Ont., for $4,700. There’s a certain mystique to driving an Alfa and it’s largely because these cars have a romantic appeal that’s hard to put into words. I asked my local Alfa mechanic what made these cars so special, and he simply said, “Because Alfa is Alfa.” I guess you just have to drive one to explain it. And at $4,700, this is a great way to get into the Alfa club.
1978 Fiat 124 Spider
1978 Fiat 124 Spider
Supplied, Kijiji
This 1978 Fiat 124 Spider is offered for $4,500 in Victoria, B.C., and the owner claims that no mechanical work is necessary to enjoy the sun in this charming little car. Oh sure, Miatas will dust you in drag races, but they won’t have half the style. The 124 Spider was designed by Pininfarina and there are elements of Ferrari 330 GTS in the design if you squint your eyes just right. The 1.8-litre Lampredi twin-cam powering the car makes around 90 horsepower and a fantastic noise while doing so. This one gets my personal vote for being the best deal.
1985 Maserati Biturbo
1985 Maserati Biturbo
Supplied, Kijiji
You know you want this car. This 1985 Maserati Biturbo is available in Toronto for $2,000 and that’s just the tip of the iceberg a great deal. Someone will inevitably ask you what car you drive and you can just say “a twin-turbo Maserati.” Of course this Biturbo (like most of them) needs TLC and no mention is made at all about if it actually runs. Who cares? It’s red, smells like an expensive Italian boot soaked in 10w30 and has a Maserati badge! If you’re a workaholic mechanic or maybe just a plain old masochist with money to throw away, this is your car.
1992 Alfa Romeo 164L
1992 Alfa Romeo 164L
Supplied, Kijiji
This 1992 Alfa Romeo 164L is offered from Calgary for $4,300 and it’s not really a car. It’s a mass of steel and leather that happens to surround an Alfa V6. These 1990s front-drive Alfas are most noteworthy for their beautifully sonorous engines. Possibly the best sounding engine you can buy for less than $5,000, the Alfa V6 is a treasure. This 164 looks to be in great shape and the classic red/tan leather combo is always a welcome sight. Buy this car, remove the mufflers and drive back and forth through the tunnel nearest you.
1980 Fiat X1/9
1980 Fiat X1/9
Supplied, Kijiji
This 1980 Fiat X1/9 is available in Guelph, Ont., for $3,800 and there’s no word on if it actually glows in the dark. The lime green exterior is an odd compliment for the maroon interior, but the ad itself states that the car “looks awesome.” We’ll take their word for it. Admittedly, there has been some questionable work done to thisX1/9, but I petition that this car is worth setting right. TheX1/9 looks a bit like a 3/4 scalePantera/MR2 mashup and the handling of these cars is incredible. It is said that the middle path will lead you to nirvana … or thousands in repair work. One of the two.
