Ford Escort RS Cosworth, Saab 9-3 Viggen, BMW 325tds Touring: 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 for sale. Here’s what I’ve been obsessed with lately.

This week features another homologation special, two affordable motorcycles, and imported variations of cars never sold in America.

Here’s what I’m looking at this week!

1976 Dodge B200 Tradesman “Boogie Van” – $10,995

Here’s a type of van that I’ve never featured before. This Dodge B200 Tradesman was already a good van, but you have to check out the interior. It doesn’t have shag carpeting, but it does have, well, I’ll let this interior photo do all of the talking:

Groovy, right?

As the folks of Allpar write, the B platform Dodge B-vans were a leap forward from their A-van predecessor. These vans were made to have less wind resistance for better fuel economy and less wind noise. Their interiors were also made to be upscale and the suspension took on a front coil spring design. Dodge’s B-vans launched in 1970 for the 1971 model year and remained in production until 1978.

The seller of this 1976 B200 says that they bought the van and sent it off to a builder. Apparently, the electric fuel pump went out and the seller doesn’t have a garage, so they’re selling the build after just 40 miles of driving it. Power comes from what is believed to be a 318 cubic inch V8 which should be making 155 HP. It’s $10,995 from the seller in San Clemente, California.

Hat tip to Sally C!

1962 Pontiac Catalina – $32,000

As Hagerty writes, this Catalina comes right after automakers began dialing back the excesses of the 1950s while cranking up the horsepower. In 1950, the Catalina name was first applied as a top trim level for the Pontiac Chieftain Series 25/27. Later, the name appeared on the Star Chief in 1954. This stuck around until 1959, when Pontiac dropped its Chieftain and Super Chief lower-end models, replacing them with the Catalina as a standalone vehicle. These first Catalinas were pretty basic. Rubber mats were standard, though you could option the car with full carpeting. Other features included push-button locks, a glovebox “snack bar” (indents in the glovebox door), freewheeling rear door handles, a cigar lighter, and lighting for the trunk and glovebox.

The first Catalinas sported the fins that were popular in the 1950s, but by 1961, the styling had changed with the times. In 1962, the Catalina got full-length trim, a new grille, and a hardtop that looked like a convertible top. Pontiac sold 46,000 two-door hardtop Catalinas in 1962. Power in this one comes from a 389 cubic inch V8 making 318 HP and feeding from three two-barrel carburetors, an option known Tri-Power. That engine is backed by an automatic transmission.

This Catalina appears to be in good shape with a color-matched interior. It’s $32,000 from the seller in Branford, Connecticut with 88,000 miles.

2002 Saab 9-3 Viggen – $6,500

This early 2000s convertible is a glorious successor to the famed Saab 900 Turbo. As Saab Planet writes, the idea for the Viggen sprouted out in 1994 with SAAB’s Special Vehicle Operation team and Tom Walkinshaw Racing Group of England. Together, the groups would create the 1995 Saab 900 Concept Coupe. SVO was headed by Peter Leonard, who reportedly indicated that a production version could come as soon as 1997 and have as much as 250 HP.

The production car instead came out in 1999 and was based on the then-new Saab 9-3. This performance car was given the name Viggen, which roughly translates to “thunderbolt.” Saab loved using its history with jets as a marketing tool for its cars and this was no exception. The car was a nod to the Saab 37 Viggen fighter jet. Sold from 1999 to 2002, Saab sold just 4,600 9-3 Viggens. Motivation comes from a 2.3-liter B235R four making 230 HP and 252 lb-ft torque. That delivers power to the front wheels from a five-speed manual. Acceleration to 60 mph is about 6.5 seconds.

You could get Viggens in every 9-3 body style, which included a three-door hatch, a five-door hatch, and a convertible. This one is a convertible, which allows you to hear that engine sing without an annoying roof in your way. It is $6,500 by a dealership in Oshkosh, Wisconsin with 109,000 miles.

2008 Ducati SportClassic GT1000 – $8,500

In 2006, Ducati launched the SportClassic. Taking inspiration from Ducatis of the 1970s, these motorcycles were the marque’s interpretation of the retro-modern style that remains popular in motorcycling today. Underneath the vintage bodywork sits a fairly modern machine with twin 320mm front discs, inverted 43mm forks, and a trellis frame. Power comes from a Desmodue 992cc V-twin making 92 HP and 67 lb-ft torque. All decent specs for a touring motorcycle.

Ultimate Motorcycling notes that while this Duc can be ridden fast, it’s really at home going the distance in style. You can get accessories for touring like cases and a windshield, too. These motorcycles were short-lived and were discontinued in 2010. Ducati hasn’t released production numbers, but it’s assumed that these are somewhat rare. For a slice of trivia, a SportClassic variation made an appearance in Tron: Legacy!

This SportClassic GT1000 has beautiful cream and black two-tone paint and it comes with the aforementioned touring accessories plus a rear rack and a bag for the rack. It’s $8,500 from the seller in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania with 14,500 miles.

1975 Volkswagen Type 2 Single-Cab Pickup – $37,500

Here’s a wonderful little Volkswagen single-cab pickup that the seller claims has just 600 miles on its odometer. I am not as well-versed in classic Volkswagen so I’ll have Jason chime in.

Volkswagen of America has this blurb to say about the sales of Type 2-based pickups in this country:

Volkswagen’s first Pickups in the United States were versions of the Bus sold in single- and double-cab models in the 1950s and 1960s. Thanks to the rear-engine Bus chassis, these trucks had fantastic features including fold-down beds and a sizable storage compartment between the engine and cab. Sold mostly as commercial vehicles and never quite as popular as the Bus, these pickups fell victim to tariff rules in 1971 and are now collectors’ items.

It’s unclear how much of this Type 2 is original and what has been replaced or repainted. That said, I adore the two-tone white and blue paint and the houndstooth interior. Over a million of these were made, though it’s said that these single-cab trucks aren’t as common as other variations. Power comes from a 1500cc four making 42 HP coupled to a manual transmission. It’s $37,500 from the seller in Miami, Florida.

1996 BMW 325tds Touring – $20,000

Here’s a variation of the BMW E36 3-Series that we did not get in the United States. This 1996 BMW 325tds Touring is both a wagon and a diesel!

The E36 marked the third generation of BMW’s compact luxury car and the marque has this to say about it:

The third generation of the BMW 3 Series represented one of the most significant design advances in its history to date. The formal language was much more coupé-oriented, with a strongly sloping A-line and C-line. The angle of the roof now had a clear downward incline. And the third-generation vehicles were also notable for the twin headlamps installed beneath a shared glass cover.

Launched in 1990, the third-generation of the BMW 3 Series comprised the widest range of body styles to date, including the Sedan, Coupé, Convertible, Touring, Compact, and M3 – the latter as a Sedan, Coupé, or Convertible.

BMW also notes that the E36 saw the birth of the 3 Series Compact, an affordable three-door hatchback. As I said before, the E36 was not sold in America as a wagon or as a diesel. If you want one of those, you’d have to import one or buy this one. The seller says that this wagon came from Poland. It also has an aftermarket Airlift Performance air suspension. Power comes from a 2.5-liter diesel straight six making 143 HP and 192 lb-ft torque. That engine drives the rear wheels through a manual transmission.

I love the car; but not so much the price. If you wait long enough, you can find one for much cheaper in Europe. For example, here’s one on German marketplace Mobile.de for $5,431. Sadly, it’s a year too young to come to America. If you have the cash and don’t want to deal with importation, this 325tds Touring is already in America for $20,000 by the seller in Galloway, Ohio with 180,000 miles.

1995 Ford Escort RS Cosworth – $45,508

What you’re looking at here is, in a way, the Ford Focus RS’ grandfather. I love finding homologation specials and the Escort RS Cosworth is a legendary one. As the UK’s Evo magazine writes, the Escort RS Cosworth involved another famous Ford special, the Sierra RS500. See, the Escort rode on a front-wheel-drive platform, which the magazine writes wasn’t an ideal start for a vehicle supposed to conquer Group A rally stages. To rectify this, Ford’s Special Vehicle Engineering team took the powertrain and platform of the Sierra and wrapped it in a body that closely resembled the fifth-generation Escort.

Found up front of the Escort RS Cosworth is a longitudinally-mounted 2.0-liter turbo four paired to a Ferguson MT75 five-speed manual and punching power out to all four wheels with a 33/67 power split. The first 2,500 cars were homologation specials to satisfy FIA Group A rules and were equipped with Garrett T3/T04B turbos. These first cars were known for their lag before the huge turbo finally kicked in.

Power output was 224 HP and 224 lb-ft torque and the cars came with an aggressive body kit, which included a whale tail-style wing. Later Escort RS Cosworths like this one have a smaller Garrett T25 turbo. This added some refinement but came with a 10 HP penalty. Just 7,145 of these were produced between 1992 and 1996, making them a rare breed. In terms of performance, these hit 60 mph in 6 seconds and can race on to a top speed of 143 mph. None of those numbers are that impressive today, but remember, this car comes from 1992!

This 1995 Ford Escort RS Cosworth has a low 55,302 miles and appears to be in good shape. The seller says that it’s had two owners in the last 12 years and the car has spent a lot of time sitting. It’s €41,900 ($45,508) on the selling platform Auto Scout24 by the seller in Madrid, Spain.

1997 Nissan Elgrand – $11,800

The infamous “25 year rule” forces enthusiasts of foreign vehicles to work 25 years into the past or wait however long it takes for their favorite vehicle to become legal. The newest vehicle that you can import into the United States right now would have a 1998 model year and a build month around March. We’re now seeing JDM vans of more modern designs appearing in America like this 1997 Nissan Elgrand.

The Nissan Elgrand made its debut in May 1997. Nissan positioned the Elgrand as a luxury van and targeted competitors like the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Alphard. These early Elgrands boasted a seating capacity of seven or eight and one headlining feature was a satellite navigation system. The seller of this 1997 Elgrand says that it has part-time four-wheel-drive with sport and snow options as well as a remote-controlled HVAC system. Other features include seats that fold into beds.

Power comes from a 3.2-liter diesel four making 148 HP and 250 lb-ft torque. This van comes with curtains and the seller is tossing in a roof tent, too. It’s $11,800 from the seller in Everett, Washington with 100,000 miles.

2014 Triumph Bonneville T100 – $5,800

As many readers are certainly aware of by now, I love a motorcycle with classic style. The Triumph Bonneville is a motorcycle that does so much right while looking decades older than it actually is. I’ll let Triumph explain:

Arguably the most famous name in motorcycling, Edward Turner’s design swansong for Triumph in 1958 turned out to be his masterpiece. It was the Bonneville T120. Featuring incredible performance and perfect proportions, it’s regarded by many as the definitive British classic.

Named after Triumph’s 214mph landspeed record in 1956 it inspired a whole new generation of teenage cafe racers and built a legendary reputation backed up with action. It took John Hartle to victory at the Isle of Man TT and broke records in 1969 when Malcolm Uphill pushed his Bonnie over the 100mph average lap time.

The British classic T100 was launched in 2002, bringing the iconic Bonneville name back to Triumph with a stylish, easy handling modern custom regarded as being a fantastic all-rounder. With a passionate following of proud owners the T100 played a key part in the birth of the modern custom scene.

The first Bonneville to feature fuel injection and liquid cooling, the T100 brought the classic carb-powered Bonnie into the modern era. Transformed again in 2017, with a host of state of the art technology features and all new chassis built for confidence inspiring handling, the 900cc Bonneville T100 and T100 Black are the most accessible and advanced Bonnevilles ever made.

A 2014 Bonneville like this one has fuel injection and its 865cc parallel twin makes 68 HP and 50.2 lb-ft torque. This won’t win any speed records, but it should provide the classic motorcycling fun that so many look for with added modern reliability. If this motorcycle will sit for some time, I’d recommend a tender or a lithium battery. The ECUs in Triumph twins will lock out the starter if it thinks battery voltage isn’t high enough. Keep that in mind and I think you’ll have a great time.

This Bonneville is $5,800 from the seller in Sherman Oaks, California with just 7,000 miles.

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

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