TjRubley.com

I must apologize for the delay, but I’m in Springfield, Missouri this week and the internet at the hotel isn’t stellar. In fact it sucks. And on top of that, I’ve been swamped at work, so there are fewer posts than there have been in previous weeks. I will work harder to make sure I’m better connected on the road in the future.

But without further ado, a summary of posts from other sites I blog on that I hope TjRubley.com readers will enjoy:

{update: Image thumbnails removed due to technical issues. I hate working from the road!!}

• 1987 BMW 325IC b+b For Sale, as in Buchmann of Germany! - This car is loaded with hard to find (possibly impossible) period aftermarket pieces of Bachmann of Germany.
• Euro Spec 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo For Sale - The car pushes some buttons for me: Great color, rare European specification, and great looking upgrade rims.
• 1985 BMW e24 M635CSi For Sale: aka RARE and Affordable! - This is my pick of the week without a doubt. This low miles, European spec example is a bargain at $16k if it checks out. Other M cars of the period are routinely listed at or over $20k.
• 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S ‘Silver Rose’: One of the most Rare 951 Configurations - One of the most sought after configurations amongst Porsche 951 enthusiasts.
• 1991 Bimota YB8 For Sale with only 1 Mile on the Clock! - It’s a crime this bike was never ridden. But if you need a museum piece for your living room, this would fit the bill nicely!
• 1994 Honda RVF400 For Sale in San Fran - As you know, I’m a sucker for 400cc gray market bikes!
• 1993 Ducati Superbike 888 SPO: So Are These Rare or Not? - I’m joking a bit in the title, but it sure seems like these are coming up for sale more often than I’d expect.

Thanks for reading at TjRubley.com and my other sites. Please let me know if there are vehicles or topics that you’d like to see addressed. Leave a comment!

dc

The title says it all. Aside from a handful that are probably hiding in private collections, this has to be one of the lowest mileage 888’s for sale anywhere!

1993 Ducati 888 Superbike on eBayMotors:

quote from eBay listing:

Up for auction is this piece of treasure I’ve kept hidden away in my air conditioned garage. It’s a 1993 Ducati 888 and it is in excellent showroom condition. Purchased new and used only occasionally but I made it a ritual to always keep it running and in tune. The mileage is correct and is at a super showroom low of 712 miles. If you see the bike you will understand.

3 days to go, and currently at $9300 no reserve. I’ll update after the auction. (Update: Auction ended at nearly $10700!)

Check out previously listed Ducati 888’s on TjRubley.com

dc

If you’re like me and grew up lusting after unusual European sports models, the Alfa Romeo Milano Verde is on your list - the list of cool cars of course. I love the odd angles, old world suspension, and the oh-so-80’s gaudy molding running the entire hip-line of the Milano. But the Verde ups the ante not only with special fit Recaro interior with every whacky 80’s feature they could install, it also has the larger and more sporting 3.0L engine. When new in 1987, specs like 180hp and 0-60 in 7.7 seconds were very respectable. And with Super Unleaded running around $4.50 right now, the 35mpg highway looks appealing today.

1987 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde 3.0 on eBayMotors:

quote from the eBay listing:

Here is a rare car with ALOT of upgrades. There has been tons of work and money put into this car. Its a ALFA ROMEO MILANO 3.0 Verde.
super nice recaro seats, they have been redone at some point with factory material.

I’m not really feeling the DVD player and carbon fiber accents that have been added, as I think period correct updates would be more fitting. I do really like the wheels shown on the car in most of the pictures. Unfortunately the listing states they are not included, but that the car will come with some old school Zender rims — which if they’re in good shape, would be a period correct wheel and probably pretty desirable themselves.

Finally, this auction is no reserve with a starting bid of $3k. There is a buy-it-now shown for $6500 and only 3 days remaining. If this car slips under the radar and someone can snag it for close to $3k, that would be a stellar buy. On the other hand, $6500 looks really fair too.

Read more about the Alfa Romeo 75 (as it’s known everywhere else in the world but in the states) on Wikipedia and about the Verde specifically on Bruce Timberlake’s Verde page. Or check out other Alfa’s that have been previously featured on TjRubley.com

dc

I haven’t posted an Alfa in a while and this one jumped off the .rss reader this morning:

1988 Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio For Sale on Craigslist (Oregon) 38k miles, $11k:

quote from Craigslist listing:

1988 Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio Convertable, this is the top of the line model loaded…38k Org. miles, 5sp, 2L dual cam motor, leather, original hardtop w/glass windows. Comes w/car cover, cockpit cover, and manuals. Also gets good gas mil. I have the title. Must sell, separation sale… $12,000 obo

Anytime I start considering a Miata on perfect spring days, I find myself battling internally if an Alfa Spider would be a better buy. It’s classier, it has a pedigree, it’s got styling provided by Pininfarina, and it should have soul being Italian. $11k sounds a bit rich, but there can’t be many 88’s in this condition, with the hardtop, with such low miles left anywhere. And I have to say the Black is pretty fetching! What would you pay? Leave a comment!

dc

I’ve rented the 70-200 F4L from ZipLens to practice my motorsports photography. Here’s the first result, some 1993 Ducati 750SS Wallpaper:

1993 Ducati 750SS Wallpaper Background for 1680 widescreen
1993 Ducati 750SS Wallpaper Background for 1152

1993 Ducati 750SS Wallpaper Background for 1152
1993 Ducati 750SS Wallpaper Background for 1680 widescreen

I didn’t PS these very much, though the first one did get a blatent gradient overlay applied to the sky. But my intention was to make an 80’s bedroom wall poster effect, and I think I got pretty close for a first effort. Please feel free to leave comments for suggestions and improvements. Enjoy!

dc

Considering I’ve posted quite a few Ducati 888 SPO’s listings, I’m starting to wonder just how rare they are LOL! Here’s a 1993 Ducati 888 SPO For Sale in Georgia for $9k buy-it-now:

Of course I’m joking about their rarity, but when you’re on the constant look-out, there’s more to find than I’d expect. And as a modern collectable, $9k is a pretty cheap entry price if she checks out.

Update 3.1.2008: Sold for $8k

dc

Surfing around on eBay motors the other night, I turned up a surprising number of really low mileage Alfa Romeo and Fiat convertibles.

1982 Fiat Spyder Turbo with 30k miles:

The design would take Legend Industries 18 months to figure it out where it would be viable and economical and still accomplish the task of providing Fiat with a powerful version of their already very successful 124 line. The results, a Spyder that would outperform the Triumph TR8 and the Porsche 924 Turbo. Road & Track, Car & Driver and Motor Trend magazines all would taught this car as a champion amongst its competitors.

1984 Fiat Spyder w/ 24k miles, buy-it-now $15700:

This has got to be one of the finest Pininfarina Spiders in the Country! With only 24,000 original one owner miles this beautiful automobile is destined for investment appreciation. These cars are becoming increasingly harder to find in excellent condition so this one is a rare find indeed.

1982 Fiat Spyder with 38k miles:

The mileage reads 38,180 in the odometer and it works. Donor certified the mileage to be original. Carfax and autocheck shows the same result.

1989 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce w/ 13k Kilometers buy-it-now $15500:

This one owner Italian roadster has only 13,000 kilometers driven since new and is in excellent condition.

These all look really sharp and the mileage is incredible. Considering a new Miata is well over $20k, these could be interesting alternatives.

dc

Less than 300 were imported to the U.S. and this one has just a few tasteful upgrades.

1993 Ducati 888 SPO For Sale on Ducati.ms for $8500:

I am selling my 1993 DUCATI 888 SPO (limited edition, 1 of only 200 in the world!) it has an Ohlins rear shock, carbon fiber FBF exhaust pipes, upgraded ECU, air filter, Steering Damper, and upgraded racing brake lines, and pads.

The bike has only had 200 miles put on since its last service, which is when new Dunlops where put on as well.

This motorcycle has the extremely rare, and hard to find “Ducati Campione Del Mondo Superbike” paint job, celebrating the Superbike championship win by Doug Polen for that year…

I’m a subscriber on the Ducati 851/888 Yahoo group where this bike was mentioned. This is a very active and knowledgable community. Here’s some of the comments on this bike:

I wish I could just buy all the 1/2 priced early 4 valves out there, moth ball them and sell them for stupid money in 25 years.

I can tell you that if it was possible to get Australian compliance and rego on that SPO it would be heading here PRONTO!

I was recently at Ducati Motocorsa in Portland, where they have an 888 SPO on display. It’s even more beautiful in person.

dc

Well here’s something you don’t see everyday; a 2005 Benelli Tornado on Craiglist:

2005 Benelli Tornado Tre $12,500.

Beautiful Rare Exotic Motorcycle. Green and Silver in color. Approx. 2500 miles.

I have owned this Italian motorcycle since new. I bought it in May of 2006. At the time, it was only one of around 50 or so in the US. It is currently registered in California through May of 2008.

It comes stock with a slipper clutch. The radiator is located in the back underneath the seat for better weight balance. Because the engine can be moved closer to the front wheel with the radiator in the back, it steers like a 250GP bike. It has a lap timer built into the instrument cluster. It sounds great with the stock exhaust! It incorporates the best of a V-twin with lots of torque with the higher rpm sound of a four cylinder.

[...]

It is located in Santa Rosa. About an hour north of San Francisco on Highway 101.

Serious buyers only. No joy rides. Delivery available.

If you want to own a true exotic motorcycle and don’t want to see yourself all over the place, this is the motorcycle for you.

Yep, those are the fans for the under-seat radiator. And it’s got a 3 cylinder motor. And according to the is 2002 review of the Benelli Tornado on MotorcycleUSA.com, it was nearly $19k new, probably more in 2005. Is it worth $13k now?

dc

I spotted this Aprilia RS250 on eBay (Update 12.30.07: Relisted. Update 1.13.2008: 1 bid of $8k, reserve not met.) this morning and it’s for sale right here in Oregon down in Medford. And it already has plates! Considering how difficult it is to title gray market machines, having this one plated and only 3 hours away is going to drive me crazy! (In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a fan of the RS250 Aprilia.)

Starting bid is $8k with no bidders yet and 2 days to go. Time to check my stocking to see if there’s $8-10k hiding in the bottom

Update 12.27.07: Here’s another RS250 for sale on eBay:

Update 1.13.2008: Winning bid on this was only $7300!

1995 Aprilia RS250 on eBay, buy-it-now for $8500

dc