Junkyard Jems – The Europeans – Lancia Zagato, Saab, Opel GT, Triumph, Mercedes, Fiat, Alfa, MG, BMW… and Lada?

February 22, 2019, 3 pmJuly 22, 2014, 10 am by Tom Burkart

PART TWO: The Europeans

And now…. for something completely different!

You may not know this about your humble scribe — but when not writing about brand-new cars all day long, he is often found roaming around auto junkyards.

Junkyards are so alluring and entertaining for a real car nut; they have a pull of the exotic, the mysterious, and the unknown at almost every visit.

Sure, most of the cars will be old Dodge Neons and unloved Isuzu Rodeos — but there is that rare chance of finding a diamond in the rough.

Here are some favorite European cars I have found over the years. There are a few rare ones in here, which I will highlight at the beginning.

Junkyard Jems – The Europeans – Triumph, Mercedes, Fiat, Alfa, MG, BMW… and Lada?

Opel GT stack

1981 Lancia Beta ZAGATO

SAAB V4

Others…

Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.

He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.

Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.

www.car-revs-daily.com

Related

2024 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring Review – Small In Size. Big On Luxury.
While Lincoln’s Corsair is technically a compact SUV—it’s based on the similarly compact Ford Escape—thanks to some clever packaging and design tricks, it feels a lot bigger than it actually is. The specific ride you see here is the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring—the one with the plug-in hybrid electric powertrain—and it just so happens to be my ride for the week. It’s deceptively small As is the […]
Road Test Review – 2024 Lexus RX450h+ – The Balanced Hybrid
The Lexus RX is the bread and butter that helps fuel the luxury brand’s sales machine with the RX rapidly morphing into a vital cog in the broader sales machine. The updated RX made its debut a short while back and while the odd exterior styling caused some controversy, it ultimately did little to stunt the model’s sales. Lexus is also out to prove that it’s not afraid to […]
5 Things to Know About the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
It’s incredibly powerful. The numbers are jaw dropping. 641 horsepower and 565 lb. ft. of torque. For those playing at home, the Porsche 911 GT3 serves up (only!) 502 horsepower. It’s incredibly fast. 0-60 mph comes up in 3.2 seconds. That’s about the same as that Porsche 911 GT3! It thinks it’s a gas-powered car. (Sort of) One of the great thrills in the 5 N – press the N button on the […]
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review by Ben Lewis
If you’re new to Hyundai, you might have not noticed their “N” division. It’s pretty simple like BMW’s M division (and the watered-down M Sport models), The N is the Korean maker’s high-performance arm. (And like BMW, Hyundai also has an “N-Line” trim that’s sporty, but many levels below a true N). We recently tested a Hyundai Elantra N model and found it exhilarating fun in a small sedan […]
Road Test Review – 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek – Trailbusting in Style
When one looks at the Nissan Rogue, you would be hard-pressed to think that the urban-focused crossover would be a good tool of choice for serious trail running. However, Nissan knows that in order for it to get a bigger slice of the SUV market, it has to explore other avenues and segments to enhance profits. That includes the off-road market with the Rock Creek moniker serving as the bridge […]
Road Test Review – 2024 Toyota Supra 45th Anniversary Edition
It can be hard to believe that the Toyota Supra is 45 years old. While most buyers are familiar with the current generation model and its 1990s era ancestor, it can be easy to forget that the Supra actually had its start in the 1980s before gaining widespread popularity a decade later. Toyota is eager to celebrate with the all-new 45th Anniversary Edition Supra. This Supra promises to help the […]
Road Test-Review – 2023 Honda Passport Trailsport – Holding Down The Fort
Honda is preparing a new Passport which will be making its way to dealerships to bring the fight to rivals like the Ford Bronco Sport and the Toyota RAV4. But before the revamped model can forge its own path, the company has to rely on the aging outgoing model to hold down the fort for it at its dealerships. The first-generation Passport has proven to be a capable steed in the past, but does it […]
5 things to know about the 2025 Honda Ridgeline:
We recently tested the 2025 Honda Ridgeline, and came away very impressed. Here’s a quick take: 1. It rides like an SUV.Since it’s based on the same unibody chassis of the Odyssey, instead of the separate frame like most trucks, the ride is smoother and quieter, and handling is excellent too. 2. There’s a dedicated off-road modelIntroduced last year there’s a Ridgeline […]
2025 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition review by Ben Lewis
We all know how popular SUVs are. But, if you’re looking for the real best sellers, you have to look at pickup trucks. For 2023, the #1 seller was the Ford F Series– over 750,000 sold. #2 the Chevy Silverado– 543,000, and #3 Dodge Ram – 449,000. (For those of you playing at home, #4 was the Toyota RAV4 at a commendable 443,000!) So yes, a lot of buyers still want a truck. But a lot of them don’t […]
2024 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label Review – A Global Take on Modern Luxury
American luxury. Built in China. Two statements, seemingly disconnected, that when put together describe the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. But if we’re being honest, it’s probably more accurate to say that this newest Lincoln shows Americans the Chinese take on luxury. Take a quick look at Chinese car brands like Zeekr or Xpeng and you’ll see luxury vehicles that are defined by technology. Beyond the […]
2025 Acura RDX A-Spec Advance review by Ben Lewis
We’ve always liked Acura. Honda’s luxury brand gives you the premium auto vibe of the expensive imports, yet manages to keep the pricing good sense of Honda. So, when Acura announced an updated 2025 RDX crossover/SUV we were thrilled at the chance to give it a go. Aggressive and Bold Like the TLX and MDX models we recently tested, Acura is taking the already sporty models and giving them an extra […]
Road Test Review – 2024 Aston Martin DB12 – The DB To Top All DBs?
Aston Martin’s DB lineup of vehicles has become an iconic symbol of the company’s long yet complex history. Through the highs and the lows, the DB name persisted and it was always about delivering the best blend of luxury and performance to buyers looking for a distinct flavor in their GT purchase. The Aston Martin DB12 is the latest in this long line of GT coupes and Aston Martin says that this […]