Dan Crouch Blog » Gray Market

It’s Been Quiet Around Here, But It’s Been Going Off Over at RareSportBikesForSale.com

Dan — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:09:49 +0000

I know my personal blog has really been neglected this summer, but I've been very busy consulting. And when I'm not helping out moto-clients with web services consulting, I'm working with a great team to really dial up the Rare Sportbikes For Sale site. Check out some of the sweet rides this week alone: MC28 NSR250 SE, CBR250R Hurricane, Huge Teaser for some OW01's, VF1000R, Bimota YB9, and well you get the idea.

If you're in a shopping mood, I'd subscribe as the best deals are always had in the fall and early winter.

Photoshop Fun with a Honda RS125 My buddy Alex who is a contributing author on Rare...

Do You Recognize This e30 M3 Sport Evolution?

Dan — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:31:16 +0000

Are you familiar with this BMW M3 Evo III? Inquiring minds want to know! It was seen most recently in 2004 for sale in Canada by Willz Leasing:

A dancrouchblog.com reader is inquiring about the car and if the owner is interested in taking offers. Good luck!

No related posts.

German Cars and Rare Sport Bikes Round Up: Better Late Than Never Edition!

Dan — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:12:54 +0000

Back from the dead, I'm wrapping up a little vacation to Georgia to see my buddy FastEddieGTi for his birthday. Having just ate an enormous steakhouse burger from the Vortex in Atlanta (kick ass burgers!), I have some downtime to catch up on some blogging chores while my food digests!

Without further ado, here are the catch up links to GermanCarsForSaleBlog and RareSportBikesForSale:

1993 Honda NSR250 MC21 SE For Sale - At only $5500, this would be a cool addition for the track or the weekend backroads!

Low Miles 1988 BMW M6 For Sale in Montana - $22.5k sounds like a pretty good deal with this kind of mileage, and documented maintenance and upgrades. And the blue on gray with the M5 rims… Yum!

1985 Yamaha RZ500 For Sale in San Diego - At $7900, this falls right in line with other RZ500’s listed previously.

2001 Porsche Carrera Cabrio - Too Cheap to be True? - So why the skeptism? 996’s of any variation start in the high teens, and those have at least twice the mileage of this car. But heaven forbid this is the real deal… well I just can’t believe it is, but it’s fun to imagine.

A Pair of Ducati 900SS Superlight’s For Sale - These are pretty rare bikes and I think it’s an interesting opportunity for a prospective buyer to consider a well worn example or the museum piece.

1993 Ducati 888 SPO: Yep Another One!! - With a $10888 asking (clever), this is one of the more expensive triple eights to be listed on this blog. While most Ducatisti will agree this where they should be, I think this seller may have a long wait before finding a buyer considering what other examples here in the states have been going for.

Two More Titled MC 21 NSR250 Honda’s For Sale in California - Judging from the pictures alone, I like the Rothmans replica better from the point of aesthetics alone. For around five grand, neither one seems like that bad a deal considering they both have titles!

Is This The Cheapest Alpina For Sale in the U.S.? 1984 BMW Alpina 2.8 B6 For Sale - Now I’m sure “Big Ron” is a reputable guy and all, but I don’t expect this car to be a real B6 considering it’s condition and thorough listing on Craigslist. But if it is a Euro car, and it looks like it could be, and it has Alpina pieces, it’s probably worth that much in parts anyway. Could actually be a really cool basis for a project car. And heaven forbid it’s a real Alpina… It’s probably the cheapest Alpina for sale in the country.

1994 Honda CB400 Super Four - Now granted that’s 47,845 miles and no title. But with all the 2 strokes that have been showing up with titles, surely it can’t be that hard to pull off. This would be such a cool in-town commuter bike!

1990 Ducati 851 Loaded With Expensive Upgrades - It’s sacrilege to even suggest it, but parting this bike could probably turn a tidy profit. Of course that would be a shame because this bike looks so well sorted, and for $5k it’d be a real pleasure to the ride balls off of it!

1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 For Sale in New Mexico - I’m having a tough time trying to decide between a Boxster and a 964. My thinking lately is that there are far more Boxsters than 964’s, and that 964 prices might be more stable over the next couple years as a result.

4 Special Edition Ducati Race Replicas For Sale Right Now - I’m really not knowledgable about the values of these bikes. But they are obviously collector examples that will command some premium in the market. Which one would you pick as best value?

1991 Honda NSR250 MC21 For Sale in Vegas Baby - These are getting cheap enough that it’s getting harder and harder to make excuses about why there isn’t one in my garage. Obviously with the sheer numbers of 2 strokes listed on this site, you know I’m a fan. Talk me out of a gray market 2 stroke… or can you at these prices?

2001 M Coupe For Sale in Virginia - 27k miles and an asking of $24k? What could possibly be wrong with this car? I like all the modifications, but they do tend to devalue a car in the eyes of enthusiast buyers. And it also has that terrible two tone interior, red and black leather. But at this price, I’d consider it a bargain purchase and have the leather dyed!

1991 Suzuki RGV 250 VJ22 For Sale in California - $6k doesn’t sound too bad, especially considering it’s plated. And are those Arrow pipes? Yum!

BMW 2002 with Dual Webers, 5 speed, LSD, and Genuine Alpina Wheels - For the asking price, and the pile of rare parts that come with it, this could be a great little driver, a potential fixer-upper, or maybe even a weekend racer project. In any case, it’ll be a load of fun!

1984 Volkswagen GTI For Sale: Clean, Original, and Affordable - As a long time MK1 and MK2 VW fan, I’d have to say it’s been since high school since I saw a Rabbit GTi this clean and original. While $4500 may seem like a lot to some, good luck finding one this nice for less.

It’s Been Quiet Around Here, But It’s Been Going Off Over at RareSportBikesForSale.com I know my personal blog has really been neglected this...

Weekly Wrap-up Of Rare Sportbikes and German Cars For Sale

Dan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:55:52 +0000

I'm a little late on this summary, but there were way too many great examples to miss last week.

1993 Honda NSR 250R MC21 SE For Sale in California - This bike is priced a little on the high side, but it's titled and registered. Such a great looking machine too!
Honda CBR900RR - 14 Good Looking Example For Sale Right Now! - Turns out the soon-to-be-classic Honda CBR900RR isn't that rare right now and it was easy to find numerous examples of clean and unmolested bikes. Strike now while they're still affordable and available!
1997 Ducati 900 SS/SP Supersport: Only 400 Miles! - Well what can I say, this is bike is practically brand new and it's yellow. What's not to like?!
1993 Ducati 888 SPO: Yep Another One For Sale! - Building your stable of modern-classic Ducati's? The 888 SPO should be on your list and here's another beauty for sale.
A Pair of Classic Yamaha Two-Strokes For Sale: Yamaha RZ350’s - Two RZ350's for sale right here in the Pacific Northwest.
Surfing the Local CL ads: 1997 Yamaha YZR1000R Thunderace For Sale - This is a random find while surfing my local Craigslist. It's a fine looking machine and I'm looking into how hard they are to find considering this one has an asking of just under $6k!
1976 BMW 2002: Beautiful Resto-Modified Example For Sale - While I think the price on this one isn't very palatable, it's beautiful to look at and well done.
1984 Volkswagen GTi For Sale: Nice and Clean on eBayMotors - Early VW specials like the GTi and Scirocco are heating up in the market as folks my age recall their high school years.
I’m Bored: 2007 Ruf 3400K Coupe 25th Anniversary Edition Coupe - A little outside my wheelhouse for regular postings, this was too delicious not to post. I may have to look in the price segment more often.
1995 BMW 540i M-sport Dinan V8 6-speed blk/blk For Sale - These have always appealed because the S38 is such an expensive motor to maintain and eventually rebuild. You get all the e34 suspension, looks, and wheels but with the simpler and meatier V8 to match.

I hope you've enjoyed this week's picks. If you have a car you'd like me to keep a look out for, just leave a comment below and I'll be happy to look out for you!

It’s Been Quiet Around Here, But It’s Been Going Off Over at RareSportBikesForSale.com I know my personal blog has really been neglected this...

1998 Honda Integra Type R Legit Registration All Factory RHD

Dan — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:38:53 +0000

Well here's something you don't see everyday: A true JDM Honda Integra Type-R, and it's registered! Seller states he's a factory tech and the car is fresh. Take a look at this 1998 JDM Integra Type-R For Sale on Honda-Tech for $16.5k:

quote from seller's post on Honda-Tech:

1998 Japan Spec Honda Integra Type R(fully loaded-drivers and pass srs,abs,p/s,and cold a/c
127000 Kilo
Clean and clear Virginia title (registered with original 10 digit serial #)
Va Emissions exempt
All oem honda glass
No dents
Flawless interior 9-10
Paint in very good shape and smooth with a couple knics here and there 8-10
Driven in the rain 5 times and have cleaned undercarriage one a month not one bit of rust!
Tires still oem Bridgestone potenza RE-01(non dot jdm)
Spoon sports air filter and rear tower bar
Spoon sports steel braded clutch slave cylinder line
J's racing bumper intake air duct
Car is lowered in some pics had tein flex full coilovers and didnt like them so car is on factory suspension now.
Head unit is also removed with factory block off plate in place( factory harness un cut)
UK itr side markers
misc parts including i.e. honda car cover for an 00 si fits perfect
antenna delete plug extra ant included

USDM Type-R's can be seen in this price range pretty regularly, which in my mind, makes this car even more attractive. So you have to learn how to drive with the stick in the left hand -- I'll bet the challenge is worth the reward!

Honda S2000 Update: Track Day #2 Back from another great track day with the Cascade Sports...

Week In Review from GermanCarsForSaleBlog and RareSportBikesForSale

Dan — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:44:50 +0000

A short week since I was on the road with sporadic internet. But the rest of the week was pretty good! Check out these beauties:

1981 VW Scirocco Survivor For Sale: 16k Original Miles! - Oh the memories! Such a great looking design and when was the last time you saw one this clean in original black and tan?!
1976 Volkswagen GTi Period Modified Car For Sale in Portland - Another class of '92 fantasy car!
2001 Audi S3 Euro-Import: Be the King of Your Audi Club! - There can't be but a handful of these in the states. Better be an uber fan for the asking price though...
1986 Porsche 944 Turbo with Low Miles For Sale in Gray on Black - Always a sucker for a low miles 951 for sale!
1987 PORSCHE 928 S4 with 5 Speed Manual: Perfect eBayMotors Listing - The photos for this sale ad are good enough for bedroom wall posters! Black on Parchment: Hot!
Honda CBR900RR: What’s the Market Like For These? - When was the last time you saw one of these in good condition? Me neither.
Fancy a Brand New 2009 Aprilia RS125? - Aprilia finally brings over a 2 stroker for us! But it's not road legal
1990 Honda MC21 NSR250R SE: Low Miles, Titled, and Great Price - Rebodied MC-28 in Repsol livery. Yum!

Thanks for reading, and if you have an outstanding German Car For Sale or a Rare Sportbike, I'd love to list your ad for free! Just drop me an email.

Thanks!

It’s Been Quiet Around Here, But It’s Been Going Off Over at RareSportBikesForSale.com I know my personal blog has really been neglected this...

Weekend Wrap-Up: Posts from GermanCarsForSaleBlog and RareSportBikesForSale

Dan — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:56:20 +0000

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 dancrouchblog.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 dancrouchblog.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!

It’s Been Quiet Around Here, But It’s Been Going Off Over at RareSportBikesForSale.com I know my personal blog has really been neglected this...

Announcing the MotoringBlogs Automotive and Motorcycling Blog Network

Dan — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:00:27 +0000

First I want to say how much fun I've had bringing readers at dancrouchblog.com the diamonds in the rough over the past 4 years. I have really enjoyed connecting with like minded enthusiasts and I look forward to making that experience even more meaningful moving ahead.

Now it is time to take my career more seriously, and that means making a transition from passive enthusiast to eventual full-time automotive and motorcycling, web and blogging specialist. I'm a bit premature in the announcement of this plan, but I want to keep dancrouchblog.com readers in the loop!

The most immediate and visible change is that I am splitting the topics that are most popular at dancrouchblog.com into their own blogs: German Cars For Sale Blog and Rare SportBikes For Sale. If you're a fan of dancrouchblog.com, you'll love these two blogs! They both follow the familiar "best of for sale" listings and resource guides you're used to at this site, but both have much nicer .rss and email subscription options than I have utilized before. I hope you'll consider subscribing. If not, don't worry, I'll still be highlighting these new blogs on dancrouchblog.com on a regular basis.

These two blogs are the first to be part of my new automotive blog network, MotoringBlogs. My hope for the network is two fold:

Provide greater focus and detail to the automotive and motorcycling niche that the enthusiast searches for. The ability to provide more than a highlight reel or summary of information, and instead cater to the intense and educated enthusiast with detailed and opinionated editorial blog content.
Build a network of authors, websites, and enthusiast readers that grow together to gain access and knowledge via an entertaining and informative blogging style to address sports cars, motorcycles, amateur motorsports, and the latest in breaking industry news.

The MotoringBlogs concept is in it's infancy, but will grow quickly. More details will follow in the coming months. I will of course keep dancrouchblog.com readers informed first!

I hope you'll find MotorBlogs to be an even better resource than dancrouchblog.com has been and I welcome your feedback in the comments below.

No related posts.

1990 Honda NC30 VFR400R For Sale in Alabama

Dan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:45:47 +0000

Update 1.29.09: New price of $6500, updated link, and see comments for contact email.

Scott dropped me a line with a link to his beautiful 1990 Honda NC30 VFR400R on Craigslist:

quote from his ad on Craigslist:

Health issue forces sale.

Very rare, street legal, low miles,new tires Conti Road Attack rear Sport Attack front, rebuilt front shocks race set up, gsxr fully adjustable rear shock, Viper exhaust, Paddock stand, spare Tyga rear solo fairing, complete restoration every bolt was put through a tumbler, frame and motor were not seperated, Renthal chain and rear sprocket, correct paint code from RC30 PPG paint. Way too many extra parts to list well over 1500 in parts. This bike would be great for someone short, even women, even comfortable for a 5ft10 rider. You will not finD a finer example of this bike in the South East aside from a collection, nor will you likely see another when riding. It always gets attention. ZERO JOY RIDES, and price is firm.

Looks awesome, Scott. Good luck with the sale!

Photoshop Fun with a Honda RS125 My buddy Alex who is a contributing author on Rare...
Honda RS125 Onboard Video As stated in the previous post, I'm totally jealous of...

More Delicious Sportbike Classifieds on B.A.R.F.

Dan — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:02:21 +0000

I know, I know, the top 10 posts are way too sportbike oriented, but I can't help it. It seems spring has sprung and sellers are anxious to capitalize on the adrenaline allergy (orgy?) season. Here are two more beautiful examples from the Bay Area Riders Forum:

1991 Honda NSR 250 SE MC21, Title and For Sale in California for $6k on BARF:

1991 NSR 250 SE. Current CA registration, clear CA title in hand.
The SE model gets you adjustable front and rear suspension and the zoomy and always exciting dry clutch.
Near original, all stock condition with the exception of chambers and front / rear steel brake lines. Original exhaust/mufflers included. Overall, it's in really nice shape. The chassis, swing arm, forks, wheels and other hard parts are in top condition.
Bodywork has the usual chips here and there and a bit of scuffing on the underside of the lowers.
Currently runs rich but a jet kit is on the way!
$6000

For $6k with title -- you have to be kidding me! What a killer deal on a gray market specialty. Is the market dead or is the seller in a hurry? Someone call him up before he changes his mind!

1988 Yamaha FZR1000 For Sale in California with 37k miles and "entertaining offers of $2000-2500" on BARF:

Ask anyone who's seen this bike, it's clean.
All stock, except after market chain and sprockets, 1 down, 2 up.
37K miles.

Best offer.

I can't remember the last time I saw an FZR1000, let alone this clean. Granted, it probably makes less power than this year's R6, but who cares. How cool and original is this sweet bike - and for under $3k!

No related posts.