17 quirky classics for sale right now

Add now for something different!

You know the score by now with top-drawer classic car auctions. 

There’s invariably an eye-watering beautiful classic Ferrari that costs several times the value of your house, some super-low mile lovelies that you might be scared to actually drive, and a one-of-very-few coachbuilt stunner that ticks both the above boxes.

While these are all magnificent to behold, how about something a little more attainable and unorthodox – but, in many cases, no less rare.

Step forward these 17 fun, quirky classics, all for sale right now in RM Sotheby’s online-only European Summer Auction. They’re a pretty special bunch, but with the final lots closing on 22 July, you’ll have to hurry! Take a look…

1. 1965 Peel P50 (est: €45-50,000)

You’ll likely have heard of the Peel P50, officially the smallest production automobile in the world, according to none other than Guinness World Records.

This microcar marvel is the sixth car produced by chassis number, and you might be surprised to learn it’s a former rally car, having taken on the National Microcar Rally in the ’70s.

1965 Peel P50 (cont.)

It’s coming to auction from long-term ownership and could do with a little love. It was originally blue and this is showing through its maroon repaint in places, for example.

But it retains its rare factory-fitted carpet and will be sold with drawings of a prototype Peel – and with fewer than 30 examples thought to exist, it definitely deserves a caring new home.

2. 1970 Ferves Ranger 4x4 (est: €40-60,000)

This lot, however, doesn’t look like it will need much TLC at all before its next owner can enjoy it.

An off-roader with a difference, it is one of around 50 survivors from the 600 built, and uses the Fiat 500’s 18hp engine mounted at the rear plus the Fiat 600D’s all-independent suspension.

1970 Ferves Ranger 4x4 (cont.)

This example has had four owners in its 50 years, all of whom have been in the north of Italy.

And the winning bidder won’t just get this four-seat, go-anywhere, wind-in-your-hair micro-classic, but also a jack, a shovel, a tool roll, a wheel chock and its black soft-top.

3. 1931 Ford Model A Slant Windshield Cabriolet (est: €15-20,000)

This is the oldest car from the 17 featured here and it’s a late Model A that an early American owner exported to Switzerland.

It survived the Second World War there and remains in Switzerland to this day.

1931 Ford Model A Slant Windshield Cabriolet (cont.)

It is said to still present well, despite its most recent restoration hardly being, err, recent.

So there might be a little room for improvement, or maybe that just means its next keeper will be more inclined to jump in and drive it? Either way, we love that it will be sold with its first, fabric registration card – dated 30 September 1937 it shows all subsequent registration renewals until 1945.

4. 1957 Fiat 1100 Berlina (est: €10-15,000)

This sweet-looking Fiat isn’t the smallest of this bunch nor is it one of the rarest, but this is a classic you don’t see too often.

Finished in a fetching shade of pale green, it was restored five years ago and appears to still be in good condition today.

1957 Fiat 1100 Berlina (cont.)

Its simple, colour-matched cabin reveals that it is left-hand drive, delivered new to The Netherlands in 1957.

It has since covered a little more than 96,000km and is being offered at RM Sotheby’s ‘Open roads, the European Summer Auction’ without reserve.

5. 1952 Lancia Ardea 800 Furgoncino (est: €40-50,000)

Let’s stick with Italian classics for now but one that is rather more rare – indeed of the 7000 built, it is thought that just a few remain.

This Lancia has had to work for its living, used by the Sicilian forestry service between 1961 and 2012, but the auction house says it has always been well cared for.

1952 Lancia Ardea 800 Furgoncino (cont.)

It was restored in the ’90s and has been maintained, but little used, since.

We love its period-correct, two-tone grey paintwork, the wooden loading area, the trafficators and its spartan interior.

6. 1977 Panther J72 Roadster (est: €20-25,000)

This US-specification Panther is another lot being offered with no reserve in this RM Sotheby’s sale.

Currently residing here in the UK, where it was built, it is one of 368 produced.

1977 Panther J72 Roadster (cont.)

This front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, cream-coloured classic is powered by a 4.2-litre Jaguar powerplant and has an automatic gearbox.

And with a mere 12,775 miles on the clock, there is plenty of life left in it.

7. 1959 BMW Isetta 300 (est: €25-35,000)

You can’t really publish a feature on quirky classics or microcars without mentioning one of the best-known of all, can you?

Collectable and unmistakable, the BMW Isetta was like nothing else when new and it’s the same story today – and, don’t forget, a trio even took on the mighty Mille Miglia back in 1954.

1959 BMW Isetta 300 (cont.)

Open the door and the steering column and instruments swing out with it, giving the user optimum access to the bench seat – clever, eh?

This car was sold new to Germany and has lived in The Netherlands for the last four years, during which time it was the subject of a body-off restoration.

8. 1976 Volkswagen Type 181 ‘Thing’ (est: €15-25,000)

There’s nothing quite like the ‘Thing’ – especially when it is finished in such an eyeball-scorching shade of Pumpkin Orange.

And whether you want the full windows-out, roof-down motoring experience or you need protection from the elements, you can get both here.

1976 Volkswagen Type 181 ‘Thing’ (cont.)

Built in Puebla, Mexico, this particular example was sold new to Denmark and stayed there until 2016.

And we’re sure some would argue that with fewer than 72,000km on its odometer, it’s barely run in! What’s more, it is being offered without reserve.

9. 1973 Fiat 238 Garage Francorchamps service van (est: €35-45,000)

This is another classic that has had to work for a living – and another in this online-only sale that is being offered with no reserve.

And this is no replica, it was commissioned new by Garage Francorchamps with this hand-painted signwriting, accompanying paperwork backing this up.

1973 Fiat 238 Garage Francorchamps service van (cont.)

However, while this van is delightfully original and would make a quirky buy for any Ferrari fan or collector, it needs some work.

It is unrestored and the engine has seized, so any potential bidder will have to factor this work into the price they pay for it.

10. 1964 Autobianchi Bianchina Cabriolet (est: €15-20,000)

Let’s return to the striking roadster we opened with, an Italian-market car from new that has remained in Italy its whole life.

Surely one of the most stylish microcars, it’s not hard to see why these had a celebrity following in period.

1964 Autobianchi Bianchina Cabriolet (cont.)

Less is definitely more in these rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive roadsters, but there’s a simple, easy charm, too.

And, you’ve guessed it, this is another car going under the (virtual) hammer with no reserve – but bidding closes soon!

11. 1939 Lancia Aprilia Bilux (est: €45-55,000)

There’s definitely an Italian theme to this collection of classics and we continue with our second two-tone ’30s Lancia, that RM Sotheby’s is offering with no reserve.

And it may be 81 years old, but this Aprilia has covered fewer than 5000km.

1939 Lancia Aprilia Bilux (cont.)

It is described as having a ‘charming patina’, meaning it’s ready to be enjoyed as is, or it could form the basis of a restoration project.

Wearing attractive Stabilimenti Farina coachwork, it has previously been kept in Germany and Italy.

12. 2000 Fiat Barchetta (est: €15-20,000)

From one of the oldest cars in our selection to the youngest, a 20-year-old Fiat Barchetta.

And this well-kept example has just 1110km under its wheels – and, yes, that is believed to be genuine.

2000 Fiat Barchetta (cont.)

Despite having hardly been driven, this drop-top has been looked after, so you’d hope it is ready to – finally! – be enjoyed.

A little-seen alternative to the Mazda MX-5, this left-hand-drive Fiat’s 1.8-litre ‘four’ is surely begging to be given a free rein.

13. 1957 Iso Isettacarro (est: €50-70,000)

We’re right back in the realm of brilliantly oddball classics with this lot – when did you last see one of these?

In fact, we’re not sure we’ve ever seen one, and we love its eye-catching livery.

1957 Iso Isettacarro (cont.)

Of course, having ‘Isetta’ in its name means there’s this famous swing-out arrangement and there’s a good amount of load space out back, too, accessed via a pair of doors on the side.

However, with that extra weight over the Isetta, its 9.5bhp, single-cylinder, two-stroke Iso engine has even more to do, so this isn’t one for buyers for whom top speed is a priority. Still, it has bundles of charm.

14. 1967 Honda S800 (est: €25-35,000)

Here at Classic & Sports Car, we love these little rev-happy Honda S800s, so couldn’t resist this original and unrestored example when we spotted it in the RM Sotheby’s catalogue.

Compact inside and out, it is nonetheless a lovely classic.

1967 Honda S800 (cont.)

Earlier this year, we said that these Hondas ‘sound almost permanently frantic’, the quad-carb, 791cc ‘four’ that produces 70bhp often having to work hard.

But you’ll still have an awful lot of fun – and just look at that fabulous profile.

15. 1991 Lamborghini LM002 (est: €270-320,000)

We might be pushing the definition of ‘quirky’ here – after all, the ‘Rambo Lambo’ is possibly the wildest thing on four wheels to wear the fabled badge.

This flight of eccentricity will cost you, too, but only 328 were built and this one is yet to hit the 4000km mark.

1991 Lamborghini LM002 (cont.)

It has also had just three owners from new, all in Germany.

Do you think you could take on this classic behemoth with its bespoke Pirelli Scorpion tyres and mighty V12?

16. 1994 Alfa Romeo SZ (est: €105-125,000)

That fierce front end can only mean one thing – the Alfa Romeo SZ.

With just 1036 built, you’re unlikely to meet another at a classic-car gathering and with fewer than 1300km on the odometer, you’re unlikely to find another that’s this low mile.

1994 Alfa Romeo SZ (cont.)

Delivered to Italy when new, this Alfa is now in The Netherlands and, despite barely being used, the auction house describes it as being in ‘wonderful condition’.

This striking coupé will be sold with a set of original owner’s manuals and judging by its €105-125,000 pre-sale estimate, the winning bidder is going to have to dig pretty deep.

17. 1961 Lamborghini 2241R (est: €15-20,000)

The ultimate quirky classic? First we had the LM002, now we have another Lamborghini with a difference.

We love its orange and blue hues, and check out that sickle-bar mower attachment.

1961 Lamborghini 2241R (cont.)

This Lambo is no supercar – power comes from a 1962cc, two-cylinder diesel – but it is most definitely loaded with charm.

Plus, it is being offered without reserve.

Get full details of RM Sotheby’s online-only European Summer Auction here.