Score These Nostalgic Garage-Queen Convertibles For Half The Cost Of A New Hatchback

I’m about to do something you won’t see any other American auto journalist do. I’m going to go on record as saying I really like the Chrysler LeBaron convertible. For those who don’t know, this was a modest mid-size American boulevard cruiser built from 1987 through 1995 and it totally doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Respect for this K-car? Have I gone mad?

First of all, it’s not a K-car. Related perhaps, but different enough to be dubbed J-platform. Its design has roots with Maserati. It offered Chrysler’s venerable (and wonderfully upgradable) turbo four-pot. They were offered with cool ‘80s digital dashes and “computer message centres,” and if you like pop-up headlights you probably love hideaway lights even more. The LeBaron has all this, and if you look hard enough, you can even find one with a five-speed manual.

I did come upon a couple such unicorns in my Craigslist scouring for this article, but none were as nice as this 1988 LeBaron turbo convertible with an automatic. It’s for sale in De Pere, Wisconsin, just a few hours north of Chicago and I suspect it’s worth the drive because this gem has only done 29,850 miles. I only wish the seller had read my article on idiotic mistakes people make when selling a car, because I suspect the cut-off pictures and poor angles don’t do this car any justice at all.

It should be noted that the LeBaron isn’t a sports car. It’s front-wheel drive; the 2.2-litre turbo makes 145bhp (not bad for a late 1980s four-cylinder) and the suspension is more suited for touring. This one with the auto would be an exceptional nostalgic cruiser, but for those who want a bit more you should know that getting more power from Chrysler’s turbo II engine is easier than eating Wisconsin cheese. Add $500 in suspension upgrades and the LeBaron will be taut enough to satisfy modest cornering cravings.

Such mods might be better suited for lesser-loved, fixer-upper LeBarons that routinely sell for less than $1000, because the seller of this low-mile garage queen is looking to get $8000. As nice as it is, these cars are so common and generally unloved that it’s probably worth half that figure. Still, this is easily the best one I’ve seen in a very long time so it’s worthy of some extra coin. I hope it finds a good home.

Since we’re talking about attractive white convertibles you can buy right now, I can’t leave out my other late 1980s drop top crush - the second-generation FC Mazda RX-7. This one is a sports car, and I found this glorious 1990 model with 57,000 miles selling in Pennsylvania for $9950. Like the LeBaron, this is an automatic and painfully pretty to behold. It’s also overpriced like the LeBaron, but if I’m going to overpay for a slow white convertible, I’m going with the rotary.

Aside from the irony of a Japanese sports car being sold by a place called European Cars, this RX-7 looks to be beautifully stock and well cared for. Kudos to the dealer for not going crazy on the ad description - this is one instance where the photos really speak for themselves and with over 60 in the eBay listing, pretty much everything is covered.

The only thing missing on this classic Mazda is a manual transmission, but honestly, without a turbo to bump up the excitement quotient I’m not sure I’d miss rowing my own in this car that much. It would be a great warm-weather touring machine, just like the LeBaron. Except this car can dance a bit better. Okay, a lot better.

We spend all kinds of time talking about raw performance, bragging about horsepower and holding drift angles. But there’s much more to cars and enthusiast motoring than just going fast and getting sideways. I’d say these two white convertibles are the best examples you’re going to find in their respective brands and models, and their asking prices reflect that. Still, I’d be very happy to have either sitting in the garage for a bit of ‘80s nostalgia. You don’t have to go fast or get sideways to have a great time on the road, and for me, that’s what these cars are all about.