AutoHunter Spotlight: 1985 BMW 524td

One of the rarest 1980s BMWs to find today is not an M car or even an Alpina—both of which have had a strong enthusiast audience from the time they were new. One of the most difficult-to-find 1980s BMWs is not a performance juggernaut either. It is instead the first diesel-powered BMW sold in the U.S.: the 524td. Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is a 1985 BMW 524td located in Gladstone, Oregon.

The most interesting part of the 524td is, of course, the engine. The 2.4-liter inline-6 turbo-diesel engine called the M21 D24 was the brainchild of Karlheinz Lange from BMW’s engine development department. He saw what Mercedes was doing and found their diesel offerings unacceptable designs for a BMW. He also was convinced Munich engineers could produce something better than those in Stuttgart. A partnership between BMW and Steyr-Daimler-Puch gave BMW a new factory and development center from which the new diesel power plants could be designed and built. This M21 D24 engine utilized indirect “swirl chamber” injection (IDI), whereby fuel is sprayed into a small chamber above the combustion chamber, resulting in a much quieter diesel engine than what was offered by competitor Mercedes.

My dad had one of these cars when they were new. Unlike the clattery Mercedes diesel cars many of my friends’ parents had, the 524td was something different. Not only was it much quieter than almost any other diesel car, it also was equipped with the very sporty BMW E28 chassis. It even offered decent acceleration, with the turbocharged inline-6 diesel engine capable of a 0-60 time of 11 seconds—unheard of for a diesel sedan at the time. In addition, the 524td achieved close to 30 mpg. (An interesting historical note is that the short-lived Lincoln Mark VII diesel was actually powered by this same BMW diesel engine.)

The seller describes this 524td as being powered by the aforementioned 2.4-liter inline-6 turbo-diesel, which is paired to a four-speed automatic transmission. Finished in black over a Pearl Beige cloth interior, this German sedan is offered by the selling dealer with a clean CARFAX report and clear title. It has clocked 121,000 miles, which is low for any diesel.

Many of these cars were literally driven into the ground, but this example looks to have lived a nice life. The exterior appears to be in exceptional condition, with nice paint and no evidence of any dents, rust, or other visible flaws. For a black car, this is kind of amazing—if it is a repaint, it is a good one, and if the car still has original paint, it is miraculous.

The interior is almost as good. The factory Ivory cloth seats are in unbelievable condition, with no rips or tears anywhere. They at best could use a little cleaning. The only interior flaws I could see in the photos were two small dash cracks on the driver’s-side near the windshield, and the sunroof needs new headliner cloth material. Options on this BMW include power seats, power windows, sunroof, cruise control, and air conditioning.

Under the hood everything also looks tidy; not detailed, but just clean. This really looks like a well-kept example. Recent service items include new vacuum hoses, heater fans, and belts in 2023, as well as a timing belt replacement in 2021.

The 524td was one of the lowest-production BMW 5 Series cars in the E28 era. It was not a sales success—not because it was a bad car, as reviewers at the time sang its praises, but largely because BMW was late to the party with diesel power. Fast-forward to today, and diesel-powered BMWs are the most popular models in Europe. This rare car was the one that kicked it all off and is an important footnote in BMW history.

If you think this first-generation BMW diesel is as cool and unique as I do, you will need to act fast and bid, as the auction for this 1985 BMW 524td ends on Friday, August 1, at 12:30 p.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

It’s hard to believe that vehicles from the late 1980s are old enough that some of them require restoration, but a lot can happen in nearly 40 years. That’s especially true for four-wheel-drive SUVs, many of which rack up loads of miles and/or get extensively modified and beat up off-road. It’s unclear what kind of life our Pick of the Day, a full-size 1989 Chevrolet Blazer V1500, led in the past, but we do know it has been fully restored, according to the dealer in Carrollton, Texas selling it on ClassicCars.com.

By 1989, the “Rounded Line” (aka “Square Body”) generation of the full-size Chevy Blazer was already more than 15 years old. It was also part of the R/V series of trucks and SUVs, which replaced the previous C/K naming structure a few years earlier. As part of a mild refresh, the ’89 Blazer received a redesigned grille, restyled side moldings, and a better paint job thanks to a new base-coat/clear-coat process. This particular Blazer has a new two-tone finish in factory colors, which appear to be Midnight Blue Metallic and Smoke Blue Metallic judging by the brochure. The Rally wheels are also new and come equipped with 31-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires, which are the right kind of rubber for such a rugged vehicle.

The most noticeable updates are inside. Behind the aftermarket steering wheel is a set of Dakota Digital gauges, which are surrounded by billet trim; the gas and brake pedals also get the billet treatment. Fresh blue leatherette covers the front buckets and rear bench seat. Cabin conveniences include power steering, power brakes, power locks and windows, air conditioning, and a locking center console with a pair of cup holders.

This full-size Blazer rolled off the production line with fuel injection but, interestingly, someone decided to retrofit its 350ci V8 with a 600-cfm four-barrel carburetor as well as a new exhaust system. That old-school-style power reaches the road or trail through a four-speed automatic and a dual-range transfer case.

If you want a Square Body Blazer, there are three main ways you can get one. You can buy a Blazer that’s been driven into the ground, hunt for a fully original one with low miles, or purchase one that’s already received a ton of work and updates, such as this this 1989 Chevrolet Blazer V1500. If you choose to go that route, the first step in your journey to ownership will be paying the $49,900 asking price.

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com

It’s never too late for someone to be reunited with a memorable car from their past. Zachary, a friend from Ohio, recently shared a story on Facebook about how he found, restored and presented a 1958 Chevrolet to his 86-year-old great-grandfather. The special occasion is something I wanted to share with our audience at The Journal.

Zachary gives some backstory: “Poppie (Michael) is my great-grandfather, born in 1939. He married Gram in July 1958, and she passed away from cancer on January 4, 2011. Poppie is my best friend and biggest inspiration in life. He took me in full-time when I was 14. He’s always gone above and beyond for everyone around him – making sacrifice after sacrifice and going out of his way for others. He’s the reason I’m the man I am today and why I’ve been able to succeed in my short 25 years.”

Biscayne Backstory

Regarding the Biscayne, it was a full-sized car produced from 1958 through 1972. Throughout its lifespan of five generations, it shared engineering at one time or another with cars like the Bel Air, Caprice, Del Ray, and Impala. The Biscayne was slotted toward the lower end of the price bracket – especially when it came to full-sized cars. Advertisements for the 1958 Chevrolets said, “You’ll like being looked at in your ’58 Chevrolet. There’s a special kind of glow that goes with owning a new Chevrolet. Behind the wheel, you feel like you’re right where you belong.”

A Man on a Mission

And, as it turns out, the driver’s seat of a Biscayne is exactly where Poppie belongs. The green four-door Biscayne that Zachary fixed up for his great-grandfather went through a comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic overhaul within the last couple of months, and on Wednesday, July 23, the car was presented as a surprise to Poppie.

Zachary narrates: “July 23, 2025, will go down as the happiest day of my life. On what would have been Gram and Poppie’s 67th anniversary, we got to make his dream of owning another 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne come true. In 25 years, this is only the fourth time I’ve ever seen the old man cry. The words ‘This is my favorite ever car,’ couldn’t be truer.”

He continues, “Poppie speaks often about his ‘58 that he loved so dearly. Even in his times of darkness, talks of the ‘58 always brought smiles and laughter. For 10 years I’ve dreamed of making this day a reality, and here it is. We have broken our bodies over the last two months, restoring this Biscayne and getting her running again. She fought us hard, begging to remain in a state of rest; but we had other plans for her. The 283ci V8 got a full overhaul with new valves, lifters and a bigger cam. She got fresh paint and a bundle of love.”

Dreams Come True

Zachary talks about Honda’s famous slogan, “The Power of Dreams.” Being able to give Poppie a 1958 Biscayne was the fulfillment of a long-time dream. He says, “To the memories going forward, the car shows and the Sunday cruises. My heart is full, and my love is absolute.”

Congratulations, Poppie!

Once again, we have a quartet of cars listed for sale on AutoHunter or ClassicCars.com. Specifically, these are from the early-1950s, the moment when Detroit started to produce competitors (Corvette, I’m thinkin’ about you!). Can you tell us what they are?

Post your answers in the Comments section below. If you need a hint, you can click on an image (we won’t tell!).

Click on a photo to reveal each car

You’ll find a new puzzle at The Classic Cars.com Journal every Tuesday. For even more enjoyment, you can play previous games!

The 2025 Boss Nationals are now a memory, but plenty of fun was had by all. How do I know? Because co-organizer Rick Ybarra told me, and who am I to question him? He, along with Finley Ledbetter, have carved out a nice niche event that brings out the crème de la crème of Boss Mustangs and Cougars, and more.

A group of Boss 302 Mustangs drove from Chicagoland to East Moline, Illinois in the heat without air conditioning but, let’s be honest, 3.91 gears can create plenty of ventilation when the windows are open.

If you are curious about the Boss Nationals, you can read more about it here. Rick, who’s the Boss 351 Registrar, tells me this is the rundown of what showed up at the 2025 Boss Nationals:

• 14 1969-70 Boss 429 Mustangs 
• 12 1971 Boss 351 Mustangs
• 22 1970 Boss 302 Mustangs
• 2 Boss 302 1970 Cougar Eliminators
• 2 1967 Shelby GT500s
• 1 1965 Shelby Cobra
• 2 Ford GTs
• 1 1970 Cougar XR-7 convertible packing a 428 SCJ four-speed
• 1 1969 Mustang SportsRoof 428 SCJ four-speed
• 1 1972 351 HO Mustang SportsRoof
• 1 1969 Shelby GT350 (first event after restoration)

This Drag Pack Cougar convertible scored 996 points out of 1000. More for Cougar fans: Eric Peosta won the Boss Nationals Apex award for his special-order-color (Medium Lime metallic) 1970 Cougar Eliminator. In addition, both Steve Anderson’s 1969 Boss 429 and Scott Skalitzky’s 1970 Boss 429 were Super Stallion winners.

Visit www.bossnationals.com to stay abreast of 2026 Boss Nationals scheduling.

Jaguar is in a state of flux right now that has been . . . polarizing, to say the least. If you long for the Jaguar designs of yesteryear or you just want a drop-top to cruise in, check out our AutoHunter Spotlight car: a 1995 Jaguar XJS Convertible finished in Topaz and equipped with a Brown power-operated top over a Cream leather interior. It comes from the private seller in California with loads of original booklets and documentation and a clean CARFAX report; the title is in transit to the current owner.

As a 1995 model, this XJS is from the long-running model’s penultimate year on the market. It benefits from the ’92 facelift that brought restyled front and rear ends, and new upholstery and trim. This particular XJS comes in Topaz, which coordinates well with the power-operated Brown soft top (you can see it in action in the video below).

Other features include bright trim, a glass rear window with a defroster, a flip-up fuel cap, a third brake light on the trunk lid, and dual exhaust outlets. When lowered, the top can be stored under a beige top boot. The 16-inch factory wheels are wrapped in 225/60 Pirelli tires.

Just as you’d expect in a Jaguar, the interior is full of high-end materials. The power front buckets and the rear seats are covered in Cream Connolly leather. Walnut trim highlights the door panels, dashboard, center stack, and center console. Of course, there are plenty of conveniences too, such as power windows, power steering, cruise control, air conditioning, and an AM/FM/cassette radio with a trunk-mounted Alpine six-disc CD changer.

Behind the leather-wrapped steering wheel is a set of gauges that includes a 7,000-rpm tachometer, 160-mph speedometer, and readouts for the voltage, fuel level, oil pressure, and temperature. The odometer shows 129,708 miles, which is a slight increase from the latest figure of 129,540 miles logged on the CARFAX report from November 2023.

This Jag will start purring once you crank up the 4.0-liter inline-six under the hood. It was factory-rated at 237 horsepower and 282 lb-ft of torque. An electronically controlled four-speed automatic and a 3.54:1 rear end turn those on-paper numbers into real-world acceleration. Power four-wheel disc brakes are there to make sure this cat doesn’t lose one of its nine lives when it gets “the zoomies.”

Whether you want to send Jaguar a message that it’s headed in the wrong direction or you have the urge to go to the beach, you can do it in this 1995 Jaguar XJS Convertible. But you have to bid on it first. Do that right now before the auction ends on Friday, August 1 at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery