MERCEDES-BENZ 230 S

NUMBER BUILT: 41,107

WHAT IS IT? Tail fins are just cool; attach them to a classic Benz, and they’re even better. The ‘60s-era Mercedes-Benz sedans, coupes and convertibles came with some of the best-looking fins ever attached to a vehicle. Small issue, though: These “fintail” coupes and convertibles command premium prices today, so our advice is to home in on the sedans, especially the six-cylinder variants. While they were once prevalent worldwide as taxis, today these cars are head-turners.

Our favorite would be the almost sporty 230 S, available from the middle of 1965 through 1968. The 230 S delivers sprightly performance, room for four, and just the right dash of chrome.

PLUSES: These are extremely robust, well-engineered cars, and are quite safe for the period, since they feature cutting-edge technology like crumple zones and proper seatbelts. The interiors wear like iron, and four-speed cars are not rare.

MINUSES: They can rust, while some parts–like front-end components, dash pads and some pieces of trim–can be expensive. These are not fast cars, either, although they cruise well at low highway speeds. A fifth gear would have been much welcomed.

COMMON EQUIVALENT: Perhaps a small American sedan from the same period. A Ford Falcon is about the same size, but won’t get the same looks.

FINAL WORDS: These are comfortable, cool, usable classics. You can daily one or take it across the country. Mercedes-Benz made so many that we’d recommend holding out for a four-speed model with a floor shift.

ALFA ROMEO GIULIA

NUMBER BUILT: A lot

WHAT IS IT? Alfa Romeo’s coupes and convertibles defined the sports car scene of the ‘60s and ‘70s, but that same foundation was also slipped beneath the Giulia, their funky-looking, four-door sedan. Call the Giulia a practical way to enjoy twin-cam, five-speed motoring.

Giulia production spanned from 1962 through 1978, with Alfa Romeo offering several hotted-up variants over those years. Even the base car, though, is a rarity these days.

PLUSES: Four-door practicality plus a great chassis, great brakes and a great engine.

MINUSES: Never offered with air conditioning. Alfa nearly invented the concept of rust.

COMMON EQUIVALENT: A Mercedes-Benz from the same period, like our 230 S, is close but doesn’t deliver the same performance. An Alfa Romeo GTV offers the same chassis but not four doors.

FINAL WORDS: The Giulia is the head-turning Alfa alternative that commands a lower price.