Editor’s Note: We love scouring the internet for reasons to spend money we don’t have on cars we daydream about owning, and these are our picks this week. All prices listed are bid amounts at the time of publishing.
When you look at the upper echelon of luxury cars, it becomes apparent that the best experience to be had is being in the back seat, which in some cases — especially those of the incredibly rich — is the owner. But when it comes to the cream of the crop of luxury coupes, that’s certainly not the case. Which is why luxury coupes are an interesting breed. They’re meant to provide all the creature comforts of the four-door stablemates, but for an owner who still enjoys the drive itself — luxury coupes are therefore a different kind of “driver’s car,” but still a driver’s car nonetheless. And there’s no better way to enjoy a leisurely jaunt in the lap of luxury than with the sun on your face and the wind in your hair.
1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
What we like: American luxury is quite possibly seeing a resurgence, but there’s no denying the Golden Age was in the ’60s and ’70s. Cadillac easily sat at the pinnacle of the segment, and the Eldorado was one of its best. 1976 also happened to be the last year the Eldorado came as a convertible. The next-generation Eldorado came in ’79, but it was a mere shell of its predecessor.
From the seller: This 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible shows 35,000 miles and is finished in Kingswood Green Metallic with a light buckskin leather interior. The seller acquired this example in May 2017, and states that the car saw very limited use over the last five years.
Mileage: 35,121
Location: Brentwood, Tennessee
1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
What we like: There’s a lot to love about this old Merc. It’s easy to fall in love with the glorious white paint, the option of having a hard- and soft-top, the lovely 5.6-liter V8. But knowing it only has 37,000 miles on makes it practically a brand-new car, one you could easy make your own.
From the seller: This 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL was sold new in California, where it remained until 2013, when it was sold to the previous owner at the 2016 Gooding & Company Amelia Island auction showing 31,000 miles.
Mileage: 37,047
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
1995 Jaguar XJS Convertible
What we like: Old Jaguars, even from the ’90s, aren’t the easiest to find in good condition. This particular XJS seems to buck that trend with minimal wear and tear and rust, and it has a near-spotless engine bay.
From the seller: Sold new by Peyton Cramer Jaguar in Torrence, California, this XJS was driven in the state until 2006, when it was sold to the previous owner in Michigan, who drove the car seasonally.
Mileage: 72,800
Location: Napoleon, Ohio
1952 Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupe
What we like: This may be the oldest car here by nearly a quarter-century, but it also may be the most well maintained — to a degree. Cosmetically, it’s showroom-quality since it’s been sitting in a collection for a number of years. And though the owner says it starts, runs and drives, it has been sitting — so, needing a thorough inspection before that first long drive may be the only downside.
From the seller: Previously part of the Granatelli collection, the car was displayed at the Automotive Road of Dreams Museum in Newport Beach, California, until the collection was dissolved two years ago.
Mileage: 51,058 (TMU)
Location: Vancouver, Washington
