Nothing says "you've made it" like living in a yurt and driving a rusty old Volvo...wait a minute...that's not right. Nothing says "you've made it two more days without officially being declared homeless" like living in a yurt and driving a rusty Volvo, but I really like this next car and I could imagine living in a yurt if given the chance. Find this 1972 Volvo P1800ES offered for $4900 in Pescadero, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
In the late 1980s Nissan released a series of retro-styled vehicles into the Japanese market built on what is known in common parlance as the Pike platform. The funky retro-designs were penned by a guy named Naoki Sakai who was noted for bringing retro styling to Olympus brand cameras. The limited production retro-minis included Be-1, K10-Micra, Pao, Figaro and snail styled S-Cargo. Regrettably, Nissan did not export any of these little oddballs into the USA, but you can find examples that have migrated here over the years. Find this 1987 Nissan Be-1 offered for $8500 in Long Beach, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
The RX-8 was Mazda's replacement for the out of production RX-7, introduced as a last chance attempt at saving the rotary engine. The RX-8 was built starting in 2003 and ending in 2011 when the lights went out on production of Felix Wankel's spinning machine...for now. Anyway, the RX-8 rapidly gained the a similar reputation to the RX-7 -- specifically that it was a great car to drive, but the engine blew up faster than a Miley Cirus relationship -- which was around 62 minutes after the first spark. So if you want to drive an RX-8 without worrying about your apex seals, you should swap in a Ford inline-6 from an F150. Right? Find this 2004 Mazda RX-8 with Ford inline-6 offered for $1400 in Minneapolis, MN via facebash marketplace.
The classic SJ generation Jeep Wagoneer was produced from 1962 through 1991 by and holds the unique title of being the world's first luxury 4X4 sport utility vehicle and the choice of wealthy Hamptons' housewives. The Grand prefix didn't appear until 1984, but the last vehicles to come from the Toledo assembly plant are arguably the best and are priced accordingly. Find this 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered for $11250 in Oklahoma City, OK via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
There are times when a ride in a home built rat rod doesn't make sense -- let's say you are trying to impress the parents of your new girlfriend. And there are times when a rat rod does make sense -- when you are trying to terrify your daughter's new potential boyfriend. However, in either one of those cases the most important rule to remember is that you shouldn't spend a bunch of your money on the hulk, but you could let the previous owner spend his time and money building it for you. Find this 1970 Volkswagen Dune Buggy offered for $8575 in Farmington Hills, MI via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
The fourth generation Chevrolet Caprice was sold from 1991 to 1996 as the last hurrah for the Caprice name launched in 1964 (until the Caprice name was brought back for fleet use in 2011). The Caprice Wagon shares most of its parts with the Buick Roadmaster Wagon but it lacks the faux wood sides, which ain't a bad thing at all. This next example is offered as a "1A2" package cop version and by 1995 it was powered by the mean LT1 V8, so this unicorn gets a two horns up from DT. Find this 1995 Chevrolet Caprice Wagon here on eBay bidding for $3702 reserve-not-met with 3 days to go. Tip from Lou.
Few cars elicit that "wow, you never see these on the road anymore" like an 80s Oldsmobile, particularly something that wasn't commonplace when new, like an Toronado Trofeo. The fourth and final generation Toronado was introduced in 1986 on a smaller unibody E-body platform shared with the Buick Riviera and Cadillac Eldorado. The switch to transverse engine layout without any available V8 did not go unnoticed by the old guys in the room...but the fact that you'd be the only one in your car club with one of these makes it sorta interesting. Find this 1988 Oldsmobile Toronado Troféo offered for $3000 in Milwaukee, WI via craigslist. Seller submission from Jesse.
The Citroen (Citroën) 2CV (en français -- deux chevaux) was a front drive economy car that had prototype builds starting in 1939 with innovative features like a flat-twin aircooled engine and seats that could be removed from the car and used as picnic chairs. Find this 1968 Citroën 2CV offered for $4300 in Fort Plain, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
The original Oldsmobile Omega was a badge engineered version of the X-platform Chevrolet Nova and was sold in two generations 1973-1974 and 1975-1979. The Omega was more luxurious than the Nova it was based on, but it still rode on the same basic chassis and is just as wonderful or horrible depending on who you talk to about it. Novas in good shape demand some coin, but the equivalent Oldsmobile Omega (or Buick Apollo or Pontiac Ventura) are offered for cheap. Find this 1973 Oldsmobile Omega offered for $6,500 in Spokane, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
Remember the time when only nutty people drove fast cars? Most everybody else just picked something to get them from point A to point B, but a small group of nutters knew how to select cool options and get themselves into something that might spin off the road or burst into flames at point C. Yeah, now every modern car is stupid fast and this next thing is slower than your neighbors new Camry...but at least its got a manual gearbox and a little bit of something called character. Find this 1992 Ford Taurus SHO offered for $4900 in Ventura, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
This next car comes from tipper John who writes: I found one of these in the DT archives but it's been a while. Certainly never seen one on dubs with the owner posing in the lead photo! TBH the price doesn't seem crazy in light of what appears to be excellent condition. I'd find some 16" turbine style wheels, see if I could bring down the ride height in the rear, and then enjoy it! Find this 1983 Bremen Sebring offered for $7800 in Chesterfield, VA via craigslist.
I'm not sure what the going rate for an old Ford Model A Sprint car is these days, but I can tell you that this would be a great car to compete in the next The Race of Gentlemen or a daily driver for a fair weather commute. I can tell you one thing, to build this car, it would cost more than the asking price. Find this 1928 Model A Ford Sprint Car here on eBay offered for $8,500 buy-it-now located in Reading, PA.
The Austin Healey Sprite was known as the 'Bugeye' in the US and the "Frogeye' in the UK...we can only assume that Frogs look like Bugs in dreary overcast Britain...but this next Bugeye has a spring in his step like none other. In face, this little Frogeye wants to be a Cobra when it grows up. Find this 1959 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite here on eBay offered for $10,500 buy-it-now or make-offer located in Anaheim, CA with a few hours to go.
As an apology to all of you readers for the pink Studebaker Avanteaf thing the other day, I wanna post an engine swap that is properly done. Something that'll put a smile on your face and black stripes on the ground. Like a 9 second Geo Tracker. Find this 1993 Geo Tracker LQ4 Turbo here on eBay with starting bid of $10,000 and buy-it-now for $14,500.
This next car came with a burst of small block enhanced déjà vu. I swear I've seen this exact same car before...offered for a same price..but it appears the car listed here in 2017 for roughly the same price and condition is NOT the same car but a doppelganger. So...do the same reasons for featuring that car still apply? You bet! The added reliability and reduced cost of the Chebby swap makes me wanna have a V8. Find this 1976 Jaguar XJ Series 2 offered for $4,500 in Lebanon, OR via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
This next car is an interesting combination of new and old. Of eclectic and electric. Of forward thinking and green style. Of pink and blue. Yes. Somebody put a Studebaker Avanti body on top of a Nissan Leaf chassis and I don't know if I should be excited or disgusted. Find this 1979 Avanti converted to Electric Leaf offered for $23000 in Pembina, ND via craigslist. Tip from Adam.
This next car comes from tipper Matt C who writes: I don't know how or why somebody managed to keep a 1982 Toyota Tercel in such good condition; most Japanese cars from that era would at least be showing some interior wear beyond the steering wheel, or faded or dinged paint. Plus, this one is an SR5 with a manual transmission, and period-correct rocker panel graphics. Find this 1982 Toyota Tercel Corolla offered for $2900 in Marietta, GA via craigslist.
