#5 of 32: 1980 Chevrolet Duntov Turbo Corvette Convertible

Toss the name Robert Schuller out in polite conversation and some folks will recall a TV evangelist known for his Hour of Power show and now bankrupt Crystal Cathedral (which is currently being re-purposed as the seat for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange county), but not around these water coolers.  Around here (in less than polite conversation) the name Robert Schuller is associated with American Custom Industries out of Toledo Ohio, who did very irreverent (un-Reverend?) things to Corvettes back in the day.  In 1980, with the blessing of Zora Arkus-Duntov, the recently retired father of the Corvette, a handful of custom turbocharged beauties were sold for $37,500 ($108,000 in 2015 money) and here we've got one that is being offered for less than its original MSRP.  Find this 1980 Chevrolet Duntov Turbo Corvette #005 of 32 offered for $32,000 in Eastpointe, MI via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

M60 V8 Swap: 1986 BMW 325e E30

The E30 generation BMW 3-series is popular choice for budget car buyers who want something that looks classy, drives decent, and doesn't cost an arm and leg.   It won't offer the same amenities or speed as newer iterations of BMW's compact sedan, but swap in a V8 from a 5 Series and you are halfway there.  Find this 1986 BMW 325e E30 with M60 V8 swap offered for $6,500 in Mamaroneck, NY via craigslist.  Tip from Cory.

El Camino All Things: 1999 Ford E350 Pickup

The fourth generation Ford E-series van may have shared many of its components with the F-series pickup, but it was technically built on its own platform.  However, most of the mechanical components are shared, starting with powertrains and continuing to interior parts, so you can expect a degree of similarity.  What you won't expect to see is an F-series van or an E-series pickup, but here we find this thing, putting the E in El Camino.  Find this 1999 Ford E350 Pickup offered for $6,000 in Bonaire, GA via craigslist.

#518 of 750: 1987 Dodge Shelby CSX

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- anything touched by the ten gallon hat sporting Texas chicken farmer is gonna be worth something in the future.  It doesn't really matter how terrible the donor chassis was, or what sort of shortsighted bean counters ruined the original version, but if Carroll Shelby put his name on the side of a Radio Flyer, fat cats would drop big money on clean examples under air conditioned tents at big name auctions.  The bare bones could even be the totally underwhelming Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance...or have I gone too far?  Find this 1987 Dodge Shelby CSX offered for $5,700 via Cincinnati craigslist.   Tip from FuelTruck.

1k: Hot Mess: 1992 Nissan Sentra SE-R B13

The B13 generation Nissan Sentra isn't a particularly memorable car in basic spec, but the factory hod rod SE-R offers an oddly fun package.  The combination of a robust and torquey inline-4, good brakes, light curb weight, and limited slip differential puts the SE-R into the ugly-but-good category of used cars.  Find this 1992 Nissan Sentra SE-R B13 offered for $1,000 near Pittsburgh, PA.

What Am I? Fuzzy Logic

Welcome to another edition of DT's cure for the Monday morning blues, everybody's favorite killing guessing game -- What Am I?.  This week we take a look a pixelated mess and you get to decide what kind of car it belongs to.

20k: Custom Dually Wagon: 1972 Ford Country Squire

A few years ago I had this TV that would stick between channels, the image would become a blurred amalgam of two channels, and the consequences could be interesting.  Gilligan as Tom Selleck in Magnum's Private Island was bad enough, but the time National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation got jumbled with Duck Dynasty was amazing, and this is what the bearded Griswold family drove as their family truckster.  Find this 1972 Ford Country Squire Custom offered for $22,000 in San Diego, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rob "The Hack Mechanic".

5k: Yellow Jacket: 1979 Triumph Spitfire 12A Rotary Power

If you fancy your afternoon tea with a dollop of wasabi, you might have the right attitude for this next feature.  It is a not to uncommon combination of British chassis with Japanese power, but a particularly potent version.  Find this 1979 Triumph Spitfire 12A Rotary Power here on eBay currently bidding for $6,199 with a few hours to go.

1k: Why You Frontin'? 1989 Buick Regal

 Not only does this 1989 Buick Regal (offered for $700 on Denver craigslist) not have a Trans Am front end (as per the seller), it doesn't even have a Grand Am front end -- the custom parts come from a 5th generation Grand Prix.

5k: Coupe BugVille: 1971 Volkswagen Beetle

If you liked the RX-8 powered Volkswagen Beetle from the other day, you've probably got some issues, but that is for a professional to help you solve -- but here at DT we can only offer help in the form of another custom Beetle.  Find this 1971 Volkswagen Beetle here on eBay bidding for $2,550 reserve-not-met with $8,000 buy-it-now, located in Jamestown, NY.

5k: Barkas Worse Than Bite? 1980 Barkas B1000 Dropside Pickup

Barkas was an East German manufacturer of oddly sour-puss looking delivery vans and minibuses starting sometime after the war.   The B1000 van (also available as a pickup truck) was powered by a 3-cylinder two-stroke engine derived from a DKW (Dampf-Kraft-Wagen -- now part of Auto Union...errr...Audi) design, but later versions get a Volkswagen flat-4.  Find this 1980 Barkas B1000 Dropside Pickup here on eBay bidding fo $4,425 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go, located in Northbrook, IL.

2k: Japanese Classic: 1983 Toyota Supra A60

The second generation Toyota Supra (A60) was built from 1982 through 1986 on a shared platform with the Celica and JDM Carina sedan.  The Supra was the headliner in Toyota's lineup and featured unique front end styling, big fender flares, and available inline-6 powerplants.  Find this 1983 Toyota Supra offered for $2,200 in Carson City, NV via craigslist.  Tip from Andrew M.

10k: Seller Submission: 2005 Mazda RX-8

This next feature comes as a seller submission from Matt, who answered DT's hypothetical question "See a better place for a used rotary engine?" at the conclusion of the VolkRXwagen Reneseetle post.  In his words:  I do!  Selling my 05 RX-8 because I miss having a convertible and car ADD has struck hard.  Find this 2005 Mazda RX-8 offered for $8,000 in Columbia, SC via craigslist.

5k: Green Beans: 1971 Saab 96 V4

Cruising around in a driver condition Saab 96 isn't going to get you a spot in the Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance, or even a front row valet parking spot at your local Sizzler -- but with the money you save (compared to other classics) you'll be able to afford a few hundred to your local Golden Corral buffet.  And if that isn't money in your pocket, I don't know what is!  Find this 1971 Saab 96 V4 offered for $4,500 in Bristol, VT via craigslist.

5k: REPOldsmobile: 1974 Mazda Pickup Olds 455 V8

This next feature is about is a wonderful fusion of Asian and American automotive excellence, like a T-bone steak wrapped in rice and seaweed.  You might die of complications from obesity and heart disease from eating the previously described edible concoction, but that is only if you survive the fiery crash if you drive a mid engined Mazda pickup.  Find this 1974 Mazda REPU with Olds 455 power offered for $6,000 in Santa Rosa, CA via craigslist.  Tip from fueltruck.

Coffee Brake: LeMons Button Turrible Race Report

The 24 Hours of Lemons is the only race series where a sportbike-powered MR2, diesel 911 with googly eyes, and 2WD Jeep Cherokee can share the same corner.  Rewind to 2006:  My LeMons experience started when I found myself strapped into an E28 BMW 535i wearing Hoosiers while driving around the kidney bean shaped track known as the Altamont Raceway Park, famous for a Rolling Stones concert where somebody who tried to shoot Mick Jagger got stabbed by a Hells Angel acting as concert security.  Back inside my questionably constructed "race" car, I wasn't worried about being stabbed, but I was concerned about other lunatics on track. Early LeMons races resembled freebee day at the Goodwill, except instead of shopping carts, all of the homeless brought 3000 lb ballistic missiles.  It was like being on a Tijuana equivalent of the Autobahn while trying to flee the apocalypse. On the second lap, I was looking for an excuse to pit and tell my team that that car was broken...but by the end of the stint, I didn't want to get out.  Fast Forward to 2015:  The Kawasaki sportbike engine cranks lazily and fires up to an impatient idle.  I nudge the sequential shifter into first, slip the clutch and immediately stall the engine.  This is going to be interesting.

Images used with permission from MurileeMartin.com

4k: OG AMG: 1995 Mercedes C36 AMG

The first AMG Americans could buy from a Mercedes-Benz dealership was a joint project between both companies, although production was completed before Mercedes took 51-percent ownership. With a bored and stroked 3.6-liter DOHC 24-valve inline six, a Bose surround sound system, brakes from a V12 SL600, and a tight suspension, it set the standard for MB performance in a reserved, sophisticated package. It also set the standard for depreciating AMG products; costing $50,000 in 1995 dollars, most examples can be cross-shopped today with 100k-mile Hyundais. Find this 1995 Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG for sale in Farmingville, NY for $3,500 via craigslist.