Giovedì Festa Italiano: A selection of Italian Crocks from the Seattle area Craigslist by Gianni

Commenter RyanM and regular contributor Kaibeezy were onto something when they posted a curated list of finds off their local Craigslist.  Here in the Northwest we seem to have nearly as many elderly Italian cars as the Bay Area.  I attribute it to the Boeing effect still echo-ing around the area (the software industry nouveau riche prefer brand new stuff).  Plus, even though it rains here most of the time, we don't use salt and its more of a drizzle for days vs. heavy rain (come visit, but don't move here), so the Italian stuff hasn't rusted in half.  Sold?  Then plan a road trip to purchase one of these slightly dog eared classic from Italia in this cornucopia of macchina for sale in the Puget Sound region:

First up, find this 1991 Alfa Romeo 164S for $4,000 near the Canadian border with peeling clear coat on its roof and lots of recent work done.  It's an "S" so it has the hotter cam and the trunk spoiler that causes the hinges to dimple the rear bodywork and then break off altogether.

Our next subject is a 1969 Fiat Spider in a non-stock energy drink green with white vinyl top and interior located in Lynnwood, WA for $4,200.  Pity the bumpers have been removed since they were the small chrome ones.  They will probably cost a king's ransom to replace.

Like the idea of an open top car, but are worried about roll-over?  Here's a decent looking 1982 Lancia Beta Zagato for $6,500 complete with University of Washington plates.  Go Dawgs!

Are you are concerned about whether your mechanic will be able to afford to send his kids to college? A 1986 Maserati BiTurbo Spider for $6,500 should help.  Consider the purchase price a down payment (cheap shot, I know).

Maybe a full-blown Maser is a little too conspicuous for you.  Or you have a thing for opera windows.  A 1990 Chrysler TC by Maserati could be what you need.

Used to be that if you wanted a car with a prancing horsey on the front, you could pick up a Mondial or 308 GT4 for under our $20K limit.  Now even those previously unloved cars from the Scuderia have appreciated.  So, best I can do for you is this F355 replica built on a 2000 Pontiac Fiero for $12K in Lynnwood, WA.

Find better Italian junk on your local Craiglist? Drop them in the comments below.

Gianni is Daily Turismo's Pacific Northwest correspondent.  He's a lifelong Alfista and grew up riding two-stroke dirt bikes in rural Washington State when no one gave you dirty looks about all the blue smoke.  It's pretty obvious he wrote this bio in third person as he isn't nearly clever enough to put a bunch of witty jokes about writing third person bios in it.  He prefers Gretsch guitars through Fender amps with a touch of tape delay.