This next car might not be the barn find big block muscle machine that you've been searching for and it will probably never be featured on some Velocity Channel TV show...but it does have a certain combination of utility, cheapness, and cool-factor that makes it worthy of a feature. Find this 1980 Mercedes Benz 280TE offered for $3800 in Dallas, TX via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
The Toyota Starlet KP61 generation was the first and only Starlet sold in the US Market and in 1985 it was replaced by the Toyota Corolla FX-16. It is a shame because the Starlet was setup with proper rear wheel drive and the FX was front wheel drive. It probably didn't matter because both cars were mildly motivated by low powered 4-bangers, but when swapping in a more powerful engine the Starlet will give you the rear wheel drive experience you want. Find this 1981 Toyota Starlet 4AGZE Power offered for $8000 in Carmel Valley, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
This next car won't last long, because it is either a great deal or a big time scam. Or there are some serious issues that aren't visible in the few photos provided by the seller...but you don't see tri-carb powered big block muscle cars with manual gearboxes offered for this cheap. Find this 1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-4-2 L69 offered for $11,800 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
This next car is a tribute to all those Datsuns that've gotten Ford V8s shoved into their engine compartments, because a swap cool the first time you see one, but sorta lame the 50th time. And I've got to admit that I don't think I've seen a Datsun 510 powertrain shoved into Model T...have you? Find this 1927 Ford T-Bucket Roadster offered for $10,700 in Washington, MI via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
We last featured this exact car when it was offered for....errr...well... $5999...and it is still offered for the same asking price, but that doesn't make it any less appetizing? It might mean their is some negotiating room in the asking price, or that the car is just being picky about finding the next owner...but it doesn't make it any less interesting to keyboard jockeys like us. Find this 1980 Toyota Celica GT Special Edition offered for $5999 in Oregon City, OR via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
The following tip came with words from Erik202: Look, I know most of your readers are probably more into a car in southern California than one in Alberta, Canada but here's another one from my region. It's a wagon with a manual transmission and Diesel engine.... I know you're asking yourself; could it get more DT than this? Well the answer is yes because its also French. If all this isn't enough the laughably weak Canadian dollar brings the price down to about $4526.40 USD. Find this 1974 Peugeot 504 Wagon located in Strathmore, AB, Canada via Kijiji.net.
In recent years of the overpriced "stamp collecting" car era, the 300ZX's competitors (Supra, NSX, 993) have gone through their depreciation curves and prices are reaching stupid levels, but for some reason the 300ZX (and Mitsubishi's 3000GT/Dodge Stealth) have been floundering in the back pages of the wanted ads. Frankly, I think that is a good thing, because it means they'll still get driven and enjoyed, at least until the Magnus Walkers and Adam Carolas of the world decide they are "worthy" and start collecting them too. In the meantime, find this 1990 Nissan 300ZX offered for $8,500 on Mobile, AL craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
Toyota had been poking at BMW with their Lexus brand since it launched in 1989, but it wasn't until the launch of the IS300 in 1998 that Lexus had finally delivered something that could compete with BMW's lauded 3-series. Lexus also launched a wagon version that they called the "SportCross" (because Wagon was taken...dunno) and if I recall correctly, it wasn't available with a manual box for the first few years, so this next car is either a custom swap or a real unicorn. Find this 2002 Lexus IS300 Sportcross offered for $6500 in Miami, FL via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
This next car is something of an oddity. I love the concept of a malaise era cruiser turned into a high speed road racer or Silver State Classic runner...but I'm not sure if I'd have removed all of that rich Corinthian leather. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that whatever anemic smog restricted V8 is long gone and this thing has a 600 horsepower Mopar 400 big block stuffed under the yellow hood...but...I think it needs an 8-track and a chandelier or something to class it up a bit. Find this 1976 Chrysler Cordoba offered for $20,000 in Emmett, ID via craigslist. Tip from Johnny Bouncewell.
The ink ins't even dry on this next...wait...I've got to update that saying for the 21st century...mmm...the electrons haven't even stopped spinning on this next craigslist advert, but it looks like a freakishly good deal, as long as the craigslister isn't a scammer or axe murderer...in which case it would still be a good deal, but ultimately end in tears...which is pretty much of the story of 50% of the cars I've purchased from craigslist...but that's a story for another day. Find this 1991 Nissan D21 Hardbody Pickup offered for $700 in Frederick, MD. Tip from Jeff S.
When the Fox Mustang was released in 1979, Ford enthusiasts were thrilled with the re-emergence of a properly proportioned Mustang with a renewed focus on V8 performance. Few anticipated that a Special Vehicles Team version would appear in 1984 with a turbocharged 4-banger that was (maybe?) faster, certainly more expensive and potentially cooler than the V8. All we know is that Ford beat the rest of the world's sporty-ish regular-people cars to the modern paradigm of a fuel injected turbo-4. Find this 1986 Ford Mustang SVO offered for $4,500 in Santa Fe, NM via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
"Hey, what we need is a lifted Miata" -- said nobody ever. Actually...this is far more desirable of a car than a Pontiac Aztec, Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, or anything made during the evil Daimler-Chrysler merger era. Anyway, find this 1992 Mazda MX-5 Miata offered for $4999 in Charlotte, NC via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
People claim that something is -est all the time. The fastest. The meanest. The leanest. The beastiest. The cheesiest. The frostiest. The greenest. The chipotlest. The cleanest. The best. The sportiest. The raciest. But they are usually wrong -- sometimes on purpose, sometimes through hyperbole, but I'm going to drop an EST on y'all that'll be hard to disprove. This is...the..cheapEST M3 for sale on the planet. It just needs some bearings and a bottom end overhaul...how hard can that be on an 8000 rpm inline-6? Find this 2002 BMW E46 M3 offered for $3,500 in Ventura, CA via craigslist. Tip from Sean.
It seems to happen all the time, but how do you go from being the average Joe driving one interesting/cool car to owning an entire fleet of oddballs? I guess you wake up one morning and just do your best Columbo impression for the next few months...and end up like this next seller. Find these three 1973/4 Volkswagen Things offered for $10k-to-$14.5k in Palm Coast, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
"Hey DT, you guys post too many interesting cars offered for low prices"...said nobody ever. At least, we haven't gotten that complaint yet (we have been accused of posting too many Volvos and, once, of sneaking into someones garage to take pictures of his car for sale...true story). What is interesting might be a moving target, and the "low price" bogey is an ever evolving landscape of supply-versus-demand...but I think the basic thought behind this website is: you don't need to be a millionaire to drive something that is interesting, fun, and unique. Like this 1991 Nissan Figaro offered for $6900 in Houston, TX via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
The cost of entry into the "cool" car club is getting ridiculous these days, and I'm not just talking about Ferraris, Porsches, Supras, but even simple 1st gen Mustangs in great shape are pricy, BUT, you can still find interesting cars in good shape that just aren't that "desirable" for whatever reason. You've just got to be creative. Find this 1969 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe offered for $14,500 near Phoenix, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
Who wants an all-wheel-drive camper with a pop-up top that isn't some giant gas guzzling motorhome or a really expensive Mercedes...or a Volkswagen Van? Yeah. Anybody who doesn't want to be confused for the next bearded hipster with a fat wallet and this next car won't have you confused with anybody who might have ever had a reliable paycheck. Find this 1995 Ford Aerostar Camper offered for $16,275 in Santa Cruz, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!