It Means The Camino: 1974 Chevrolet El Camino

This next thing is a hunk of old American iron for $3800...which isn't a bad thing at all. It is certainly better than a fancy premium Wordpress theme that crashed an entire installation and required a complete nuke and rebuild of a website.  I should really stick to cars and pay someone to deal with these electrons.  Find this 1974 Chevrolet El Camino offered for $3800 in Rumney, NH via craigslist. Tip from TeleArrow.

See Five Season: 2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Ah, the C5 Corvette Z06. The cheapest way to go fast, and the fastest way to lose your license. It is a formidable track machine, tuned by the wizards at Chevy's performance group to take the standard C5 from fast enough to faster. When introduced in 2001, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was the fastest production car for less than $100k, and today, a used Z06 is the fastest stock car for less than $15k in just about any competition environment (drag, track, autox, etc). Find this 2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 offered for $12,900 in Glendale, AZ via craigslist.

Ferrari Testac4ossa: 1984 Chevrolet Corvette Custom

The C4 generation Corvette is the unloved sibling in the Vette family, the red-headed step child that was born in the Malaise era and surprisingly transformed into a sophisticated and remarkably fast car by the end of its production run.  But today's example is something else...something so utterly blasphemous to the Corvette faithful that I have to admit I'm drawing like a moth to a nuclear reactor core.  But...I dunno, the styling isn't for everybody, but it certainly is priced reasonably. Find this 1984 Chevrolet Corvette Custom offered for $4250 in Valencia, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

A 1939 Chevy rebodied with a... 1991 Geo Metro?!?

This next car comes as a tip from Matt C who writes: If I needed to say something nice about it, I'd say that it succeeds much better than attempting to make a 1957 Chevy out of a 2002 Camaro. And it is probably considerably more exciting to drive then when (a small portion of) it rolled off the line in 1991. Find this 19XX hot rod offered for $8000 in Wilmot, WI via craigslist.

Don't Restore It: 1970 Chevrolet Nova

If there is one thing that young car buyers must understand, it is this; they are only original once.  If this next car is purchased by a well meaning 21 year old version of myself...it could well end up with a decent new paint job and a fire breathing 350 v8 build connected to a 6-speed manual...which would be fantastic...but it'll lose some of the charm and charisma of a car that could have been an extra on an episode of CHiPs and deserves to be kept in a garage, driven twice a week, and not restored.  Find this 1970 Chevrolet Nova offered for $9500 in Wildomar, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

1986 Ford F250 Diesel vs 1987 Chevrolet Corvette

This next double feature comes from DT tipper/reader/commenter Art who writes: Thinking about shuffling up the stable a bit in the next few months to shake off the COVID-19 Blues... selling my boat and truck, along with a motorcycle and at least one other car (yes I have issues).  $5k budget for the next fun car.... First up is this 1986 Ford F250 Lariat Diesel offered for $4200 in Preston, CT via craigslist.

Well Saved: 1975 Chevrolet Monza California Edition

The Chevrolet Monza (not to be confused with the Opel Monza or the Chevy Corvair Monza)  was released in the 1975 model year as GM's plus sized subcompact (how's that for a contradiction in terms) offering on the H-platform shared with the Vega/Astra/Sunbird/Skyhawk/Starfire.  It was GM's answer to new sporty-ish compact offerings from Ford like the Mustang II, Capri and Dodge's Galant based Colt.  The Monza was actually quite a strong seller, with almost 750,000 examples of the H-body sold in the first 6 years of production but few remain on the streets today, much less in this sorta condition.  Yowza! Find this 1975 Chevrolet Monza California Edition offered for $7500 in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Twin Turbo B2K Package: 1987 Chevrolet Corvette Callaway

Racer and driving instructor Reeves Callaway bolted a hodgepodge turbo system on a BMW 320i and loaned the car to Car and Driver journalist Don Sherman who wrote a one page article on the beast.  At the time, the number of folks who had the capability to turbocharge a car without ventilating the engine block was extremely limited and in 1977 Callaway Cars was incorporated to develop aftermarket turbo kits for the every man. Several years later, Callaway worked side-by-side wtih OEMs to develop turbo systems for BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi,  Mercedes-Benz and Chevrolet, many of which maintained factory backed warranty.  Callaway eventually became world renowned for his bonkers twin turbo Corvettes, and prices for these boosted machines are not cheap...but they are certainly cheaper than something like a Shelby...but how long with that last? Find this 1987 Chevrolet Corvette Callaway Twin Turbo offered for $16,999 in Orlando, FL via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

Not A Rolls: 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Custom Cloud

The story of the Custom Cloud modified Monte Carlo is long and tedious...and not one I am willing to recount, other than to give you the quick version..which is; from 1973-1977 a small company in Florida put some fiberglass front and rear ends on the 2nd generation Monte Carlo to make it look vaguely (in the same sense that Danny DeVito looks vaguely like Arnold Schwarzenegger) like a Rolls Royce, until the corporate goons at Rolls sued them and stopped the insanity...anyway, you can read the entire story of the Custom Cloud here and here...or you can buy one of the 14 examples built.  Find this 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Custom Cloud offered for $12000 in Las Vegas, NV via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

F-Body in Yellow: 1977 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2nd generation F-body Camaro was sold from 1970 through 1981 and has somehow avoided the massive price appreciation we've seen in various classic cars. Granted, many of the 2nd gen were built during the 70s fuel and emissions crises with under-powered engines, but they drive better than the original version and are stylistically superior to the 3rd gen...so enjoy them while they are cheap.  Find this 1977 Chevrolet Camaro offered for $12999 near Indianapolis, IN via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

A What Now? 1987 Chevy Grunt

If you are thinking of living in a car when the economy crashes due to the COVID-19 and you've got a Fiat 500...you might want to trade up to something bigger.  You'll need something with back seats for your belongings, families, or hostages.  You'll also need something that can do some mild off roading if it gets ugly out there.  And you'll want something that you'll never lose in a parking lot.  Find this 1987 Chevy Grunt offered for $19,500 outside Tucson, AZ via craigslist. Tip from JB1025.

Baby You're Much Too Fast: 1991 Chevrolet Corvette L-98 Auto

The C4 generation Corvette won't get people oohing and ahhing like a classic C2 quad headlight model, or screaming like teenage Beatles fans when a brand new C8 cruises by...BUT, it won't cost you an arm/leg and it does a nice job of impersonating a sports car for less than the price of the typical 4 year old used econobox. Find this 1991 Chevrolet Corvette offered for $8,950 in Waco, TX via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

V8 Powered Mutant: 1961 Chevrolet Corvair

Is a V8 powered, front engine Corvair an abomination or an upgrade?  I'm sorta torn on that question, but I guess it is better to put a Chevy V8 powering the rear wheels than a transverse Buick V6 pushing power to the front...now that would be a real weirdo.  Still...I can't help but think this thing needs some sorta pancake shaped enough hanging out back.  Find this 1961 Chevrolet Corvair offered for $8,500 in Harrison, AR via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

427 Big Block on Blocks: 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS

This next car comes as a tip from SecondMouse who writes: Somewhere within the vicinity of this particular automobile is someone who needs a good slap. Letting a 1965 two-door Impala SS with a 427 4 speed sit outside like this... Hopefully, someone out there has the desire and the budget to put this beast back on the road. Find it here in the Houston area, asking $8500 and looking pretty complete.  Find this 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS offered for $8,500 in Houston, TX via craigslist.

Base 2-Speed: 1965 Chevrolet Corvair

Happy St Valentine's Day! This next Corvair isn't the fastest Vair on the planet (that's probably something with a mid mounted V8) ..and I'd prefer the 4-speed manual version to this 2-speed powerglide equipped version, and it would be nice to have a bit more forward ooomph than the base 95 horsepower flat-6 can provide...but...this thing is super clean inside and out. So if your automotive nirvana is more sitting in a folding chair at a car show instead of burning through a clutch at the drags...this is your baby. Find this 1965 Chevrolet Corvair offered for $9500 in Anderson, SC via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Supercharged Cop Car: 1994 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1

The forth generation Chevrolet Caprice was used by so many Police departments for many many decades that they still evoke a instinctive brake check from motorists...myself included.  This next example might date from the bubble styling era but the addition of a huge supercharger under the hood will let it keep up with modern fast sedans and probably make a great whining racket while it puffs along. Find this 1994 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 offered for $8200 in North Jersey, NJ via craigslist. Tip from Cory.

Does Not Compute: 2001 Chevrolet Camaro...70 Cuda Clone

This next car comes as a tip from Matt C who writes: This is a fourth generation Camaro that is trying to look like a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda; real price is $10,000. Seller says it is one of a kind, and I certainly hope so.  Yikes.  There is so much to ponder in this next craigslist advert.  I had to put down the keyboard...walk away...and come back a few hours later.  I'm still getting a divide by zero error. Its 2 parts awesome and 4 parts WHUT?  Find this 2001 Chevrolet Camaro...70 Cuda Clone offered for $10,000 in Atlanta, GA via craigslist.

Cummins Diesel Hot Rod: 1950 Chevrolet Pickup

There are two categories of cool cars in the world. The first is cars that are cool because they are fast/rare/unique and everybody knows it -- think Corvette ZO6, Shelby Mustangs, Dodge Demons, Ferraris and the like...the second group are cars that are cool because nobody knows what the heck they are looking at.  This next car is so far into that second group it is coming out the backside. Find this 1950 Chevrolet Pickup offered for $6500 in Piggott, AR via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.