Truck Conversion: 1999 Jeep Cherokee

The list of small 4-door pickup trucks isn't very large -- a fact pointed out by the builder of this custom machine, who writes: I built this because I have always felt that the US manufacturers totally missed the boat on the mid-size 4-door pickup market. They built some – but they were all weird-shaped, weird-looking, independent front suspension garbage with too much motor and not enough simplicity. Dodge Dakotas, Chevy Colorados (or those really rare and weird 4-door S10s) Ford Exploder, etc. At least the Fords were kind of square for a while.  I love the idea of a rugged 4-door pickup and this thing with a built-in tool/gun/ammo box looks ready to rock. Find this 1999 Jeep Cherokee offered for $6500 in Omaha, NE via craigslist. Tip from ISAUN. 

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!

Chevy V8 Power: 1976 Jaguar XJ Series 2

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!

V8 Mid Engine Custom: 1966 Chevrolet Corvair

The Chevrolet Corvair was a world changing car when introduced in 1960.  Its combination of subtle styling, aircooled alloy flat-6 out back and unibody construction was a fantastic machine that was the unfortunate recipient of the attention of a savvy young lawyer/politician named Ralph Nader who needed to make a name for himself.  But if a stock Corvair caused Mr Nader to write a book and then sue GM, then this next modified mid-engine V8 Corvair would have caused him to crapped his pants and run screaming for mommy. Find this 1966 Chevrolet Corvair offered for $10,000 in Fountain Hills, AZ via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Eye of the Tiger: 1982 Austin Mini VTEC

This next car pushes the acceptable limit of money you'd want to spend on a modified car...but it does offer a certain degree of classic charm, modern powerplant, and wheel roasting potential.  The best part is that nobody will expect you are driving something from the year that Survivor had their break out hit Eye of the Tiger.  Find this 1982 Austin Mini offered for $20,500 somewhere near Worcester, MA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Actually Custom: 1958 Triumph TR-10 Electric Conversion

I think, as car "journalists" we tend to think we've seen it all.  Or at least, I do.  And whenever I become jaded with all of the mundane junk (that passes for custom) for sale on craigslist (Chevy V8 powered RX-7s, dime-a-dozen, Bio-diesel Mercs been-there-done-that, etc) I go off in search for the oddballs, the unique stuff that only one guy ever thought "hey, this is a good idea". Like an electric Triumph Standard 10 here on eBay bidding for $704 with 5 days to go, located in Simi Valley, CA.

LS V8 6-Speed Swap: 1988 Mazda RX-7

The Mazda RX-7 is a fantastic car.  The chassis is capable, the steering communicative, the brakes are plenty powerful, and the wankel rotary engine is fun to revv...but is known for blowing up on occasion.  The right thing to do is to rebuild your wankel and run it for another 50k miles before the apex seals start to go...but, many owners chose to replace the dainty spinny thing with a big lumpy V8 from Detroit.  Find this 1988 Mazda RX-7 here on eBay offered for $13,000 buy-it-now located in Longmont, CO with 3 days to go.

AWD Subaru Swapped: 1973 Ford Courier

The worst thing about a 2 wheel drive pickup is that they have no traction in the wet...or maybe that is the best thing about a 2WD pickup (depending on how you drive...but I digress).  The Ford Courier pickup was actually a Mazda B-series that was available over the years with a number of small powerplants, including a Wankel, but today's example has been converted into a boxer-4 powered all-wheel-drive custom.  Find this 1973 Ford Courier offered for $7500 in Salinas, CA via craigslist. Tip from Safety Fast.

Widebody Wagon: 2000 BMW 540i 6-Speed

Take a normal car and turning it into a custom widebody can result in a cool ride or a total pile of ugg, depending on the skill and vision of the fabricator. Another consideration is that most widebody vehicles are two-door coupes, but occasionally you'll see some fender flares on a sedan and today we see them on a wagon.  Find this 2000 BMW 540i 6-Speed offered for $7,900 here on eBay buy-it-now or make-offer located in Tampa, FL.

Fast And Furious 17; Berlin Door Ding: 1988 Porsche 944 2JZ

The number of vehicles with swapped small block Chevy V8s is comical, to the point that they aren't really even that "special" anymore, but it makes sense because Chevy build a billion of their small blocks in every manner of vehicle from the Corvette to airport tugs.  But what is even funnier is that Toyota's 2JZ seems to be finding its way into every manner of vehicle, and while they didn't really build that many of the hot 2JZ-GTE versions (only built for the Supra Turbo and Japan only Aristo), but they did print out the standard 2JZ-GE version by the bucket load. Anyway, find this 1988 Porsche 944 2JZ offered for $12,900 in Homestead, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

900T Engine Swapped: 1975 Saab 99

It is always Thorsday here at DT, but today is also All Saints Day, so you might expect the next car to be a Volvo P1800...but SURPRISE, it isn't.  It is, however, powered by a later model turbo engine and in serious need of a coat of paint that doesn't look like a used piece of chewing gum and a set of shoes with an appropriate offset. Find this 1975 Saab 99 here on eBay bidding for $2499 CAD ($1910 USD) with 4 days to go, located in North York, Ontario, Canada. Tip from Bill.

V8 Swapped Machine: 1987 Porsche 944

The Porsche 944 is one of the few affordable Porsches available on the open market that offers a decent amount of performance...but even the turbocharged later versions are still down on horsepower compared to a new Honda minivan.  In fact, a 2018 Honda Odyssey Elite hits 60mph in 6.9 seconds, while an '87 Porsche 944S takes 7.5 seconds to get to the same speed...nope..that won't due at all.  What you need is an injection of pushrod Corvette V8 horsepower to make the German coupe a properly quick.  Find this 1987 Porsche 944 offered for $13,500 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

E39 M5 Power: 1995 BMW 540i E34 S52 Swap

The trick of doing a good engine swap is simple...just follow these two rules: (1) pick a sweet vehicle with plenty of street cred, but maybe down a few ponies on power & (2) juice it up with something that keeps alive the spirit of the original automobile, but turns the dial up to 11. (3...wait...3?) Bonus points if the swap involves complex alpha-numerics that nobody except real fanboys understand -- yo dawg, is that a Z15N? No quite, its a Z15N-GT...dude, straight GDM man. Hawt. I think that shoving an S62 V8 from a later M5 into a E34 5-series meets both of those rules. Find this 1995 BMW 540i E34 S52 Swap offered for $12000 in Fresno, CA via craigslist. Tip from Sean.

Yamaha V-Twin Powered: 1923 Ford T Bucket Replica

The typical vintage T-Bucket replica goes like this; off-the-shelf tube axle front end kit, bucket of fiberglass, Ford 9-inch rear end, TH350 slushbox, Chevy 350 small bloc---whoa...who put that Chebby part in my Ford?  Thems' fightin' words. The only non Ford power I'll put in a T-Bucket is something from a long-time Ford partner...like Lincoln, Jaguar, or Yamaha.  Yeah.  A V-Twin from a chopper will do nicely. Find this 1923 Ford T Bucket Replica offered for $2250 in Oxnard, CA via craigslist. Tip from Sean S.

SR20DET Powered: 1997 Subaru Impreza GC8

This next car comes as a tip from Art C who writes: Haha, a Nibaru? Sussan? Any way you put it, I bet it'll be fast and very sideways with a  little work. Assume around 275whp with the SR20 at reasonable boost levels, and about 2700 lbs on the GC8 with the AWD hardware removed, and probably pretty close to 50/50 weight distribution and you have a nice track toy. Find this 1997 Subaru Impreza offered for $5000 in Hartford, CT via craigslist.

Blown GM V6: 1971 Datsun 510

The Datsun 510 is one of those classics that needs little introduction -- it combines simple Japanese styling with a rugged chassis and rock-solid Nissan 4-cylinder power...but it could use a few more cubes hood. This next one has been given some more cubes with a GM V6 swap and some more ZOOM-ZOOM with a supercharged.  Find this 1971 Datsun 510 offered for $10,000 in Oak Harbor, WA via craigslist. Tip from JB1025.

Convincing Conversion: 2000 BMW M5 Touring

The E39 generation of BMW's M5 brought V8 power and much needed injection of torque to the big 5-series bruiser in 1998.  The M5 was available as a sedan, but BMW never released a properly awesome wagon version, so you had a settle for a 540i if you wanted the dog friendly rear space...however, somebody solved that problem with this next car. Find this 2000 BMW M5 Touring offered for $24999 in Costa Mesa, CA via craigslist. Tip from Sean S who asked if we can bend the $20k rule for once...yes!

Flat-6 Club: 1993 Subaru Impreza w/ Legacy 6-Cyl

The list of commonly available flat-6 automobile engines goes something like this: 1900 Wilson-Pilcher thing, '48 Tucker, Corvair, Porsche 911, Subaru XT6/SVX/Legacy. That's it.  No Italian or British cars have ever been flat-6'd and American's abandoned the concept after the death of the Corvair. Does rarity/uncommonness equate directly to value...maybe...but the sound of an uncorked flat-6 does equate to coolness.  Find this 1993 Subaru Impreza w/ Legacy 6-Cyl offered for $8500 in Hopkinton, MA via craigslist. Tip from Art C.