Jaaaaaaaaaaaag: 2003 Jaguar XK8 Coupe

Jaguar coupes have been gorgeous cars since Ernesto Jaguar was a little boy sketching his designs on Big Chief Tablets, and the X100 generation XK was no exception.  Assembled in Coventry from 1997 through 2006, the XK added some soft lines to the angular XJ coupe and evokes the legacy of the E-Type.  Mechanical & electric parts aren't as troublesome and "release the smoke" prone as stuff from the 80s, but it isn't going to be as reliable as a Toyota or Ford or SsangYong...and the interior is only one frilly lamp shade short of being an actual brothel parlor (thanks doctordel!)...but it's a Jaaaaaaaag.  Find this 2003 Jaguar XK8 Coupe here on eBay offered for $11,900 or best offer in Pompano Beach, FL.

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!

BMWish: 1962 Glas S1004 Coupe

Hans Glas GmbH was originally founded in 1883 as an agricultural repair shop, but sometime in the 1950s, Glas started building its own small sports coupes in the town of Dingolfing in Bavaria.  BMW absorbed the Glas product line and factory in 1962 and what was left of Glas started building the BMW 1500 version of the New Class sedan.  A few years later, (1966) Glas was outright purchased by BMW to gain access to its patents and large manufacturing facility and today the Dingolfing factory builds BMW 5, 6 and 7 series automobiles.  Today's next feature is a small Glas coupe that is located somewhere south of the border, so make sure you have your importation experts ready. Find this 1962 Glas S1004 Coupe offered here on eBay for $14,500 in Montevideo, Uruguay. As seen on Germancarsforsaleblog.

Fast Coupe: 2008 BMW M3 E92

The 4th generation of the BMW M3 was released in 2007 and it featured a big departure from previous models. Gone was the screaming inline-6 engine and in its place was a throaty V8...which was a heresy according to BMW fanboys but it sold quite well and the 414 horsepower and 295 ft-lbs of torque was welcome to anyone except the serious inline-6 nut.  Today the magic of depreciation means the $60k+ M3 is now 1/4 of that original price...time to buy. Find this 2008 BMW M3 offered for $18888 in Walnut, CA via craigslist.

Appreciation for Depreciation: 2010 Audi S5

The Audi S5 is a two-door version of Audi's pavement pounding S4 sport sedan, but the S5 didn't get the upgraded 3.0T supercharged V6 in 2009 and instead lived with the 4.2 liter V8 shared with the R8 through the 2012 model year.  It isn't a bad thing to have a screaming 7000 rpm V8 instead of a boosted V6, and the S5 seems to have been hit with the magic depreciation train...which isn't a bad thing if you are in the market for a fast two door. Find this 2010 Audi S5 offered for $16,351 in Beverly Hills, CA via craigslist.

Red White & Blue Plate Special: 1955 Plymouth Savoy Coupe

This next car is our feature for Memorial Day...because I've got some tri tip in the sous vide pot and nothing to do for the next 4 hours...so time to share something that is red-white-and-blue to the bone.  Find this 1955 Plymouth Savoy Coupe offered for $2500 in Belmont, MA via craigslist. Tip from Bill.

Luxury SVO: 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

This next car comes as a tip from Art C who writes: These have to be going up soon... never see them around anymore. This one looks pretty good and priced very reasonably... restore it to factory condition, drive it a bit, then sell it on barret jackson in a coupla years for some profit??  Find this 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe offered for $5000 in West Haven, CT via craigslist.

Ferrari Power, Fiat Price: 2002 Maserati GT Coupé

I'm not usually someone who recommends buying a car that looks like it was pimped out using parts from the Pep Boys "krome" aisle...but what if that car had a Ferrari V8 and a 6-speed manual gearbox?  And at $10k this car should be worth it for the engine alone...but I dunno. Find this 2002 Maserati GT Coupé offered for $10,000 in Campbell, CA via craigslist. Tip from Matthew.

A Nissan Z In Disguise: 2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe

Modern (post 2000 model year) cars are fast, complicated, and comfortable.  Some are still too expensive, but others have depreciated into serious DT territory because of the immutable laws of supply (the OEM sold a ton when new) and demand (the newer versions are cooler/better/nicer smelling)...which have oddly favored the Infiniti version of the Nissan 350Z, which was known as the G35 coupe, at least until Infiniti renamed their entire lineup to be Q70, Q42, QGeewhiz Batman, I can't decipher this bloody nomenclature.  Anyway, this next car comes from the time when you could tell what kind of Infiniti you were getting. Find this 2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe offered for $5,500 in Placentia, CA via craigslist.

Datsun Powered: 1931 American Austin

I'm really feeling the "old car" vibe today...probably the fumes in my 65 Buick getting to my head...but I really don't enjoy some of the routine maintenance required in old engines...so I'm think the way to fix this is to find something vintage with a slightly more modern drivetrain.  Like this 1931 American Austin with Datsun 1200 engine offered for $9000 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.

Slower, Harder, Less Seductive: 1951 Ford Custom

I've had a number of conversations with people about new cars...recently.  The conversation always revolves around reliability, ease of use, and Apple CarPlay.  But I am reminded of Yoda's advice to a young Skywalker who asks him if the Dark Side is stronger...to which the little green freak replies;  “No, no, no. Quicker, easier, more seductive.” And that's sums up what I feel about new cars...they aren't better than old cars, just quicker, easier, and more seductive.  Find this 1951 Ford Custom offered for $2800 in Cape Coral, FL via craigslist. Tip from Dascpcu.

Original Condition: 1970 Dodge Polara

You know what they say -- they are only original once.  To that I've added a corollary that states: I'd rather have original faded paint than a cheap respray.  Even a nice paint job isn't going to be as well adhered to the metal as the factory paint--don't ask me why, I'm not a chemist, but I can tell you that I'd love to have the experience of an original paint classic like this next car. Find this 1970 Dodge Polara offered for $7000 in Gouldsboro, PA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

One Year Rear: 1973 Pontiac Grand Am Coupe

This next car comes from tipper Watch Carefully who writes: Today I discovered this: It's a bit of a resto-mod, but true to the original 454 model with NACA ducts, etc. My dad had the 4-door from 1973, bought new when I was a kid, and I always thought it was among the best looking muscle cars of the 1970s. sadly they ruined the rear end design with the revision for 1974, so this is a 1-year-only, improved version of the original Grand Am (don't get me started on what they became in the final iterations). GM saw it as competition for sports sedans from BMW & Mercedes (...that's a good one). Nonetheless, it is what it is...very cool and decidedly uncommon.  Had I the money, garage space, and brownie points with the wife, I would probably bid on this (and swap it for a manual). Hopefully, someone in DTland is into it.  Find this 1973 Pontiac Grand Am Coupe here on eBay bidding for $5925 reserve-not-met with 5 days to go located in Winter Haven, FL.

Pop Up All The Headlights: 1991 BMW 850i

You know what I love better than a gorgeous coupe fitted with a V12 powerplant offered for a reasonable price?  One with pop-up headlamps...because fixed beams are for chumps.  Yeah, there is only once choice -- the BMW E31 8-series. Between 1989 and 1997 BMW sold only 7,000 of the shark nose E31 in North America, a luxury grand tourer meant not to just supersede the E24 6-series, but to also eclipse it in performance, price and prestige.  Find this 1991 BMW 850i offered for $15,995 in Smithfield, UT via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Soccer Ball Kicks: 1975 Saab 99 EMS Coupe

This next car really tugs at my heartstrings...because no matter how terrible a vintage Saab might be on paper with regards to acceleration, handling, reliability, parts availability...etc...it is still a sweet car, I do miss the ole Draken DT project car.  And those soccer ball alloys...hrrrnnngggg...me gusta mucho!!  And with Bosch fogs?  Welp...I wonder if the wife will forgive a second Saab "sight unseen" purchase?  The couch is comfortable anyway. Find this 1975 Saab 99 EMS offered for $6,400 in Berkeley, CA via craigslist. Tip from Safety Fast.

Italian Style: 1981 Lancia Beta Coupe

This next car comes as a tip from Matt C who puts it eloquently when he writes: I realize saying it's an '80s Italian car with sketchy electronics may be redundant, but this is sketchier than most. Still, could be a good deal for someone who's not afraid of rewiring and has a lot of time on his hands. Find this 1981 Lancia Beta Coupe offered for $1800 somewhere near Atlanta, GA via craigslist.

Cheapest You'll Find: 1968 Jaguar E-Type Coupe

What's an E-Type worth these days if the front end looks charred and you can't even tell if it is the gorgeous coupe or the ungainly 2+2...which can't be that ungainly if you have a hard time telling it apart from the coupe...but I think this is a 2 seat coupe version offered for a fraction of the typical going price. Find this 1968 Jaguar E-Type Coupe offered for $11,500 in Walnut Creek, CA via craigslist.

Strange Brew: 1990 Audi Coupe Quattro

The B3 generation Audi 80 was sold from in 1986 through 1991 as a sedan, coupe and cabriolet.  The coupe version dropped the 80 nomenclature in 1988 and became known simply as the Audi Coupé.  This generation of Audi Coupe isn't quite as iconic as the original Ur-Quattro, but it offers better drive-ability and ergonomics for a better price...or at least so I've been told.  Find this 1990 Audi Coupe Quattro offered for $5,700 in Burlingame, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.