The Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle is a famously cheap car to drive around...mostly because the engineering is simple, parts are cheap, and everything is fixable by a DIY mechanic. Throw that all away with this next Beetle because it is powered by a watercooled Subaru 4-banger. Find this 1974 Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle offered for $7,500 near Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
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.
Wisdom isn't something you get from sitting around reading the internet, or is it? It probably doesn't matter, but I will tell you one thing -- my Grandpappy didn't have the internet when he was a kid, but he'd always say "I don't know much about German cars, but I do know the best ones are powered by Japanese engines!" Find this 1974 Porsche 914 with STI power offered for $13,800 in Castaic, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
bidding for $12,500 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go, located in Hialeah, FL.
The Volkswagen Vanagon / Type 2 (3rd generation) was built in Germany from 1980 to 1992 for export all over the world. Up until a few years ago even the nicest condition Vanagons were worth slightly more than scrap, but as the 75 window VW hippie buses have skyrocketed in price, so have the Vanagons. The Syncro (4wd) models are more desirable for snowy climates, but you can't beat the cool of a pop-up Weekender edition. Find this 1985 Volkswagen Weekender with Subaru 2.5 liter flat-4 power for sale in Portland, OR for $16,250 via craigslist.
The VW Beetle has a long history of being put under the hot rodder's torch, a tradition that gave the world dune buggies, Herbie, fiberglass kit clones of supercars, and the Porsche 356 and 911 (arguably). The tradition of modifying the little rear-engined boxer formula continues to this day with the 991 on one end of the spectrum, and a home built turbocharged Subaru EJ22 powered '58 on the other. Check out this 1958 VW Beetle with Turbo Subie power for sale on TheSamba.com's classifieds, in Modesto CA for $10.5k or best offer.
NSU Motorenwerke AG was a small company from Germany that started life producing bicycles, later motorcycles and finally automobiles. NSU was aquired by the Volkswagen Group in 1969, was subsequently merged with Audi and its eclectic collection of 2-stroke and rotary powered vehicles faded into history. Relight the glory days of NSU's prime by picking up this 1965 NSU Sport Prinz with a 1200cc 4-cyl swap for the prinzly sum of £6850 GPB ($10,491 USD), located in Romsey, Hampshire, UK via carandclassic.co.uk. 
The Volkswagen Beetle has been subjected to all sorts of customizations over the years, but the Baja Bug is clearly the favorite of the torch wielding redneck. Add some flared fenders, big sand or mud tires, raise the suspension and the Beetle goes from a budget family transporter to a budget rally and dune machine. And with a modern engine swap, its power to weight ratio will be notable. This Subaru powered Baja Bug project is a 1971 body sitting on a 1965 floorpan, and is for sale in Wabash, IN for $3,800 via craigslist.
The third generation (T3) of VW's legendary 'Type 2 Transporter' continued the formula setup by its predecessors of slow, tippy and reliable, and was marketed in the USA as the Vanagon from 1979-1993. The ultimate family version is certainly the Westfalia with pop up top, a full kitchen and sleeping accommodations for four adults! Stay safe and dry at next year's burning man festival with this 1987 Westfalia Camper powered by a Subaru engine, for sale in Colorado Springs, CO for $11,500 via craigslist.