Pro Celebrity Long Beach Grand Prix: 2000 Toyota Celica GTS

The Toyota Grand Prix in Long Beach was an annual Pro/Celebrity race in Toyota street cars that was first run in 1977 and finished when Toyota pulled their HQ out of SoCal in 2018. The race has always had lots of carnage and is typically more fun to watch than the Indy/IRL/ChampCar parade of high-powered wing-equipped spec-chassis 'race-cars' held later in the day.  Not sure how the cars were sold/auctioned after the events, but every once in a while one of the cars from that race will show up on ebay for a reasonable price, and I sorta want one. Find this 2000 Toyota Celica GTS here on eBay bidding for $7000 with 2 days to go, located in North Vernon, IN .

Where's The Corinthian Leather? 1976 Chrysler Cordoba Racer

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.

Ex-IMSA Racer: 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier

I like racing, and tried to watch a Formula 1 race the other day, but fell asleep once the first turn was sorted out.  There is something called NASCAR that some folks enjoy, but my own personal preference is for vintage racing, which is really great because you can buy the cars and race them yourself. Unfortunately, the desirable racers from the 50s/60s are monstrously expensive, but you can buy cheap ex-racer 80s econoboxes for next to nothing.  Find this 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier here on eBay bidding for $5,600 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go, located in Farmington, CT.

192MPH & $62k Invested: 1998 Ford Mustang Cobra Racer

The Silver State Classic Challenge is a nutty twice-a-year event where roads are closed and people drive highly modified vehicles at highly modified speeds.  The event website says anyone can race, all you need is a car that can average 95mph or greater...but the truth is that you'll want something that can go at least 190mph and full safety equipment to have a good time.  Like this 1998 Ford Mustang Cobra Racer here on eBay offered for $12,000 buy-it-now located in Sacramento, CA.

Not An Omniturner: 4C Supermodified Honda Racer

Building and campaigning a race car is an expensive hobby and the amount of time/money you need to spend for a few 20 minute sprint races is...well...pretty nuts.  Imagine, however, that you could dual purpose your racer -- drive it at the track AND to work on Friday.  I wonder how hard it would be to get specialty vehicle construction plates for something like this 4C Supermodified 5/8 scale CBR Honda powered thing here on eBay bidding for $2750 reserve-not-met with $3,500 buy-it-now located in Seaford, NY.

Ready for LeMons: 1994 Saturn SL2 Race Car

It might not say in his official autobiography, but I'm pretty sure that Sebastian Vettel started his racing career in a Saturn SL2 with an automatic transmission -- and now he races a Fiat in F1, so that could be you for a small hunk of cash.  Find this 1994 Saturn SL2 Race Car offered for $1250 in South Jersey, NJ via craigslist. Tip from Jeff S.

Fastest Under $20k: 1965 Factory Five Shelby Cobra Challenge Car

We've always said that you can get an awesome car without spending huge piles of your 401k (which is shedding cash at an alarming rate if you've been following the news recently) and set an arbitrary DT self imposed limit of $20k.  Sure, you could get a well equipped brand new Honda economy car...or you could get one of the most iconic automotive shapes in history with performance that'll match just about anything sub $100k.  Find this 1965 Factory Five Shelby Cobra Challenge Car offered for $19,999 in Long Beach, CA via craigslist. Tip from Erik202.

Renegrenade Hi-Bread: 1980 Porsche 928

You've heard all the negative stuff on the internet about the Porsche 928.  It was faster backwards than forwards, it is the German Camaro, it is styled like a suppository, it is as reliable as Mariah Carey's monitor... ENOUGH!  The 928 is a great car, and it only gets better when you put in some reliable domestic iron.  Find this 1980 Porsche 928 with Chevy V8 offered for $10,500 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

LeMons Ready: 1995 Ford Probe

The Ford Probe was built based on the Mazda GD and GE platforms in two generations, the first from 1989-1992, and the second from 1993-1997.  It was originally planned to be a Mustang replacement, but enthusiasts and rational people demanded that the Mustang remain rear-whee-drive and V8 powered, so the Probe lasted for a few years as a domestic alternative to the Honda Prelude, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Toyota Celica, Volkswagen Corrado/Golf, and Nissan 200SX.  Find this 1994 Ford Probe GT offered for $1,500 in San Jose, CA via craigslist.  Tip from SafetyFast.

Hip To Be Square: 1980 Chevrolet Malibu Coupe

By Cory-- Do you like your car’s styling cues to be made with a straight edge and protractor? Think of this 1980 Malibu as the American version of the Volvo 240 but with a proper 350ci V8 already in there! This particular GM A-body coupe will help make all your Street Outlaws dreams come true. Find this 1980 Chevrolet Malibu Coupe for sale in Wales, MA for a relatively modest ask of $5250.

Mid Week Match-Up: An Off-Roader For The Mexican 1000

Today's Mid Week Match-Up comes from Ropey who writes: So this is the deal. I want to do the Mexican 1000. Not the Baja 1000, but the ostensibly vintage version of the race put on by NORRA in April. To some extent, I don't care what I do it in ... a Baja bug, rail, truck, rally car any thing as long as it's old school and cool and street legal. And not a Bronco. Don't care about winning anything (until the green flag drops), but would rather not drag my car all the way down to Mexico to spend three days trying to fix it by the side of the track, so it needs to be non-fragile. Lets spend as little as possible, say $10k, or up to $15k for something really stand out. $20k tops. See how my usual car buying process goes ...? Oh, I'm in the PNW, so something west coast would be convenient.

Auction Watch: 1986 March-Apache 86S-01

Check out this Pinto powered 1986 March-Apache here on eBay bidding for $8,600 reserve-not-met with auction ending on Sunday at 5:00PM.

Vintage Project: 1973 Datsun 240Z Racer

The S30 generation Datsun/Nissan 240Z continues to be one of the better bargains for anything with two seats from the early '70s.  The chassis is light and communicative, the engine put out decent power, and the shape is easy on the eyes.  Stick it to the pavement with slicks mounted on Minilites, put some aero pieces in place of headlights and it makes one good looking racer.  Find this 1973 Datsun 240Z Racer project here on eBay offered for $6,500 buy-it-now located in Colorado Springs, CO.

Auction Watch: 1986 Porsche 944 Cup Car

Take a look at this 1986 Porsche 944 Cup Car here on eBay bidding for $7,900 reserve-not-met with auction ending on Monday.

Thursday Twister: Best $500 Racer

Welcome to another edition of DT's Thursday Twister, the game where the rules aren't the only thing that change each week.  This week, lets talk $500 race cars...which are in no way actually $500 race cars, that is only a fraction of the cost to build one...but the rulesets of 24HrsofLeMons, Chumpcar, AER, etc all say you need to start with a $500 car before spending money on safety/brakes/tires/wheels.  For today's Twister, we are going to list our favorite $500 crapcan racers.

20k: Fast And Odd: 1989 Shelby Can-Am

 From the forgotten history of Carrol Shelby and Dodge: In 1987 the original place for insane Group-7 racing cars known as Can-Am (Canadian-American Challenge Cup) was put to pasture by the folks at the SCCA.  A few years later, a Texan named Carroll Shelby approached SCCA with a concept for a sports prototype car with power from a Dodge V6 and a body designed by the legendary Pete Brock.  The rest is history...strange and forgotten history, but history nonetheless.  Find this 1989 Shelby Can-Am SCCA here on eBay currently bidding for $19,900 with less than one day to go.

Coffee Brake: Can You Do It For Less -- Ford Falcon Racer

Time for our weekly episode of Coffee Brake, where the coffee drops to the floor and the brakes are ground into bits.  This week we chase the age old question of make versus buy -- by looking at this incredibly well done 1963 Ford Falcon racer (Tip from Rod S.) offered here on eBay currently bidding for $25,100 reserve-not-met with 4 days to go.  The question is -- can you build your own for less?