Everybody wants the best of both worlds. Everybody wants a car that gets them street cred and respect for being "different" but that same body wants a car that is reliable and efficient...so where does a Prius cross with a Lamborghini? Lemme tell ya. It's called the Toyota Sera and is two parts Toyota Paseo and one part lambo door equipped JDM oddball. Find this 1995 Toyota Sera offered for $8,800 in Orefield, PA via hemmings.com. Tip from Barbpaddles.
This next car REALLY stretches the limit of what you consider an appreciating classic car. It isn't fast, and it isn't really noticeable (most of the mindless automatons driving around in their beige pods won't blink twice at a Corolla wagon...even though it was never sold here in this generation and is the only one you'll ever see) and there are thousands of cars that offer more daily driver usability...but...BUT...this is an all-wheel-drive and manual-gearbox equipped Corolla imported from Japan with right-hand-drive and it will win all the street cred you can use at the next Japanese classic car show. Find this 1992 Toyota Corolla Van offered for $8500 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from Erik202.
If you've never been to the LA Inland Empire...let me tell ya, you ain't missin' much. It is connected to the web of pavement known as the Greater Los Angeles Area, but was ceded to the "Desert People" many years ago and most cities combine the charm and sophistication of Orange County's wide roads & strip malls with summer temperatures that would make a Bedouin cry for relief. However, there are a few highlights --or hidden gems -- such as the city of Temecula that combines a shockingly high medium income with golf courses, reasonably priced homes, and vineyards that offer respite from the scorching temperature. This next car exemplifies the diamond in the rough character of Temecula and seems like a good deal. Find this 1972 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow offered for $8500 in Temecula, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
The Suzuki Cappuccino was introduced for the 1987 model year as an attempt to add some sportiness to the Suzuki lineup in native Japan. In a photograph it looks like a Mazda MX-5 competitor, but with a total length of only 129 inches and a 1598 lb curb weight, the Cappuccino was closer to a go-kart and it conformed to Japan's Kei (Keijidosha light car) regulations that gave buyers a tax break and easier license/insurance requirements. The Cino was never sold in North America, but a few made it across the pond and into the wilds of the US car market. Find this 1992 Suzuki Cappuccino Turbo offered for $5495 in Portland, OR via craigslist.
Another day, another 
The Skyline name was first used by the Prince Motor Company in 1957 on their Dagmar bumper equipped luxury sedan. A few years later, Prince merged with Nissan and the Skyline name became associated with Nissan's fast sports sedans, culminating with the GT-R release in 1969. Many years later the GT-R Skyline (or Skyline GT-R?) name has become synonymous with Japanese speed and style, but there are many Skyline sedans that aren't turbocharged or all-wheel-drive...but are still cool nonetheless. Find this 1988 Nissan Skyline R31 Wagon offered for $4,250 in Silver Spring, MD via craigslist. Tip from Aaron K.
I love a good American hamburger...in fact, I had a juicy medium-rare 6 oz sirloin burger topped with bacon, cheddar cheese and avocado for lunch today...it was meaty and quite filling. But there are times when you want something a bit less of a smack to the gut...more like a thinly sliced and grilled piece of Japanese wagyu beef. This next car isn't gonna keep up with a Dodge Challenger at the track or best an $65,000 Fox body (whooooyaaaaa...still perplexed by that one!) at an autocross, BUT it'll be a rare treat of simple preasures in an age where more beef isn't always the answer. Find this 1991 Autozam AZ-1 offered for $17,900 in Magnolia, TX via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
In the late 1980s Nissan released a series of retro-styled vehicles into the Japanese market built on what is called the Pike platform. The wacky designs were penned by Naoki Sakai who was noted for bringing retro styling to Olympus brand cameras. The limited production retro-minis included Be-1, K10-Micra, Pao, Figaro and snail styled S-Cargo. Regrettably, Nissan did not export any of these little oddballs into the USA, but you can find examples that have migrated here over the years. Yay for the grey market! Find this 1988 Nissan Be-1 offered for $11570 near Atlanta, GA via craigslist. Tip from Matt C.
The Toyota Starlet was a small sub-Corolla/Tercel pint sized jelly bean that was produced starting in 1973 and ending in 1999 when it was replaced by the Vitz. The Starlet was sold new in the USA, but this next one comes as a JDM import (YO!) complete with right hand drive and a clean federalized NC title. Find this 1992 Toyota Starlet GT Turbo offered for $8500 in Asheville, NC via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
When someone mentions driving an ex-Postal vehicle, most of us immediately picture one of those boxy Grumman LLVs, but many other vehicles have been conscripted for use in snow, heat, and the gloom of night. Find this 2000 Saturn SWP RHD offered for $3,000 in Centuria, WI via craigslist. Tip from MB.
The Nissan Stagea is commonly known as the Skyline wagon because it is essentially a longroof version of the Nissan Skyline/Infiniti G35. It was never available in North America except in digital format on Sony's Playstation, but someone is selling one up North. Find this 2001 Nissan Stagea 250T RS-Four HICAS offered for $5,500 CAD ($4,142 USD at publication) via craigslist located in Victoria, BC. Tip from JB1025.
According to the account in book two of Virgil's Aeneid, the Greeks built a large horse out of wood and covered with fur that contained soldiers who were now free to pop open a hidden door and invade the city of Troy -- why this is called a Trojan Horse instead of a Greek Horse is beyond my understanding -- but the Japanese built a Trojan car of their own in the late 80s/early 90s. It was called the Sera and it totally blends into the automotive econo-bland-space until you pop open those gull wing doors and reveal its true nature. Find this 1990 Toyota Sera offered for $6,900 in Oceanside, NY via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
The W110 Heckflosse (German for fintail) was a 4-cylinder powered executive class sedan
built in Germany between 1961 and 1968. It was the baby-brother to the high-end W111 chassis that later transformed into today's S-Class. Regardless, the economical W110
has its own set of fans today, mostly people who appreciate it for its
simplicity, style and economy. Find this 1967 Mercedes Benz 200 W110 offered for $6,000 in San Gabriel, CA via craigslist.
Okay before the hate starts pouring in (re; Thorsday badge), we have to admit that Dutch people are in fact not Scandinavian or even Nordic. The Netherlands is located in geographically speaking in the nether-regions of Nordic Europe...well..due south of Denmark (home of Lego) and is home to PACCAR subsidiary DAF Trucks, which many years ago dabbled in small economy cars for the European market. Confused? Don't be. It is very simple. DAF was a company founded in 1928 under the name Commanditaire Vennootschap Hub van Doorne's Machinefabriek and the 66 SL is a small economy car built in the Netherlands (sometimes mistakenly called Holland, which is a region in the Kingdom of the Netherlands) during the 1970s by Dutch speaking Dutch folk (not Danish speaking Danes - they build Lego cars in Denmark and bake those delicious Danish butter cookies sold in large tins). Find this 1973 DAF 66SL right-hand-drive for sale in Granite Falls, WA for the bargain price of $2450 via craigslist.
We featured a 3rd generation Toyota Corona on Wednesday - a restored, nice looking example that had some money put into an 'out of body experience' restoration...but for those who like their classic Japanese iron with some patina on it - we've found a nice original one for you. This 1966 Toyota Corona for sale in Santa Fe, NM, on ebay is an overseas right-hand-drive version and currently bidding at a reasonable $3150 with no reserve.