Little White Lies: 1978 Ford Fiesta S Mk1

There is an old saying that goes something like "they don't make 'em like they used to"...but occasionally that is a good thing, particularly in the case of domestic subcompact econoboxes.  However, this next car survived the years well and seems cool, at least on paper.  Probably because it is one of the German built Fiestas that were available on these shores a few years (1978-1980) before it was replaced by the North American built Escort (yuk).  Anyway, find this 1978 Ford Fiesta S Mk1 offered for $4,500 in Snohomish, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe

BMW's revived Mini brand has been on a tear in the past few years with lots of new models and generally positive press.  Mini released the Coupe at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show with raked windshield and funky backwards baseball cap styling attributed to Marcus Syring who is probably best known for his work on the BMW Z3 / M Coupe Clownshoe. Worldwide sales through 2014 totaled under 28,000 units for the Coupe, so Mini canned the car at the end of the 2015 model year.  Find this 2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe offered for $13,500 from a small dealer in Houston, TX. This post is part of DT's 2016 Birthday Celebration of 100 cars; enjoy the ride!

Mini For Maxi Price: 2006 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works GP Kit

In 2006 BMW decided to let the outgoing first generation Mini Hatch leave with a bang. It started with the Cooper S model (around $22k), and added the John Cooper Works GP kit (another $10k) to create one of the most expensive first gen Neue-Minis to leave the factory in Cowley, Oxfordshire.  The JCW GP Kit was not only the fastest Mini Cooper to be built, but the limit of 415 units sold in the USA means it is also the most exclusive.  Find this 2006 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works GP Kit here on eBay offered for $24,900 buy-it-now or make offer located in Ft Myers, FL.

Something Great Is Gone: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi S 6-Speed

Suzuki Loom Works was founded in 1909 in the seaside village of Hamamatsu, Japan as a manufacturer of weaving looms for Japan's booming silk industry.  Michio Suzuki (1887-1982) decided to diversify his enterprise a few years later, but it wasn't until after the war that the Suzuki Motor Works was formed to build the 1955 Suzuki Suzulight, a front-wheel-drive economy car with independent suspension and rack-and-pinion steering.  The first Suzuki to be sold new in the USA was the 1985 Chevrolet Sprint, which was actually a rebadged Suzuki Cultus.  In 2009, right at the height of the automotive crisis, Suzuki introduced what was probably their best vehicle ever sold in the USA, a mid-sized sedan called the Kizashi, but it was not meant to last, and Suzuki withdrew from the US market in 2012.  Find this 2011 Suzuki Kizashi S 6-Speed offered for $5,495 in Baton Rouge, LA via craigslist.

Muscle Machine: 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass S

The third generation Oldsmobile Cutlass was built on GM's A-body platform from 1968 through 1972.  The three flavors consisted of a base model F-85, mid-level Cutlass S, an upscale Cutlass Supreme, and the fun machine 4-4-2.  This is a simple Cutlass S, but it is offered for a fair price and looks presentable.  Find this 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass S offered for $9,000 in Ft Myers, FL via craigslist.  Tip from dascpcu.

5k: Sophisticated: 1968 Mercedes-Benz 250S W108

It might take a big wad to cash to be considered rich, but it only takes one old depreciated pile of rusting German metal out front to make it look like you are rich, and for some folks, that's half the battle.  Find this 1968 Mercedes-Benz 250S W108 offered for $5,000 buy-it-now here on eBay located in Gilbert, AZ.

DTO: Seller Submission: 1977 Porsche 911S 3.0 Hot Rod

The Porsche 911 is a motoring icon of the first degree and the 911 is surely on every car-nut's bucket list -- its iconic shape, raspy exhaust note and bare-bones performance are exemplary.  Prices for normal 70s 911s have been on a steady incline for years, but the 911 turbo market did a massive spike about a year ago, with basket cases that idiots left aging in barns tripling in "value" basically overnight.  If you can't afford the massive buy in for a turbo, why not pickup a nicely modified S with a hopped up motor and get the performance without the bills?  Find this 1977 Porsche 911S 3.0 IROC tribute Hot Rod currently bidding on eBay for $22,100 reserve-not-met with $35,500 buy-it-now in Mission Hills, CA.  Seller submission from oprah85 on eBay.

15k: Fun To Weight Ratio: 1976 Porsche 911 S Targa

The classic Porsche 911 needs no introduction. The ultimate descendent of the VW Beetle has become a icon in its own right.  The prices for the early classic rear engined examples have skyrocketed to ridiculously inflated numbers, but if you are patient you can find a deal once in a blue moon.  Find this 1976 Porsche 911 S Targa offered for $16,000 in Longview, TX via craigslist.

5k: French Poodle: 1985 Peugeot 505S Wagon

French automaker Peugeot built over 1.3 million of its 505 sedans for worldwide consumption between 1979 and 1999, a ridiculous number all things considered.  The 505 was successful in the third world where its comfortable ride over rough roads and simple front engine / rear drive layout made the constant repairs easy for non-French reading mechanics.  The North American consumer was slightly less friendly to the 505 as expectations for day to day reliability were much higher, and so few clean examples of the 505 remain on the road today.  Find this 1985 Peugeot 505S Wagon offered for $5,000 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada via craigslist.

5k: Sink Or Cinq: 1985 Peugeot 505 S

French automaker Peugeot built over 1.3 million of its 505 sedans for worldwide consumption between 1979 and 1999, a staggering number all things considered.  The 505 was rather successful in the third world where its comfortable ride over rough roads and simple front engine / rear drive layout made the constant repairs easy for non-French reading mechanics.  Very few clean examples of the 505 remain on the road today, but even the nicest examples can be picked up for chump change.  Find this 1985 Peugeot 505 S for sale in Staten Island, NY for $4,200 via roverclassic.com.   Thanks to tip from IgnatiusReilly.