Slightly Modified: 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo

I must be getting old...because I find myself turned off by heavily modified sports cars.  Doesn't matter if they are stanced or lifted or just Pepboys bolt-on stick-on pimped...I just feel an overwhelming sense of meh when I see something that was sporty from the factory and is now modified.  It is one thing to shove a V8 into the front of some slow old Volvo, but do you really expect some 20 year old Best Buy employee to make an MR2 better than the guys from the factory?  Seriously?  But, this next Mister Two might just have the guts to get a pass from the grizzled old man inside...and I might just enjoy driving it. Find this 1993 Toyota MR2 offered for $12,480 in Reno, NV via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

NASCAR: 1979 Dodge Magnum XE T-Top

The Dodge Magnum was introduced in 1978 as an aerodynamic alternative to the Dodge Charger built on Chrysler's long in the tooth "B platform".  The smoothed off appearance was to give it a few more miles-per-hour of top speed when they built the NASCAR version for guys like Richard Petty and Neil Bonnett.  Find this 1979 Dodge Magnum XE T-Top offered for $2,100 near Ventura, CA via craigslist. Tip from Sean S.

T-Top Cruiser:1985 Nissan 300ZX Turbo

The Z31 generation Nissan 300ZX won't be the fastest car on the block, or the best handling, but it offers a level of vintage 80s cool that is hard to match on a dollar for dollar basis.  You'd go broke trying to buy a mint condition one-owner 911 from the 80s, same with an M3; you'll be repairing apex seals faster than you can say zoom zoom in an RX-7, and the early Celica Supras are gutless -- so the Z31 is the answer.  Find this 1985 Nissan 300ZX here on eBay bidding for $2,025 reserve-not-met with 4 days to go, located in Carson, CA.

Thursday Twister: T-Tops

Welcome back another edition of the Thursday Twister, DT's weekly quiz show where the right answer is always left in the dust.  Today's topic du jour is to build a list of cars equipped with T-tops (also known as a T-bar in the UK) those wacky removable panels over each passenger's head with a structural center beam.

5k: T-Top Gun: 1987 Ford Mustang LX

The T-Top (or British T-Bar) is one of those automotive features that elicits an instantly polarized reaction from car folks.  Some will rave about the configurable nature of its small roof panels, and others will bemoan the resulting squeaks/creaks from the resulting wet noodle chassis stiffness.  It is a discussion that has almost become moot because nobody sells cars with T-Tops anymore...but who buys new cars anyway?  Buying new is a suckers game, anybody around here will tell you pickup some old used pile of parts and keep your change --and the T-Tops.  Like this 1987 Ford Mustang LX offered here on eBay currently bidding for $7,669 with 1 day to go located in Belmont, OH.

5k: Original Owner Sale: 1991 Toyota MR2 T-Top

The second generation Toyota MR2 is at the top of our list of depreciated modern classics.  The nimble rear drive chassis with excellent mid-engine handling works well and Toyota's turbo and naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engines are adequate.  Find this 1991 Toyota MR2 T-top for sale in Simi Valley, CA for $3,900 via craigslist.  Tip from Ryan.

Reader Roadkill Copper T-Top: 1982 "Datsun by Nissan" 280ZX 2+2

One of our readers recently stumbled across this very nice appearing 2nd-generation Z car and sent it on to us, so we thought we would share it despite the limited info available. He says it was "spotted in Thousand Oaks, California. Clean and well cared for. A family sized 280Z with an automatic." While no asking price is listed on the for sale sign, this may be worth a closer look for anyone in the market for a Malaise Era sporty GT. See the close-up image of sign below for the seller's contact info. Thanks to reader Victor V.T. for the tip and pics.