Prancing Deer: 1972 Triumph Stag Custom

The Triumph Stag was a 2+2 convertible sports tourer designed by Giovanni Michelotti (known for his work on the Triumph Spitfire, GT6, TR4, Ferrari 250/340/375, Maserati 3500/5000, and BMW 2002...you get the idea) and produced by Triumph. Today's Stag has been de-bumpered and the result is a car that looks more mid 60s Lotus or Ferrari than something from Coventry and with the addition of a Chevy V8 (big upgrade over the small 3 liter Triumph V8...maybe not in terms of cool, but certainly torque and power). Find this 1972 Triumph Stag Custom offered for $5100 in Tampa, FL via Facebash Marketrace. Tip from David S. 

Has Sticker, No Engine: 1995 Volvo 960 V8 Swap Ready

The most famous Volvo wagon (or wagons) of all time is the V8 swapped 960 wagon that Paul Newman owned -- the saga of this car was told years later by Dave Letterman and in 2014 Newman's wagon was found in a cheap used car lot -- that story was broken here on DT.  Many have created tribute cars to that insane ideal of a fast sleeper wagon, and today's 960 is offered with its engine/trans recently pulled, but swap ready and a CA BAR sticker on the firewall.  Not bad at all for the price. Find this 1995 Volvo 960 V8 Swap Ready offered for $2000 in San Mateo, CA via craigslist.

Banshee Exhaust: 2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

If you are in the market for a fast small luxury sedan you probably have seen prices on 10 year old M3s and S4/S5 drop to sub $20k DT range...but wait...there is another Skywalker.  And this one is arguably the most brutal of the group -- it doesn't have all-wheel-drive grip like the Audi or manual gearboxes for carving apexes like the BMW...but it does have gobs of tire shredding torque and thrust like a banshee from the howling 451 horsepower 6.2 liter V8-- but you don't have to believe me, you can read this 2008 magazine article from C&D. Find this 2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG offered for $16,500 in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist.

Fast Coupe: 2008 BMW M3 E92

The 4th generation of the BMW M3 was released in 2007 and it featured a big departure from previous models. Gone was the screaming inline-6 engine and in its place was a throaty V8...which was a heresy according to BMW fanboys but it sold quite well and the 414 horsepower and 295 ft-lbs of torque was welcome to anyone except the serious inline-6 nut.  Today the magic of depreciation means the $60k+ M3 is now 1/4 of that original price...time to buy. Find this 2008 BMW M3 offered for $18888 in Walnut, CA via craigslist.

Battle of the Rollers: 2007 Saturn Sky vs 1970 Jensen Interceptor

Picture this; you are stuck at home under stay-at-home orders and you need something to occupy your time since your internet connection is dead.  What you need is an engine and a vehicle that needs an engine.  Then you just need a few wrenches, some zip ties, a welder, and some fresh 5w30 oil.  The only question is -- which do you get, do you get a 2007 Saturn Sky setup for LS1 swap offered for $2500 or do you get an powertrain-less 1970 Jensen Interceptor offered for $3995, both are offered on Los Angeles craigslist.

Red Rover Red Rover: 1977 MG B V8

This next car came with a certain amount of deja vu.  Did we already feature this car? Or have we simply seen so many Rover V8 powered MGBs that my brain has become a fog of classic British steel and aluminum alloy?  I guess this is a new entry into the world of V8 powered MGs...but I dunno. Find this 1977 MG B V8 offered for $10,500 CAD ($7,536 USD) in Courtice, ON, Canada via kijiji.ca. Tip from Erik202.

Yellow Fever: 2005 Audi S4

This next car comes to Erik202 who writes: Send help! (stay 6ft back) just talk me out of buying a V8 Audi S4. I might be going a little crazy from the lack of human interaction but this thing is looking so yellow and fast. And even tho the ad says it’s an auto it’s clearly a stick and it says the timing chains and guides are done and that’s only like $4600USD. Save Erik from monumental repair bills and cheap V8 fun by buying this car before he coughs on the door handles. Find this 2005ish Audi S4 offered for $6500 CAD (approx $4600 USD) in Montréal, QC via facemask marketplace.

11k Miles on the Odo: 2004 Cadillac CTS-V

This next car comes as tip from Jeff who writes; At under 3900 lbs. with a manual trans and upgraded exhaust/intake, this would be a fun ride. Granted, it ain't cheap for a 16 year old GM sedan, but it's got the right things going for it and the low mileage/condition is hard to beat.  Thanks Jeff, I have to agree, the first gen CTS-V has been on my short list for the past 10 years, but prices (albeit pre-COVID19 prices) have stabilized with some of the nicer examples demanding significant premium and this is a great example of that.  However, this car was built before the current fad of electrification and gizmofication, so I'm thinking this is a buy and hold...just lose the explosive exhaust. Find this 2004 Cadillac CTS-V offered for $20,000 in Virginia Beach, VA via craigslist.

F-Body in Yellow: 1977 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2nd generation F-body Camaro was sold from 1970 through 1981 and has somehow avoided the massive price appreciation we've seen in various classic cars. Granted, many of the 2nd gen were built during the 70s fuel and emissions crises with under-powered engines, but they drive better than the original version and are stylistically superior to the 3rd gen...so enjoy them while they are cheap.  Find this 1977 Chevrolet Camaro offered for $12999 near Indianapolis, IN via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Buick 215 V8 Power: 1972 Opel Manta Rallye

The first generation Opel Manta (It is known as a Manta A to the Manta lovers around the globe) was a simple and light two-door fastback that shared a chassis and oily bits with the Opel Ascona sedan platform. The Opel marque may have been controlled the giant General Motors monster, but the Manta was a decidedly European machine, with a small cam-in-head inline-4 cylinder engine pushing power to the rear wheels...but you can fix that will a little bit 'o' Murican iron, and finally justify the fact that these things were sold in Buick dealers when new. Find this 1972 Opel Manta Rallye with Buick 215V8 offered for $2200 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from JB1025. 

No Power Brakes, No Problem: 1970 Ford Galaxie 500 Country Sedan Wagon

I've got to assume that prices of used cars (classics, late models, you name it) are gonna take a hit due to this COVID-19 thing...firstly because the economy is playing rope-a-dope and second because people are supposed to be sheltering in place instead of going around and buying/selling cars. Regardless if you surf over to the craigslists in the places hit by this nasty virus, you'll still see people selling cars...and while nobody loves a vulture...everybody loves a deal?  Is it wrong to look at Seattle or the Bay Area Craigslist and see what you can get with a face mask and a pair of rubber boots? Find this 1970 Ford Galaxie 500 Country Sedan Wagon offered for $5000 near Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Original Gangster: 1980 Porsche 928

I know what you are thinking.  Forty-five hundred bones for a Porsche 928 that doesn't have a driver's seat...that's a lot of money.  But the seller does say it fires up and runs (despite the reputation, these things aren't that bad...and were well engineered from the factory) and the exterior paint/body looks amazing if it is original.  I like it, and I'd be much more concerned about a complete interior 928 with damaged paint and a borked engine.  Find this 1980 Porsche 928 offered for $4,500 in Sonoma, CA via craigslist.

Another Day, Another Stroker: 1976 Ford Maverick V8

This next car comes as a tip from JB1025 who writes: Younger Sister car to the Comet on 3/2/20; The other Phony Pony car from the Blue Oval.. Yes, this is indeed the other white meat from Ford...but it looks oddly appealing for the price. Find this 1976 Ford Maverick V8 offered for $6,300 in Portland, OR via craiglist.

Built Stroker: 1973 Mercury Comet GT

If the Ford Maverick is the little known step brother of the Mustang, then it's cousin the Mercury Comet is even more obscure.  The Comet GT trim level was the muscle car trim package that upped the ante with the 302 V8 engine.  These cars were originally conceived as import fighters, but in reality duked it out for sales with the Chevy Nova and Dodge Dart...and they make a nice platform for a V8 cruiser today. Find this 1973 Mercury Comet GT offered for $13,200 in Tampa Bay, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

A Fiero By Any Other Name: 1985 Ferrari Kit Car by Corson Motors

It seems that many of the Porsche 365 Speedster replicas floating around on the street are of a quality to be almost indistinguishable from the real deal by anyone except a real Poooooooorsche aficionado. I'm not that guy, so I'm probably wrong half the time when I see a 365 convertible or a kit version...but the same doesn't go for a Ferrari kit car.  There is something about Ferrari kit cars that makes them instantly identified as a kit car...perhaps it is because the real Porsche 356 was just a re-bodied Beetle, so if you start with a Beetle it doesn't take much to get to a 356...but if you start with a Fiero, you've got a lotta time to get it to an Italian built Ferrari.  Find this 1985 Ferrari Kit Car by Corson Motors offered for $14,995 in Daytona Beach, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Mocha Dick: 1969 AMC Rebel Wagon

Every day, I drive down the roads in suburban SoCal, and lament the takeover of ugly crossovers and sport futility vehicles.  I get the usability of the modern small SUV...I really do...but when did needless vertical height become a cure-all for ugly tail lights?  And why can't we have wagons?  When did V8 powered rear-drive wagons become not a thing that new car shoppers want?  Am I the only one who would rather drive something ancient to avoid introducing yet another turd shaped blight on the automotive landscape?  Get off the lawn...that's where I park my boat!  Find this 1969 AMC Rebel Wagon offered for $6000 in Lexington, KY via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Simple Project? 1971 Jensen Interceptor Mk II

Over the years, I've purchased many different project cars and they've come in various shapes/sizes/conditions...but I've always been enchanted with the idea of a project that requires only basic tools, a single parking space, and mostly elbow grease.  A project that doesn't involve pulling a car off its frame, or massive rust repair, or rebuilding a fiddly vanos module...yeah...that would be a great project. Perhaps this Jensen might offer the right combination of mechanical, electrical, and hard work that could keep you busy, but not break the bank with expensive specialist work? Find this 1971 Jensen Interceptor 2 offered for $9000 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!