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.

Renegade V-Eight: 1972 Porsche 914

The 914 was meant to slot into Porsche's showrooms below the premium 911 but to also fill the top of VW/Audi's lineup with a Volkswagen badge.  But the suits at Porsche didn't want to risk having the VW nameplate tarnish its image and convinced VW to allow it to sell all 914's exclusively through its USA dealer network with a Porsche badge on the front.  The resulting car was slow but great fun to drive due to its mid-engine layout and 2100 lb curb weight, but today's next example has had the dial turned up to 11 with a 350 cubic inch crate motor. Find this 1972 Porsche 914 V8 offered for $14000 in Long Island, NY. Tip from Rock On!

V8 RallyCross Ready: 1993 Ford Ranger

Trucks are popular (I believe the F150 is still the best selling vehicle in the USA) and they have an interesting history.  They started off 100 years ago with the Ford Model T Runabout as a work truck and that was mostly the paradigm for 50 years until the El Camino & Ranchero introduced a "styled" pickup -- something that was as much about image as it was about utilitarianism.  A few years later and GM introduced something even more radical, the performance pickup in form of the Silverado 454SS and GMC Cyclone which were shortly followed by Ford's SVT Lightning.  People had been racing pickups over the years and in 1995 NASCAR introduced its SuperTruck racing series...but today we've got a pickup that is setup to race in SCCA RallyCross, which is basically an AutoCross on some dirt/mud/snow.  Sounds fun! Find this 1993 Ford Ranger offered for $5000 via grassrootsmotorsports.com forums. Tip from ISAUN.

V8 Powered Monster: 1972 MG Midget

The Shelby Cobra is known for bad shifting ergonomics because the Mustang based Ford V8 and transmission were designed for a car with a much longer hood. Shelby wanted to the V8 mass as far back as possible and the result is a strangely shaped shifter that arches forward like a scimitar to meet the driver's gear demands...and it is even worse when you drop in a T5 transmission. Today's next car takes that paradigm to an extreme and I think it'll need a driver with a 3rd arm growing out of his back to reach 4th gear.  That 3rd arm will also be extremely handy to scratching and/or protecting the enormous steel spherical appendages of said driver. Find this 1972 MG Midget offered for $25000 in Lenoir, NC 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. 

Two Tone: 1974 Jaguar XJ6 V8

There is an older gentleman who drives a similar commute time to me (well...that was before the coronavirus...now my commute involves putting my temporary desk together in my room and avoiding the wife/kids by pretending on a conference call...but that's a story for another time) anyway, this guy has an XJ6 Coupe that has a particularly jaunty rumble coming out a set of dual pipes..and I suspect it is small block V8 conversion, but I can't be certain...and what this guy needs to do is to add some custom body paint accents and white letter Cooper Radial tires to let us all know that he's driving a muscle Jag. Like this 1974 Jaguar XJ6 V8 offered for $3490 in Sacramento, CA via craigslist.

V8 Powered Mutant: 1961 Chevrolet Corvair

Is a V8 powered, front engine Corvair an abomination or an upgrade?  I'm sorta torn on that question, but I guess it is better to put a Chevy V8 powering the rear wheels than a transverse Buick V6 pushing power to the front...now that would be a real weirdo.  Still...I can't help but think this thing needs some sorta pancake shaped enough hanging out back.  Find this 1961 Chevrolet Corvair offered for $8,500 in Harrison, AR via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Buick V8 Rad Rod: 1970 Datsun 521 Pickup

This next car comes as a tip from JB1025 offered My neck is hurting just to look @ this !  But has Kewl Factor...Kewl indeed, you'll need a sweet neckbeard and sleeve tatts to truly do this thing justice, but a few days of itchy neck and arm dermatitis is a small price to pay for driving something that'll make women, children, and valets run with terror.  Find this 1970 Datsun 521 Pickup offered for $10,900 in Toledo, OR via craigslist.

The Third Newman-Letterman V8lvo? 1995 Volvo 960 V8 with Puffer

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.  All built at the same time by Converse Engineering, Letterman's car was red, Newman's car was grey and a third car was built for Ian Warburg in Manhattan...and that car was blue.  So..imagine my surprise when this Kenne Bell puffer equipped 960 V8 Volvo comes through the tips line located somewhere in New York.  The blue paint is faded..but the under-hood details are so similar...the only question is the white interior shown in this old Jalopnik article seems to have been swapped for black...but some of the underhood details are so similar. Could this be the third of the three cars built by Converse for Newman/Letterman/et al? Find this 1995 Volvo 960 V8 with Puffer offered for an undisclosed sum of cash in Mamaroneck, NY via craigslist. Tip from Art.

Ford V8 Giant Killer: 1965 MG MGB

You know what is better than taking a fancy-shamncy sports car with dual electric motors and a huge car payment to your local track day? Well...most anything...because wadding your Ferramginesla into turn 9 at Willow Springs isn't fun...but driving a pile of crap custom that is faster than overpriced "sports cars" is a bucket of  pygmy marmosets worth 'o' fun. Find this 1965 MG MGB offered for $6900 in Whittier, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

LT1 V8 + 6Spd: 1973 Nissan 240Z

Nissan's athletic 240Z was sold in the USA with a Datsun badge and a silky smooth inline-6 to go with its ninja-like reflexes.  For years, folks joked that Japanese cars would never be collectable, and 240Z prices hovered above scrap value, so many were (for better or worse) turned into hot rods. Today we've got one of those hot rods and it looks like it could use some freshening...but could be fun when done. Find this 1973 Nissan 240Z offered for $6500 in Phoenix, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Aged Whine: 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 Wagon with M113K SuperCharged V8

This next car comes as a tip from Jeff who writes; Slick wagon, assuming you trust the shop that did the work.  I'm not as concerned about the quality of the swapper as I am about the signs of the tin worm from life in the rust belt...is D.C. in the rust belt?  Maybe the proximity to the chief offices of our gubmint causes accelerated oxidation of metal...I dunno....but I do know that I'd love to have a supercharged V8 wagon.  Find this 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 Wagon with M113K SuperCharged V8 offered for $13000 in Washington, D.C. via craigslist.

LS1 V8 Swapped: 2000 BMW 323ci

BMW's E46 generation 3 series was sold from 1999 to 2005 and it was known for its well balanced chassis and smooth inline-6 engines.  If you want a fast one, you can get the M3 version for less than the price of this next example...but it won't have a 400+ horsepower V8 that'll drink 87 octane fuel and leave twin black stripes everywhere you go.  Find this 2000 BMW 323ci V8 offered for $16,900 in Long Island, NY via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

Chevy V8 Swapped: 1985 Mazda RX-7

The first generation RX-7 (SA/FB built in Japan from 1978 to 1985) was a beautiful ballerina in the sports car world.  The RX-7's lithe frame was propelled by an equally dainty engine - the Mazda rotary...which was known for revvving high, consuming fuel, and sounding like angry bees when uncorked.  However, they are expensive to repair and many have (for better or worse) been swapped with another powertrain...and this next one is the most basic of swaps...Chebby V8 and 700R4 slushbox.  Find this 1985 Mazda RX-7 offered for $5900 in Caldwell, ID via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

4 Turbos and a Blower: 1992 Volvo 960 V8 Swap

How did I miss this car?  How did this auction get to "reserve-not-met" without so much as a peep from the pages of Daily Turismo?  Surely you guys, you tippers, bear some of the blame, but I blame myself even more for not keeping my eye on the ball.  The big, quad turbocharged, hairy chested, wheels that don't fit, engine that doesn't fit...ball.  SERIOUSLY, HOW DID I MISS THIS?  Find this 1992 Volvo 960 Custom V8 here on eBay with auction ended at $12,500 reserve-not-met in Orwigsburg, PA.

Chevy V8 Powered: 1972 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow

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!

Happy Halloween: 1966 Chevrolet Corvair V8 versus 1984 Pontiac Fiero V8

Happy Halloween!! On today's episode of What'll Kill You Quicker, we've got a'66 Corvair that's been de-clawed of its oversteer prone swing-axle suspension, but it is now sporting a front mounted V8 and enough custom shenanigans to keep you guessing the next failure mode for years...versus an '84 Fiero that has 20 year newer safety technology...but is still a plastic bodied piece of mid engined junk that now has a giant V8 shoved right behind your soft and squishy mammalian cortex.  What'll Kill You Quickest?