Ex-IMSA Racer: 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier

I like racing, and tried to watch a Formula 1 race the other day, but fell asleep once the first turn was sorted out.  There is something called NASCAR that some folks enjoy, but my own personal preference is for vintage racing, which is really great because you can buy the cars and race them yourself. Unfortunately, the desirable racers from the 50s/60s are monstrously expensive, but you can buy cheap ex-racer 80s econoboxes for next to nothing.  Find this 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier here on eBay bidding for $5,600 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go, located in Farmington, CT.

Atypically Inexpensive: 1961 Devin 295 Drag Race Car

With the price of the typical well known vintage racing machine being more than the typical 401k, the conscientious classic buyer needs to dig deep into the well of weirdness to find something that is both atypical and inexpensive. Find this 1961 Devin 295 Drag Race Car here on eBay offered for $22950 buy-it-now or make-offer, located in Wilsonville, OR with less than one day to go.

Modified Classic: 1965 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser

It might not be the preferred Buick Sportwagon version, but this A-Body Vista Cruiser has the awesome skylight windows and all of the classic style you'll ever need for a weekend family classic. Find this 1965 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser offered for $16,000 in Detroit, MI via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Lovely LaFayette: 1937 Nash LaFayette 400

Dream about sunny afternoons touring coastal towns with the salt air breeze blowing?  How about vineyard filled valleys with the scent of grape terpenes filling the cabin?  Maybe afternoon tea in blooming gardens with fresh scones and clotted cream?  This vintage motor carriage wouldn't look out of place in any of these locales.  Find this 1937 Nash LaFayette 400 for sale in Victoria, BC for $7900 CDN ($6015 USD at today's rate) via Used.ca.

Save The Saabs: 1968 SAAB 96

The vintage car market is a fickle thing -- while plenty of low buck classic marques survive the years due to sheer mass (think VW Beetle, W108 Benz), other oddball classics aren't worth enough for collectors to pay attention, but they weren't built in large enough numbers to survive being used as winter beaters and they are slowly becoming extinct.  These are cars like Studebakers, AMCs, and Saabs -- particularly the old two-stroke variety that ooze charisma and oil in equal quantities.  Find this 1968 SAAB 96 here on eBay bidding for $2,025 reserve-not-met with 2 days to go.

10k: Low Buck Vintage Rally: 1972 Saab Sonett

The North American Vintage Rally scene consists of  mostly TSD (time-speed-distance) and caravan style events (e.g. Targa California) with an emphasis on classic cars.  You don't need to have a $50k restored trailer queen to enter most of these events and you'll probably have more fun trying to keep up with your co-participants in a V4 powered Saab then trying to keep your foot off the loud pedal of a '63 Vette.  You could find a cheap Sonett and spend a few months restoring it to road-ready condition, or save a few bucks and pick up something that has absorbed a ton of the previous guy's money/time...like this 1972 Saab Sonett offered for $8,000 in Sausalito, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy & Gianni.

10k: Cone Bowlin: 1967 MG MGB Vintage Racer

Anne Boleyn was executed exactly 478 years ago today, mostly because she gave birth to a baby girl instead of the male heir that Henry VIII so desperately wanted.  Ironically enough, the daughter from her 3 year marriage to Henry was Elizabeth I, future queen of England who re-instituted Protestantism in the Church of England forever sealing the fate of English Christianity.  Out of all 6 of Henry's wives, Anne Boleyn was his first foray into marrying his mistresses and she was known to be sharp and aggressive, great traits in a mistress, not so much for the wife of an egomaniac monarch.  In automotive terms, Anne was a track car, something great for a ride on the weekends, sleek, sharp in steering, loud, fantastic on the brakes, but entirely too harsh and unlivable for everyday life.  After three years of daily driving it, you might just want to chop off its head....like this 1967 MG MGB Vintage Racer currently bidding for $2025 reserve-not-met and $11,900 BIN on ebay with 2 days to go, located in Bell, CA.

15k: Doin' the Ton: 1957 Buick Century Riviera

UPDATE 4/6/14: As we mentioned in our original post in January, there's no telling what offer might drive this car home.  However, we can now say with certainty that sometimes its good to sit tight and wait for the seller to make the first move.  This car has been relisted on Ebay with a $3,000 lower price of $16,000; sending a strong 'offer' signal to anyone who's interested in a great example of 50's chrome.

Whenever old Buicks are being discussed at car shows or cruise nights, the casual Buick fans tend to swoon over the Special.  After all, that Special name implies that it’s the one to own, but to anyone planning to get the most out of one, the hottest Buick for the buck is definitely the Century. Find this slightly modernized 1957 Buick Century Riviera 4 door hardtop for sale in Groveland, CA for $19,000 via Ebay Classifieds.(This listing will end about the time this is posted, but there’s no telling what offer might drive it home after the listing closes).

3k: Cheap Vintage Racer: 1976 Datsun B210

We've said in the past that vintage racing is the playground for the rich and famous...but if you keep your eyes open, sometimes a cheap way into the big boys club falls in your lap.  The Datsun 210 was certainly the poor man's way to go racing in the 1970s and things haven't changed much since.  Find this 1976 Datsun B210 track rat (with 4 vintage logbooks) currently bidding for $2,600 with 4 hours to go, located in Sebring, FL.

5k: Freewheelin: 1971 SAAB 96 V4 4-spd

The cost of cool seems to go up each year.  Take the Porsche 912.  For years it was the unloved little brother of the 911, but one day it became cool to be slow and a nicely preserved 912 costs about as much as a 911...which is to say...too much money.  What you've got to do is beat them at their game and drive something that is even slower and more horrible than a 912...like a SAAB 96.  Find this 1971 SAAB 96 V4 4-spd for sale in San Juan Capistrano, CA for $5,000 via craigslist.

5k: El Condor Has Landed: 1965 Ford Falcon Vintage Drag Racer

There are certain unexplainable market forces in the world associated with used cars, one is that value of a VW Bus is inversely proportional to the amount of space not occupied by windows and if you could build a Bus out of nothing but window glass, you would find it guarded by Leprechauns and growing rainbows.   Another strange market force is the racing pedigree associated with...well...anything that raced.  A busted old Volvo 1800S in pieces is worth a few grand, but stick some racing stickers on the side along with vintage photos and the next thing you know money rains down from the sky and Ed McMahon has risen from his grave to deliver a giant check.  Today's feature is a down in the dumps classic with an interesting pedigree.  Find this 1965 Ford Falcon El Condor drag car offered for $5995 via craigslist.

3k: Funny Seller: 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL W126

Sometimes a car comes to our attention not because it is a cool car, but because it comes wrapped in a funny advertisement and the invectives/hyperbole/nonsense normally reserved for our review are pre-written in the sellers own words.  This particular ad is not only knee-slapping good times, but it is a great car at a fair price too.  Find this 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL is offered for $2,750 in North Dallas, TX via craigslist.  Tip from Ryan.

5k: Sky Blue: 1956 Studebaker President

What could be more appropriate for our President's Day celebration than a Studebaker President?  The OG Studebaker President was the high-end offering from Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company as they branched out from wagons to electric powered horseless carriages.  The name was revived in 1955 as the name of Studebaker's fully optioned sedan and was phased out in 1958 as Studebaker started its death spiral.  Find this 1956 Studebaker President offered for $4,500 in Johnson Creek, WI via craigslist.

10k: 21k Miles: 1978 BMW 320i

The E21 generation BMW 3-series is a great way to get into a clean classic without breaking the bank.  The best low mile and stock examples are starting to demand premium money but it is still a great time to get into the market before it takes off and leaves you behind.  Find this 1978 BMW 320i with 21k miles on the odometer for sale in Woodstock, GA for $9,000 via craigslist.

15k: Pininfarina Style: 1967 Lancia Flaminia Berlina

The Lancia Flaminia was a luxury cruiser built in Italy in sedan, coupe, cabriolet and limousine versions.  The coupe/cab/limo versions were coach built by various Italian metal working firms, but the Flaminia sedan was designed by Pininfarina built in house at Lanica between 1957-1970.  Less than 4,000 of the tail-fin styled Berlinas were built and you'd be lucky to ever see one on the road today.  Find this 1967 Lancia Flaminia Berlina offered for $14,250 in Berkeley, CA via craigslist.

5k: Brown Cow: 1973 Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL 4.5 W108

It has been almost a year since Hunsbloger penned his Pulitzer worthy Market Watch: 1970-73 Mercedes-Benz W108 280 SE 4.5: Update on the Bull, the Bear and the BS and the essential fact remains that the W108 is a great way to get into a vintage sedan for a semi-daily driver.  It doesn't matter if your example spent some time at a salvage yard, is shifted with a 4-speed or has a fuel injected Chevy V8; these cars are sweet and cheap.  Find this 1973 Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL 4.5 W108 for sale in Calabasas, CA for $5,799 via craigslist.