I Will Survive: 1984 Toyota Corolla LE

At first I was afraid, I was econofied,
Kept thinking I could never live with my engine turned to its side
But my front wheels plowed so many miles thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong
And I learned how to live with bronze
And my plastics black
My seats are tan
I seat as many people as your crummy old van
I should have changed my steering lock, I should have made you leave your key
If I'd known for just one second that you'd try to hot wire me
Go on now, go, slam that mint condition door
Just do some front-wheel peel now
'Cause you're not rear drive anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with a slide
Do you think my interior would crumble
Did you think my clearcoat would lay down and die?

Oh no, not I, I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to change gears, I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my clutch to slip
And I've got all that 4A torque to give and I'll survive
I will survive, hey, hey...Find this 1984 Toyota Corolla LE offered for $4200 in Portland, OR via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Don't Restore It: 1970 Chevrolet Nova

If there is one thing that young car buyers must understand, it is this; they are only original once.  If this next car is purchased by a well meaning 21 year old version of myself...it could well end up with a decent new paint job and a fire breathing 350 v8 build connected to a 6-speed manual...which would be fantastic...but it'll lose some of the charm and charisma of a car that could have been an extra on an episode of CHiPs and deserves to be kept in a garage, driven twice a week, and not restored.  Find this 1970 Chevrolet Nova offered for $9500 in Wildomar, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Truck Conversion: 1999 Jeep Cherokee

The list of small 4-door pickup trucks isn't very large -- a fact pointed out by the builder of this custom machine, who writes: I built this because I have always felt that the US manufacturers totally missed the boat on the mid-size 4-door pickup market. They built some – but they were all weird-shaped, weird-looking, independent front suspension garbage with too much motor and not enough simplicity. Dodge Dakotas, Chevy Colorados (or those really rare and weird 4-door S10s) Ford Exploder, etc. At least the Fords were kind of square for a while.  I love the idea of a rugged 4-door pickup and this thing with a built-in tool/gun/ammo box looks ready to rock. Find this 1999 Jeep Cherokee offered for $6500 in Omaha, NE via craigslist. Tip from ISAUN. 

Angry Bird Chuck: 1979 Triumph TR7

The Triumph TR7 isn't a car that'll make you fall in love at first sight.  In fact, you probably need to see on 15 times before you acquire the taste, but like a fine cauliflower purée ..the TR7 isn't for the new car collector or someone getting their feet wet in classic cars...but for the connoisseur of fine British 70s classics, the TR7 is a winner. This next example has two of my favorite elements in an older car -- a manual gearbox and original paint. Find this 1979 Triumph TR7 offered for $6200 in Lakewood, CO via craigslist.

100cc of Social Displacement: 1939 Peugeot P52 Motorcycle

This next car...errr...two wheeler...comes from tipper Brad who writes: I thought you might dig this very interesting (presumably rare) little motorbike—although I cannot recall whether you are a cars-only outlet...This old cycle definitely deserves the label survivor, esp. considering it was produced in Europe just as WW2 was getting underway.  It seems like all the money is being asked but, as usual, where will you find another? Anyhow, what’s better for social distancing than a single-seater? There’s no room to haul bulk parcels of toilet paper, but they cannot be found anyway. Stay safe.  I couldn't have said it better myself -- thanks Brad!!  Find this 1939 Peugeot P52 Motorcycle offered for $3500 in Coatesville, PA via craigslist.

A Man, A Van, A Plan: 1993 Volkswagen Eurovan

What was sold here new in the United States as the Volkswagen EuroVan was actually the 4th generation of the Transporter / Type 2 / Bus / Kombi / etc.  The EuroVan was the first of the bread loaf VW vans to have its engine and drive wheels up front, finally ditching the rear/rear setup of old and the rackity-clackity air cooled engines that typified the VeeDub Van experience.  Today's example is one of the cheapest asking prices I've seen for a EuroVan and makes me want to put on my hazmat suit and take a trip to New York. Find this 1993 Volkswagen Eurovan offered for $3600 in Paramus, NY via craigslist. Tip from Cory.

Surviviorlet: 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio

Most cars have a bell shaped popularity curve, but have you ever noticed that some cars have almost a step function of popularity -- one minute they are all over the road and then suddenly they all just up and vanish.  This seems to have been the case for the legendary Volkswagen Mk 3.5 Cabrio -- which was styled to look like the Mk IV Golf (97-05), but used mechanical bits from the older Mk 3 Golf (91-98).  Maybe that's why they dropped off the face of the earth...15 year old parts when they were brand new...regardless, you don't see them very often and you certainly don't see them in this nice condition. Find this 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio offered for $2500 in Houston, TX via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

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. 

Cheap Driver: 1995 Toyota Celica

Its been a strange recovery from the 2008 automotive crisis.  First off, the $1000 drive-able cars that used to litter craigslist/autotrader have all but disappeared, and the bottom of the heap Honda/Toyotas cost $4k.  Blame cash for clunkers for a huge number (710,000 by some accounts) reduction in cheap/running/driving cars from the marketplace, followed by slow sales in 2009, 2010, 2011...anyway, cars for $1k are usually total piles of junk in 2019...but you can find an occasional diamond in the rough. Find this 1995 Toyota Celica offered for $1200 in Boulder Creek, CA via craigslist.

A Full 460 Woody: 1976 Ford LTD Country Squire

There are few things more liberating memorable than taking a full sized American station wagon on a cross country road trip.  Your suit cases are piled on the top, your kids are piled in the back, and a stack of maps is piled in the glovebox.  My parents had one of these when I was a kid and I can remember the miles just flying by...actually the rear was so rusty that we could actually see the miles zipping by underfoot...so its probably a miracle that we never died of carbon monoxide poisoning, thank a busted AC for windows always rolled down.  Ahhh...good times.  Make your own good times with this 1976 Ford Country Squire offered for $5,500 in Deposit, NY via hemmings. Tip from BP.

It Ain't Easy Being Green: 1973 Jensen Healey Convertible

This next tip comes from Zach Z who wrote a nice poem to go with the 1973 Jensen Healey offered for $6000 in Bend, OR via craigslist:

It is easy being green.
I've not always liked these, 
but that'd be mean.

This thing, it's too clean;
The thorough application of armor all,
it's left a sheen.

That said, the collectors have not been keen.
So maybe Kermit was right,
and it's not easy, being green?

Mini Mach: 1977 Toyota Celica GT Liftback

This next car appears to be a surprisingly well preserved example of a car from the year that Star Wars first splashed on the big screen. It is offered for no reserve, is one family owned..looks remarkably well kept and original(except for repaint).  The only thing it appears to be missing are the "GT" stripes just above the rocker panels after the repaint.  Find this 1977 Toyota Celica GT Liftback here on eBay bidding for $6,350 with 4 days to go, located in Roseland, VA.

Dolph's Ride: 1963 Volvo Laplander L3313

I was watching this sweet Volvo Excavators advertisement on the youtubes when I pointed out to a friend that Dolph is driving a sweet old Ford pickup and my pal brazenly stated it was because there was nothing old school cool from Volvo that Dolph could drive...which was a complete load of steaming moose pucky because I could pick 50 different old school Swedish rides for the Lundgrenader.  Here is a 1963 Volvo Laplander L3313 offered for $6000 in Albuquerque, NM via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Silver Surfer: 1984 Volvo 245 Diesel Wagon

The last car we featured was a classic Volvo wagon with all of the magic unicorn attributes that classic Volvo wagon lovers tend to enjoy, but for people who thought that previous wagon was too brown and too fast, we've got this next thing...which is powered by that nasty diesel stuff and is covered in a basic shade of silver/grey.  The best part about the ad, however, is the disclaimer from the seller in ALL CAPS "THIS CAR IS NOT FOR THE CASUAL CAR BUYER. SUGGEST YOU BE FAMILIAR WITH THE MID 80S VOLVO DIESEL CARS BEFORE CONTACTING ME."  Oh yeah.  Find this 1984 Volvo 245 Diesel Wagon offered for $2,500 in Tacoma, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

I'll Have What's In The Box: 1987 AM General HMMWV Command Shelter Camper

File this next vehicle under the heading "I don't know what I'm looking at, but I know I want it"...wait...that is everything on DT...okay, fair point.  ANYWAY, if you need a cheap bugout zombie apocalypse survival vehicle, this looks good.  Find this 1987 AM General HMMWV Command Shelter Camper offered here on eBay for $3,950 buy-it-now located in Woodland Park, CO.

Sucking in the Seventies: 1975 Datsun B210

We get kind of excited at DT World Headquarters when we run across low mileage J-tin survivors from the malaise era.  Seems like the excitement usually only lasts until the 3rd photo on CL where the interior shot reveals a soul-sucking slush box, guaranteed to rob whatever small amount of imagined joy there might be in a 70's crap-box.  Well, today is a different day.  Find this low mileage 1975 Datsun B210 with a 4 speed manual for sale in Everett, WA for $3,600 via craigslist.

Master & Commander: 1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon

What kind of modern car can you seat 8 people in comfort that ISN'T a minivan (or van) but you can drive it every day?  Oh yeah, and it has to be cheap.   Fuel better be cheap too, because this next car sucks down crude faster than a battleship, but it has the woodsides of a  schooner.  Find this 1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon offered for $6995 in Prescott, AZ via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Rescue Me: 1986 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60

Production of the FJ60 generation Land Cruiser started in 1980 when it replaced the FJ50 version that had been in production since 1967.  It was a similarly off-road capable vehicle as its predecessor, but added much appreciated creature comforts like air conditioning and upgraded interior quality, and they are insanely rugged monsters if you have a little mechnical know-how.  Find this 1986 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 offered for $4500 in Windsor, CA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.