Unusual Classic: 1972 Volkswagen 411 Type 4

I'm as skeptical as the next guy about sellers claims of rarity, but I have to admit that I don't think I've seen a Volkswagen 411 on the road in the past decade or so.  Rare when new and rare today are two totally different things, but this next car is certainly something you don't see driving around much nowadays.  Perhaps there is a good reason for it...but that shouldn't stop you from buying one of the 367,000 examples that left the factory between 1968 and 1974.  Find this 1972 Volkswagen 411 here on eBay  bidding for $2,300 with 2 days to go, located in McConnelsville, OH.

What Am I? Nice Hat

It is Monday morning, and time to solve the weekly What Am I? puzzle. This next one comes from the film strip located on my cell phone camera. Good luck!

No Muffler Required: 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth

Sound is the sense that can really make a person gravitate to a car.  The Fiat 500 Abarth has one of the best sounding stock exhaust notes found at near any price point (it will literally stop you in your tracks the first time you hear these cars start up).  The flat bottom steering wheel, supportive seats, interesting gauge cluster, and turbo 1.4 Multi-air engine all do a great job in making you forget the cheaper details of the car.  Depreciation has not been kind to the 500 resale prices, but this to to our benefit as these cars can be now be had for surprisingly short money.  Find this 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth for sale in Naugatuck, CT for $5,999 via craigslist.

Miata Power: 1969 Datsun Roadster

The SPL311 generation Fairlady was the final version of the little ragtop as the sports car in the Nissan/Datsun lineup and in 1970 it was replaced by the 240Z.  The Datsun Roadster might not have been as rugged as the tractor powered MGB or as sexy as Alfa's Spider, but it offered a compromise between looks, durability, reliability, price and sportiness that was hard to beat.  And today's example has a boost of under-hood reliability that makes it particularly cool.  Find this 1969 Datsun Roadster offered for $4,300 in Chico, CA via craigslist. Tip from Terry.

Speed Wagon: 2003 Mazda Protege 5 Swap

Last week's Sunday piece featured a unusually clean Mazdaspeed Protege.  In the comments, it was bemoaned that Mazda never saw fit to give the Mazdaspeed treatment to the Protege 5 wagon.  Nearly all car enthusiasts (DT readers included) share a common love of the station wagon.  An enthusiastic Protege fan took it upon himself to create a more practical alternative to the MS Protege sedan.  The seller is active on a Mazda forum and lists more information about the car than most any normal person will care to read about.  Find this 2003 Mazda Protege 5 for sale in Manchester, CT for $4,200 via craigslist.

V8 Monster: 1973 Datsun 240Z

Production for the S30 generation Datsun 240Z started way back in 1969 -- back when the idea of a Japanese sports car was very far fetched.  But by the time production ended in 1978, the era of American & European sports car dominance was starting to sound fetchy.  Yes.  That is a word.  Find this 1973 Datsun 240Z offered for $6,000 in San Jose, CA via craigslist.

Fill In The Blanks: 1989 Nissan March Super Turbo

I don't know why I want this car...but I do.  Let's just leave it at that.  Find this 1989 Nissan March Super Turbo offered for $5,500 in Fairfield, NY via craigslist.  From Cory.

Classic 4-Door: 1974 BMW Bavaria 4 Speed

BMW's E3 generation sedan (1968-1977) was known internally as the "New Six" and was badged as the Bavaria when equipped with larger engines for the US Market.  The E3 was available with several versions of the torquey M30 big-six and today make for decent classic drivers if you want something German and with a manual gearbox.  Find this 1974 BMW Bavaria 4 Speed offered here on eBay bidding for $3,400 with 4 days to go, located in Franklin Lakes, NJ.

Stuttgart Lake City: 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC C107

I've never claimed to understand the classic car market, but for the life of me, I can't understand why the R107/C107 Mercedes-Benz SL/SLC are so cheap in today's "everything that is old is cool and gold" marketplace.  I probably should just keep my mouth shut and pack my garage full of cheap examples of these...but I'm just gonna sit here and ponder out loud.  Find this 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC offered for $3,000 near SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.

Money Pit: 1970 Lotus Europa S2

Let's get something out in the open.  This next car is going to be a money pit. A get caught cheating on your divorce atty spouse level of money shredder.  A cocaine addict with an unlimited line of credit at the local Goons R Us loan shark.  Like owning a classic boat.  A LOT like owning a classic boat, because you'll spend all of your time dealing with fiberglass and if the weather is bad you are gonna get wet.  But when the skys are clear and Poseidon smiles in your favor....oooooeeeEEE...life will be sweet.  Find this 1970 Lotus Europa S2 offered for $6,500 in Marina del Rey, CA via craigslist.

Thursday Twister: No Cameras Please

For this week's Thursday Twister,  we are going to dive headfirst into the dangerous world of craigslist listings.  I am a dare devil and I'll gladly shove a q-tip into my ear canal for fun, but the one thing I've never done is visit a car where the seller didn't post photos.  In this day and age of cameras on disposable napkins, there is no excuse to not have photos in your advertisement...but sometimes the bird willing to take a risk gets the worm.  Just don't get eaten.

Wrupra or Suprangler: 1997 Jeep Wrangler 2JZ Turbo

I had it for a minute...and then I lost it.  I swear I understood why someone built this car...YES, got it again...nope...gone, lost, kaput.  This is such an interesting combination of Supra off-roading capability mixed with Jeep speed and JC Whitney style that I haven't seen in a long time...or ever.  Find this 1997 Jeep Wrangler with 2JZ turbo power here on eBay offered for $18,500 buy-it-now or make-offer located in Elmhurst, NY.

Red Red Wine: 1964 Ford Galaxie 500

Nothing puts a smile on the face of strangers like a classic muscle car cruising down the street and nothing pisses them off like doing obnoxious burnouts on their street.  This next car is certainly built for the former, but could do the latter if you were so inclined...just don't do it in my neighborhood.  Find this 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 offered for $11,500 in Albuquerque, NM via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck. 

Call Me Camero One More Time: 1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

The last time I posted a low mile Chevrolet Camaro and had the gall to insinuate that the 3rd gen F-body was not yet (if ever gonna be) a collectible, I got the brunt end of some IROC hate.  Today, I'm not going to make that same mistake, and I'm only going to say nice things about this mullet-mobile.  Ooops.  Find this 1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z here on eBay bidding for $10,107 with 1 day to go. 

A Festiva-us For The Rest Of Us: 1993 Ford Festiva

The Ford line up is chock full of automobiles whose name start with the letter F: F150, Focus, Fiesta, Fusion, and Flex.  Back in the late 80's and early 90's, the Festiva name plate was the bottom rung on the car ladder.  The owner of this aqua hatch sums things up well when he says this about the Festiva, "very few cars can hold a washing machine and still deliver 30+ mpg."  The 63 hp 1.3 4 cylinder engine only has to haul around 1700 lbs so things aren't as bad as you might think.  Find this 1993 Ford Festiva for sale in Plattekill, NY for $750 via craigslist.

7-Seat Fun: 1991 Toyota Previa

If I told you to name all of the mid-engined 90s cars that were built in Japan and sold in the USA, the list would probably look like this -- Toyota MR2, Acura NSX...and that's about it....but you'd have missed the 7 passenger car with available supercharger and all-wheel-drive...did I mention you can get it with a stick?  Find this 1991 Toyota Previa offered for $1,650 in Albuquerque, NM via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

White Whale: 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4

Somebody wiser than me once said: The odometer on this car is like the birth year of my last girlfriend...I know it was pushed back, but I just don't know how far.  Today's next car probably isn't the victim of odometer fraud, but it sure looks nice for a 25 year old Mitsubishi.  Find this 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 offered for $9,700 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Baby E-Type: 1968 Triumph GT6

The Triumph GT6 was a fastback 2+2 version of the diminutive Spitfire convertible, but it got the bigger overhead valve inline-6 from the TR6 and a Giovanni Michelotti designed roof.  It was once the one of the undervalued heroes of the classic sports car world and offers a good combination of exotic looks, minimized weight, "big" engine, and low seating position in a classic 2-seat fastback shape, but values have been creeping upwards.  Find this 1968 Triumph GT6 offered for $12,000 in Englewood, CO via craigslist. Tip from Zach Z.