Thursday, September 12, 2019

Seller Submission: 1988 SAAB 900 Turbo

The Saab 900 Classic, built from 1978 through 1994, was the final evolution of Saab's wacky backwards-engine compact luxury cruiser that started way back in 1968 with the release of the Saab 99.  Don't be fooled by the later GM rebadged Opel/Vauxhall/Saturn abomination that later used the 900 badge -- because there was only one real Saab 900. Find this 1988 Saab 900 Turbo offered for $3,500 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Seller submission from AB.


Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Italian Style: 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta TI Corsa

What could be better than a vintage Alfa Romeo with racing pedigree and bash/bumps to prove it?  If that same car was offered for a reasonable sum of money that didn't require a trust fun or the sale of your remaining good kidney.  You'll need that kidney for all of the booze your gonna drink when working on this car...because trust me, you won't want to take this to a mechanic. Find 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta TI Corsa offered for $11,975 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.


Boosted Magazine Car: 1991 BMW 318is

This next car comes as a tip from Jeff who writes: Here's an interesting one. Price seems a little high to me, but I'm no expert of this era BMW and the history is unique.  I do agree that the pricing is optimistic, but the execution is nothing short of flawless -- you get a mildly lowered, but appropriated wheeled (no dubs please!) 318i that is equipped with a puffer that ups the stock power from 134 to about 200 horsepower (at the crank).  It should be fast and fun. Find this 1991 BMW 318is offered for $14000 in South Kent, CT via craigslist.


Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Only in Florida: 1980 Buick Skylark Limited

I'm not ashamed of my love of the Buick Skylark. It is such a piece of automotive history -- from the beginning when it shared a platform with the Pontiac Tempest and Olds F-85, and then when it was another piece of the GM A-body arsenal -- it has always been such a badass piece of American iron...except...wait.  What sort of unholy beast have we summoned from the depths of the 10th circle of X-body haides have we found?  Why...just why...did the post fuel crisis corporate bean counters at GM try and convince a single Buick buyer that this was a Skylark?  They may have well put a Corvette badge on a Chevette and lipstick on an anteater. Find this 1980 Buick Skylark Limited offered for $1000 in Port Charlotte, FL via craiglsist. Tip from Dascpcu. 


Monday, September 9, 2019

MasterAce Space Cruiser: 1986 Toyota Van

In the late 1970s Toyota entered the light passenger van segment with a compact cab-over eraser shaped thing called the MasterAce. Actually, it was called the MasterAce in Japan and known as the Space Cruiser in Europe, the Tarango in Australia, but for the squares in North America it was only badged as the...wait for it...Toyota Van. Yup.  No fancy name, but all of the manual-gearbox, rear-drive, box-shaped goodness that comes wrapped in sweeeeeeeeeeeet 80s graphics. Find this 1986 Toyota Van offered for $5000 in Sacramento, CA via craigslist. Tip from Safety Fast.


The Juice is Luce: 1976 Mazda RX-4

This next car comes as a tip from JB1025 who writes: Just don't see many of these from the mid 70's too bad for the automatic but owner has a 5 speed to go for extra green $$$$$. Personally, I think it is funny how much these look like the similar vintage Isuzu I-Mark. Find this 1976 Mazda RX-4 offered for $10,000 in Portland, OR via craigslist.


Saturday, September 7, 2019

4Speed LT1: 1975 Chevrolet Corvette C3

I know that everybody loves to hate on the plastic bumper C3 generation Corvette -- yeah the chassis is a loose as wizard's cuff...and the low compression carburetor fed V8s are terrible and build quality is on par with the worst best stuff at Harbor Freight...but they have a certain aesthetic charm, and chicks dig 'em.  So, I have to say I'm surprised that one equipped with a late model LT1 and 4-speed goodbox is this inexpensive. Find this 1975 Chevrolet Corvette C3 offered for $7999 in Huntington Station, NY. Tip from FuelTruck.


Friday, September 6, 2019

Slow: 1981 Isuzu I-Mark Diesel

If you enjoy driving fast, you'll probably want to skip this next feature. Yeah.  You.  Just fly right by and head to the next thing that has an LS6 swapped into a dune buggy chassis.  Ok.  Its now just you, me, and CFlo reading -- he loves the slow stuff too.  The Isuzu Gemini was originally sold in the US market as the Opel by Isuzu, changed to the Buick Opel and finally in 1981 became the Isuzu I-Mark.  It was a rear drive Japanese classic holdover from another era and used a rear-drive setup, but could be powered by a  1.8 liter 4-cylinder naturally aspirated diesel engine that puts out 51 horsepower.  You might struggled to keep up with traffic on a mild grade, but the smiles and questions from strangers when you fill up at the green pump will be worth it. Find this 1981 Isuzu I-Mark Diesel offered for $5,800 in Bellflower, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.


With Motocompo: 1981 Honda City R

We've featured the cool as ice liquid nitrogen Honda City before, and it was even the sweet Turbo II version.  That was back in 2012 and times have changed...mostly cool cars have appreciated in value, so back then $15k would get you the Turbo II but now the same amount of cash gets you the basic City R...but it does come with a matching Motocompo scooter that would have come from the factory in the rear hatch area.  Now if Tesla or one of those hipster electric car startups (Faraday or Gazoo...wait...Ganoo...errr..the company that Evolocity turned into is called...err Canoo..probably) took noticed and packaged an electric scooter in their electric city car..I still wouldn't buy a new car because they are stinkin expensive, but i'd consider them when they were 10 years old and depreciated.  Anyway..I feel like I've lost the thread of this...YES...find this 1981 Honda City R with Motocompo for $15000 in West Hollywood, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.



Thursday, September 5, 2019

Big Inline-6 Powered: 1976 AMC Matador

The Matador was a stately styled coupe/sedan/wagon that replaced the Rebel in 1971 as American Motor Corp's (AMC) plus sized muscle coupe.  In 1974 the Matador coupe was restyled in a completely different fashion from the sedan and it was cool enough for Francisco Scaramanga (one of Christopher Lee's greatest performances) to use a flying version to escape James Bond in The Man with the Golden Gun. Find this 1976 AMC Matador offered for $7000 in Venice, FL via craigslist. Tip from Dascpcu. 


You Raise Me Up: 1984 Pontiac Fiero 4X4 Monster Ferrari

When people say, aim high...this what they are talking about.  This is the stuff of dreams, forget the James Webb Space Telescope, or the latest Trailer Swift album..this is your nirvana, the apple of your eye, the pea in the pod...it buts the eef in beef and the ding in pudding. When I am down, and, oh, my soul, so weary, when troubles come, and my heart burdened be, then, I am still and wait here in the silence, until you come and sit awhile with me, you raise me up, so I can stand on mountains, you raise me up to walk on stormy seas, I am strong when I am on your shoulders, you raise me up to more than I can be. Find this 1984 Pontiac Fiero 4X4 Monster Ferrari here on eBay offered for $8900 buy-it-now or make-offer in Richmond, VA. Tip from Matt C.


Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Little Yellow Different: 1981 Toyota Starlet

You won't see this next car on the road very often, but it isn't some rare one-off oddball that you'll swoon for one first sight.  It also isn't a car that you'll talk about the good times you had in your high school year or the romanticized stories of how your mom and dad met.  To be clear, if you have any memories of this next car, that aren't repressed, they are of the plebeian kind that involves driving 10 miles out of your way to use double coupons to buy white bread in the town down the road, or trying to coax that last few drops from the gas spigot in the hopes it'll get you down the road to the next gas station...because the Toyota Starlet wasn't just owned by poor people...it was owned by cheap people...my kinda people.  Find this 1981 Toyota Starlet offered for $6,500 in Kathleen, GA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!



Only One On Your Block: 1999 Isuzu VehiCROSS Ironman Triathlon Edition

The 1999 Isuzu VehiCROSS was an intense vehicle when it was released, just look at the name -- CROSS was in ALL CAPS FROM ISUZU.  And then there is this special edition that is known as the Ironman Triathlon version, which added remote reservoir shocks, unique badges, a black hood, upgraded tunes, and a sweet two tone red and black interior.  Why don't automakers do something like this today...imagine if Jeep introduced a CrossFIT version of the Wrangler...that'd sell like hotcakes. Find this 1999 Isuzu VehiCROSS Ironman offered for $8,500 in Payson, AZ via craigslist.



Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Mustang Cousin: 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7

The first generation Mercury Cougar was a bit more than just an up-market Mustang coupe.  It offered a few unique accouterments that were not available on the Mustang (such as pop-up hidden headlights) AND it was only available with V8 power (no wimpy inline-6s for the Cougar). As an additional hidden bonus, today's Cougar is both the hot-rod XR-7 version AND equipped with a 4-speed toploader gearbox.  Find this 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 offered for $14,000 in Carrollton, TX via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.


Prancing Moose: 1992 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon

The OG Volvo 740 Turbo wagon combines a certain boxy-but-good styling with proper rear-drive driving dynamics and boooooooooooooost from a small exhaust driven puffer.  The entire package is offered for a reasonable price and I can't imagine why people flock in droves to drive late model Camrys when these are so cheap. Oh..yeah...it's gonna break down from time to time -- it helps to be handy with a wrench and a multimeter. Find this 1992 Volvo 740 Turbo offered for $1500 in Redding, CA via craigslist. Tip from GB.



Monday, September 2, 2019

These Words Confuse Me: 1994 Nissan Caravan Homy Autech 4X4 Diesel

It's Loony Labor Day! Sometimes a car has a strange suffix tacked onto the end its name that I haven't heard about before...some kinda special edition or unique designation. But today we've got something really special. We've got a car that has is named in a bizarre cornucopia of gobbledygook...words seemingly smashed together when some automakers played a game of mad libs in the product planning department. Whatever...it is rad.  Find this 1994 Nissan Caravan Homy Autech 4X4 Diesel offered for $12,500 in Hudson, MA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!



Seller Submission: 1985.5 Porsche 944

This next car comes as a seller submission from DT regular Michael who writes: My son is selling his 1985.5 Porsche 944. This car has a sunroof, extra snow tires, original wheels, and of course the Fun Pedal. This is a wonderful driver’s car in reasonably good condition inside and out. Before we purchased the car last August the previous owner put about $5,000 into the car in maintenance items including all of the important stuff. We have those receipts in hand. That work was all done by a local Porsche-specific shop. My son and I also replaced the front control arm ball joints using the Pelican Parts kit. This car is way more fun to drive than it really has any business being. While we have enjoyed owning this car the boy can’t afford any more traffic tickets. Find this 1985.5 Porsche 944 offered for $6,500 in Mahtomedi, WI via craigslist.