10k: Classic SEMA Car: 1998 Ford Taurus SHO Rage Concept

The third generation Ford Taurus SHO was built from 1996 to 1999, with the last example leaving the assembly line in June of 1999.  It seems strange then, that Ford would have released a Ford Taurus Rage Concept car at the November 1998 SEMA (Special Equipment Manufacturer's Association) trade show, but sometimes in these big companies the guy who is folding the toilet paper has no idea who is going to wipe the butt and doesn't care.  Regardless, an SHO concept car has been bouncing around on ebay for at least the past decade with various sources of conflicting information dating to the early days of the internet. Find this 1998 Ford Taurus SHO Rage Concept currently bidding for $10,600 reserve-not-met with 4 days to go on ebay, located Warren, MI.

10k: Looked Up Sleeper In Dictionary: 1991 Volvo 740 LT1 V8

Another week half in the bag, which means it is Thorsday and time to bring out the best junk we could find that originally hails from the Scandinavian Peninsula.  This next feature started life as a simple Volvo sedan, probably purchased new by an insurance salesman named Steven as a practical car for his wife Beth to take the kids to soccer practice.  As the kids grew up, Steven and his wife grew apart and Steven got the car back in the lightly contested divorce.  Steven hated the way the car reminded him of Beth and the slow and cautious way in which she approached life, from the way she approached eating chicken wings with a fork to the carefully folded sleeves on her favorite reindeer Christmas sweater. Even the kids had adopted Beth's watered down community college aspirations and the Volvo...that slow and plodding 4-cylinder powered pile of safety was a constant oozing scab in Steven's new apartment driveway.  Steven needed a change, so he grew a mullet, joined a cross-fit club, and shoved a fire-breathing V8 mated to a 6-speed manual into front of the Volvo.  At least, that is what could have happened...who really knows the truth?  Find this 1991 Volvo 740 LT1 V8 offered for $8,500 in Moraga, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Andrey S.

5k: Off Road Only: 1989 Suzuki Samurai V8

The Suzuki Samurai is a small box shaped sport utility vehicle that seats 4 and skips over hills with ease. The little Suzuki is known for its mountain goat like abilities in off road conditions not because it has a big engine, but because it is has decent stock ground clearance and is so light that it won't sink into soft surfaces. Unfortunately, a stock Samurai is oibara seppuku slow and you won't want to drive it on the street for more than a few miles, unless you find one that has been turned into a sand dragster...then you cannot legally drive it on the street.  Find this 1989 Suzuki Samurai V8 currently bidding for $1,000 reserve-not-met with a $7,000 buy-it-now and 1 day to go on ebay, located in El Cajon, CA.

Mid Week Match-Up: Road Trip Time

It is Wednesday so that means it's time for another Mid Week Match-Up (TM)!  Last week, we featured a request from a reader who wanted "insanity" for about $1500 and many good suggestions were added to the comments.  Today, we are looking for a turn-key vehicle that can be picked up for around $5000 and used for a long distance road trip.

What do you suggest?

1k: Auction Action: 1990 Buick Reatta

If you are in the market for a grossly depreciated two-seat personal luxury car and want somethign with a domestic badge, you might be tempted into picking up a Cadillac Allanté, but that would be a mistake when something as quintessentially 'Merican as the Buick Reatta is an option.  The Reatta could be accused of being an overpriced Grand Prix without a rear seat, but it was much more than that.  Find this 1990 Buick Reatta located in Phoenix, AZ currently pre-bidding at $1100, but scheduled to hit the live auction this weekend via auctionnationonline.  Tip from JAS.

5k: Camper Bonanza: 1969 Ford E-Series Van Econoline

 It's summer time and it looks like camping fever has taken over the "offices" of the Daily Turismo, we first featured a Dodge Tradesman and then a nice copy of the popular Volkswagen Westfalia Vanagon.  The next logical step is to feature something from another OEM, and as luck would have it, a Ford camper popped up...literally.  Find this 1969 Ford E-Series Van Econoline currently bidding for $2,025 on ebay, located in Fletcher, NC with a few hours to go. 

10k: Another BMW? 1974 BMW 2002 Tii

I can see the hate mail now.  Another BMW guys?  It is true, the front page is covered in Bavaria's finest right now...but sometimes when it rains rear-drive classics for dirt cheap prices the best thing you can do is just roll with it.  Seriously, what is the worst thing that can happen?  Find this 1974 BMW 2002 Tii offered for $9,800 via craigslist in Corte Madera, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy.

Reader Ride: 1982 Porsche 911SC

Time for another edition of DT's questionably named Reader Ride feature which was originally called Reader Rides, and alternatively Reader's Ride or Reader's Rides, but like a hungry bear in a campground -- tense don't matter. Anyway, we've decided to standardize on Reader Ride and this one is a winner -- reader Tamas' 1982 Porsche 911SC.

5k: Mercury, The Mans Car: 1974 Mercury Comet

Ford's Mercury division was first launched in 1938 by Edsel Ford and abandoned by FoMoCo in 2011, but it was doomed from the start.  Mercury was launched as a half-way point between a basic Ford and luxury Lincoln product, but it didn't have the performance cred of Pontiac, the style of Buick, or history of Oldsmobile.  It tried to split the difference between performance, luxury, and price, but ended up being badge engineered Ford product that was only purchased by people who accidentally found themselves walking into the Mercury dealerships scattered across the great plains.  On the other hand, a used Mercury offers a different ride with full aftermarket support of common Ford product with a smaller buyer base to jack the prices sky high.  Find this 1974 Mercury Comet currently bidding for $6,100 reserve-not-met on ebay, located in Ontario, OR with 2 days to go.

10k: Ready For Takeoff: 1983 Volkswagen Westfalia Vanagon Type 2 (T3)

The Dodge Tradesman camper featured yesterday elicited some comparisons from our readers to the Volkswagen Vanagon.  The comparisons tilted heavily towards the undeniable awesomeness of the Tradesman and the ridiculous prices of a classic Bus...but...perhaps a Westfalia from the '80s can make a decent competitor to the big ole Dodge.  Find this 1983 VW Westfalia Vanagon offered for $9,900 in Port Charlotte, FL via craigslist.  Tip from Dascpcu.

1k: Some Assembly Required: 1961 Renault Caravelle

The Renault Carvelle was a small convertible from French automaker Renault based on their low cost  Dauphine sedan.  Whereas the Dauphine was a competitor to the VW Beetle, the Caravelle sight its sights a bit higher and did a decent job of competing with the Karmann-Ghia.  Find this 1961 Renault Caravelle offered for $1200 in Denver, CO via craigslist. Tip from aLostDawg.

What Am I? Fuzzy Mess Edition

Welcome to another edition of DT's cure for the Monday morning blues -- What Am I?  In this better than being blinded with vaseline game we find a random picture of a car from a interweb advertisement and you get to guess what kind of car it is.  Just what am I anyway? Update with solution below. 

15k: Red Rumble:1988 BMW M6 E24

 The BMW 6-series has only been available for 3 generations, first the E24 from 1976-1989, later the E63 from 2003-2010 and finally the F12 2011-present.  The 6-series to get has always been the M6 version, but if you want one with a clutch pedal, you'll need to get a classic...which is fine with us because they are also the least expensive.  Find this 1988 BMW M6 E24 offered for $16,000 in Novato, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy.

Buyer Story: Jeff's 1975 BMW 2002

If you emailed to buy the $2500 BMW 2002 that was featured on Saturday and the seller said it was gone, well you can thank DT reader Oakland Jeff, who saw it featured here, and without hesitation, bought it.  In his own words: Thanks DT, I didn't even know I wanted one till I saw this post. Picked it up this morning and it's awesome!

10k: Picnic Ready: 1971 Dodge Tradesman 200 Camper Van

 The first generation Dodge B-series van was a full sized workhorse built from 1971 through 1978 on what Dodge called a uniframe fully welded platform.  This allowed the Dodge van to be lighter and stronger with a lower load floor compared to the competition and gave the Dodge better handling characteristics.  Find this 1971 Dodge Tradesman 200 Camper Van offered for $9,800 in Carmichael, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy.

5k: Euro Style: 1988 BMW 535i E28

 The E28 generation BMW 5-series is regular star on the pages of Daily Turismo, because it offers an extremely useable sedan for hauling around your family while still being fun for the back roads or maybe hitting the track on the weekend -- all for a bargain price.  Today's E28 535i isn't just a good deal, it is also a European bumper equipped beauty.  Find this 1988 BMW 535i E28 currently bidding on ebay for $6,600 with 2 days to go, located in New Fairfield, CT.

5k: Unicorn? 1990 ASC/McLaren Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo

The fifth generation Pontiac Grand Prix was available from 1988 through 1996 as Pontiac's mid-sized personal luxury coupe.  The fastest Grand Prix in 1989/1990 was the ASC/McLaren version that added a turbocharger to GM's 3.1 liter V6 engine for a total output of 205 horsepower -- plus ASC added enough plastic glue-on body cladding to make the car look like a transformer.  About 2000 of the Turbo Grand Prixs were built and tipper Andy L sent us this example, along with an excellent write up about it. Find this 1990 ASC/McLaren Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo offered for $3,400 in Lincoln, NE via craigslist.