Seldom Seen: 1984 Audi Coupe GT

Privacy concerns aside, I've always thought it would be run to aggregate all car registrations across the U.S. and see how many crocks of certain vintage are still prowling the byways of our great land.  Back in the 80's, Audi offered a mild FWD coupe that shared the same form as it's ground-breaking quattro.  I can't remember the last time I saw one on the road (moving under its own power). Here is your chance to change that.  Find this 1984 Audi Coupe GT for sale in West Seattle, WA for $2,900 via craigslist.

Top Ten Signs You Might Spend Too Much Time Reading DT

Top Ten Signs You Might Spend Too Much Time Reading DT

10. People ask you if you are homeless when you arrive in your car.

9. Stickers don't make your car go faster but they do cover up the rust and add structural rigidity.

8 Your car has more cylinders than airbags

Clutch Player: 2006 BMW 550i

By the early 2000s most mid-sized luxury sedans were equipped with automatic-only gearboxes, unless it was an expensive and finicky motorsports edition (such as BMW's M-cars, Audi's S-line etc).  The notable exception to the torque convertor brigade was the BMW 5-series that offered a V8 mated to a manual gearbox in a large sedan, starting as far back we can remember and continuing to 540i, 545i, 550i, etc. Find this 2006 BMW 550i here on eBay with starting bid of $5,000 and $9,900 buy-it-now located in Brooklyn, NY.

Smoked A Ton: 1991 Pontiac Trans Am

This next car came in as a tip from Jimmy who writes: Whoa, this guy did most of your work for you. Is this a contributor?  I'm not sure...we've got a motley crew of writers around here, but I think this car is way too nice for a DT writer?  Find this 1991 Pontiac Trans Am offered for $6,500 in Minneapolis, MN via craigslist. Tip from Jimmy.

Early Week Match-Up: Car for J

Mixing things up this Monday morning, we've got an Early Week Match-Up for you this morning, bought to you buy Kaibeezy.  His conversation follows:

J > I need help. Gotta buy a car. Want one [my 15-yr-old daughter] will want to ride in.

K > Ugh - cars suck - what's wrong with your van? [ Did I say "cars suck"? What I meant was: For people who are not car people and would never do any work themselves, not even changing a wiper blade or checking the oil, buying used cars can seem treacherous and frustrating. So they ask their "car guy" friend, who gives them great advice, which they completely ignore, but now having a bit of confidence go buy something they "love", which has just emerged from warranty but still seems new enough that the seller thinks it's "worth something" and the buyer thinks it's "pretty new", so that when an $800 ECU blows out six weeks later, they come back to you, pissed off because you told them to buy a good used car. Those cars suck. ]

Twin Engine: 1953 International Rat Rod

If you've got an old car with an inline-6 engine up front the easy route to making power is to replace it with an number of domestic V8s...but the easy way isn't the DT way...no sir...NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT!  The DT way to do things is to take your non-crossflow inline-6 and add another engine side-by-side -- then connect the 12 cylinders with a Rube Goldberg set of pulleys/belts and burn rubber all the way to the bank.  Find this 1953 International Rat Rod here on eBay bidding for $5,000 reserve-not-met located in Pell City, AL with 3 days to go. Tip from FuelTruck.

Mythical Beast: 1973 Pontiac Catalina

Today's Pontiac seriously lost the plot and went from vintage classic to the deep end of custom junk category.  The car has a number of modifications that on their own are interesting, but when you combine them all together one car it is like emptying half a bottle of Tabasco on your taco.  The most nonsensical feature is the elimination of the sedans back seat for a speaker box that effectively makes this giant boat a two seater.  If the custom flame paint job wasn't over the top enough for you, this Catalina actually has a console mounted switch to throw out real flames out the exhaust (seller can provide video documentation)!  Find this 1973 Pontiac Catalina for sale in Hamburg, PA for $2,900 via craigslist.

V8 Powered: 1976 Jaguar XJS

DT's resident pirate and logo guru Kaibeezy always keeps an eye open (the eye that isn't covered by the patch...I think) for good used XJS Jags, but would he drive one that didn't have a big monster V12 under the hood? Maybe...but only if he could smell the salt air in an open top. Find this 1976 Jaguar XJS V8 offered for $4,900 in Fountain Valley, CA via craigslist.

Coffee Brake: Weekend

I've got some non-car related stuff this weekend but I also need to sort some stuff on the Mustang that lives in my garage...but enough about me...what are you doing this weekend?

Classic Car: 1952 Chevrolet Bel Air

The shape of an early 1950s Bel Air might look classic and iconic to our 21st century eyeballs, but it was quite revolutionary when released in 1950...and not just because the hardtop was styled to look like a convertible with a non-removable solid roof, but also because it looked like a spaceship compared to the pre-war stuff puttering around the roads.  Find this 1952 Chevrolet Bel Air offered for $12,000 via craigslist in SF Bay Area, CA.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Supercharged: 1995 BMW M3 E36

BMW's E36 generation M3 is a fantastic car in any condition and prices have been very reasonable since they depreciated.  The only gripe you could legitimately support is that stock horsepower isn't much to keep up with the 300 horsepower Camry sedans that litter today's roads...but this next has something up its sleeve.  Find this 1995 BMW M3 E36 offered for $6,500 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Thursday Twister: Drugs Are Bad Mmmkay

Today's Thursday Twister quiz was inspired by a comment from tipper Rock On who sent in the next car with the following critique: The opioid crisis is much larger than I anticipated!  Find this 1969 Volkswagen Custom Hot Rod offered for $12,000 in Grand View, ID via craigslist.

Seller Submission: 1974 Jaguar XJ12 V8

The series 2 Jaguar XJ was updated from the series 1 in 1974 with the blessing of Jaguar's founder Sir William Lyons who is quoted as calling the XJ "the finest Jaguar ever made."  Of course Sr William would be rolling around in his grave (he is dead right...would be embarrassing if he was cruising around Nottingham eating steak and kidney pie...or whatever) if he knew this thing was powered by a cast iron lump of push rod equipped 'Murican arhn.  Find this 1974 Jaguar XJ12 V8  here on eBay bidding for $5,000 with 3 days to go located in Moorpark, CA. Seller submission from Dan.

Oddbucket: 1957 Auto Union 1000 Estate

The Auto Union 1000 was a front-wheel drive oddity that predated the Auto Union & NSU marriage that became what we know today as Audi..but its spirit is still uniquely German and Audiesque.  Find this  1957 Auto Union 1000 Estate here on eBay bidding for $2,000 in Boulevard, CA with 4 days to go.

For the Birds? 1968 Pontiac Firebird

The next car comes from Erik202 who writes: I saw this on my local classifieds, it got me thinking about how often people make fairly unsubstantiated claims about the rarity of the cars they are selling. In this ad the seller makes 2 claims but does not mention any paperwork from GM backing up either. There must be tons of this type of ad out there. Find this 1968 Pontiac Firebird Convertible offered for $11,000 CAD ($8,786 USD) via Kijiji.ca.

Stick It to the Man: 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500

Who doesn't love a good story about "stickin it to the man," right?  Unless you are the man, in which case you'll have loads of money to cry yourself to sleep with...anyway, I can't think of a better way to "stick it to the man" than to buy something for $10k that he paid almost $100k for when new!  Like this 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 offered for $13,400 here on eBay buy-it-now or make-offer located in Ford Pierce, FL with 1 day to go.

Tuned by Lotus: 1989 Isuzu I-Mark RS

The Isuzu I Mark is part of the GM '80s compact car family, built by Isuzu but sold by GM with the name Gemini.  The 2nd generation styling (1985-1990) was started by noted Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro (known for such designs as the DeTomaso Mangusta, Iso Griffo, 'the' Delorean, Ferrari 250GT) but changes demanded by the bottom line driven bean counters at GM caused such a tiff with the Italian master of design that he disavowed any relationship with the car.  Find this 1988 Isuzu I-Mark RS here on eBay bidding for $1,750 with 3 days to go, located in Knoxville, TN.

Theme Park: 1991 Lancia Thema 8.32

It's factory hot rodding 101:  find a plain Jane 4 door berlina sedan and stuff a big motor in it and turn it loose.  If you are FIAT you take a so-so front drive exec sled and stuff a Ferrari V-8 in it and away you go.  Find this 1991 Lancia Thema 8.32 for sale in Seattle, WA for $12,800 via craigslist.

Serial No 1: 1985 Oldsmobile Calais

There are few things better than low mile minty clean example of an unwanted car from the past...because low mile examples of desirable cars have crazy price tags, but the people who collect 80s Oldsmobiles do their own dental work and shower at their place of employment...the a low mile example of the first car off the assembly line doesn't cost much. Find this 1985 Oldsmobile Calais offered for $10,000 here on eBay starting bid with 1 day to go located in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Lotus 0.7: 1980 Custom Built Roadster

I have a friend who purchased and assembled a Caterham replica of a Lotus 7 for driving on US roads.  For the sake of anonymity, I will call him Dwood, and this next post is dedicated to him.  I won't say how much Dwood spent on his Caterham, but I'd bet a Buick Roadmaster that it cost more than 10 times the starting bid on this next...ummm...thing...which begs the question...is this car more than 1/10th the experience/fun/death of a Lotus 7? Find this 1980 Custom Built Roadster offered for $5,200 starting bid with $7,200 buy-it-now here on eBay located in Caldwell, ID.