Almost Mostly Good: 2006 Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG

Mercedes-Benz launched their line of AMG street cars in the 1990s as competition to BMW's M-cars, and they were decent handling sedans with good power.  But in a few years AMG had established itself as the madmen of the luxury sport sedan market and traded handling for tire shredding horsepower.  This next car represents the last of AMG's cars where you could mash the loud pedal without all hell breaking loose...sort of.  Find this 2006 Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG offered for $7000 in New York, NY via craigslist. From Cory.

V12 E31: 1993 BMW 850ci

The 1990 release of the E31 850ci was BMW's response to decades of Mercedes SL luxury sport coupes, but it featured a V12 engine and a raked Klaus Kapitza design that looked like the future when released.  I think the 850ci still makes a statement on the road today as long as some part of the complex engine management system doesn't decide to make a statement you don't like. Find this 1993 BMW 850ci offered for $15,000 in Santa Fe Springs, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

European Style: 1972 Lancia Fulvia

Nicely preserved European classics have gotten ridiculously expensive in the past few years -- forget getting a Porsche 911 for anything less than a hipster's ransom, and even the lowly BMW 2002Tii demands some serious scratch.  What's a guy (or gal) to do?  You gotta dig deep and find something that isn't on the top of everyone's "want" list, but still looks/drives/is awesome.  Like this 1972 Lancia Fulvia offered for $22900 in Miami, FL via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

V8 Swapped Part Duex: 1975 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth

Did you like the V8 powered Cosworth Vega posted the other day...but had some indigestion due to the sticker price? Yeah, me too.  I prefer my modified Vegas to be a bit dirtier and much cheaper...like this 1975 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth offered for $5,250 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from JB1025.

Blazing Some Trolls: 2009 Saab 9-7X Aero

In 2005 General Motors released a Saab badged version of the mid-sized GMT360 SUV platform that shares parts with the Buick Rainier, Chevrolet TrailBlazer & SSR, GMC Envoy, Oldsmobile Bravada, and Isuzu Ascender.  The Saab 9-7x version featured some Saabish styling cues, but it was not that exciting until the 2008 model year when Saab released the LS2 powered Aero version (aka the Trollblazer), which was most powerful production "Saab" ever built.  Find this 2009 Saab 9-7X Aero here on eBay bidding for $5,100 reserve-not-met with $18,995 buy-it-now located in Valencia, PA. Tip from BP.

A Ford By Any Other Name: 1976 Mercury Capri

They (you know...them...them folks) always said that the best Fords have always been German built Mercurys, and today's next feature is a testament to that ridiculous saying. But what is even MORE ridiculous is that somebody hasn't snatched up this classic for the low asking price. Find this 1976 Mercury Capri offered for $6,500 in Cranford, NJ via craigslist. Tip from Cory.

V8 Swapped: 1975 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth

What is a Cosworth Vega worth on the open market these days...particularly an example that is in great shape, but has had its overhead cam 4-banger replaced with a 383 cubic inch pushrod equipped stroker?  I'm not sure about the asking price...but this next Vega will be the fastest Vega around town. Find this 1975 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth offered for $18999 in Hartford, KY via craigslist.  Tip from Rock On!

Go West, Young Man! 1987 Volkswagen Westfalia

This next car comes as a tip from Scott T who writes: Have you ever wanted to pick up someone else's project after they've lost interest? Do you love putting together lego sets with no instructions?  Then this is the van for you friend!  This looks like the seller methodically removed every non driveline part. It's not blooming in New England yet, so those pics probably aren't from this year. On the plus side, it's a non rusty east coast westy and you don't even have to lift a carpet to inspect it. The Go Westy bumpers the seller has are about $200 for the basic kit, but he might have the heavy duty version, which with the hitch is almost a grand in parts. Find this 1987 Volkswagen Westfalia offered for $7500 in Boston, MA via craigslist.

LS V8 Swapped: 1990 Volvo 240 DL

The Volvo 240 DL is a slow car in stock form...not loaded trash truck slow, but it'll give a Mercedes-Benz 300D a good run for the money. But that all changes when you drop an LM4 small block V8 from some kind of GM SUV and start burning rubber.  Find this 1990 Volvo 240 DL offered for $5900 in Cary, NC via craigslist.  Tip from Rock On!

What Am I? Fishes

This week's What Am I? comes from John T who writes:


I’m a HS Chem teacher and car nut (wait, reverse that order) and have used a series of videos for years and one episode shows a clip of A CAR I CAN’T IDENTIFY!   Zut alors! Here ’tis:

Eighteen Footer: 1984 GMC Ramptruck

This next car comes as a tip from Scott T who writes: If you're tired of pulling a trailer to the track, or you just have a fleet of unreliable cars this might be the truck for you. The seller says mint, and it looks like it is, no rust on the doors, good pics of the usual problem areas.  I don't buy a lot of ramp trucks, but 6K seems reasonable.  Find this 1984 GMC Ramptruck offered for $6000 in Boston, MA via craigslist.

Checks All The Boxes- 1991 Volvo 240 5.0 Wagon

Many a V8 swapped Volvo bricks have graced these pages, but few have all the qualities to make a truly primo driver.  This is not to say that a car with an automatic or a sedan is a bad car by any means.  Most would agree that the top of the food chain for these swapped cars is a manual trans equipped wagon.  If you were to nitpick anything with today's wagon, it only has the Vanilla Ice era 5.0 Mustang engine which is not as powerful as a modern GM LS and it is painted a pedestrian silver instead of say poop brown.  Find this 1991 Volvo 240 wagon for sale in Ephrata, PA for $8,000 via craigslist.

VF Stage 2: 2004 Volkswagen R32

This next car comes as a tip from Sean S who "swore off VWs and Audis but this is awesome." Personally, I've swore in and around VW/Audi product, but never off, because you never know who your friend are until you own a late model VW/Audi!  Find this 2004 Volkswagen R32 offered for $7000 in Oxnard, CA via craigslist.

VW Bus Clone: 1992 Suzuki Every

The VW Bus wasn't a huge vehicle, but it certainly wouldn't have qualified for Japan's Kei car laws...but that didn't stop this next customizer from building what should have been a factory thing.  Find this 1992 Suzuki Every offered for $8495 in Atlanta via Seattle Craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Exposed V8 Swap: 1994 BMW 318ti

There are two potential paths when building a fast custom car -- the first is to make it a sleeper, hide the engine and make it look stock, the second is to make it a waker, which involves poking shiny bits of the engine through a sawz-all cut hole in the hood. Guess which one DT is going to feature next.  Find this 1994 BMW 318ti V8 Swap offered for $7500 in Olympia, WA via craigslist. Tip from Matt C.

Front Drive Classic: 1998 Alfa Romeo GTV

The 916-series Alfa Romeo GTV (and Spider) was a modern remake of the classic Alfa Grand Turismo Veloce -- complete with a front-engine front-wheel drive setup and biodegradable plastic bits-- but it featured Pininfarina styling and wasn't available in the USA...so I still really want one.  Find this 1998 Alfa Romeo GTV offered for $8490 in Fraser Valley, BC, Canada.   Tip from JB1025.

Florence's Long Roof- 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Brougham Wagon

The Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera was a 1980's fwd shrunken equivalent of near any 60's or 70's GM car.  These cars had a relatively long model run from 1982-1996 and were available as a coupe, sedan, and wagon.  Everything on the interior would have been very familiar to any senior citizen from the column shifter to the ribbon speedometer to the flat seats.  In keeping with tradition, the Ciera had a optional Brougham package which fitted today's wagon with vinyl wood grain trim all over.  The conservative approach was rounded out with 14" whitewall tires along with wire wheel hubcaps.  All of these niceties were catnip for traditional GM drivers.  Find this 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Brougham wagon for sale in Stamford, CT for $5,000 via craigslist.