Dollar Tree: 1984 Nissan 300ZX

I have to admit that I've driven home a few cars where the previous owner has said "you'll need to tow this thing home".  I usually finish the transaction and then jump start/adjust timing/add oil & gas and drive home, because all you really need to get a car home is a few functioning cylinders (in the engine and the brakes)...everything else is just gravy if it works.  Anyway, this next car might be the something you could nurse home if you've got the gumption.  It comes as a tip from Art C who writes: This could be a great deal, or you could need some intravenous antibiotics after an impromptu kidney extraction.  Either way, a cool car.  Find this 1984 Nissan 300ZX  offered for $800 in Rhode Island via craigslist.

Red Beast: 1960 Volvo 544

I'm not a big fan of paying a premium price for any car...but there are times when the last owner has put so much time & money into a hunk of rolling steel that it might be a good idea to pay a few more bucks than usual.  Like this 1960 Volvo 544 offered for $12,000 in Lake Havasu City, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Pan de Molde: 2007 Mag International C-Mag

You know you've found something special when you can't even pronounce it's name correctly.  And you might be tempted to call this next beast by its 'Mericanized name, but it is a Hafei Zhongyi that was penned by Pininfarina and built by Hafei Motor Co in Heilongjiang province of China. Find this 2007 Mag International C-Mag offered for $4500 in Encinitas, CA via craigslist.

850IS With The Drop Top: 1995 BMW 840Ci Convertible

Will Smith famously rapped something about "850iS if you need a lift, Who's the kid in the drop?" in one of his Grammy Award winning singles (which was simultaneously ranked 68th greatest song of the 1990s by VH1 and ranked #19th on AOL Radio's list of 100 Worst Songs Ever) but the fundamental error that the Fresh Prince did (and decades later admits to) is that the V12 powered BMW 850CSi was never technically called the 850iS (it was the 850CSi) nor was it available as a "drop" top..in fact...the E31 8-Series never had a factory cabriolet, save for the single prototype that lives at the BMW Museum in Munich.  So, if you want to rule Radwood with an 8-series drop top, you'll need to buy a custom example like this 1995 BMW 840Ci Convertible offered for $8500 College Park, MD via craigslist. Tip from Sean S.

SSix SSpeed SSwap: 1995 Chevrolet Impala SS

GM wasn't messing around when the seventh generation Impala was launched in 1994 because it was only available as the SS version which meant power from a 260 horsepower LT1 borrowed from the Corvette.  Unfortunately the Impala SS didn't come with a manual gearbox and was only available with GM's 4-speed 4L60E slushbox, but that is something that can be fixed with the remnants of a wrecked Camaro, an afternoon, a good buddy named Fred, and a case of Coors. Find this 1995 Chevrolet Impala SS 6-Speed offered for $6900 in Seattle, WA via craigslist.

French Connection: 1956 Renault 4CV

I've got to be honest with you guys today and admit that I'm really not an expert on the Renault 4CV market -- and the going rate for one of the surviving examples of the million 4CVs produced from 1947 through 1961 is beyond my limited understanding...but...this next car just feels like a good deal compared to the other rear-engined aircooled crap littering the internet auction sites. Find this 1956 Renault 4CV offered for $11,500 in San Diego, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Rule of Two: 1969 Austin Healey Sprite(s)

They say that classic British sports cars are like the Sith -- they always come in two. A master and an apprentice.  Wait, they don't say that?  Oh...well tipper Scott T sent in the following car with these comments: The good news is that for just $1400 you get two chrome bumper midgets, which the seller describes as a car and a parts car.  I can't tell which is the parts car though, and the seller doesn't say.  Ones a 62, and ones a 69. I'm sure someone out there know how to tell them apart?  They both look pretty rusty to me, certainly beyond my skills and ability, but maybe someone knows how to turn these into something worthwhile? Find this 1969 Austin Healey Sprite with '62 donor offered for $1400 in Norton, MA via craigslist.

I Said Eunos, Not Eunuch: 1991 Mazda Eunos Cosmo

Over here on "this" side of the Pacific Ocean, it is easy to associate the Wankel rotary engine with Mazda's sweet RX-7 sports coupe...but over in the land of the rising sun, there were a few other cars that got the spinning apex seal roaster, like the Eunos. Find this 1991 Mazda Eunos Cosmo offered for $11,000 in Bonney Lake, WA via craigslist. Tip from JB1025. 

Storm Tracker Live Now: 1991 Geo Storm GSi

This next car comes from John M who writes: Geo Storm GSI. Looks pretty! Claimed 280,000 miles and "Lotus Elan suspension." Seller appears to have a Geo Tracker in the background... Good sign, or an indication of possible mental health conditions?  Find this 1991 Geo Storm GSI offered for $1500 in Richmond, VA via craigslist.

Pug Life: 1981 Peugeot 505 Turbo Diesel

How...why...wait!  This next car is one of those head-scratching oddballs that begs the questions -- how did it survive in this condition; why would it be in this nice shape compared to its siblings and cousins; wait, I want it but it might take 10 years to drive home! Find this 1981 Peugeot 505 Turbo Diesel offered for $12,000 outside of Boston, MA. Tip from Rock On!

E39 M5 Power: 1995 BMW 540i E34 S52 Swap

The trick of doing a good engine swap is simple...just follow these two rules: (1) pick a sweet vehicle with plenty of street cred, but maybe down a few ponies on power & (2) juice it up with something that keeps alive the spirit of the original automobile, but turns the dial up to 11. (3...wait...3?) Bonus points if the swap involves complex alpha-numerics that nobody except real fanboys understand -- yo dawg, is that a Z15N? No quite, its a Z15N-GT...dude, straight GDM man. Hawt. I think that shoving an S62 V8 from a later M5 into a E34 5-series meets both of those rules. Find this 1995 BMW 540i E34 S52 Swap offered for $12000 in Fresno, CA via craigslist. Tip from Sean.

Rover 3.5 V8: 1975 MG MGB

If the last V8 powered Brit just didn't catch your fancy, then perhaps this next beast is more rubber bumpery and stock 70s looking for your collection.  Find this 1975 MG MGB offered for $11,500 in Temecula, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

4 Cylinders Good, 8 Cylinders Better: 1969 Triumph Spitfire V8

The Triumph Spitfire was a diminutive, featherweight, two-seat sports car assembled in Coventry, UK from 1962-1980.  A competitor of the Austin-Healey Sprite & MG Midget, the Spitfire was only available with a small inline four cylinder engine and didn't get the bigger inline sixes available to the GT6 or TR6. Don't worry, lots of folks over the years figured out how to shove the extra two cylinders into the Spitfire body, but today this next car has an extra 4 cylinders shoved under the hood. Find this 1969 Triumph Spitfire V8 offered for $10,000 in San Diego, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

McLaren Kit: 1984 Manta Montage M6GT

Manta was a custom car company based out of Southern California (run by brothers Brad and Tim LoVette) in the 1970s/1980s that built speedy looking fiberglass superkits using donor parts from Vettes and Beetles.  The Montage was one of their later offerings and used a Volkswagen Type 1 donor engine/transmission to underpin a fancy looking fiberglass shell. Find this 1984 Manta Montage M6GT offered for $15,000 in West Palm Beach, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Silver Surfer: 1984 Volvo 245 Diesel Wagon

The last car we featured was a classic Volvo wagon with all of the magic unicorn attributes that classic Volvo wagon lovers tend to enjoy, but for people who thought that previous wagon was too brown and too fast, we've got this next thing...which is powered by that nasty diesel stuff and is covered in a basic shade of silver/grey.  The best part about the ad, however, is the disclaimer from the seller in ALL CAPS "THIS CAR IS NOT FOR THE CASUAL CAR BUYER. SUGGEST YOU BE FAMILIAR WITH THE MID 80S VOLVO DIESEL CARS BEFORE CONTACTING ME."  Oh yeah.  Find this 1984 Volvo 245 Diesel Wagon offered for $2,500 in Tacoma, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Turbo Manual Brown Wagon: 1982 Volvo 245GLT

When somebody submits a link for a car and claims it checks all the boxes, I'm always skeptical...a glass is half full of gin kinda guy. And my boxes are kinda strange and kinda hard to check.  So let's see...manual gearbox, check; brown/gold exterior color, check; turbo power, check; wagon, check; decent price, check.  Okay...yup...checks all the boxes. Find this 1982 Volvo 245GLT offered for $4,000 in Ballard, WA via craigslist. Tip from Art C.

Seller Submission: 1982 Mercedes-Benz 300TD

The Mercedes-Benz W123 is about as close to a tank for the road as you can find. They combine a uniquely pleasant driving experience (albeit slow...but the turbo version is quicker) with a rugged drive train, chassis, interior...well just about everything. This next example has some rust that the next owner will need to tackle, but for the right guy with a welder -- the price is very reasonable.  Or you could drive it for a year or two and then sell it to the next guy or part it out if the rust gets too bad. Either way, this car is probably worth it for the price of the window glass. Find this 1982 Mercedes-Benz 300TD offered for $1950 in New Albany, IN via craigslist. Seller submission from Robert.