Don't Mention It: 1973 Ford Maverick

I am going to try and write a feature without mentioning the coronavirus...arggg...I already broke that promise by even mentioning the thing.  Okay, rewind...let's try again.  The Ford Maverick was sold starting in 1970 as a replacement for the oldschool Falcon and it sold in decent numbers through 1977 when it was replaced with Ford Granadas/Fairmonts using the Fox-body platform.  I have a soft spot in my heart for these things because they were cheap drivers for years and still are!! Find this 1973 Ford Maverick offered for $4200 in Phoenix, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

No Power Brakes, No Problem: 1970 Ford Galaxie 500 Country Sedan Wagon

I've got to assume that prices of used cars (classics, late models, you name it) are gonna take a hit due to this COVID-19 thing...firstly because the economy is playing rope-a-dope and second because people are supposed to be sheltering in place instead of going around and buying/selling cars. Regardless if you surf over to the craigslists in the places hit by this nasty virus, you'll still see people selling cars...and while nobody loves a vulture...everybody loves a deal?  Is it wrong to look at Seattle or the Bay Area Craigslist and see what you can get with a face mask and a pair of rubber boots? Find this 1970 Ford Galaxie 500 Country Sedan Wagon offered for $5000 near Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Two Wheels Good, Three Wheels Better: 1981 Tri Magnum

It's hard to remember that there was a time before those disposable rideshare electric scooters were a plague on cities across this country.  It was a simpler time when someone had to find something else to make a total fool of himself in front of the world...and I can't imagine a better way to do it than sitting in a hammock with your knees above your head as you are slowly macerated in a sweaty fog of unburnt fuel, combustion blowby, and shame.  Yes.  It was 1981 and you are driving an enclosed trike -- a fiberglass middle finger to all those who might judge you...coffin sized and ready to be lowered into your final resting place. At least then, nobody will see you. Find this 1981 Tri Magnum offered for $5500 in Piggott, AR via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Pickup My SUV: 1994 Mazda Proceed Marvie

The Mazda Proceed Marvie isn't something you see everyday.  Or even once a year. Or maybe not in your lifetime.  What it is...is a car with a verb placed squarely in the middle of its name -- not common, but certainly noteworthy. The Proceed was sold in the USA with a B-Series badge and I don't think we ever got the SUV version...which was simply a pickup truck with a camper shell and a 3rd row installed with some bolts.  I think it makes a sensible alternative to whatever Rav4/CRV/Explorer you might find with a 3rd row that is just another piece of automotive blight on the street. Find this 1994 Mazda Proceed Marvie offered for $7750 in Fulton, MD via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Baby You're Much Too Fast: 1991 Chevrolet Corvette L-98 Auto

The C4 generation Corvette won't get people oohing and ahhing like a classic C2 quad headlight model, or screaming like teenage Beatles fans when a brand new C8 cruises by...BUT, it won't cost you an arm/leg and it does a nice job of impersonating a sports car for less than the price of the typical 4 year old used econobox. Find this 1991 Chevrolet Corvette offered for $8,950 in Waco, TX via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

Sweet Fishcar: 1965 Plymouth Barracuda

The Plymouth Barracuda introduced the world to fastback shaped pony cars a full two weeks before Ford's Mustang was released in April 1964, but even hardcore Mopar enthusiasts will agree that it is a good thing that the Mustang outsold the Barracuda by a landslide because otherwise we'd be left the strange term fishcar for sporty compact 2+2 fastback/coupes with long hood styling and rear-wheel-drive. Anyway, this pony car looks respectable for the price but it depends on the quality of that paint...if it is a cheap respray -- pass; but if the paint is original or a quality job, this is a winner. Find this 1965 Plymouth Barracuda offered for $7000 in Albuquerque, NM via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Happy St Patrick's Day: 1981 DeLorean Snowcat

It is St Patrick's Day, so time to share some Irish built cars...which is pretty much the 1960 Shamrock (10 built...8 are still known to exist) or the DeLorean DMC-12...which YOWZA the prices have been batapulted into silly zone...so now we are stuck with the not-so-Irish...but connected to Mr John Z DeLorean, who is a known connoisseur of white powder...Anyway, for a few years the LMC (Logan Manufacturing Company) built snowcats under the name of DMC (DeLorean Motor Company) and sold them to ski slope groomers and city work crews who needed something to move snow. Find this 1981 DeLorean Snowcat  in Essex Junction, VT via craigslist.

Italian Vert: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

When you think of classic affordable roadsters, you'll first think of the ubiquitous Mazda MX-5 Miata...but it is far too new and common, I'm talking about cars like the MGB, Alfa-Romeo Spider, Datsun Fairlady/Sports 1600...but there's another option in this genre that is often overlooked, still fairly plentiful, and worth consideration as a respectable alternative (if you don't have a healthy fear of rust). We are referring to the Fiat 124 Spider, which was designed by Dutch-American legend Tom Tjaarda and built in a remarkable multiple decade production lifespan starting in 1966 and ending in 1985.  The later ones have big rubber bumpers, raised ride height, and more safety weight...but they also have less rust. Find this 1978 Fiat 124 Spider offered for $8,500 in Fountain Hills, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Coffee Brake: Stop the Corona Virus

I've been getting my inbox bombarded with notes from random faceless corporations telling me they've got a plan for this COVID-19 thing...so I feel like DT should make some official statement to the affect that we are canceling our Cars & Coughy meetings and minimizing co-sleeping in the office.  Yes.  Official and authoritative...we are asking our employees to work from home and we are implementing strict guidelines to minimize the affect on our employees and our bottom line while keeping our customers...uggg..I can't keep a straight face...

Trade for Toilet Paper: 1981 Toyota Corona Station Wagon

Happy Pi Day! With all of the corona virus related pandemonium running through the public eye, I wonder if it'll spill over into cars -- with the classic Toyota Corona be shunned because it shares a first name with the nasty crown shaped virus that seems to be performing the job of a crappy version of Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet. The corona virus will pass (hopefully soon) but this Corona Station Wagon will still be driving for years. Find this 1981 Toyota Corona Station Wagon offered for $8,500 in San Mateo, CA via craigslist. Tip from Kaibeezy.

Forgotten Fiberglass: 1988 Reliant Scimitar SS1 Turbo

The Reliant Scimitar name was used for British built sports cars starting way back in 1964...and it continued in some fashion through 1990..but the true story is twisted like a Victorian novel.  It started with a coupe that used the Reliant Sabre platform with Daimler SP250ish styling and then morphed into a shooting brake that continued the tradition of using a fiberglass body on a steel chassis with Ford V6 power and some parts bin interior...but by 1988 I haven't the foggiest idea of what this thing was made from...so I'll leave it up to you guys to figure out what we're looking at here: Find this 1988 Reliant Scimitar SS1 Turbo offered for $14,500 in Las Cruces, NM via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Survive The Coronapocalypse: 1963 Kaiser M35a2 - 2.5 Ton-Deuce and a half

It seems I can't go 5 minutes without receiving an email from some company informing me that some event has been canceled, or that they are keeping their employees safe by keeping them away from me.  All this preparation for the coronapocalypse makes me want to do two things -- first I'm going to get a t-shirt printed that says "I survived the coronavirus and all I got was this lousy inheritance" and second, I need a good survival/bug-out vehicle. My first instinct was to go for something like this custom hunting truck built on an 84 Bronco chassis...but the passengers are way too exposed and it'll stick out in the sea of modern crossovers fleeing the zombie filled cities...and then I found this wicked Freightliner hospitality truck that is basically a class-8 RV on steroids...but that would be a huge target for the starving masses...what you need is something that is incognito.  Maybe a cool old firetruck, because even the most vicious criminals give firemen a break and you could put anything you wanted in that big tank and tell any potential thieves that it is fire retardant -- drinking water, gasoline, hand sanitizer, rum, honey, Oreo cookies, Albanian refugees, a small home office...with a vintage firetruck the world is your red pained oyster, my friend. Find this 1963 Kaiser M35a2 - 2.5 Ton-Deuce and a half  here on eBay bidding for $5500 reserve-not-met with $12k buy-it-now in Huntsville, UT with 6 days to go.

Face A Mother Could Love: 1970 Volkswagen Beetle

The next vehicle falls into the classic category of the love/hate or love-to-hate cars...and I'm not entirely sure how to react.  It appears that someone has taken the rear end of a Beetle and put it on the front...or maybe just moved the frunk at such an angle as to LOOK like the rear...and then it is El Camino'd at the back...I just am totally unsure what to make of this thing.  Hideous or hideously awesome? Find this 1970 Volkswagen Beetle here on eBay bidding for $9,921 reserve-not-met in Beach Haven, NJ with 4 days to go.

Shark Soup: 1987 BMW L7 E23

The E28 generation BMW 7-series was released in 1977 as the first BMW to wear the 7 designation and as a replacement for the aging E3 New Six platform (aka the Bavaria).  The changes were more evolutionary than revolutionary, but the Paul Bracq designed shark nose shape is certainly more modern looking than the New Six, in part because it has a higher beltline, and smaller greenhouse. Today's E28 is described by the seller as an L7 (which added some fancy leather upholstery, a power sunroof, and top of the line options...but the seller also says it is a manual, which was not available with the L7 package.  No pictures means you'll have to brave the coronavirus to find out. Find this 1987 BMW L7 E23 offered for $1500 CAD ($1,087 USD) in Vancouver, B.C. Canada via craigslist. Tip from Erik202.

Original Gangster: 1980 Porsche 928

I know what you are thinking.  Forty-five hundred bones for a Porsche 928 that doesn't have a driver's seat...that's a lot of money.  But the seller does say it fires up and runs (despite the reputation, these things aren't that bad...and were well engineered from the factory) and the exterior paint/body looks amazing if it is original.  I like it, and I'd be much more concerned about a complete interior 928 with damaged paint and a borked engine.  Find this 1980 Porsche 928 offered for $4,500 in Sonoma, CA via craigslist.

Custom Wagon: 2007 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT

This next car comes as a tip from Jeff who writes: Never really been into the who Subaru thing, but this is super cool.  I have been was into the Subie thing...and it was something special -- all-wheel-drive grip mixed with a torquey turbo engine that farts out a raucous exhaust note as the tires scramble for grip.  This next car is offered for a price where you could get into a older Subaru STI...but if you are willing to live with the day-to-day realities of a custom/modified car...this could be your jam. Find this 2007 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT offered for $12,000 in Sacramento, CA via craigslist.

Burn It With Fire: 1984 Mercury Lynx

The lynx rufus (commonly known as the North American bobcat) is a medium sized wildcat that hits the scales at somewhere in the sub 40lbs range and can top 30 mph in sprint.  The Mercury Lynx is a small sized econobox that hits the scales at 2200 lbs and can hit about 86 mph...but I'd guess that having a real live bobcat in your garage would be far less dangerous than a Mercury Lynx.  Find this 1984 Mercury Lynx offered for $999 in Placida, FL via craigslist. Tip from Dascpcu.