DailyTurismo

September 29 2020

Dusty But Not Rusty: 1967 Volkswagen Beetle Type 1

DailyTurismo Classic Aircooled, Beetle, German, Type 1, Volkswagen 0

One of my only automotive acquisition regrets is the time I turned down an offer for a free Volkswagen Beetle. It was actually two Beetles, but the parts were in boxes and the body was separated from the pan and my ability to assembled one working Beetle from the assorted boxes/bags/piles was questionable given the other projects I was also nursing along…so the Beetle went to someone else to store the pieces of another automotive jigsaw puzzle. However, today’s next feature seems like a much shorter putt to get your Vee-Dub itch scratched. Find this 1967 Volkswagen Beetle offered for $3,000 in Vernonia, OR via craigslist. Tip from JB1025.

September 29 2020

Three Row Runabout: 1990 Buick Estate Wagon

DailyTurismo Modern Classic Buick, Estate, Wagon, Woodie 1

This next car comes as a tip from BarbPaddles who writes: Dealers are no doubt hungry in this ‘pandemic economy’ for such unique stuff. 5000+ pounds of American family cruising that anyone can service/maintain. Strangely during this coronacrisis dealers have seen used car prices increase, but that shouldn’t stop you from buying something like an undisputedly wood covered Buick wagon. Find this 1990 Buick Estate Wagon offered for $12,900 in Traverse City, MI via Hemmings.

September 29 2020

Rescue Candidate: 1991 Nissan Figaro

DailyTurismo Uncategorized Figaro, Japanese, Needs TLC, Nissan, Pike, Rescue, survivor 1

Nissan never exported their retro-styled ’80s/’90s Pike Series cars (Pao, S-Cargo, Figaro, Be-1, K10-Micra) into the USA, but you wouldn’t know that based on the number littering craiglist and eBay. Or maybe I’m just always on the lookout for offbeat cars that put a smile on your face while not running roughshod through your bank accounts. Today’s example is a Figaro that is a little rough around the edges, but maybe cute enough to pickup as a rescue. Find this 1991 Nissan Figaro offered for $6,500 in Port Charlotte, FL via craigslist. Tip from Dascpcu

September 28 2020

6-Speed Wagon: 2004 Volkswagen Passat W8 4Motion

DailyTurismo Late Model 4Motion, Passat, Volkswagen, W8 6

We automotive scavengers tend to spend a lot of time complaining about how product planners at the big auto companies miss our desired combination of big-engine and manual gearbox, in a wagon shape (hello BWM, hello Toyota, etc). However, there was a time when Volkswagen, of all people, got it right! They put the crazy W8 engine into the wagon version of the B5.5 generation Passat and let us have a 6-speed manual gearbox mated to all the wheels via VW’s 4Motion system. It was glorious and expensive and not many were sold, but used ones are cheap. Find this 2004 Volkswagen Passat W8 4Motion offered for $6,500 in Narragansett, RI via craigslist. Tip from Cory.

September 28 2020

Rare and Slushy: 2002 Lexus IS300 SportCross Wagon

DailyTurismo Late Model IS300, Lexus, SportCross, Wagon 0

This next car comes from tipper Cory who writes: impossible to find IS300 wagon. I had high hopes it might be a manual gearbox equipped IS300 Sportcross, but alas, the wagon version of the IS300 was only available with a fun-sapping 5-speed slushomatic transmission. I’m sure there are a few versions that have been swapped, because the regular 2JZ-GE equipped IS300 sedan was available with a W55 manual gearbox for the entire production run, in fact, we featured a swapped 5-speed last year. Find this 2002 Lexus IS300 Sportcross Wagon offered for $5,500 in Boston, MA via craigslist.

September 28 2020

Loud and Proud: 1983 Manta Montage

DailyTurismo Modern Classic 'Murica, Kit Car, Manta, Mid Engine, Montage, V8 4

My advice for selecting a mid-engine kit car to buy is the same advice I give for people considering a mohawk for their hairstyle. Always go bigger, flashier, spikier, and bluer. And never go half way in, with some kind of stupid fauxhawk, you need to commit to the full experience and rock that Chevy V8 powered Manta symbol of your inner 6 year old and make it loud and proud. Find this 1983 Manta Montage offered for $14,500 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

September 26 2020

Risky Bid-Ness: 1980 Maserati Quattroporte

DailyTurismo Malaise Italian, Maserati, Quattroporte 8

There is a chance that any car featured on this website will end up as a wallet draining pile of junk…that is indeed the risk we take as buyers/sellers/drivers of used and depreciated classics. But there is no car as CERTAIN to raid your wallet as this next car, because there is no way you could even get this thing home to your garage before something goes wrong. But that is okay…because it’d be worth it. Because even somebody daily driving a 70s Saab is lightweight compared to someone who has the willingness and the audacity/cojones/guts to drive something like an 80 Maser. Find this 1980 Maserati Quattroporte offered for $9,800 in Philadelphia, PA via eBay. Tip from Rock On!

September 26 2020

King of the Dinosaurs: 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman

DailyTurismo Malaise 'Murica, Cadillac, Fleetwood, Talisman 2

The Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman was sold from 1975-1976 as the ultimate expression of domestic opulence. It combined the long wheelbase girth of the Seventy-Five limousine with the package of the Fleetwood sedan all for an astonishing MSRP that could hit $17k in 1975 (when a Corvette cost $6,800). You don’t seem many around today, but if you’ve got the space for a 19.5 ft car (that is more than a foot longer than a second gen Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van), it does seem like something worth a second glance. Find this 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman offered for $18,500 in Tulsa, OK via craigslist. Tip from Cory.

September 25 2020

Museum Piece? 1989 Toyota Corolla All-Trac Wagon

DailyTurismo Modern Classic All-Trac, Corolla, Japanese, Museum, Toyota, Wagon 1

The seller of this next vehicle describes it as “museum condition” which might be a bit of a stretch, because I doubt any museum would want an 80s Toyota Wagon…but now that I think about it, there was a Toyota museum next to the North American Torrance, CA headquarters that was filled with all manner of original Toyotas before they moved it to Texas and the Toyota Museum in Japan is filled with all sorts of strange stuff, so perhaps this does belong in a museum, but I’d like to use it to haul my kids around for a few hundred thousand miles first. Find this 1989 Toyota Corolla All-Trac Wagon offered for $8,500 in Long Beach, CA via craigslist.

September 25 2020

Déjà Vega: 1976 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega EcoTech

DailyTurismo Malaise 'Murica, Chevrolet, Cosworth, EcoTech, Swap, Twin Cam, Vega 4

If you take the one major thing that makes the Cosworth Vega an interesting and unique car (namely, that Cosworth Twin-Cam alloy inline-4) and replace it with an engine that is in every conceivable way an upgrade, (except for originality) is that a good idea? Wait a moment. I feel like I’ve asked this question before…no not about the sundry V8 Vega customs we’ve featured, but I’m getting a sense of déjà vega here…yes…we’ve featured this exact car in July of 2018. Today’s asking price is less, but the car looks more sorted — it has a factory style airbox now instead of the drone-tube from before and a set of pink floormats. Find this 1976 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega EcoTech offered for $9,999 outside of Raleigh, NC via craigslist. Tip from Rock On (again!)!

Kaibeezy: Car looks amped, or whatever …
Chris Miller: Why'd you sell? What's your r…
Chris Miller: At about 16 I talked my folks …
David Sanborn: I test drove a local cheap Fi…
byrd390: That DID make my day better.…
Kaibeezy: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=…
doctordel: Go ahead and make your day bet…
doctordel: If only this was the same car …
Matt C: Car and Driver claims the Pass…
byrd390: Is it petty of me to complain…