We featured a chopped Silverado the other day that was generally appreciated by the crowd for being tidy and subtle modification. However, today’s next feature is anything but understated. It does appear to be a decently conceived 4 seat convertible pickup truck conversion, which is not something you hear very often. Find this 2000 Chevrolet Silverado offered for $6000 in Buffalo, MN via fleecebook mothership.
When do you supposed the last 4-speed manual gearbox equipped car left an American assembly line — if you said 1998, I wouldn’t be surprised, but according to Murilee “Phil” Martin at Autoweek it was 1996 with the Toyota Tercel for cars, but the Ford F150 was available with a 4-on-the-floor for a few more years. Find this 1998 Ford F150 XL offered for $3995 in Albuquerque, NM via craigslist.
Somebody the other day was lamenting the death of cheap project cars, but I think the discussion may have been premature. This next car is about as cheap as you can get for a classic Honda CRX, and I am intrigued despite the multiple issues it faces. And yes, it will need to be towed. Find this 1988 Honda CRX Si offered for $1200 in Palmdale, CA via craigslist.
I really hate to be a classic car vulture, but when I see an advertisement like this next one, I feel a tingle on the back of my featherless head. All of these cars are offered for basic sub $7k asking prices and all seem to be not more than a good weekend of wrenching away from driving home. Because that is the dream — fly in to buy a car for cheap in a distant town, fix it on the side of the road and drive it home. Find this collection of “Antique Car sell offs” for $3700-to-$6900, 70s Vista Cruiser, 71 Ranchero, 62 Jaguar MkX, 87 BMW 325, 86 Corvette, 71 Checker Marathon, in Emeryville, CA via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.
The Volkswagen Type 3 Fastback was sold from 1961 through 1973 in three distinct configurations, the notchback (looks coupish), the squareback (a wagon thing), and the fastback…which is what we have here today. Power comes from Volkswagen’s 1600 cc version of the aircooled flat-4 that was fuel injected starting in 1968, but today’s car has a freshly built 1835cc motor fed with some Weber carbs. Find this 1971 Volkswagen Type 3 Fastback offered for $7900 in Buckeye, AZ via craigslist.
In 2002 Toyota introduced a medium-sized SUV to their North American product line — but they sold in through their Lexus dealers and called it the GX470. Internationally you would call the big ladder-frame 2-speed transfer box equipped 4X4 a Land Cruiser Prado, but here it was called the GX470. So upper class housewives from wealthy neighborhoods purchased them in bland colors and drove the kids to soccer camp. What they didn’t expect was to get 14 mpg driving around the city or that they’d need to plan for stopping/turning maneuvers. I seriously doubt that many of the original owners of these things ever took them off road, but now that they are approached the value of a cheap used car…it’s time to go mudding with your GX. Find this 2005 Lexus GX470 offered for $15,900 in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist.
Some say there is a fine line between being a collector and a hoarder. But that’s only partially true. There is a difference and it depends on what you are amassing. If your collection is newspaper clippings related to something interesting — you could be a collector. But if it just every copy of your local rag — you’re a hoarder. Collecting cereal boxes — hoarder. Got more jewelry than Flavor Flav — collector. A few cabinets full of watches — collector? Beanie babies overflowing your bedroom — hoarder. But then we get to the delicate question of automobiles. Jay Leno, is he a collector or a hoarder? One could say that his cars are well maintained and interesting enough to bump him into the category of collector, but what about the Jay Leno wannabee up in the high desert plain who has collection of derelict Saab Sonetts? Collector or hoarder? Find this collection of three 1974 Saab Sonetts offered for $6000, $4000, and $3500 in Lancaster, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
There is something supremely right with the first generation Audi A8 (1994-2002). It wasn’t the first executive car built by Audi to compete with the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7-series and Lexus LS, but it was the first to sit on an all aluminum monocoque frame. Today’s example is fitted with the 4.2 liter V8 (instead of the basic V6) which means it has Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system and looks as stately and perfect as when it left the factory. Find this 1998 Audi A8 4.2 Quattro offered for $7,800 in San Diego, CA via craigslist.
The Porsche 914 was the entry level offering from the aircooled engine guys from Stuttgart in the early 1970s, and it is well known for fun handling and subtle styling. Today’s example has a crazy modified body that looks like it could win a race against a fighter jet, but the basic stock 2.0 liter flat-4. Expect a lot of confused cops looking to recalibrate their radar guns after you cruise by 5 mph under the speed limit. Find this 1976 Porsche 914 Bravossa Custom bidding for $9,500 on eBay with 6 days to go and with a $16k asking price on craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
It didn’t take long on my local craigslist to find something appropriately “America” to feature today, but I did hit a jackpot of freedom. This next car is as American as apple pie — it is a Ford F250 built during the era when America was in the world’s driver’s seat. Additionally the current owner is selling to make room for a new baby, how much more will he/she have to pay to buy this car back again when the kid heads off to college? Happy Birthday America! Find this 1967 Ford F250 offered for $15,000 in Marina Del Rey, CA via craigslist.