If you found yourself in the position of being forced to drive a convertible with a Chevrolet LT1 V8, I can imagine you could say no to the ’96 Roadmaster with the “custom” chop-top or the ’95 TTrans Am without a title…but this next car has a title and is an original Vette Convertible with a low 42k miles on it. Find this 1990 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible offered for $12,500 in Pleasant Hill, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
The Jaguar XJS was one of the prettiest things to ever grace the roads in the 20th century. Sure, it wasn’t as drop-dead gorgeous as the E-Type it replaced, but it conformed to safety and crash standards that mutilated the good looks of many other vehicles and the XJS survived with only a few changes over an impressive 21 year lifespan. Production of the Malcolm Sayer and Doug Thorpe designed 2+2 started in 1975, had a minor makeover in 1982, and a more significant re-design in 1992 and the last cars left the factory in 1996. Today’s example is one of the last of the pre-Ford takeover cars and is even more ANTI-Ford with an injection of Chevy’s LT1 V8 under the hood. Seems like a lot of car for the asking price if you ask me…and you did ask, right? Find this 1990 Jaguar XJS offered for $7900 in Stoughton, WI via craigslist.
I saw this next car in the tips inbox and instantly seethed with indignant rage; How dare someone send in this offense against taste and decency? What do you think this site is? Do you think this is the kind of site will post any sort of El Camino’d Cadillac with an LT1 V8 under the hood? Well, let me tell you…you’ve got the…well…you’ve got the right place. This is a go for posting. Find this 1984 Cadillac DeVille El Camino offered for $15,000 in Oakland, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
This next car is a painful reminder of the fragility of the human spirit. But more importantly, it is a steel/fiberglass memorial to the fact that we should never give up on our aspirations. It sits forlornly like a moss covered monument to all the dreams we had as a kid — I wanted to be Batman when I was 9, who didn’t?!!? But here it sits, like a giant full scale version of those little models we built as kids where the Testors glue would fog the glass and painting was a skill a kid didn’t have the patience, budget, or manual dexterity to match the photo on the box. Don’t give up Mr Wayne!! You’ve got this! You are so close, the box only contains those little injection molding rails and a few spare decals — this thing deserves a spot on your dresser, right next to that hockey trophy, it just needs another $15,000 and another 100 days of hard labor. Find this 1989 Batmobile Gotham Cruiser offered for $57,000 buy-it-now or make-offer located in Gotham…errr….Suisun City, CA via ebay.
In 1994 the Buick Roadmaster got a massive powerplant upgrade when it ditched the old L03/L05 V8 and replaced it with an LT1 V8 that had more horsepower, more torque, and better fuel economy. It shared the LT1 with the Corvette, which was always available with some kind of T-top or removable roof option, so this next car makes some kinda sense, in a twisted chassis kinda way. Find this 1996 Buick Roadmaster offered for $3850 in Chicopee, MA via craigslist. Tip from Cory.
A Series III Jaguar XJ (1979-1992) is a seriously wicked automobile and it deserves the respect of the automotive community. This includes respect for the splendid inline-6 (or V12) engine that was originally installed in the stately saloon chassis. But there comes a time when maintaining that cantankerous DOHC beast becomes prohibitively expensive and yearly maintenance starts to cost more than the value of the vehicle. This is the time when you pull out the measuring tape and realize that a small block from the General will fit inside…and since you’ve got a GM 3-speed auto as factory transmission…well…it is just a matter of time before your overhead cams are exchanged for pushrod actuated valves inside of a Chevrolet LT1 V8. I figure it this way — until Britain has paid off the debt of two World Wars were we saved their bacon, they’ll have to put up with American hillbillies shoving V8s into their fancy Jags. Sounds fair to me, but I’m not sure if Jeremy Clarkson would agree. Find this 1986 Jaguar XJ6 offered for $5,500 in Irvine, CA via craigslist.
Nissan’s athletic 240Z was sold in the USA with a Datsun badge and a silky smooth inline-6 to go with its ninja-like reflexes. For years, folks joked that Japanese cars would never be collectable, and 240Z prices hovered above scrap value, so many were (for better or worse) turned into hot rods. Today we’ve got […]
The Porsche 928 was released into the wild in 1977 as the presumed replacement for the aging 911, but the complex mechanical design and less than thrilling driving experience meant it played second fiddle to the tail happy OG Porsche. Today, prices for the 928 haven’t appreciated nearly in the same psychotic manner as the […]
While the later LS1 powered Camaro (launched in 1998) might get all the glory for being the cheapest way to go fast..but there was an older Camaro that was almost as fast and also available with a 6-speed gearbox. Find this 1996 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 offered for $4000 in Los Banos, CA via craigslist. Tip from […]
The fourth generation Chevrolet Caprice was sold from 1991 to 1996 as the last hurrah for the Caprice name launched in 1964 (until the Caprice name was brought back for fleet use in 2011). The Caprice Wagon shares most of its parts with the Buick Roadmaster Wagon but it lacks the faux wood sides, which […]