DailyTurismo

March 11 2021

SVO Turbo Swap: 1968 Datsun Roadster

DailyTurismo Classic Datsun, Japanese, Roadster, SVO, Swap, turbo 6

I owned and drove an SVO Mustang a few years ago and it was an interesting car, but too heavy to really enjoy the 4-cylinder turbo under the hood properly. Sure, it made as much horsepower as the V8 version, but it was lacking in torque before the Garrett turbocharger found its breath above 3000 rpm. So it probably would be fun in a classic lightweight 2-seat roadster like this next thing. Find this 1968 Datsun Roadster offered for $17,900 in Springfield, MO via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

November 12 2020

Roasted: 1968 Volkswagen Custom Roadster

DailyTurismo Classic Beetle, Custom, German, Roadster, Volkswagen 3

The seller of this next vehicle calls it a “Roaster” several times in the advertisement …which I at first thought must be a typo (Roadster?) but after seeing the car…I think it might be correct. It looks crazy. On the plus side, when you do get roasted by this thing, you won’t take your wife/kids with you to the great junkyard in the sky because it only has one seat. Find this 1968 Volkswagen Custom Roadster offered for $7,500 in Coulterville, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

November 11 2020

Simplify, Then Add V8: 1993 Panoz Roadster

DailyTurismo Modern Classic 'Murica, Magnets, Mustang, Panoz, Rare, Roadster 10

The Panoz Roadster was launched in 1992 as an American interpretation of Colin Chapman’s legendary Lotus 7. If Chapman said “simplify, then add lightness”, then Don Panoz said “simplify, then add a Mustang V8.” The Roadster (later called the AIV Roadster) used Ford Mustang running gear, and powertrain installed in a welded steel chassis (the Aluminum Intensive Vehicle version later replaced the steel with aluminum for additional weight reduction). The end result was a 2571 lb Roadster with 240 horsepower 5.0 V8 (later upgraded to 305 horsepower with the 4.6 DOHC V8) and super car performance… at least super car performance for 1993 and a crazy price tag…at least usually. Today we’ve got a cheap example offered for a reasonable sum considering the rarity and cool factor. Find this 1993 Panoz Roadster offered for $25,000 in Dublin, GA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

June 5 2020

Best British Roadster: 1967 Sunbeam Alpine

DailyTurismo Uncategorized Alpine, British, Roadster, Sunbeam 4

Out of the common British roadsters from the ’60s I have to declare that the Sunbeam Alpine is the prettiest of the crew. It also has the added benefit of being less common than an MGB or Triumph TR (or Spitfire) or Jensen Healey on the street, so if rarity, cool factor, and beauty are […]

April 22 2020

British Invasion: 1953 MG TD

DailyTurismo Uncategorized British, MG, Roadster, TD 4

Back in the day, my old man owned and daily drove an MG TD. It probably wasn’t the best idea because my dad treats mechanical machines the same way that you might treat a discarded N95 mask found outside a tuberculosis ward– two parts curiosity mixed with a healthy dose of fear. The end result […]

January 6 2020

Electric Myrrh: 1995 Tropica Roadster

DailyTurismo Uncategorized Electric, Epiphany, Rare, Roadster, Tropica 4

The Christian feast of the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th, (the word Epiphany comes from the ancient Greek work Τheophaneia meaning “vision of God”) and is a commemoration of the three Magi visiting the infant Jesus. Around here we celebrate the Epiphany by posting 3 cars, one for each of the magi — first […]

April 25 2019

Rare = Crap or Fact? 1968 Peugeot 204 Roadster

DailyTurismo Uncategorized 204, Convertible, French, Peugeot, Roadster 8

There is a fine line between a car that is rare because its manufacturer limited the production of vehicles (because of exclusivity) and those cars that are rare because they were total crap when first released or have all rusted into oblivion..and this next car straddles that fine line like a cowboy riding a 2D […]

April 23 2019

Black Onyx: 2003 BMW Z4 Roadster

DailyTurismo Uncategorized BMW, Convertible, German, Roadster, Z4 8

You’ve got a wide range of cars when searching in the $5k-7k range. All manner of newish and used up economy cars and light SUVs are clustered across craigslist like a minefield of bad decisions and penalty box driving experiences…but SOMETIMES you find something that stands out like a black onyx in the bottom of […]

January 30 2019

Bluebird Power: 1927 Ford T-Bucket Roadster

DailyTurismo Uncategorized 'Murica, Ford, Model T, Roadster, T-Bucket 7

This next car is a tribute to all those Datsuns that’ve gotten Ford V8s shoved into their engine compartments, because a swap cool the first time you see one, but sorta lame the 50th time. And I’ve got to admit that I don’t think I’ve seen a Datsun 510 powertrain shoved into Model T…have you? […]

December 12 2018

Basic Roadster: 1965 Sunbeam Alpine IV

DailyTurismo Uncategorized Alpine, British, Convertible, Roadster, Sunbeam 3

There was a time when V8 powered Sunbeam Tigers could be found for the price of this next basic inline-4 powered Alpine…but we can’t dwell in the past like a bunch of Neanderthals…right? Anyway, I still love a good manual gearbox equipped sportster with a basic overhead valve powered 4-cylinder. Find this 1965 Sunbeam Alpine IV […]

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