I know that some people are going to complain about this next car…but I’m going to say it first; it doesn’t have an engine or transmission. No zoom zoom. No motor. No vroom vroom. It’s a roller. However, it is a rad looking piece of classic American wagon and you could put your own engine […]
This next car looks like a screaming deal to me…but then I’m the kind of lunatic who would consider assembling a 60s British car to be the perfect way to spend your weekends. I really hope that it is already sold because I might find a reason to call this guy. Find this 1967 MG […]
The Saab 9000 was built on a shared Saab/Fiat platform that was also used in the 1984-1998 Lancia Thema, Saab 9000, Fiat Croma, and Alfa Romeo 164. This next example of the Saab/Fiat Type 4 platform features an unbeatable combo for a sub $1k car — executive class luxury, front drive safety, and Giorgetto Giugiaro styling. Tow it home, fix it stock, or start pushing up power with the easy to modify Saab B-series 4-cylinder. Find this 1996 Saab 9000 CSE offered for $600 in Castle Rock, OR via craigslist. Tip from Zach.
This next car isn’t a museum piece or a rusty barn find…no, it is neither — it lives somewhere in the seedy underworld of automotive purgatory. This half-fixed classic needs someone to expunge its past sins and prepare it for automotive Valhalla or sell it for scrap. But for $1500, you could go either way and break even. Find this 1972 MG Midget offered for $1500 in Cuero, TX via craigslist.
I’ve never owned one, but have had the opportunity to go for a ride and drive a Lotus Caterham Seven (this was a late model kit car with a 300 horsepower turbo 4-cylinder modern engine) and it was exhilarating to say the least. No, it was terrifying, as a passenger or as a driver. But that was a kit car, and I prefer my cars to come with some history, some patina, some sweat equity needed, like this 1971 Lotus Seven S4 offered for $10,500 in Southeastern Arizona via craigslist.
I love a good challenge as much as the next guy…and I do enjoy assembling an occasional jigsaw puzzle with my kids…but this “Land Rover” is the jigsaw puzzle equivalent of taking 16 different 1000 piece-puzzles, mixing the pieces together, throw half of the pieces away, and stuff the remaining pieces inside of a raw turkey before baking to a crispy 165 degree internal temperature and then attempt to assembled the puzzle on a windy Thanksgiving afternoon wearing a blindfold and being pestered by a chimpanzee driving a skid-steer. However, I can’t think of a better way to spend 5 grand. I think I could rent a chimp and a skid-steer for that much. Find this 1973 Land Rover Series III offered for $5000 in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist.
When somebody says “kit car” I instantly think of Cobras, 550 Spyders, 356 Speedsters, Lotus things, and Kustom Fieros made to look like Ferraris…but I have never really thought about Jags. Particularly XK120 looking Jags from the 1950s that just need an injection of V8 to get going. Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re […]
I’d always rather buy a nicely restored or original condition survivor than a car that has had a cheap respray or is a pile of parts…but this next car appears to be a running/driving example of an unusual classic that just needs a paint job and some TLC. How bad could it be? Find this 1967 […]
The Lotus Europa has always been a favorite car over around these here parts — we DT writers love its lightweight composite chassis, mid engine high revving powerplant and cheap entry price. Time has driven the nicer examples to higher prices, but you can still get nice cheap Europa for the price of a 911 […]
Most of the automobiles features on these pages are inexpensive classics or late model maniac machines…with an emphasis on cars you can drive and enjoy on the cheap for years on end. However…there are sometimes cars that cross our path that offer a combination of exclusivity and cool factor at an economy car entry price…BUT […]