If there was ever a car that at one time was the must-have of the elites and is now frequently entrenched in “beater” status, the Mercedes SL springs immediately to mind as a luxury vehicle fallen from grace. The mass produced roadster at one time graced driveways and the silver screen, becoming synonymous with wealth and class; now, it’s an affordable entry into classic ownership – but often times, still carries with it the pitfalls of buying an expensive car cheaply. But is this 1981 example found here on eBay in Florida cheap enough to justify the investment? For $2,699, it just might be. Read more »
Archives for March 2015
1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade: Flared 4×4
Mar 30, 2015 6 Comments
There’s a buddy of mine I haven’t seen in years. He was my best friend in high school and we shared a passion for all things automotive. He was a Jeep guy and I was into the foreign stuff, but we respected each other’s interests equally. One vehicle we always achieved consensus on was the Jeep Wrangler Renegade, which even to this day we email each other about whenever one pops up for sale. Isn’t it amazing how a vehicle can forge a bond like that, even when the rest of life’s business doesn’t provide the opportunity? As you can see, this 1991 Renegade edition listed here on craigslist for $5K in Roanoke, Virginia brought back more than a few memories for yours truly. Read more »
1984 BMW 528e: Q-Ship Ready
Mar 27, 2015 6 Comments
Today marked a milestone in my 1987 535is’ road to recovery: most major mechanical items were buttoned up, allowing me to finally drive the thing as intended. Since the day it arrived, it had some maladies that prevented me from really understanding what it was all about, first due to frozen struts and then a rumbling driveshaft. With those and other ailments fixed, it finally drives like it should. All in all, it wasn’t a terrible list for a car that was largely neglected for the past 3 years. If you want to join me in my crusade, Credit Card Classics reader Jim S. sent in this 1984 528e that he found here on eBay for only $1,750 – a relative steal for a running, driving E28. Thanks Jim! Read more »
1980 Mazda RX-7: Rotary Classic
Mar 26, 2015 4 Comments
Although I rarely go autocrossing these days, one of my favorite memories is of a track-only example of the first generation Mazda RX-7. Driven by one the fastest drivers in the Fairfield County Sports Car Club, the car blatted out the distinctive (if not ear-shattering) noise of a rotary-powered mill as it hustled around the course. Copper in color with wide racing slicks, it routinely dominated the day despite its power output being modest in comparison to almost everything else on the course. That’s where my mind wandered while looking at this first-series RX-7 available for $3,950 here on Knoxville’s craigslist. Read more »
1982 Lancia Beta Zagato: Cheap Flair
Mar 25, 2015 7 Comments
I realize that my threshold for dealing with maintenance annoyances that occur when daily-driving an older car is higher than others. But one of the best parts about the experience is when said vehicle doesn’t cost me anything in a given month, a small victory over having a car payment for some Japanese runabout that loses value every day. It’s this train of thought that makes cars like this 1982 Lancia Beta Zagato here on craigslist for $4,900 so appealing: sure, it’s likely to have a few quirks and unexpected repairs, but I’d drive this any day of the week over a $15K Corolla. Read more »
1987 Pontiac Fiero GT: Missed Opportunity
Mar 24, 2015 6 Comments
When you look back at the ways oil crises have shaped the American automotive landscape, it’s rather amazing how often manufacturers squashed cars with endless potential in the interest of a knee-jerk reaction to selling fuel efficient vehicles. Or, the tendency to shove ill-conceived engines into a decent platform for the same goal – either way, the outcome is similar: good cars saddled by engineering shortcomings that tarnish their reputation for life. Enter the Pontiac Fiero, a mid-engined coupe that should have been a home run if not for its economy car roots. This 1987 Fiero GT here on craigslist in Pennsylvania is a great example of what might have been for $4,950. Read more »
1991 Audi 200 Quattro Avant: Heartbreaker
Mar 23, 2015 10 Comments
Every now and again, I like to stick my head into the auction site Copart for some hidden gems. Mostly, you expect to find a car or two that may be appealing on some level, but overall, you can understand how it ended up on a salvage auction site. Then, there are cars that have no right languishing in a salvage yard, even with some modest damage. At Barn Finds, we were left scratching our heads over a seemingly-clean Buick Grand National that looked mere inches away from being a daily driver; well, this next one made me wince even more: a 1991 Audi 200 Quattro turbo wagon that’s been poked in the rear and slapped with a salvage title. Will this rare beast survive the scrap heap? Read more »
1994 Ford F150 Lightning: Bring The Thunder
Mar 19, 2015 11 Comments
Of all the automotive trends that have emerged over the last 25 years, the fast pickup truck is among my favorites. Utterly pointless and completely counter to the point of a truck with a bed, these hot rod haulers thumb their noses at sensibility, and isn’t that the calling card of some of our favorite niche vehicles? No one ever said the Countach made sense, and the Ford F150 Lightning isn’t much further away on the silly scale. But then again, an F150 can make dump runs, which is more than be said for the Lambo. Check out this ’94 Lightning here on craigslist in Tennessee for $3,800. Read more »
1987 VW GTI 16V: Won’t Get Cheaper
Mar 19, 2015 4 Comments
There are some cars that seemingly have vanished from our roads, never to return again. It’s not as if a Consumer Reports expose took it out, or the rust-proofing agents failed to protect body panels. No, it just seems the world shifted enough that those cars were no longer needed, and they were unceremoniously scrapped from the earth. The MK2 GTI is one such a car, as are most of the models in Volkswagen’s second generation lineup. I don’t even see them in junkyards, but someone needs to save this 1987 16V on craigslist for $1,050 in California before it ends up in one. Read more »
1989 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z: No Respect
Mar 17, 2015 9 Comments
This is perhaps one of the most unloved muscle cars of the last 30 years. The third-generation Camaro didn’t come onto the scene with the greatest reputation, as the performance models from the Big 3 of this era were known for being poor imitations of the models from the ’60s and ’70s that gave these cars their beastly reputations. While the power was certainly down and raw numbers weren’t up to the levels of its ancestors, I’d still rock the T-tops and take a chance on an IROC-Z like this 1989 example listed here on eBay for $4,500. Read more »