$5,000 Challenge Results
I'm incredibly gratified by the response to the $5,000 Challenge--not only did people find a ton of interesting cars, but I found I'm not the only classifieds junkie out there. Anyway, enough text--let's get to the cars!
My picks: My original goal was to have everybody submit one car, but that's really hard to do. Instead, like everybody else, I found a couple. There were quite a few perfectly fair daily drivers available, but what's the fun in that?
My favorite was a faded blue 1976 Chevy Caprice Classic on Craigslist for $2,500 --unfortunately, the listing has disappeared, and I didn't think to grab the photo first. But it looked straight, perfect, and clean--if a little too pricey for what it is. I love '76 Impalas/Caprices; the only reason I haven't Car Lusted them is because I feel I need to do them proper justice.
Along the same line, there was this gorgeous 72 Imapala, which was within the price range when I was looking earlier in the week. Unfortunately, it wound up going for $15K. Ouch!
Likewise, another old favorite--an Edwardian Gray 1986 Saab 900 SPG, more on it at some future date--was slightly too expensive at $6,000. You can see the listing roughly halfway down the page here. Photos here.
So, my choice is this 1978 Chevy Monza. I've fawned over the Monza before in this space, but they're extremely difficult to find. This one looks to be in decent shape, I like the electric blue color, and hey--it still has the rear window louvers! At only $3,200, that gives me nearly $2K as a repair budget.
Your finds:
Cookie the Dog's Owner:
In the Cleveland Plain Dealer classifieds:
JAGUAR 1985 XJS Cpe MINT V12-roof, red w/ blk leather, no winters 43k new Pirellis $4950 perfect
--might be a lot of fun between major mechanical failures--
In the Akron Beacon Journal:
'92 ACURA Vigor [(badge-engineered 4-dr Accord)], only 127K, service records, auto. Must sell. $2950.
--With the $2,050 remaining in the budget, do some performance and handling upgrades and make it into a BMW-killer--
Finally, from the Avanti Owners International website, from a couple of years ago:
1963 Avanti R2 for sale Project car The car is complete with no accident damage. comes with new hog troughs [(steel "torsion boxes" that mated the fiberglass body to the chassis)] to install. Has power windows and 4 speed. Gold outside fawn interior. The car runs. It just needs a complete going over. The only items missing are: the original steering wheel, steel wheels, and the battery tray. The wheel covers are with the car. Price $5000
--The "R2" had a Paxton supercharger, and was the world's fastest production car in the 1963 model year. If the description is accurate, it was restorable to show car condition. I want one.--
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Rob the SVX Guy:
I found two Mitsubishi Galant VR4s for sale in my area, for around $2500 each, and I found a 1991 Dodge Spirit R/T for $2000. I also spotted a 1997 Dodge Neon ACR in Nitro Yellow Green for $800.
Man. What fun. If I had a garage I'd have so many sweet little cars.
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David Drucker:
The first is an ebay 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL, with a buy-it-now of $4995: http://tinyurl.com/3pzoqw. The description (copied-and-pasted here) doesn't mention whether the cam chain had been replaced with the more reliable double-race kit used in later examples, but with 170K on the clock I'd guess that it had. Beyond that, there's nothing tricky or complex in the 107 two-seaters. I've had a couple, both from the 70s, and they're wonderful do-everything vehicles. My wife and I used to go camping -- dirt roads and all -- in ours.
eBay Description: This is a Classic 1981 Mercedes Benz SL380 Two Top Roadster. This SL380 has the small V8 engine and automatic transmission and has just over 170,000 miles on it. It is in very good condition and will only appreciate in value, as these older SL's are getting harder to find. Paint appears to be original , and looks good from a few feet, but some areas are sun damaged. Hardtop is in very good condition. Soft top is also in good condition. Top has no rips or tears, but plastic windows are sun damaged and cracked. This car has later model Mercedes 16" wheels and tires in good condition. Interior is in good condition for a 27 year old vehicle. Seats may have been recovered. Driver's seat is showing some wear. Carpets and door panels are in good condition. Engine runs great and has plenty of power. Transmission shifts smoothly. Car handles very well at high speeds. It is a bit cold blooded when first started, but runs nice once it is warmed up. Power windows and radio work like they should. This is a great chance to own a classic Mercedes Roadster at a great price.
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And here's a 1982 240D four-speed for $3650 (because I know how to double-clutch). It has barely enough power to pull the cap off a bottle of Bud, but I still love it. The description comes from the seller's (Vintage Sales, Cincinatti) web site: http://tinyurl.com/4nbh27
Delivered new in California and spent most of its life out West, 170K, 4-speed stick shift, sunroof, windups, power locks; absolutely straight body with a recent repaint (Carfax is clean), decent interior (the Tex seats have a few minor & repairable cracks and the dash has a few also, an Accuform dash cover will snap right in). Mechanics are good, motor is very peppy (for a 240D!), tranny has some wear in the 2nd gear synchros (rakes on the 3- 2 downshift, but not on the 1-2 upshift), cold AC, 4 Michelins are about 1/2 tread. Good car - and the ultimate in bulletproof transportation! $4650 includes repairing the 2nd gear synchros in the transmission; $3650 if you want to skip that (really doesn't have to be done, discuss with us "why not')....
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hunter in CLT:
Not having any money in the bank, and badly wanting another roadster (I had to sell my '99 two years ago), you can imagine how my heart broke upon seeing this last week:
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/car/643542458.html
$2700 for an absolutely mint 1.6L Miata with low double digits on the clock? Hell yes, even if it *is* red.
And with a $5k total budget, the things one could do...
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James:
I have the same disease, constantly perusing car ads and "helping" friends find cars.
Here is my submission for the contest:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/650706343.html
where else can you find purple on purple leather for under $5K?!?
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OldCarGuy:
I’d be really tempted to look at this:
1979 RX-7, original owner, 99K miles, $2,499.
http://cars.ajccars.com/Autos?property=AJC_V1&tp=AJC_V2&classification=autos,transportation&temp_type=detail&tl=2&ad_id=167949314
For towing all those project cars home, you could always use one of these:
1981 Chevy Suburban, 454, A/C, towing package, $2,250.
http://cars.ajccars.com/Autos?property=AJC_V1&tp=AJC_V2&classification=autos,transportation&temp_type=detail&tl=2&ad_id=168022280
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Mochi Mochi:
67? Mercedes 250s - this is looking pretty sweet to me - but I think this is a 70's car.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/car/648380998.html
I'd drive it.
No - it is Mercedes from the 60s - the styling switch over happened in 67 - apparently. Here are a couple of nice ones... a 68 and a sweet little 69 for $2K
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/car/642872729.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/car/644864586.html
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Spanno:
You have one hour to buy this 1972 American LaFrance fire engine.
Sorry, pump doesn't work.
You have one hour to buy this 1972 American LaFrance fire engine.
Sorry, pump doesn't work.
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Brian:
Nothing too exciting in the local paper, but on Anchorage craigslist there's this thing:
1987 Porsche 924S - $4200 (Anchorage)
http://anchorage.craigslist.org/car/641177342.html
1987 Porsche 924S, basically it's a 944 in 924 clothing. I'm not terribly excited by it, but I was completely Porsche-less I'd consider it. There are a couple of 944s but they're each a hair over $5k.
This is the real cool one tho:
1974 Datsun 260Z - $750 (South Anchorage)
http://anchorage.craigslist.org/car/652632809.html
"Complete . Running when parked 12 years ago . Good title "
Good title! Well it's nice to know there's SOMETHING on it that still could be considered "good." I'd totally buy this one if I didn't have 2 other freekin' sports cars already. It's a disease!!
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Amy:
I'd have to investigate a '68 VW Karmann Ghia with 73K miles for $4,500. Most likely a money pit, but I'm used to that; my daily driver of 12 years is a '72 BMW '02.
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--Chris H.
Chris Hafner on April 25, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Nice job everybody--lots of interesting stuff. Some comments on your finds:
Cookie, nice snag with the Jaguar XJ-S--I think that's my favorite of this batch. Beautiful car, great engine. It sounds as if it's been pampered, and *might* not be a hand grenade. At least you have $50 left over in case of mechanical failure - you can spend $2 on a screwdriver you can use to unscrew the license plates and $48 for cab fare home.
I've got to agree with Rob on the Vigor, though--I've never been a fan. Speaking of Rob, nice find on the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4s. I've always thought those were underrated. I might have to Car Lust it at some point.
David, that's a gorgeous SL--I'm shocked an SL in that condition was available for $5K. Likewise, James' purple-over-purple BMW 5-series. That's a $5,000 car?
OldCarGuy, it's a shame that RX-7 listing doesn't have a picture. An original-owner RX-7 with (barely) fewer than 100K miles on the clock is pretty rare. I'd be very tempted.
Great comment, Brian--I always love the "it was running when I parked it 20 years ago" comment. As if that's supposed to be a great sales point. I'm surprised you're not more excited about the 924S; I've always liked them precisely because they have a 944 engine but with the 924 wrapper. I guess the two cars don't look different enough for the 924S to qualify as a sleeper, but it still seems like a cool concept. Now a 924 with a 944 Turbo engine ...
Cookie the Dog's Owner on April 25, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Chris: Your "spend $2 on a screwdriver" comment on the Jag was very meaningful for me, for reasons you could not have possibly known.
One summer's day in the mid-70s--I'm pretty sure I was still in high school then--a rather show-offish guy with a new V-12 Jaguar was visiting his girlfriend down the street. He loaded her in the Jag and set off on whatever excursion they were setting off on, only to have his expensive new ride die on him right in front of our house.
Hearing the futile cranking of the Jaguar's starter, my mother went down to the street to see if she could help. She told the driver to pop the hood, looked inside, and sent me back up to the house for a slot-head screwdriver.
I am confident to the point of certainty that Mom had never before seen a Jaguar engine. (We were Ford and GM sort of people.) Still, she had once fixed a jeep when Dad was in the Army, and had no fear of mechanical devices. When I brought her the screwdriver, she reached in, did something mysterious to the carburetor, then yelled "Try it now!"
The Jag started right up. Mom closed the hood and the car sped off.
The driver sent her a thank you card . . . and another, on the anniversary of the event . . . and another the year after that . . . and every anniversary thereafter. The last card came just after she died in 2005; my sister read it as part of the eulogy at her funeral Mass.
Big Chris on April 25, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Gotta go with the '75 Impala over the '76. I drove a '75 from 1991-1995, and the heads and engine block still sit in my dad's garage. The body? It became a demolition derby car.
Big Chris
mochi mochi on April 25, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Great and moving story Cookie. You mom sounds like a really cool person.
Marty on April 25, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Love this bit on the classifieds. Vigor in Canada had Accord chassis but engine was a 5 cyl in-line.
hunter in CLT on April 27, 2008 at 12:33 AM
There was actually an orange Cosworth Vega hanging out on craigslist a couple of weeks ago for like $2400, but it disappeared.
Brian on April 27, 2008 at 12:36 AM
That one's pretty good, a domestic hatchback with a V8! Cool, I wonder how that 305 goes. I've had an Oldsmobile with that engine, I'd bet it'd be pretty good in such a light car. Kinda scary. If he'd come down to 2500 that would be a sweet deal. Good to see it's rebuilt, as Chevys often require.