Jalopnik: Found on Craigslist

Daddy's Little Cruise Missile Makes Mother Nature Cry: Another Evil Cordoba

Murilee Martin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EDT

After seeing the '78 Chrysler Cordoba in Alameda, reader John Mopar (probably not his real name) hipped us to this '77 Cordoba in Oakland, which is equipped with a Weiand high-rise intake and dual Holley 650s perched on a 400 engine. Hate those damn environmentalists, their strident demands that we stop destroying the world, and, in fact, everything they stand for? Do you get brain bubbles of rage every time you see a Prius or pass a Whole Foods? Sure you do! Well, then, this car is for you! There's a certain amount of suspension of disbelief required here (we're pretty sure you'd never get a thumbs-up from a CHP officer for doing 120 in a Cordoba, and we're absolutely positive that this engine doesn't have anywhere near the 800 horsepower it would need to push a Cordoba to 180), but overall it's a pretty entertaining tirade. Is it meaner than the Death Proof Cordoba, though?

[Craigslist SF]

I'll Buy That For A Dollar! Craigslist Price Liars: Saints Or Slimeballs?

Murilee Martin — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EDT

We had quite the spirited discussion over Craigslist keyword spammers yesterday, and several commenters mentioned the all-too-common car-seller practice of listing a super-deal price in the title and a far higher one buried in the fine print. This is particularly troublesome for, say, someone searching for Project Car Hell entrants or- even more maddening- for potential 24 Hours Of LeMons cars. You'll see plenty of $1 vehicles on Craigslist, but it's pretty easy to avoid them by specifying a $50 or $100 minimum in your search. The real hassle comes when your search results get clogged up with sellers who price their $4,000 cars at $400, or list their cars at the monthly cost of taking over the lease payments. But hey, maybe Craigslist Price Liars are doing us a service, by freeing us from the stifling constraints of self-imposed cheapskate budgets. What do you think?

And remember, folks, including the URLs of particularly annoying Craigslist Price Liar listings in your comments is a surefire way to have them flagged into oblivion by like-minded Craigslist vigilantes… and those of you who want to go the extra mile can simply do a search in your local CL Cars For Sale category for all $1 ads and flag 'em all!

How About A Volkswagen Fastback With Alexander Calder 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL Paint?

Murilee Martin — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Have you always admired the Alexander Calder 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL's style? Well, we've found the car for you! It's German, just like the CSL, but much more affordable. That's right, a 1970 VW Type III with a Calder-inspired custom paint job… and it actually looks great! Thanks to LTDScott for the tip! [Craigslist San Diego (go here if ad disappears)]

Craigslist Keyword Spammers: Really Helping You?

Murilee Martin — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EDT

Anyone who searches Craigslist for cars or (even worse) for car parts knows about keyword spam. The seller is trying to unload a beater 1985 Corolla, and he throws in the name of every car manufacturer he can think of, plus every year between 1960 and 2008, plus magic words like "turbo" and "gas saver" in the description. This means that you'll find that '85 Corolla ad when you search for a '64 Alfa Romeo or a 2006 BMW. Oh sure, you could specify a "Title Only" search, but many unclear-on-concept Craigslist sellers put something like "$$$$$CAR 4 SALE!!!!!!!!" in the title and include the make/model/year only in the description, and you'll miss their ads. Sometimes the keywords are put right out in the open, and sometimes they're hidden using text the same color as the background. I emailed some of these sellers, asking why they used keyword spam, and most responded with threats of violence… but one seller responded "I include those keywords to make it easier for buyers to find what they're looking for." I hadn't thought of that- what if I don't even know I really want a '91 Achieva instead of the Toyota pickup I thought I wanted? Make the jump and weigh in on this pressing issue!

OK, let us know how you feel. Bonus points for commenting with links to the most egregious CL keyword spammers you can find- we'll form up a posse to flag 'em out of existence!

DOTS '54 Ford Could Be Yours!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Dculberson was checking out the car deals on Craigslist when he came across a 1954 Ford that looked familiar… yes, it's the DOTS 1954 Ford we saw almost a year ago, now equipped with grille and Carson top, not to mention a nice 302/5-speed combo. I've always liked this car, but the $9,000 price is a bit out of my personal Hell Project budget range, plus I'm still waiting for the owner to put his other car (which is easily one of my all-time DOTS favorites) up for sale. By the way, I've been seeing FOR SALE signs on the DOTS '71 Buick Le Sabre as well; looks like the tough economy has folks in Sell Mode. [Craigslist SF]

Yo, Biodiesel Wannabes! Forget The Benz- Get This Peugeot 205 XRD!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Sure, you want to slap one of those "BIODIESEL - NO WAR NEEDED" stickers on your ride, but you don't want a W123 Mercedes-Benz like everyone else. What to do? Here's one idea: take $9,950, head to Texas, and hand your money to the seller of this 1986 205 XRD. You won't feel like a French James Bond in a 205 GTI, but you'll get 1978 Porsche Sebring green paint and MI16 wheels, on possibly the only 205 XRD on the continent. Thanks to KC Surge for the tip! [Craigslist Austin]

Evil Clint Couldn't Bear To LeMon-ize His Yugo, Fixed It Up Instead

Murilee Martin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Last spring, we saw the '87 Yugo GV of Clint, the Evil Genius Racing welder who built the Black Metal V8olvo's roll cage. Back then, Clint had an idea he'd make the Yugo into a 24 Hours of LeMons car... but it was just too nice. Instead, he applied a few months of work and a bunch of parts, and now it's one of the nicest Yugoslavian cars in Northern California. We're disappointed that it won't be racing, but here's your chance to be the star of the Marshal Tito Cruise Night in your hometown! [Craigslist Sacramento]

Where's The Best Place To Sell A Car?

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:40:00 EDT

Our fearless leader's brother is trying to help out his mom by selling her old 2002 Liberty on Craigslist right now...is he making the right choice? Thanks to technology, there are a myriad of ways to offload a set of wheels. You can try for the highest bidder by putting your ride on eBay. You can go the easy route by posting it on Craigslist, Facebook market and other online listings. Before there was the Internet people would sell their cars in a newspaper, which we're told still exists. There's also the popular trade-in or dealer option, though the common perception is this isn't the most lucrative way to do it. Then there's the oldest of old fashion ways: putting it on the side of the road. But which way's the best?

Will you get a fair market value for your car no matter where you sell it? Do certain cars do better in different environments? You'd have to think the best market for a seller will be one with the greatest access to potential buyers plus a low number of potential alternate choices. A rare Vette might do well at the Big BJ, but would your mom's six-year-old Liberty do as well? Would leaving it out at the Woodward Dream Cruise work better? What's the best deal you've gotten when selling a car and where did you sell it? Where is the best place to sell a car?

So Many Hell Projects, Your Head Will Explode: Bring A Trailer!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:20:00 EDT

We didn't think it was necessary to post on BringATrailer.com, since so many of our regular readers seem to be obsessive visitors to that site, but it has come to our attention that some of you may not know about the ultimate online resource for locating Hell Projects (and not-so-hellish ones as well). For you BAT noobs, kiss the rest of your day goodbye; on the front page alone, you'll find a '53 Fiat 1100 prototype (see photo, above), a 5-for-1 Ford Woodie deal, and- most ominously tempting of all- a 14-for-1 E30 BMW M3 package! [BringATrailer.com]

It's French, It's Diesel, And It Has 500K Miles: The Zohan Peugeot Could Be Yours, Cheap!

Murilee Martin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Normally, a Malaise Era car with 500,000 miles would be an ideal appetizer for The Crusher, but this one is a movie star! Yes, this 1979 Peugeot 504D was driven by Adam Sandler in You Don't Mess With The Zohan, a cinematic masterpiece that will one day be regarded as the Citizen Kane of our era... and it could be yours for only $2,500. The seller says "No air, no heat, no rust, a few dings and small leaks," so we figured it was just too nice for Project Car Hell and deserved its own post. [Craigslist Orange County]

Turbocharged Honda Civic-amino, Or Is That Civicline?

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:00:00 EDT

What do you call a Honda Civic made into a rip snorting mini-truck-car? Of course it's easy to differ to the classic 'camino' suffix, but that feels like phoning it in. As far as we know there aren't any historic ties to either Ford or General Motors, so both -chero and -amino both seem forced. Honda has had a Camino in its history, though that was a motor scooter, so the tie there is tenuous at best. The argument of the Honda Ridgeline being a truck/car could be made, but that fits about as well as a ten dollar suit jacket.

So what do you call a flat black 1991 Honda Civic with a truck bed, upgraded interior, and a turbo helping the motor deliver 220 HP? Civicamino? Civichero? Civicline? Civic Ute? Gentlemen, make your arguments. (Thanks Morgan) [Craigslist]

1980 VW Rabbit Limo For Sale, No, We Aren't Kidding

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:20:00 EDT

If ever there was a project hellish enough to merit actual purchase consideration based solely on the novelty of the car in question, this Volkswagen Rabbit Limo is right up there. Just reading the description you can almost feel the flames of hell licking at this guy as he tries to convince someone to purchase a stretched Rabbit with rusty floors and a rotten interior that hasn't run since 2002. This one is definitely for the pure of heart, but hey, only $750! Description and more pics below.

Time to sell this huge project! Not for the faint of heart! Very rusty. Here's the details....Professionally stretched when new..I have a promo pic of it from the company that built it. Low miles about 50K...1.6 Gas powered automatic. Dealer installed air. This car ran and drove when I got it in 2002. The metal was rotted under the vinyl top. The floors were falling through. The rocker were rusty. I had a roof panel welded in with a sunroof. I had floors made by a metal shop, then installed. Some rocker work done. The fuel tank was removed when welding. The tank is still out, so it does not run. It did run and drive great prior however. We put in brackets to install A4 GTI rear black leather seat which is included. I have extra rust free doors. This car could be a lot of fun after a lot of work. I just don't have the time for it. The last pic is from 02 when it was last driven (fun).

[Craigslist]
Thanks for the tip mtdrv

Mmmm, Yeeah: Bill Lumbergh's Porsche Up For Sale!

Murilee Martin — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:00:00 EDT

When it comes to iconic Nightmare American Workplace Boss figures, it's hard to beat Office Space's Bill Lumbergh. Remember how satisfied you felt when you saw the scene in which Bill's 911SC got towed away? Well, the "stunt car" used for that scene is now available for a mere $1,750. You don't get an engine and transmission, but you do get a lifetime supply of TPS Reports! Thanks to Teargas for the tip! Make the jump to see The Best Of Bill Lumbergh. [Craigslist Austin, go here if ad disappears)]

Speaking Of AMC Engines, Here's That 1982 AMC Eagle

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:20:00 EDT

Despite our apprehension at the idea of that rust free 1982 AMC Eagle from Craigslist yesterday, it appears to be real. We're still not sayin' it's cancer free because we aren't seeing rocker panel closeups but still, this thing looks like it was put in a garage in 1992 and forgotten about... wait, that's exactly what happened. From these images we got today, you can almost smell that AMC vinyl and the hose-ripened grease underhood. It's even got that AMC straight six we talked about today. Maybe four grand is asking a bit much as it isn't in perfect condition, but that's still a sweet machine.

Plymouth Volare Rolls On 24s, End Times Upon Us?

Murilee Martin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:00:00 EDT

Those tiny 14" wheels that Chrysler put on the Volare? Pizza cutters! Shopping-cart wheels! Try adding another ten inches of diameter to a Volare's wheels and you'll finally fill up those unsightly wheelwells, as we can can see in this '76. You need to keep the air shocks fully inflated in order to keep rear wheel scrapage to almost-tolerable levels, and there appears to be about 3/4" of space between the fronts and the wheelwells... but just look at it! Thanks to LTDScott, Porcubimmer Pilot for the tip! [Craigslist Stockton, go here if ad disappears]

1982 AMC Eagle, Claimed Rust Free

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:40:00 EDT

Like the Minotaur or the Griffin, the idea of a rust free AMC Eagle is one of legend, impossibility, sillyness even. Though these tanks posing as cars were the forerunners to todays crossover, and sported big AMC I6's, all-wheel-drive, and seriously crazy ride characteristics, they were not known for their corrosion resistance. So how is this pristine, Cincinnati-area 1982 Eagle two door dressed in a fine shade of 80's brown in such good condition? Well it's been stored in a barn for the last 16 years, that's how.

1982 "amc' Eagle 2door 4x4 - $4000 (Lebanon) Heres a blast from the past a 1982 "amc" eagle 4x4 it had been siting in a barn for 16 years and i got it out and put a tune up and a trany service on it and it runs great!!!the car is almost perfect the body has "NO RUST" it has AC and it works the 4wheel drive works great!!! the inside is perfect...im asking $4000 or best offer...my cell is 513-464-8598!!! i have more pics if u would like to see them just email me and i will send them thanks for looking!!!

We are of course suspicious of the "NO RUST" capital letters inside quotation marks thing. Shouting while in quotation is a sure sign of either a real thing, or a flat out lie. Attempts to get more pictures have been fruitless, but four grand for a cherry Eagle seems almost too good to be true. (Hat tip to YankBoffin) [Craigslist]

Found On Craigslist: Do Not Rip This Person Off

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:40:00 EDT

What is it with Volkswagen Jetta owners and Craigslist?. Though we have to give the GLI owner credit, he got a commenter account (The_Honest_Joe) and started commenting in response to our jokes and questions. We're sort of hoping this person shows up as well. (h/t Braff) [Craigslist]

You Can Trust This Craigslist Poster, They're "Honest"

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EDT

All of a sudden it's cool to be straightforward in your Craigslist car posts. Yesterday, we had the VW Cabrio owner who admitted to smells due to fornicating in a very uncomfortable place. Today it's a 2004.5 VW Jetta GLI owner who is very "honest," so "honest" in fact that he actually put "honest" in quotation marks. That means either it's an actual quote ("Honest" - Peter Travers) or a case of the old punctuation "wink-wink." How do you know this person is "honest" and not going to rip you off? They work for a non profit children's foundation. There are about 16 other ways this is funny but we'll let you enjoy yourself below.

Can you identify all the things hilarious about this ad? (h/t Braff)[OC Craigslist]

World's Meanest Cordoba Makes Corinthian Leather From Your Flesh!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT

It's got a 360. It's got glasspacks. It's got dogdish hubcaps. It's got a huge skull painted on the hood. In other words, it's fully optioned! This is the car designed for Ricardo Montalban's evil twin brother, Raul, who was serving 10-to-20 for manslaughter in a Madrid jail cell while Ricardo pitched the nice Cordobas. Those of you still shopping for a car for the Toledo 24 Hours of LeMons race, take note: this '78 Cordoba is for sale for an asking price of 500 bucks and it's just a few hours' drive from the track! Thanks to 1300CCsofFury for the tip. [Craigslist Chicago, go here if the ad disappears]

Don't Have Time To Build Your Own Jaguar Vanden Plaschero?

Murilee Martin — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 07:30:00 EDT

Let's say you saw the PCH Jaguar XJ-Schero the other day and said to yourself: "Damn, I sure would like to have a Jaguar with a truck bed to haul parts, but my ZIS 112 project takes all my time!" We understand your dilemma, and that's why we've found this 1986 Jaguar Vanden Plas with a very nice pickup bed conversion for you. The seller wants a cool 13 Gs for it, but not to worry- he or she will take your unwanted pontoon boat in trade! Thanks to splacid for the tip.

[Craigslist Nashville, go here if ad disappears]

Holiday Approaching, Bagged 1991 Caprice Wagon Must Go!

Murilee Martin — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EDT

You know what the problem is with ordinary Caprice wagons? Yep, the ride height! Those of you looking for a very, very low early-90s Caprice wagon need search no more, now that we've found this "Carpice" for you! The intriguing thing about this car (other than the engineering design behind that 3-link rear suspension) is the fact that the owner "must sell soon for the holiday." What holiday? Is he or she tuned into some set of holidays the rest of us don't get to experience? Thanks to Zweirad for the tip! [Craigslist Raleigh (go here if the ad disappears)]

Ideal Jalopnik Official Staff Car Located

Murilee Martin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT

The Gawker Overlords have so far refused to buy us an Official Jalopnik Vehicle, no matter how much we've tried to convince them that something like a Citröen SM or Tatra 603 would give us such unassailable credibility that our competitors would simply fold their tents and go home. Now we've found what may be the perfect car for the NorCal Jalopnik office (which, conveniently enough, has just one employee):

this 1954 Lincoln Capri built to full Panamericana specs, a throwback to the era when you could utter the words "Lincoln" and "race car" in the same sentence and not confuse your listeners. A steal at $27,500! You listening, Overlords? [Craigslist Orange County; go here if ad disappears]

Why Should GM Boxes Have All The Donkin' Fun?

Murilee Martin — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EDT

The problem with putting huge-diameter wheels on most cars is the pesky fenderwells getting in the way, but this Floridian has avoided that problem by putting 20s on a VW-based dune buggy. A bit of fiberglass cutting and they fit just fine! Nitpickers might point out that the dunes are now off-limits with this setup, and that the pavement handling qualities might be a bit scary with that swingaxle rear and 20/80 front/rear weight distribution... but you'll be having so much fun with the insane power-to-weight ratio offered by the 2200cc engine that you won't fear death! Thanks to Mehugtree for the tip! [Craigslist Ft. Lauderdale]

Free Car, Perhaps With Bonus Mobster Corpses Inside!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT

The "Free Stuff" section of Craigslist will often yield a car or two, a great resource for those seeking a parts donor or a cheap race car. Sometimes, though, you need to do a little work to get your free car. Like, say, in the case of this free car in Colorado Springs, which presents certain challenges... not the least of which is the fact that it's buried under a dirt road. Thanks to Highmile for the tip, and for getting the guy who posted the CL ad to send in a photo of the car in its current location. [Craigslist Colorado Springs, go here if ad disappears]

Does Your Protege Have Insufficient Cargo Space?

Murilee Martin — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:45:00 EDT

Right about now, it would be easy to make some jokes about moving your sourmash still from one pine forest to another... but there's no need. Simply looking at those Georgia pines, with this fine custom motor vehicle in the foreground... well, these photos tell a long story. We're not dealing with a Protege that's had the trunk converted to a pickup bed here- it's an actual truck bed welded to the ass end of the Mazda, and "ITS ON THERE GOOD!" It's not street legal in Georgia (apparently other states will accept it, though they aren't mentioned by name), but it is "INSANELY RELIABLE." Thanks to Beater Review for the tip! [Craigslist Atlanta; go here if ad disappears]

Fierenzo Makes Way To CraigsList, Get It Now For $7500

Ray Wert — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:40:00 EDT

Yes friends, while not quite as hot as the Fieroborghini, we've found the Coyote 3-kitted Fiero up on Tampa's Craigslist that gives our Enzo-saving hearts a warm and fuzzy feeling. Although the seller's doing a fine job, we've put together how our own ad would have read. Here goes:

"Have you always wanted a Ferrari Enzo, but just didn't want to put up the top dollar or found yourself not on the list to buy one? Well friends, who needs the Italian stallion when you can buy yourself a re-bodied 1986 Pontiac Fiero with the same level of reliability as a real Ferrari. Best of all, no one will ever know the difference. At least anyone with absolutely no knowledge of cars. And if they're blind. And if they lack both the sense of touch and hearing. Basically, if you're trying to impress a corpse on the cheap, the Fierenzo is the way to go..."

And lucky for you — you can snag this beautiful work of art for a pittance at only $7500 or best offer. That's right, for less than the price for one Brembo on an actual Enzo Ferrari, you can get a V6-automatic beauty dressed in "Corvette Red" that drives "like a go-cart" But please, "SERIOPUS INQUIRES ONLY."

(Hat tip to Chevy Butman!) [via Craigslist]

Man Generously Selling First Batch Of Corvette ZR-1's, Only $350,000

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:20:00 EDT

We wouldn't blame someone for wanting three 2009 Corvette ZR-1's, as the supercharged V8-powered promises to be the fastest Corvette ever. We guess we can't blame him for selling the other two because, you know, what are you going to do with three of them? But call us old fashioned, because we think charging $350,000 a piece is somewhat uncool. There's no final official price for the car, but a tax slip from the Big BJ Vette Auction let slip that it may only be $99,000. Will the market bear a price 3.5 times the sale price? Probably. The ad below the jump.

Very hard to get ZR1 Corvette 2009 - $350000 yes i have guaranteed myself to get three but only selling two who wants one ?dont wait till this summer there are only 2000 being made price will go up SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY 3476727911

[LA Craigslist]

Shopping For An Affordable 740chero? Better Move Fast!

Murilee Martin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST

We saw a Volvo 240Chero not long ago, and a very sanitary job it was. But say you want a Volvo cartruck and don't want to spend the kind of money that gets you something that looks like it came that way from Göteborg- what then? Why, scrape together $499 and buy this '87 Volvo 740 Turbo that's already had Step One (of about 50 steps) in the -chero-izing process performed! Hmmm... under $500... turbocharging... are you thinking what we're thinking? Thanks to LTDScott for yet another great tip! [Craigslist Sacramento, go here if ad disappears]

Man Seeks Sex Through Craigslist, Finds Carjackers Instead

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST

As we all know, Craigslist can be a source of classic cars, parts and memorabilia. Completely unbeknownst to anyone at Jalopnik, it can also be used to solicit sex. A 23-year-old Brentwood man responded to an ad offering sex at what we assume was an attractive rate. But instead of "hittin that," a pair of men hit him in the head with a shotgun they were carrying. The man escaped with his life, but the criminals escaped with his money and GMC Sierra truck.

Let this be a lesson to those among you in the midst of a dry spell: a sporting woman is fun for a moment, but with the inherent risks wouldn't you be better off with the less temporal satisfaction that comes from a vegetable oil-powered Ford Econoline van? [San Jose Mercury News via News.com]

A Very Jalopnik Craigslist Posting

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:15:00 EST

Nothing says Jalopnik like the following Craigslist car ad, and not just because they follow our Craigslist Posting Guidelines. First, you've got a gold 1981 280zx, with T-Tops. Second, all sorts of work has been done to keep this car going. Third, the owner refers to the car as a "her." Fourth, you've got the very Jalopnik price of $2,700 (not everything can be under $500). But there's one little addition that gives it the extra Jalopnik touch:

Great daily driver-hate to let her go...but time to move on. I am looking for a 1962-1969 Ranchero-v8 with 4 speed manual transmission or auto.

That's right, David is totally ready to move on to a 1960's Ranchero. Awesome. No looking to trade up to a more reliable car built after 1981. (Thanks to Citizen Braff for the tip). [Craigslist]

You Know Those Jerks On Craigslist Who Hype Their Crap? Here's One

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST

With a headline like "How I Got 30 Phone Calls And Sold My Car In One Hour On Craigslist", you know the contents have to be good. Before you read the revolutionary tactic under that title, we have a few suggestions of our own. Having used the list of Craig in buying all manner of flotsam and jetsam, we know a thing or two about what gets things moving, and what pisses people off. First and foremost, an accurate description of the item for sale nets the most benefit. Make it clear and precise and the first information in the headline. Second...

add pictures. The old addage is correct, a picture is worth a thousand words, and perhaps more in the case of buying and selling. A "Worn but trusty 1987 Chevy Monte Carlo" may be a great car with faded paint or it may be home to a family of raccoons. Third, reasonable or low price. My uncle once told me that supply and demand aren't the only powers in the market. If you refine things down properly, it's more like the right item, in the right place, at the right time, in the right condition. Put that information in your headline, add a picture and a good but concise description and you'll sell your junk to the people who want it.

That said, people like this who try to **********DRAW ATTENTION**********TO************THEIR ITEMS******** get the ban hammer from us. We assume they are either a 16 year old drop out trying to unload hot merchandise, a Nigerian scammer, or a dealership we don't want to deal with. Maybe that's just us though, maybe we're wrong and he's right. He is the one who got thirty phone calls and sold his car in an hour.

The Lancia Beta HPE: Italian Style, Russian Steel And American Recession Pricing!

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST

What's not to love about the Lancia Beta? The first post-Fiat-takeover car from Lancia isn't a vehicle you're going to find too many examples of in the US, mostly due to some reliability issues that have sent the vast majority of them to the scrap pile. Rarer still are the HPE (High Performance Estate) three-door hatchback versions. Nothing makes us more nervous when buying a used car than the promise that it comes with "lots of spare parts", but for only $2,700 how can you say no to this awkward blue Italian beauty?

If you're in the Denver area and adventurous, the ad claims it's "ready for driving fun." Are you ready? [Craigslist via Bring A Trailer]

Car Shopping? A Slow P.O.S. Might Be Right For You!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST

Truth in advertising is a wonderful thing, although we like the Datsun B210 too much to believe that "POS" is the right way to refer to one. The seller of this '78 Datsun B210 will let you have the car for $750, or the car with its SLO POS license plate for $1250. Thanks- yet again- to LTDScott for the tip! Note: the ad got taken down a little while back, so the link now goes to our screen capture. [Screenshot From Craigslist San Diego]

Baller Status: 1600 Bucks Worth of Taurus SHO

Murilee Martin — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST

Having sold quite a few cars on Craigslist, I can say with some authority that there are no car buyers as flaky, confused, and generally maddening as Craigslist car shoppers. If you get 10 guys who want to come over to see the car, you might as well schedule them all for the same time and place, because only one will show up... if you're lucky. But maybe worst of all is the general cluelessness. If your ad features flashing bold 48-point text stating This car has a manual transmission. NOT AN AUTOMATIC!, complete with 50 photos of the gearshift, clutch pedal, throwout bearing, etc., the best you can hope for is that only 80% (instead of the usual 95%) of potential buyers will ask "hey is it a autamattick ur car?" Right. So, here's a seller of a $1,600 SHO who's seen a few of those guys as well, and he's making a valiant- yet doomed- effort to filter out the most crazy-making of car shoppers. We say he deserves Best of Craigslist status. Thanks to LTDScott for the tip! [Craigslist Western Maryland]

Neither Sleet, Nor Snow, Nor Gloom of Night Shall Stay This Fairlane From Its Appointed Sale!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST

Most of the time, when we see a listing for a used car for sale and we can't make out anything useful in the photographs, we get pissed off. After all, how hard can it be to de-schmutz-ify the camera lens and knock back enough peach schnapps to banish the shaky-handed DTs for time sufficient to take a somewhat informative photograph of the vehicle you wish to sell? Pretty tough for some folks, apparently. But every so often you run across a car ad with photos utterly bereft of useful information about the car, yet so pleasing to the eye that you don't get irritated. Highmile has found such an ad, in this case for a '65 Fairlane wagon, and was kind enough to share it with us. The seller couldn't wait for the snowstorm to stop, you see, because every second counts when it's time to sell! [Craigslist Colorado Springs]

Convincing 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Kit Car

bwojdyla — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST

So lets say you've got a hankering for a mid-80's mustache style Ferrari but you don't want to deal with maintenance bills that would make Leno cringe. Perhaps we might interest you in ~~an armored Maybach 62~~ this shockingly realistic looking '86 Ferrari Testarossa. Normally this is where we would make fun of the Fiero chassis that is holding all that sneaky body work up, but not in this case. There's an 1984 Chevy Camaro lurking under them thar fenders!

The obvious match of mullet to mustache has us staggering. Not only does this street fighters' combo land the one two punch of terrible chassis and solid axle, it finishes us off with the less than spectacular 305 V8 mated to a legendary 80's GM slushbox. Don't worry though, it's got original Ferrari badging and needs paint work. Keep in mind that "if you don't like attention & people asking you to take pictures, this is not the car for you!!" (h/t goes to Greg Navarro) [Craigslist]

Vegetable Oil Brings Out Inherent Sexiness of the Econoline?

bwojdyla — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:45:00 EST

If you're part of a small but growing business looking to upgrade your fleet with a 1989 Ford E350, but you're also worried about the high price of diesel, we've got the Craisglist find for you. Sellers Daniel and Annika Ryan have rigged their great white beast with a vegetable oil system that REALLY WORKS. Our only question is why is an Econoline rigged to run on veggie oil "the sex".

Given the behind the back jokes everyone makes of van drivers, especially the ones with wood replacing the back windows, we would be inclined to avoid that particular carnal adjective.(h/t goes out to Alex)[Craigslist]

Winner of the Least Informative Ad of the Week Award!

Murilee Martin — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST

So I've been relentlessly scouring Craigslist for potential 24 Hours of LeMons cars, in order to have something ready to run in the May race at Altamont, and I've seen some fairly uninformative listings in the process. Some sellers don't have the time and/or energy to fully spell words such as you're and what, much less indicate, say, the type of transmission in the car. Every so often, though, one ad just shines through as a masterpiece of unhelpfulness. This is such an ad. Here we have a Mercedes-Benz of unknown year and model, with but "one thing wrong." Bonus points for leaving out the dashes in the phone numbers! [craigslist; go here if ad disappears]

Pay $278,000 for New Home, Get Free 2008 Ford Focus

Ray Wert — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:45:00 EST

We knew someone trying to give away an '08 Ford Focus was an all but certain eventuality. But with all the offers out there in the Metro Detroit area for free leases on Land Rovers with a condo purchase, we never thought a seller would ~~sync~~ sink this low. That's right, buy a new all-sports waterfront home for $278,000 and get a free 2008 Ford Focus. Yup, all that lakefront property, Huron Valley schools and now even the ~~Ford with sync~~ kitchen sink. Yes folks, sometimes the easy joke is just that. [via craigslist]

How About a Brand New Opel GT?

Murilee Martin — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST

No, not this brand-new Opel GT- we're talking about the real deal here: a genuine original 1973 Opel GT with 106 miles on the clock, window sticker still in place, the works. 25 grand and it's yours! Of course, you might want to consider the V8 option for it! Thanks to MeHugTree for the tip. [Craigslist Atlanta; go here if listing disappears]