Sometimes, Dopest Cars is a list of just that — the top fifteen dopest cars I’ve found online during my past week of shopping. Other times, though, it’s nice to have a bit — a theme, a unifying concept, a singular core concept running through each and every car.
This week, that bit is stick shifts. Every car, from the newest rally monsters to the oldest Model T, will let you row your own gears as you cruise off from your new purchase. At least, the ones that run will.
This Lancer Evo X is quite possibly the cheapest one I’ve ever seen, and it’s even full of high-quality, name-brand parts. Sure, the seller stealthily slides “just keep in mind it’s not my car” near the end of the ad, without any justifying context, but what’s the worst-case scenario there? That a car selling for half its going rate is stolen? I mean, yeah, probably.
We’ve had Volkswagen Busses here on Dopest Cars before, but this one may be the best price-to-quality ratio. It’s “virtually” rust-free, which (given the rust underneath) I can only assume means that you can’t see any undercarriage rot when you’re hanging out with Uncanny Valley Mark Zuckerberg in the metaverse.
Are VW vans just too big for you? Do you have to deal with the kind of tight street parking spots that Jalopnik’s own Andy Kalmowitz claims are a figment of my imagination, despite this van being parked in one in its listing photos? Allow me to present your solution: The Suzuki Every. This one even already has a name.
This ‘73 Challenger had its 340 engine replaced with a 440 ci V8, because why replace when you can displace? The seller states that the car can be your “side GF,” which gets into the kind of Titane territory in which I fear to tread, but it’s probably even better to use as a vehicle for driving places and then back home from those places. Do that with it instead.
This Testarossa stands out from the crowd for a couple of reasons. First, its yellow — sorry, giallo — exterior is a rare sight. Second, it’s actually a Japanese import with a dash in kilometers — though the steering wheel, oddly, remains firmly on the left. As we all know, JDM just makes things more interesting, and this Testarossa is no exception.
I’ll admit, for a second I thought this Tacoma might be Hi Truck. Instead, it’s a supercharged two-door with spare tires that sit perfectly within a custom rear bumper — and it costs less than a third of what that other red Tacoma totaled out to. More expensive truly doesn’t always mean more better.
Of course, for extended offroad stays, you might want something with more interior room in which to stretch out — maybe even a rooftop tent. Of course, having a time-tested ‘froading chassis would be nice. How about this FJ60 Land Cruiser? It even hides a secret under its hood: A small-block Chevy 350.
Maybe the eighties are just too new for you, or maybe you’d rather that Cruiser have its original engine. Well, never fear, Craigslist has options for you too. Say, this rust-free ‘69 Nissan Patrol, in an extremely period-correct pistachio green. Sure, the interior needs a good vacuuming, but what’s that little bit of work in the face of a true classic car?
This Jeepster is a true survivor, an all-original car that’s been meticulously maintained by the same family for 42 years. There’s no power steering, but that hasn’t stopped the seller from taking the Willys out for mile after mile of cruising — they claim 50,000 miles on a rolled-over odometer.
There’s something about a bright red SL that just works. Sure, they aren’t the objective best cars, but they have a bygone sense of style that you don’t see so much anymore. It’s not understated, but it isn’t trying too hard either.
I’ll be honest: I don’t understand the art direction here on this Honda Z600. But I would gladly deal with that in order to get my hands on a tiny, manual, Honda kei hatchback. Who among us wouldn’t? Let he who is without desire for Old Cool Honda cast the first stone.
If the Z600 is about the right size for you, but you don’t want to sacrifice the practicality of your Novelty Oversized All-American Pickup Truck, Volkswagen has your solution. This Beetle-based roadster pickup truck appears to have been around the net once or twice in its life, but now it’s on Craigslist with a clean title, partially-finished wiring, and a newly reduced price. What could go wrong?
Woody wagons or wood-panelled Wagoneers are cool, but how about a car with even more wood to its construction? This Model T Depot Hack (the name does not refer to the life hack of building your own Model T using Home Depot plywood) has a body comprised largely of the porous, humidity-sensitive substance. What could go wrong?
Two doors? Check. Manual gearbox? Check. Fantastic green paint? Absolutely. Sure, this Firebird may lack the Trans Am’s screaming chicken, but that’s just about the only thing it’s missing. Give up your trim-level allegiance, and appreciate the Firebird you’ve been given.
Remember when STis were cheap? We should have bought them all back then. This one’s been upgraded to put 320 horsepower to all four wheels, but it still looks like a bone-stock Hawkeye. Just replace those wheels with the gold BBSes, and you’ll have a timeless classic.