79 Ford Holmes Wrecker - $3500 (oakland hills / mills)

This would be a really inconvenient vehicle, but it almost might be worth it just so you could go around saying "I'm parked right around the corner . . . yeah, the `79 Ford Holmes Wrecker."

Hmmmmm . . . . it occurs to me that I can get the better part of this bargain by changing my nom de blog. This way I can keep saying "Ford Holmes Wrecker" on a regular basis without having to actually find a spot to park one on the street.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/972443043.html

-- FHW (né xenotropic)

1972 240z - $2195 (san jose south)

The poster refers to this car as "great for someone looking to restore 240z," but it looks great from the outside and he is only the second owner of the car. So perhaps worth calling to see what the issues are, if any.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/972504407.html

Also, a good reference point for an almost-immaculate one, at $5500:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/973826325.html

1976 Toyota Corolla SR5 Coupe - $1500 (hayward / castro valley)

This looks like a cheap, unmolested piece of history, in a shade of mustard yellow that brings out the best of 1976. Mr. Yodeler (via familial automotive lore) always says that you should get at least two out of three, among (1) interior; (2) exterior; and (3) mechanical functioning. Based on the pictures, this one clearly has the first two, which is often indicative of the third: it seems likely the engine would have been taken care of as well as the rest of the car.

I was just reading one of Edward Tufte's books on information presentation, and he happened to have a 1977 Consumer Reports diagram for a set of cars from that year (as a good example how to present a lot of data concisely). The Mercedes 300D was on there, with a very respectable showing, but Corolla was an amazing standout, it looked as if no one had complained about anything breaking on their '77 Corolla. And they are pretty hot.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/960768816.html

passion, thy name is crx

Somewhere in Copperopolis,* circa 2002:

Self: what am i to do today?

Me: you could scratch your sack for a few hours.

Self: but I have these Lambo doors....

Me: ellen is on.

Self: and a crx out back.....

Me: you think i could take Todd Palin?

Self: oh shite; let's house this muther.

http://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/962139663.html

* which, I kid you not, is just west of New Melones Lake. New Melones?! I love the Spanish.

1970 BMW 2002,clean title,5 speed,2 doors,4 cylinder,nice - $1000 (burlingame)

Underpriced? Or did this dude drop a zero off of the price? Cherry red BMW 2002, looks like an immaculate exterior, "RUN PERFECT"?

By the way, whose brilliant idea at BMW was it to name these things "2002"? It's a pain to shop for these on craigslist, because there are a lot more 2002 BMW's than there are BMW 2002s.






http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/961082014.html

0-60 Times And MPGs In 1985

This is a sort of a follow-on post to NDC's 1987 CRX, which is really a pretty amazing car. I lived with this Hungarian guy for a summer during college. He was a very knowledgeable car nut, and he liked to say, "You know, Honda engineers can figure out a better way to do anything. If Honda decided to make a fork, I would go out and buy it, because they would have made it the best damn fork ever."

This CRX Page has MPG's and 0-60 times from a 1985 Road and Track, including the CRX, the MR2, Fiero, VW GTI, BMW 318i, the RX-7, Isuzu Impulse, and the Fiat/Bertone X1/9j, reformatted below:

The CRX has the highest MPG by a long shot (35mpg vs 29mpg for the Impulse in scond place), but had the highest slalom speed and was a very close second only to the MR2 in the quarter mile and in 0-60. The MR2 only gets 27mpg, though, so it is burning about 23% more gasoline so you can get to 60 three-tenths of a second faster. Even the 1986 Porche 944 (non-turbo) hit 60 in 8.9 seconds, slower than the CRX's 8.7 for what must have been a giant difference in retail. 1985 Nissan 200SX Turbo, also slower at 9.5 seconds.

Yeah, pretty speedy little guys, dem CRXes.

1984 nissan 300zx - $4000 (willows)

This might be worth a detour.

http://chico.craigslist.org/cto/929342500.html

In part because the seller of this car said - 'wife thinks we have to many cars, if thats even posible.'"

Yodler sez by email:
"u'd consider paying $4k for that? agree with X but for the louvers over the eyes on this one. shows class."

I respond:
"i was considering it. it's so 80s. there is style there; it's just magnum PI, not Baretta...if Magnum drove a Nissan instead of a Ferrari.

style aside, the 300zx had balls too. the non turbo spit out 150 hp (granted, so did the S30 at 300 pounds less, but I wouldn't kick Miss February out of bed to tap the playmate of the year instead.)"

1987 Honda Civic CRX Si.......40+MPG....Commuter Special - $1000 (richmond / seacliff)

I can't help it. I love these things.

They're just perfect cars. [Murilee offers a great reason why the second gen is awesome. This is a first gen, and dearer to me for reasons explained below.] Of course, this one has 270k miles on it. But X, Y and I drove the living bejeebus out of the 1986 version of one of these. That engine had 140k and it rocked for 15 hours before we killed it (and that was because no one was paying attention to temperature; an oversight that results from one having the f-ing time of one's life.)

270 just doesn't seem that high. Could maybe talk this guy down to $8 or $900. That would still be a deal to me and I might be wrong, I might be right. Fact is, I wouldn't care. I just want to drive the thing. This is why I hang with the authors. They talked me down from buying a busted '86 from the pushiest stoner in oakland.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/957872915.html

1990 240sx 5 speed 170,xxx miles SMOGGED & REG till 09 Clean $2400!!! (berkeley)

The 240sx has become a sweetheart of the drifting community because of its durability, low cost, and real wheel drive powertrain. This is a nicely maintained example, located in Berkeley, at a reasonable price of $2400. Note that the asking price would be several hundred dollars lower if drifters hadn't inflated the value of these. That being said, if drifters are also around at the time of sale, a buyer can get his fun out of this at low cost. I recommend it to Nom de Car.




http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/954468370.html

1975 COSWORTH VEGA - $999 (san jose north)

English engine in an American car -- probably not going to be the most reliable beast. But pretty hot, pretty exotic, 15k original miles, and only $999. I am assuming it does not run since it has been "sitting since 1980(28 years)."

Wikipedia sez: "Only 3,508 were sold over two years . . . it is today the Vega most sought by collectors."

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/950110278.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Vega#Cosworth_Vega

Lombardini-powered diesel bug $2500

I am not totally sure what the motivation could have been to create a 23hp Lombardini diesel bug. I am also not sure why I feel so much respect for this guy. I suppose it is just that he so clearly did this for love rather than money. How much time must it have taken to install this engine, only to sell the whole car for $2500?
















The exterior is very nice; maybe it has been repainted? I like the sedate moss green color, which seems very 1977.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/952607691.html

Diesel 300t Wagon Mercedes - $800 (West Marin)

Short on info other than "Clean 79 Runs and Good shape" but has a phone number to ask questions and the price is right. You know you want one.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/955162140.html

Rare 1983 isuzu diesel pup lower truck - $2100 (hollister)

Clearly, this guy has time on his hands, and knows what he likes. The pup (fka the Chevy Luv b/t '72 and '81) looks to be a sweet little truck. This one looks well cared for, plus rims and the Stack...I am tempted. Add to this it's diesel-ness and Hollister suddenly seems quote close.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/951655786.html

1975 Datson 280 Z - $2200 (scotts valley)

I concur with 'trope .  This should be one of the baddest cars on the planet.  Look at this thing

There's a word for this where I come from.  That word has a moustache.

The yodler thinks this car is slow....it seems to me that 170 horses, even with 2800 pounds of car, is fast enough.  Plus, y'know, chicks.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/954671862.html

1970 220d Mercedes - $4000 (oakland hills / mills)

Although it probably has a 0-60 measured in minutes, this is the epitome of enviro-pimp cool. Stick shift, four on the floor, and the usual Octopussy/ Goldfinger James Bond feel of the '70s Benz. I love the metal ring horn on the steering wheel. $4k is a little more than I am used to paying for a diesel Benz, but this one looks well cared for and possibly worth it.



http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/943259013.html

1981 Mercedes Benz 300D - $1000 (santa cruz)

This is worth four times this much if it is what it says it is (300D turbo in good shape, only problem is a dented fender).

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/951313804.html

2002 MUSTANG GT - $7800 (concord / pleasant hill / martinez)

There is sometimes a slight disagreement on this page about the merits of American muscle cars. This blogger happens to think they are quite divine. I went out to visit this late model Mustang tonight and came home with, well, with this late model mustang. The exterior is spotless, paint shiny, car clearly garaged for its entire life. The 64k miles and clean carfax show the car has not been abused. The interior is the less desireable light grey leather (rather than black). The plasticky interior screams, "rental car." But the 5-speed shifts smoothly, the clutch engages just right, and the 4.6L SOHC 260hp American V-8 purrs through its American made Flowmaster mufflers at just the right volume. She will make a fine addition to the stable.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/950740288.html

1977 Honda Accord Hatchback - $1100 (cupertino)

I really dig late 70's Hondas. Actually I like most vehicles from Japan around that period. It is like the Honda engineers did a tour of Europe, found the hottest cars and motorcycles imaginable (which were usually English or Italian), and then instilled Japanese values (compactness, efficiency, and practicality) in those designs. The `77 Accord (left) is very Maserati-esque. Like the CB750 was for Triumph motorcycles. Only with more wheels.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/943259013.html

1977 280Z $1300 (brentwood / oakley)

In Brentwood, $1300. I love the paint job, it looks like a Matchbox car from when I was two. Which was when this car was made. Not much information other than it runs, but for $1300 . . .

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/952787483.html