By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

Good old CL is known for it beaters and fantastic low-buck finds, but since it’s become the classifieds-of-choice for enthusiasts, we’ve been seeing some pretty nice stuff turn up there as well. Check out this gorgeous built M3 for $32K OBO. I don’t follow Euros all that much, but it seems to me that a car like this would normally fetch a much higher price. Are these cars really that far in the toilet right now? Thanks to missourifornian for the tip!

By Sam Barer

Sound Classics

Our Craigslist posting of the day comes courtesy of a Seattle-area car owner:

The TRIUMPH TR-6 is a powerful, sophisticated sports car, with very advanced engineering. It is factory equipped with:
-2.5 Liter 6 Cylinder engine
- makes 104 Horsepower
-4 speed fully synchronized transmission
-Independent suspension front AND rear
-Dual Carburetors, Rack & Pinion steering for precise cornering, Front Disc Brakes, Full instrumentation – Tachometer, Speedometer, and all engine gauges. This particular TR-6 has been a well cared for Washington rust free car since new! Major services have been completed in the last 24 months, receipts available. Resprayed 5 years ago, otherwise as original, sporting the British Everflex soft-top with 80,xxx miles. Vehicle has insured value @ $10,000. Motivated to sell because of a business opportunity. $8950.

Okay, this is nowhere near the worst CL posting I’ve seen. Heck, from a pure marketing point of view it’s actually a great ad. From an “accurate automotive history” perspective, however, the first line oversells the TR-6′s qualifications so drastically that I was expecting the next sentence to describe Jessica Simpson as the smartest human being on the face of the planet.

Continue reading "Craigslist Posting Of The Day: Hyperbole Edition" »

By Sam Barer

Sound Classics

In an attempt to make it easier for non-car people to properly offer their vehicles for sale, two years ago I wrote an article called “Sammy’s Unofficial Template For Listing A Car Or Truck For Sale On Craigslist”. Judging by the sheer number of horribly-written ads I still see, obviously the topic needs to be covered yet again.

So today I’m trying something a little different. I’ll call it “Sammy’s Vehicle For Sale On Craigslist (or eBay, For That Matter) _ad Lib”.

Offered for sale is a (YEAR) (MAKE) (MODEL) (OFFICIAL BODY STYLE– that means SEDAN/COUPE/CONVERTIBLE/HARDTOP COUPE/WAGON/TOWN SEDAN, etc…) (OFFICIAL TRIM LEVEL DESIGNATION) with (NUMBER OF MILES). The vehicle is optioned with (OPTIONS AND OPTION PACKAGES).

(TYPE OF ENGINE — and NUMBER OF CYLINDERS/HORSEPOWER/OPTION CODE if multiple engines or multiple states of tune were offered) is (CHOOSE “ORIGINAL” OR “NOT ORIGINAL”) and runs (ADVERB). The (TYPE OF TRANSMISSION) shifts (ADVERB). Vehicle was last serviced (DATE), at which time the (LIST MAJOR SERVICES PERFORMED). Vehicle will need (TYPE OF MAINTENANCE) within the next (TIME PERIOD).

The (COLOR) paint is (ADJECTIVE). There are (ADJECTIVE RELATED TO QUANTITY) areas of (RUST/DAMAGE/DENTS/SCRATCHES) the size of (OBJECT) around the following areas: (LIST AREAS). The (FABRIC TYPE) interior is (COLOR) and is in (ADJECTIVE) condition, as exemplified by the (THING) on the (OBJECT).

Vehicle is offered at (PRICE) and is located at (LOCATION — CITY, STATE). Please feel free to ask questions by emailing (EMAIL ADDRESS) or calling (NAME) at (TELEPHONE NUMBER) between (HOURS).

The following pictures were taken (MONTH/YEAR): (INSERT FOUR PICTURES: FRONT 1/4, REAR 1/4, ENGINE, INTERIOR)

And just one last thing: at the very least, please spell check. If I see another “Camero Convertable” for sale today, I’m going to blow a gasket.

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

I guess this shouldn’t be surprising, but I’ve been noticing a ton of really nice-condition 70′s cars for sale lately, but certainly not for 70′s-car prices. If you go on your local Craigslist and simply enter your desired year in the search under “Cars and Trucks”, you can get a pretty good idea of the range of stuff that’s in your area. My search for “1973″ turned up this mint-condition Mercury Cougar XR7. I want it, but not for 6000 bucks! There was also this beautiful mildly-cammed Centurion, which Rob swears should be a 1200-dollar car because of its four doors, for $2900–I think the engine rebuild and the performance goodies alone make it worth it–and this gorgeous 460 cu-in Ranchero for an unheard-of $8500. Why is everyone trying to offload undesirable 70′s rides at Barret-Jackson premiums all of a sudden? To search a particular year nationally on craigslist, go to Google and enter exactly this in the search window:  site:craigslist.org 1973. What year(s) are you searching and what kind of cool stuff have you found?

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Ok, obviously it’s not the real Batmobile–it’s someone’s rough interpretation of the Batmobile, based on a wrecked 1994 Pontiac Grand Am. Price seems a bit steep at $600, but I’m guessing that he’s willing to entertain offers. Build pics and the text from the Ann Arbor Craigslist ad after the jump. Via Jalopnik

Continue reading "Batmobile on Craigslist" »

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Ryan and I both want Fox bodies. Who doesn’t? The video by Alok Paleri today prompted me to do a Craigslist search which brought up this sick notch and this awesome LX hatch. Both are a bit out of my price range, but damn… Which do you prefer? I think I’d take the notch. More pics and ad copy after the jump!

Continue reading "Some Tempting Fox Bodies on Seattle Craigslist Right Now…" »

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

Up front, it’s running a built 350 that puts the power to the wheels through a 4-speed from a C4 and a posi rear end from a C3 ‘Vette. I’m sure it goes like crazy, though I’m on the fence about some of the exterior styling changes: the fender flares are cool enough, but I feel the Squareback’s smooth nose deserves a more carefully thought-out treatment than the grille slats and slapped-on front license plate. Very cool project, though! See the ad on Craigslist, via BringaTrailer.

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

I have serious reservations about buying vintage cars from dealerships–used-car lots are sleazy enough as it is without having to weigh in all the x-factors of a history-unknown classic–but this little right-hand-drive Silvia was just too much JDM gold to not at least pique my curiosity. Check out the ad on Craigslist.

By Sam Barer

Sound Classics

Never say never, folks. Since it snowed in Houston a couple weeks ago, those things you said would never happen until you-know-what froze-over are starting to happen. In that vein today I drove the Infamous Craigslist 1976 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 for the very first time on a public street.

So let’s do a little summary from previous episodes of the calamity: I acquired the barely-running car about ten months ago for a song and figured it would take a few weeks to get it back on the road. (After all, it had less than something like 200 miles over 20 years in which two engine rebuilds were completed!) As the gaggles of small issues snowballed, my Sound Classics technical team found itself struggling to find the time to dedicate to the car. Every step along the way yielded hassles — like broken components and incorrect fixes by past mechanics…not to mention our (mostly “my”) own failed attempts to address problems.

In November the car was running, but really poorly (which is where it was when I bought it.) On the advice of a trusted friend, I called in area Ferrari expert mechanic Bill Borum to tie up the loose ends.

Continue reading "It’s ALIVE! The First Drive In The Infamous Craigslist 1976 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4" »

By Brian Lohnes

BangShift.com

When we went for our weekly trip down the dark halls of CraigsList and saw the words Road Runner and NASCAR pop up in a listing, we cringed and clicked the mouse button. We were shocked to find a bitchin’ car that we’d proudly drive the wheels off of.

We were convinced that this thing would be a mess. Some hacked up, mullet-worthy creation that had been sitting behind someone’s house for a decade or so. Instead, this is a nicely done car, signed by Richard Petty, that has a nice drivetrain and all the right stuff to turn heads at any cruise night or car show.

Sure, it’s not for the owner who wants to blend in with the crowd, but hey, what hot rodder on Earth wants to meld into the crowd? Not us, that’s for sure! The price tag is steep, but not totally unreasonable as everything on the car is brand new and this baby is a turn key find.

Click here to see the CraigsList ad.