.. can you say "Cash for Clunkers".. that's where a lot of 'em went. Dang gov't messing things up for those that TRULY know how to recycle.
Check "Car Trader" magazine. Always some cheap "drivers" in those. I had two Datsun pickups, a '70 and a '72, most uncomfortable vehicles I ever owned. Very reliable though, and the '72 even had slots!
The cutoff for Cash For Clunkers was 1985. High s**** prices are what did away with a lot of good cars. I forget what we s****ped now when it was up but we dumped it in their yard and in the middle of the stacks of cars was a '73-'74 Mustang that not only looked drivable, it looked like you could have detailed it and taken it to a car show - the paint was shiny, the body was solid, the gl*** was good. They don't even sell parts there - once it's in, it gets crushed and off to China. One of the yards I go to here wanted $3800 for a pair of late Corvairs. One was drivable, one was solid but had been sitting since the 80s. He gave up trying to sell them and put them out in the yard - sold the engine from the good one, I picked a couple pieces off the other one, and that's been it. You should be able to find one of those cheap when someone realizes it's only worth it's weight in s**** metal. I wouldn't even pay that for one, because I'd want to be able to make money towing it straight to the s****yard myself, sans steering box. A 61-66 Ford pickup is another one that's only worth it's weight in s****, it may not get the milage you want, but you can get a decent one for under a grand. I have that crew-cab and I had guys supposedly into those telling me it wasn't even worth what I know it will bring over the scales at the s****per. The same yard here just got two of those that were halfway decent body-wise.
look for 80's toyotas. tercels (4wd ones will go near anywhere a jeep will) and can be had for near nothing. 80's celica's too, which have a 22r (or 22re) which were in toyota trucks for ages so parts are plentiful. nissans have more vac mess but the carbed Z models are good cars. Early 90's hondas are great if a kid hasn't owned it (or hasn't seen fast and furious). If it has any sign of "electrical mods" walk away, I have to fix those all the time and it aint cheap
I'm still on the hunt. I appreciate the input guys. I work on late models on a daily basis, but have had nothing newer than 72 as a driver in a lot of years. I really despise all the "creature comforts" they put in newer stuff, it's all gadgets to annoy me. I just sold this fall a clean 63 Corvair since i didn't have room to keep it indoors over the winter. I regularly got 25 -27 mpg in it as it was my daily from 2006 to early this year. I also had a 63 Chevy11 wagon with a 194 and 4 speed ( I did the conversion) that I got 25-30 out of 10 years ago. Yes, I drive with a light foot, but in my experience, I have gotten the mileage I am looking to achieve before out of vintage economy cars. I've thought of travelling out of the area to look at cars, but by the time I add in travel expenses, a good deal isn't so good anymore. I've put out the word with buddies and co-workers as well. It's only because I am actually looking that there's nothing out there. I realize that, so I know if I am patient, something will come along. Devin
bought a 92 dodge ***mins,turbo/intercooled, extended cab last yr. for $1700. , truck will pull 24ml. to the gl., go to the rez., and run off highway fuel at $2.77 gl., These trucks are Cheap, and run for ever!!! I have put 30+K on it since trouble free!, they are Fugly looking, but not much in a truck for the price comes close...Good Luck
There are deals out there of all sorts....but they are hard as hell to find if you're talking about *any* car that has perceived collector value.....emphasis on "perceived". Here are the main reasons I see for this problem: -Time is p***ing day by day, that old tin is being bought up by a much larger population than it was 20 or even 10 years ago. -That same p***age of time has resulted in the cars that were in remotely restorable shape 10 or 20 years ago being turned into dust -Barrett F'ing Jackson/Dana F'ing Me*** -People either watching Barret F'ing Jackson/Dana F'ing Me*** or just hearing that "old cars are hip again" and thinking they can sell a car based on just the fact that it's old, or based on its "potential" value if it was fixed up. It's like selling a piece of coal for 10k and telling the sap "hey, put this piece of coal between your *** cheeks, and if you squeeze it hard enough for long enough, you'll get a DIAMOND!" -People not realizing that in a recession, you price things to sell....not to replace your battered stock portfolio, lost home equity, bad financial decisions, et al. -They don't really want to sell it, but the wife is making them There are probably others...but that about sums up what I've seen.
S****pers, dude. S****pers. If you're willing to turn a quick wrench and can beat the s****pers to the punch you can still snag a deal. There are dozens of s****pers who advertise EVERY day that they will pay you a minimum of $150 to $250 no questions asked for your car or truck in any condition. Why bother advertising and dealing with all the tire kickers when one call does it all?
I bought this last year for $400.00 in a small town in New Mexico about 130 miles from me. 289 2V, A/T, P/S, AlC. It has 81,000 original miles on it, no rust, original paint and interior. I now have about $1500.00 in it including the tires and wheels. I have been driving it all week, and it purrs:
Just put ford in sacramento, got 3 pages of stuff using a 300 to 2000 dollar range Incluidng this for 850.00
Does that really work with the coal? How long will I have to wait? Will the diamonds end up with an offensive odor?... Just askin...
i see and hear alot of ads for car dealers saying how they have a "BARGIN" row of cars"some starting as low as $8000.00"! some bargin huh!
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