Posts Tagged ‘under $2000’

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Super-Mega Oddball Points – 1982 Mazda 626 Convertible

January 19, 2010

Well, I’m pretty much the biggest oddball car nerd I know, and yet I’ve never heard of this. And I’m sure if you asked any of my oddball car nerd friends, who are, like me, the biggest oddball car nerds they themselves know, they probably won’t have heard of or seen one of these either. That said, with Preludes, Celicas, and CRXs all being available in small batches of convertibles done by Straman or the like, I’m not too surprised this exists. Mazda 626 coupes of this series are themselves pretty rare at this point, and my only memory of them from when I was little is thinking they looked a bit like a 6-series BMW, and that the mother of one of my school friends drove one. Apparently, it performed quite well for the time, although I can’t imagine its 2-liter 4-cylinder, with a strangled 75hp, could have had too much of that zoom zoom (sorry for mentioning that) feeling.

Anyway, let’s have a look at the featured car. With only 80,000 miles and a 5-speed, it should still have a decent amount of life left in it. Being in a snow-belt state, it’s likely it was kept as a summer car – find it in Columbus, OH, apparently at a dealership, for the low, low price of $1950.

1982 Mazda 626 convertible front

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Bargain Buy – 1978 Saab 99 Turbo

January 8, 2010

See below the link for an update to this post.

So while I normally totally disregard investment value of a car (obviously!), I do sometimes wish I could get something back out of the cars that are harder to work on. Apparently, some things are harder to do on a 99, although a clutch job is one of the easiest automotive repairs ever. As an early example of a turbocharged production car, you get some level of exclusivity, collectibility, and miserable turbo lag until BANG you’re off. Just hope the roads aren’t wet or you’ll be off into a bush if you don’t have a firm grip on the wheel. That said, I remember having a lot of fun in my parents’ ’86 9000 turbo, which had lag up until about 3000rpm.

Anyway, on to the subject of this post. It’s a well-used looking car on which the 6th digit has rolled over on its odometer twice. However, Saabs can usually handle it, and it appears to be a fairly complete car with TURBO badges, original trim, Inca wheels, and 6 mudflaps. It’s missing the cool turbo graphics, but with silk-screening technology (I think that’s what you use to repro stickers) what it is today, these can probably be remade, if someone hasn’t already done it. Find it at the Swedish Auto Factory under Cars for Sale for $2000 in Santa Clara, CA.

1978 Saab 99 turbo

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Doppelopelvergnügen – 1970 Opel Kadett Kombi

January 7, 2010

Well, who knew there would be two interesting Opels on the market at the same time. I won’t go into too much detail about this car, since it’s been covered here before, but to say that this car is the Kadett B with the same 106hp 1.9l four as the just-featured GT. With a similar power-to-weight ratio, rear-wheel-drive and a 4-speed manual, this car might actually be kind of a hoot to drive. Find it here in Tampa, FL for $1200. For even more oddball points, you’ll notice it’s a wagon with hipster-approved fake-wood applique.

1970 Opel Kadett Kombi

The three-door wagon was one of a myriad of body styles, including 2-door and 4-door fastback variants. The seller states this car needs some work, and judging by the modern tach in the Opel and the car with chromed out dubs in the background, you might also count on undoing some of his work. However, it doesn’t look like he got too far, so the car still looks fairly intact. Since the car is from Florida, I would definitely count on rust, but it doesn’t look all that bad. Body damage is also there in the right rear, but this can go on hold while you get the car running and cleaned up. Definitely worth a look if you’re in the Tampa area.

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