Craigslist Crapshoot


Welcome to Craigslist Crapshoot, our weekly search for the most bizarre, awesome, and/or terrible vehicles that the online classifieds has to offer.
Last week we went looking for old examples of yet another of the SUV/Crossover dominion’s victims, the Large 2-door Coupe, and we set an arbitrary limit of $5,000 for the spend. We’ll see if size really does matter in a minute. But first, this week’s quest

This past Sunday was Easter, the religious holiday which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. That got me thinking, and so this week what we want to find is the worst examples of makes and models that have gone away and then been revived. This time, money’s no object. 
 
 As always, we want your finds to go down in infamy and not in the site’s spam filter. Since we’ve changed commenting systems, you may need to update your commenter account. Make sure you have a Disqus account – they’re free and easy to get – and then comment away.

Got that? Good, now let’s get all coupe’d up!
Quite remarkably the votes on last week’s results followed almost in accordance to their recipients’ size. Let’s start off with crank_case giving us one of history’s weirdest coupes ever, and one that was big for Europe, a 2003 Renault Avantime, because it brings the funk. From there we go to the slew of offerings given to us by InLiner, which included a tasty Olds Trofeo (they just aren’t around anymore) and a big Benz 420 SEC, which surprisingly are.
I_Borgward found us a green Connie with questionable hubcaps (ad flagged for removal), while ptschett brought us an example of its later-built brother. Alff went the Jaaag route, while Batshitbox offered us up an F85 Cutlass that, well who wouldn’t want one of those amazing cars?
Harry Callahan‘s contribution was a 1977 Lincoln Continental Coupe (see, they’re getting bigger), which probably requires some sort of extra fee to park owing to its 233-inch length. Our winner, with the most votes is only 2-inches shorter, a 1978 Chrysler New Yorker Coupe, and that was uncovered by GTXcellent, who takes home the kudos.
Congrats to GTXcellent, and thank you all for your coupe contributions. Now, let’s raise some undeserving dead.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 64 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

48 responses to “Craigslist Crapshoot”

    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      The proportions are so off, it could have been made by Russians.

      1. nanoop Avatar

        That’s a rear engine, right?

        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          Even then there’s room for more visual harmony.
          https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gIErzEdP9hY/maxresdefault.jpg

          1. crank_case Avatar
            crank_case

            Which reminds me, the horror of finding the Rapid badge stuck on this sub-Octavia pointlessness.
            http://www.skoda.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/Models/Rapid/Extended%20Model/Rapid-Gallery-slider-7.jpg
            An objectively better car I’m sure, but nowhere near as interesting/fun as the “poor mans Porsche”

    2. neight428 Avatar
      neight428

      Back in the mid-oughts, GM actually said with a straight face that they didn’t need to bring back the Camaro because they had the coupe market all covered with this abomination. That C-pillar was inspired by a beached whale carcass.

    3. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I agree. The fifth generation was at best inoffensively handsome, but this thing was a train smash. Whoever did the styling also screwed up the Impala.

  1. GTXcellent Avatar
  2. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    Low-hanging fruit? No – ground apples.
    2004 Thunderbird with 8,200 miles, for the princely sum of $28,995.
    https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/6065916042.html
    https://images.craigslist.org/00q0q_lN5DWvad7Yj_1200x900.jpg

    1. Kiefmo Avatar
      Kiefmo

      My first thought as well. The idea had merit, but the melted bar of design just didn’t cut it. If it had been a better car otherwise instead of the heavy pig it wound up being, it might have been okay, but the little 3.9L V8 was just insufficient.

  3. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    Nice price, or crack pipe?
    1989 Le Mans, for $525. Needs some new glass, a couple of tires, and…?
    https://texoma.craigslist.org/cto/6012673872.html
    https://images.craigslist.org/00K0K_imuhhjwGnbs_1200x900.jpg

    1. Please Stand By Avatar
      Please Stand By

      Nice! You beat me to this one, took some work to find any of these things. Nearing extinction I suspect/hope. Enjoy a two door example.
      https://images.craigslist.org/00K0K_eM4JEsH2Id7_600x450.jpg
      https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/6065519627.html

    2. Wayne Moyer Avatar
      Wayne Moyer

      Back their their Dae they would woo their buyers by the dozens to their dealerships. Thanks to their fuel economy and cheap costs.

      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        Not hard to find new either – 2017 model, 7600$:
        http://www.autonavigator.ru/cars/used/Daewoo/Nexia/10542290.html
        http://img7.autonavigator.ru/picscarsnew/1054/2290/3620500_800.jpg
        But what would the neighbours say…? I wonder if this could actually be imported to the US, based on it being a LeMans that was also originally sold in the US? It’s by that logic you can still buy new Buchankas in the EU.

  4. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    Impala. The latest generation is a bit of a redemption, but it’s still wrong-wheel-drive, which began with the generation pictured here.
    https://images.craigslist.org/00c0c_eLBqydD2wDE_600x450.jpg
    https://toledo.craigslist.org/cto/6089386624.html

  5. Papa Van Twee Avatar
    Papa Van Twee

    https://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/6012499514.html
    https://images.craigslist.org/00r0r_dlbDaPBCYpz_1200x900.jpg
    This is actually a good example of it, but re-branding a Toyota Corolla built in the California NUMMI plant as a Chevy Nova should have been a no-go.

    1. Kiefmo Avatar
      Kiefmo

      Ahh, yes, the proto-Prizm.

    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      With the oval trunk emblem that was supposed to evoke the Toyota Camry. Nice try, Chevy.
      http://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/XWcAAOSwTM5Yuyt4/s-l225.jpg

      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        Holy smokes, that should be a new Ask: What’s the low point of any manufacturer’s self-esteem? Stellar contender here.

          1. Sjalabais Avatar
            Sjalabais

            But that really was their best try! Stellar indeed.

      2. Papa Van Twee Avatar
        Papa Van Twee

        I thought it was supposed to evoke the Malibu breezes… or beaches… or whateves.

    2. neight428 Avatar
      neight428

      I believe it was C&D who cleverly added, “…but only Avis would buy.” to “the car you knew America could build”. It’s pretty shocking how tone deaf GM was back then.

    3. JayP Avatar
      JayP

      The salesgal at the Chevy shop made a hard case that the ignition was in a better place.
      That was her selling point.

  6. Kiefmo Avatar
    Kiefmo

    The 1982 Corvette. Curvaceously sexy, neutered drivetrain aside.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ebd48cc45214ec32a19f283382bab89c62527c016af4c8dfbe84cafc38e7d1e2.jpg
    The 1984 Corvette. Designed by a robot who was fed all the wrong data about what a Corvette should be. Still packing a neutered drivetrain.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9a9bee73a7f1a33b548fa5fc5c27ae0efd29d1cbe1b368fcb7092ecb00e9f3af.jpg
    There was no 1983 Corvette, so if Jesus claimed resurrection after just 3 days stiff, one can definitely say that the Corvette underwent death and resurrection with a full model year missing!

    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      The common thread being Cease-Fire Injection. But, needs the listing links.

  7. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    There was no 1998 Mercury Cougar.
    https://images.craigslist.org/00707_kNQ7FxWm4fN_600x450.jpg
    https://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/cto/6061584359.html
    The traditional RWd V-8 coupe, got turned into this. Here is the worst example from my local Craigslist.

    1. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Don’t knock it, those V6s are Fords gift to Miata transplants everywhere. 😀

    2. oldcarjunkie Avatar
      oldcarjunkie

      These are also horrible to work on. Survival numbers are low.

  8. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    A 1966 Cord 8/10. So named because it was 8/10th the size of the original Cord. The bought the rights to the name. Powered by a Corvair engine.
    http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/uploads/cars/cord/8182422.jpg
    http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C818254

    1. tonyola Avatar
      tonyola

      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/278622d40d38c020842f189796fb214e68a42000c4113a2539298fdea0a11866.jpg Or if you don’t mind something uglier and less authentic-looking, there is this Samco Cord thing…
      http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=79762

      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        “Used Cords go for $100. 00 – $200. 00. This car looks the same.”
        Cleans glasses.
        No.

    1. Wayne Moyer Avatar
      Wayne Moyer

      They depreciate quickly which works wonders for us.

      1. dukeisduke Avatar
        dukeisduke

        I know I’m in the minority, but I would love a 57S.

  9. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    I think Avanti might hold the record for the most resurrections. The worst had to be the 4th Gen F-body based ones. Here is one for sale for ONLY $35,900!
    http://www.oldcaronline.com/photos/571356/571356_1.jpg
    http://www.oldcaronline.com/2002-Avanti-2%20Dr%20Convertible-Stratford-New%20Jersey-for-sale-ID571356.htm

    1. JayP Avatar
      JayP

      Beat me to it.
      Poor Avanti and Raymond.

  10. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    The Mercury Capri left as a bubble-backed Fox Body Mustang clone; it came back as a wrong-wheel-drive roadster/way less practical Mazda 323.
    https://images.craigslist.org/00f0f_hWQvvKLmltH_1200x900.jpg
    https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/6089049072.html

    1. Wayne Moyer Avatar
      Wayne Moyer

      There is a large of me that wonders if these aren’t great first cars thanks to price. I’m guessing they are hell to insure since they are two seat convertibles though.

      1. JayP Avatar
        JayP

        A gal I dated had one – the engine fell out of the subframe.

    1. JayP Avatar
      JayP

      I see these everywhere now.

    2. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Shameful confession time – I drove one of these (in Trailhawk spec) a few weeks ago, and I kind of like it. Viewed as a followup to the XJ, it’s jarring, but as a smaller sibling to the WK2 Grand Cherokee (no one seems to object to how it lives up to the ZJ’s legacy), it’s not bad.

      1. neight428 Avatar
        neight428

        I’m kind of with you. The shamefulness of it is probably not fully deserved, but that bad taste that is/was the Compass/Patriot is still in my mouth, and the base models look like a chubby little CUV. The Trailhawk versions look like the vehicle ought to, which brings me to another auto styling rant of mine, when a model is styled to look decent only with upgraded wheels and altered ride height, I find the base models particularly offensive. The 2005-ish Chevy pickups with the Avalanche front ends were the worst offenders. In full Z71 trim they were just ok, but a 2wd version with skinny tires looked very disproportionate.

  11. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    For a brief time in the late ’90’s between Achieva and Alero, Oldsmobile briefly returned to having a car that was just named Cutlass with no Supreme, Salon, Ciera or Calais. Here’s one listed for $995.
    I’m not sure that the person who wrote the ad actually looked at the car.
    http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=448708529
    http://images.autotrader.com/hn/c/a546a999b3f546c2964d45526f3a52c7.jpg