Craigslist Crapshoot

Robert Emslie

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The World’s Worst Car Is For Sale On Craigslist

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 I asked fro something pretty specific, which was cars that possessed two qualities, a straight six engine, and a pillarless greenhouse. It doesn’t get much more fine-tuned than that. We’ll see who’s the most six cyliner pillarless of the community in a minute, but first, this week’s used car challenge!  

This week I want to go back to the back. What I want is Japanese sedans that are rear-wheel drive and DOHC. As an added bone to be thrown, I’ll allow Rotary engines in addition to those double cammers.

And as usual, we want your finds to go down in infamy and not in the site’s spam filter. Follow any of the following advice and you’re crap will be known far and wide.

  1. Easiest way to not get caught in the spam filters is to create an IntenseDebate account. If you do so and your posts aren’t appearing, let us know at tips@hooniverse.info and we can put you on the whitelist
  2. If you don’t want an IDC account, you can create a wordpress.com account and do the same thing.
  3. If you’re the Ted Kaczynski type and don’t want any kind of account, then try to place only a single link in a comment and just drop any outgoing link in via its raw URL and not as a text link
Craigslist Crapshoot doesn’t work if your candidates don’t get seen, so hopefully following one of these options will ensure that the floodgates of crap are fully open. And now, let’s make the jump and see who found the coolest sixer last week.
While there aren’t many cars that possess the dual properties of a straight six cylinder engine and pillar-less coupe body, those that do are pretty well beloved and be-known- BMW’s E9 and E24s, Dodge Darts with their sixes on a slant, and of course Ford’s original pony car, the Mustang, which in base form came with a 200-cid six, and without a B-pillar.
 
But we like weird here. Weird and wonderful, and what I found to be the weirdest and most wonderful of last week’s finds was Dean Bigglesworth’s Eurotripping Mercedes 280SLC. Sporting an open greenhouse, the wonderful Mercedes DOHC M110 straight six, and – praise be! – a stick shift, this handsome if dauchshund-esque coupe is also painted an amazing electric green. At only 9,999€, it’s also pretty reasonably priced. Too bad it’s in Germany.
 
Nicely done Dean Bigglesworth!
 
CraigslistCrapshoot_31_07_13
 
 
Image source: Hoffmanrichter 

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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45 responses to “Craigslist Crapshoot”

  1. DonFehlio Avatar
    DonFehlio

    So close!
    <img src="http://birdphotographic.com/gallery/var/resizes/Cressida/IMG_4184small.jpg?m=1370156668&quot; width="600">
    <a href="http://www.celicasupra.com/forums/showthread.php?71480-85-Cressida-Wagon-3500-obo-San-Diego” target=”_blank”>http://www.celicasupra.com/forums/showthread.php?71480-85-Cressida-Wagon-3500-obo-San-Diego

    Reply
    1. Scandinavian Flick ★ Avatar
      Scandinavian Flick ★

      How has that not sold yet!?

      Reply
      1. DonFehlio Avatar
        DonFehlio

        There's a guy from MN coming to check it out next month, and if he doesn't take it, it's going to eBay.

        Reply
  2. I Think Not Avatar
    I Think Not

    I think that a lot of people thought the J30 was just another lux'd up Maxima like the i30 (or worse, a lux'd 1st gen Altima, which it resembles), but they were RWD and sported the venerable VG30DE.
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00z0z_eegxXmjg3L9_600x450.jpg"&gt;
    <a href="http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/3950670129.html” target=”_blank”>http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/3950670129.html

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      The J30 is one of those always-just-under-my-radar favorites that I forget about, then re-notice every once in a while.

      Reply
    2. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Basically a 4-door 300ZX.

      Reply
      1. HTWHLS Avatar
        HTWHLS

        …packaged up in a really ugly wrapper.

        Reply
  3. pj134 Avatar
    pj134

    I kind of have a crush on LS400's of any 90's vintage right now… anyone have any experience with them?
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/3Gf3K53sf5Nf5re5q7d7f82b17fc914321bfc.jpg&quot; width=500> <a href="http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ctd/3936920685.html” target=”_blank”>http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ctd/3936920685.html

    Reply
    1. Scandinavian Flick ★ Avatar
      Scandinavian Flick ★

      A friend of mine has one. He bought it for super cheap, but it's really cushy and runs very well. Kinda sluggish for a V8, but seems like one of the best bang-for-the-buck bargains on the market right now.
      He managed to make it do this…
      <img src="http://i.imgflip.com/1shb3.gif"&gt;

      Reply
    2. Paul E Avatar
      Paul E

      That's super low miles for an LS, much less that car. Price is now on the high side of 'okay'. I'm now seeing early LS430s dipping under $10k, but for a rougher example.
      The LS: Fabulous Barcaloungers on wheels. Insane build and material quality, even 20 years on for the early LSes. Can be made to handle surprisingly well for a big car for not a lot of cash (Addco rear sway bar + poly sway bar bushings all the way around FTW). The designs and cars have aged very well, overall. Used parts supply and availability is pretty good.
      The later LS400s ('98-on, like the one you're scoping out) get surprisingly decent highway mileage, I've heard. Downsides: Thirsty, not as big inside/trunk as one would think. Snow tires: Mandatory. Timing belt changes 90-100k miles; pre '98 cars are non-interference, later ones: interference. The optional air ride, when it works, is nifty. Otherwise, it's nightmarish. Easy enough to fix or ditch when it croaks.

      Reply
      1. pj134 Avatar
        pj134

        I'd probably go the pre-98 route for around 2 and do things that shouldn't be done in a vehicle of that type. Thanks for the info.

        Reply
        1. Eric Rood Avatar
          Eric Rood

          There's a '90 LS400 that races LeMons in the Midwest. The car is extremely overbuilt, but despite its considerable heft, it blows the doors off of just about everything else in the region. 250 HP in LeMons may as well be 1,000.
          Another team just put a 1UZ in a Cressida and it's way more power than they were expecting. If you just want the motor, they can generally be had for a couple Benjamins from a junkyard.
          Not sure if that's helpful if you're looking for a street car.

          Reply
    3. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      The LS is supposed to be ridiculously bulletproof, but parts and repairs are expensive. The starter is nestled in the valley between the heads, which makes it a pain to replace. I read somewhere recently where someone said they had sat in on a presentation by Toyota engineers that said the LS and Previa were the most durable cars Toyota had made in quite awhile.

      Reply
      1. frankthecat Avatar
        frankthecat

        As someone who saw a supercharged-swapped '92 Previa get jump heights in a sandpit that the guys with sandrails wouldn't attempt to reach, yeah, they're durable.

        Reply
    4. vroomsocko Avatar
      vroomsocko

      Yakuza style for me please.

      Reply
    5. CABEZAGRANDE Avatar
      CABEZAGRANDE

      I've heard certain items are extremely hard and expensive to replace, like the rear windshield. But other than that they are bombproof. The 1UZ is an extremely good engine, if a bit overburdened in this heavy a body. It's easy to get more than a quarter million miles out of the drivetrain without any major work. They parts bin fairly well, as it shares a bunch of parts with a ton of other cars up and down the range. A friend of mine in college had one, a 96 that served him very well. Mileage is quite respectable at around 20 average, as they have a VERY good coefficient of drag. A little boring, but beautiful build, super comfy, resonably fun to throw around, and cheaper than dirt, to buy and maintain. You could certainly do worse.

      Reply
      1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
        Peter Tanshanomi

        I don't know why more of these aren't showing up in T-Buckets and '32 Highboys…
        <img src="http://cdn.speedhunters.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_6454.jpg&quot; width="512">

        Reply
    6. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Try Wheeler Dealer's episode on the car!
      (Can't embed Youtube from phone)

      Reply
  4. vroomsocko Avatar
    vroomsocko

    How about a tasty Infiniti M45. Pay no mind to the interior neon and jumbo speaker box.
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00u0u_ikiDUAolJy2_600x450.jpg&quot; width="500"> http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/3971052746.htm…

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      The styling is a little funky, but I like them. You get the Q's engine in a smaller package. A real sleeper.

      Reply
    2. Preludacris Avatar
      Preludacris

      I went looking for one of these when I read the question. None available locally. Cool car.

      Reply
  5. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    The $6500 XJC lost out to that?
    Sad Jag is sad.

    Reply
  6. vroomsocko Avatar
    vroomsocko

    The Mazda 929 was available with a DOHC V6 and RWD until the Millenia replaced it. I forgot that these existed.
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00N0N_ihod22J59o3_600x450.jpg&quot; width="500"> http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/3915362820.html

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Probably due to the styling. It's like camouflage.

      Reply
  7. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    Totally of topic, but I found this today, and it is awesome:
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00E0E_7cK6kLZzWph_600x450.jpg"&gt;
    1970's Haflinger 4wd Jeep – $3000
    LOOK AT IT! SQUEEEE
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00r0r_1XbfpcXh8Ar_600x450.jpg"&gt;
    http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/3971566265.html

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      My neighbour has a couple of similar Bucher tractor's that he actually uses for farming work on our hills. Incredibly capable vehicles that will usually move at below walking speed.

      Reply
  8. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    There's something faintly telling about the photos that deliberately hide the questionable body kit.
    <img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTQwWDcyMA==/$T2eC16NHJIkE9qU3jcd3BR0E!GtdvQ~~48_20.JPG&quot; width="500">
    Puttin' the crap back in crapshoot. (Though I quite like the normal Lexus LS)

    Reply
  9. Scandinavian Flick ★ Avatar
    Scandinavian Flick ★

    "Mechanic's special"
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00u0u_2KzQM7Hr2UM_600x450.jpg"&gt;
    He made sure to list it 6 times, in case the bright green and chrome didn't catch your attention the first time.
    I'll only post one of them though, because I care.
    <a href="http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/3963371088.html” target=”_blank”>http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/3963371088.html

    Reply
    1. jeepjeff Avatar
      jeepjeff

      That's awesome. I wonder what its problem is? Hopefully not the starter motor…

      Reply
      1. Scandinavian Flick ★ Avatar
        Scandinavian Flick ★

        I'm going to guess something power steering related…

        Reply
        1. dukeisduke Avatar
          dukeisduke

          Does she come with it?

          Reply
  10. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    A Toyota Crown Royal in Moose Jaw, which is not something I would expect.
    <img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDg2WDY0OA==/$(KGrHqVHJBkFHJ74iinDBR16qMWdu!~~48_20.JPG&quot; width="500">
    Sask JDM for the win.

    Reply
    1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      Well, it's not that far from Gimli.

      Reply
  11. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    2JZ from the factory, yo!
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00A0A_2sYAkaBi562_600x450.jpg&quot; />
    Only $1,500!

    Reply
  12. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Infinity M30, only $1000
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/3G63F33J85r55sa5H1d6s2a98ffde41421234.jpg"width=500&gt; <a href="http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/cto/3901534896.html” target=”_blank”>http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/cto/3901534896.html

    Reply
    1. FreeMan Avatar
      FreeMan

      it is mandatory to smear Vaseline on the lense before taking CL photos, isn't it?

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        It helps hide the flaws. Also make sure half the car is in shadow and half in bright sunlight.

        Reply
  13. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
    Dean Bigglesworth

    <img src="http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/4611737/mask-oscar-2-o.gif&quot; </img>
    If anyone finds a PGC10 Skyline or HB Cosmo sedan for sale, feel free to post those. The only PGC10 I found was this one but it has already been sold. Didn't find any HB Cosmo sedans for the rotary entry.

    Reply
  14. Manic_King Avatar
    Manic_King

    Smaller Lexus is also an right answer
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00404_9hT9JHBFs7m_600x450.jpg"&gt;
    <a href="http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/ctd/3967172089.html” target=”_blank”>http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/ctd/3967172089.html

    Reply
  15. JayP2112 Avatar
    JayP2112

    Had an automatic G and was a nice car.
    Cheaper than a Zcar, has the 6 speed. Clean up the headlights and you'll have a peach.
    I might have to check this one out.
    <img src="http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/544/408/images/2013/7/27/351/157/32524533447.351157267.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.565×374.jpg&quot; width="600">
    http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehiclede…
    Sorry for the nasty URL.

    Reply
  16. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    Q Ship
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00x0x_3zhPa1dH6dk_600x450.jpg"&gt;
    Get your DOHC here.

    Reply
  17. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    Mazda RX-2!
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00O0O_cWv5o0B6OPM_600x450.jpg"&gt;
    It's been molested.

    Reply
  18. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
    Rust-MyEnemy

    Well, I'd be posting this Nissan Leopard…:
    <img src="http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/1303rwasser/DSCF2713.jpg&quot; width="450'">
    …as it is unspeakably excellent and has all the requisite Japanese gadgetty bits and several camshafts.
    But, firstly, 18 months ago it was being hawked around on the Retro Rides forum; clickety click
    Then, some absolute hero bought it for a grand, drove it around with ideas about carrying out all sorts of entirely necessary modifications, foiled only by the cars development of an overheating problem, whereupon he put it back up for sale for £700 more than he paid for it, because LOGIC.
    Here 4 Sale on the Driftworks website; More clickety click
    But it's sold now, anyway. I give it a few months then it'll be back for sale, absolutely knackered, for about £3000.

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      Nissan Leopard = U.S. Infiniti M30. Always liked 'em.

      Reply
  19. Plan dnia w przedszkolu Avatar
    Plan dnia w przedszkolu

    Having read this I believed it was very informative.
    I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this information together.
    I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time
    both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

    Reply