The KIJIJI edition
Ever use Kijiji? Some desperate people on there. Cheap cars too.
Integra:
You won't find many front-wheel-drive cars in the SDOTM listings and unless I'm running a fever, you won't see much from Honda either. With few exceptions, offerings from the big H might as well have Frigidaire stamped on the trunk lid for all the excitement they offer. That said, this is one of the cleanest 'Tegs I've ever seen, utterly devoid of rice. As FWD transportation appliances go, this platform pretty much sets the bar for handling. The rare Type R would be more desirable but that's another Honda you won't find on SDOTM. They command a premium and for good reason; so many modifications were made in the name of performance (think hand-ported and polished cylinder head), Honda lost money on every Type R sold. That might just be an old wives tale but it sounds cool (and plausible). I found a nice example in Championship White listed at $13,500. That's a lot of money for a fridge.
Vega:
An original 4-speed Vega for $800! If only I knew someone who just moved into a new house in Toronto with a half-empty double garage and needed something to keep his truck from getting lonely while I source IMSA body panels and build an 8000-rpm small-block so I can go vintage racing before I die. Where, oh where would I ever find such a person? Anyone?
Volare:
$2500 is a bit much even for grandma-fresh but if it were a wagon, there'd be big trouble in the Jones household. "Gorgeous"? Even I don't think it's gorgeous but the dude gets points for making me snort my morning tea out my nose.
Thunderbirds:
I nearly bought a '78 as a winter beater before finding the Cherokee. My wife Sara had replied to the AutoTrader link with good humour until she realized I might be serious and effectively vetoed the silver, t-roofed example I was prepared to drag home. I can hear you all whispering "thank God" under your breath. Fine, how about a '76 model instead? The front end still has the personality of a brick wall but the sides and tail are slightly swoopier and the rear quarter windows roll backward into the pillar. Neat. The massive 460 ci V8 puts out a decidedly un-massive 200 hp but if you've seen the movie The Crow, you've witnessed the instant badassness created by a blower and some Cragar rims. Unlike the fake blower in the movie (given the angle it's at in this screen capture, the drive shaft would be coming out the tape deck, to say nothing of the complete lack of carburetion), a real blower would actually make some good power. These motors ran a very boost-friendly 8:1 compression and were built like bomb shelters. But cutting a hole in the hood isn't a wise move on a winter beater, so we'll just leave this one as fantasy. I can hear you whispering again.
