Welcome to Craigslist Crapshoot, our weekly search for the most bizarre, awesome, and/or terrible vehicles that the online classifieds has to offer.
There’s no fool like an April Fool and to celebrate that foolish day last week we asked you to find the most foolish car or truck that you could. We’ll get to fooling around in a sec, but first, this week’s quest.
The old adage goes Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday. Well, today’s Wednesday but I still want to see some winners, as in race cars that you think might be a good deal. Let’s scour the classifieds for the best deals in race cars, and let’s see if we can’t come up with a bargain starting grid.
As always, we want your finds to go down in infamy and not in the site’s spam filter. Since we’ve recently 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.
I’m feeling a little uncomfortable with the fact that a couple of the contenders found last week – like the camo Opel GT found by Jeepster, and the gangster-themed S-10 found by PotbellyJoe★★★★★ – are cars that I would totally rock. I’m far less comfortable with the rest, and I’m actually a bit horrified by our winner, a wildly modified mid-engine Ford Truck found by mdharrell. That thing is so crazy – and so professionally done – that it begs the question, was the builder not drunk when conceiving it?
Congrats to mdharrell, and thank you all for your contributions. Now let’s get our race on!
I’ll try to keep from posting a hundred times on this one. How about a tubeframe GT Lites Vega with a Cosworth engine for just $4000? It’s been for sale for at least a couple months so you can probably get a screaming deal on it.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/4968254887.html
No price is listed, but it’s a 35 year old sprint car – it MUST be a good deal! I’d daily drive this to work (if I had someone with a push truck to get me going). I want it, I want it, I want it.
http://images.craigslist.org/01717_3Zz2A6yGWLE_600x450.jpg
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/cto/4958779175.html
Same idea, but I’d want this. My commute has potholes.
NORRA 1972 Funco SS1 Vintage Race Car 72-79 seasons – $8500 (Buckeye, AZ)
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/rvs/4887274057.html
The Oldsmember Ninety-Eight Regency Brougham LeMons car is up for sale for $5900. That’s pretty pricey for a LeMons car, but the thing is a complete beast.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/4966269644.html
“It comes with enough spares to choke a whale.” – Fantastic line!
But…that’s more than ten times the allowed price to start with, isn’t it? You might substract cage and parts sales, but is it realistic to enter this to more crapcan races at this price?
By the letter of the rule, not really. But if you buy a car that’s always been allowed to race without penalty laps, you’ll probably not get sweated too badly as long as you haven’t obviously made it faster.
OK, last one. Renowned Alfisti (plural) Mike and Darren Besic built this Alfa GTV6 back in 2009. I first saw/heard it at Gingerman in 2010 and it was (and remains) the best exhaust note I’ve ever heard in LeMons. The Besics won the next Gingerman race with it and then sold it; the new owners have run it (mostly) in ChumpCar since and are now selling it for $3500, which is a hell of a deal.
http://forum.chumpcar.com/index.php?/topic/12564-fs-1986-alfa-gtv6-won-lemons-race-at-gingerman/
Drag racing is still racing, right?
1990 Ford Mustang Hatchback Street Race car – $3900 (Union City)
http://images.craigslist.org/00Z0Z_2NlbluKV0iv_600x450.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/G~8AAOSwk5FUxAzl/$_57.JPG
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mazda-Mazda2-BSpec-Racecar-SCCA-/181709420209?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2a4eb9b6b1&item=181709420209
Mazda Mazda2
Mazda Mazda2 BSpec Racecar SCCA
Ready to Race
Central Division SCCA Champ Car in B-Spec (2013), sponsored by Continental Mazda & Castrol, driven by Joel Weinberger
Pole position winning car at 2013 SCCA Runoffs (DNF)
Finished P3 at 2012 SCCA Runoffs (driven by Shawn Young)
Raced 2012 Grand-Am race at Mid-Ohio
Race built by Fall-Line Motorsports for 2012 season
This was the pole sitting B-Spec car for the 2013 SCCA Runoffs at Road America. Car crashed into outer wall in first corner when steering wheel came off (not secured properly). Car has been completely repaired to a high standard and track tested at Autobahn Country Club
Buy it now: US $13,500.00
That’s Autobahn Country Club, which is explained by Fall Line building it.
Damn, I need to visit their shop.
http://images.craigslist.org/00d0d_eJMEXf03bZH_600x450.jpg
I know nothing about oval track racing, but this is a Mercury Montego with matching trailer, so maybe $6500 is an okay price. It looks like a nice trailer; it’s got an electric winch.
“Will let all tools, generator and air compressor go with for more money.” That certainly seems fair.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/4959008763.html
That thing looks wicked!
http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/austinhl/1423510583/1423510583la.jpg
$79,850 seems reasonable for a Healarossa.
http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/austinhl/1423510583/1423510583ss.htm
600 HP for $15k, sounds good.
http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/chevy/1413993200/1413993200la.jpg
http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/chevy/1413993200/1413993200ss.htm
No engine and trans but, for $2,450, you’d have plenty of dough left over for both. Personally, I’d lean toward a mildly-built Ford Australia DOHC turbo six and a Tremec TR6060.
http://images.craigslist.org/00m0m_5cPl2GzjkEJ_600x450.jpg
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/4968024349.html
NASCAR road-course chassis can be had for virtually nothing. The horsepower-per-dollar rate is really unbeatable. Throw in a small-block crate engine and it’s still going to be plenty fun.
From what I’ve seen, looks like they left a zero off the price. That seems REALLY cheap for a Cup car roller. Probably needs tires, shocks, bushings, cracked welds repaired, etc at that price.
Good point, especially if it can be proven (which I’m quite certain it can) if it was in fact driven by Mark Martin, a.k.a. the Best Driver Never to Win a Cup Title or Daytona 500.
Who doesn’t aspire to sleep in a race car?
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODAwWDYwMA==/z/6Y0AAOSwcwhVJSfF/$_27.JPG
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-baby-crib-bassinet/saskatoon/race-car-twin-bed/1062911700?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
This is a no-reserve auction, so it could be the best deal ever!
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/z/6FcAAOSwstxVGX6h/$_27.JPG
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/regina/selling-unreserved-by-auction-port-city-race-car-for-sale/1060860037?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
Street legal and tech inspected, 170hp (woohoo!) Volvo Original Series Rally car, 5500$. Massive studded tires included:
http://www.finn.no/finn/car/used/object?finnkode=57340847
http://finncdn.no/mmo/2015/3/vertical-3/29/7/573/408/47_924947069_xl.jpg
http://finncdn.no/mmo/2015/3/vertical-3/28/7/573/408/47_387696658_xl.jpg
…and 2000$ will buy the perfect hauler: A PRV ambulance, with newish engine, trans, difflock and servo pump. That would make an awesome combo.
http://www.finn.no/finn/car/used/object?finnkode=57728571
http://finncdn.no/mmo/2015/4/vertical-3/08/4/526/932/74_136164769_xl.jpg
http://finncdn.no/mmo/2015/4/vertical-3/08/4/526/932/74_1252790449_xl.jpg
That would make an awesome dog hauler/RV!
Buying an old ambulance is on my bucket list. They are always cheap for obvious reasons, and the odd district emergency’s cars are pretty low mileage, too. This one is not, but they receive good care in any case.
Seems reasonable, engine itself seems worth that.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEVE-SALEEN-signed-Late-Model-Asphalt-Race-Car-TURN-KEY-EXTRAS-Fresh-351C-/231524033623?forcerrptr=true&hash=item35e7e86457&item=231524033623
http://www.socalstangs.com/photos/mossy/13.jpg
What’s the going rate for midget racers? This one is listed for $1300 and seems to be ready to race, but I have no idea how good this deal is…
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/z/lnsAAOSwNSxVGGRu/$_27.JPG
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-other/city-of-toronto/can-am-midget-race-car-best-reasonable-offer/1060680174?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
1974 Corolla race car that looks clean, but with crap photos. $5500
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MzA2WDQwOA==/z/G0AAAOSweW5U8nhS/$_27.JPG
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/city-of-toronto/toyota-corolla-race-drag-car/1053524518?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
Plymouth Barracuda Race Projekt
3400 eur for a car
1500 newly built 727 Auto or a 2- speed Ultimate Powerglide mit 9′ Custom Build Wandler, new Flexplate by Mike`s Transmission
3000 eur for a 400 cui Big Block
http://suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat/plymouth-andere-barracuda-race-projekt-puchheim-bei-m%C3%BCnch/204944681.html?lang=en
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDgwWDY0MA==/z/VSgAAOSwqu9Uz9BK/$_1.JPG
Opel Astra 16V GSi – F8 – Rallye C20XE -Ready to Race
http://suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat/opel-astra-16v-gsi-f8-rallye-c20xe-ready-to-race-haseldorf/205844916.html?lang=en
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/z/Mv8AAOSweW5U6hrv/$_1.JPG
I wasn’t about to post in this thread because I really couldn’t find what I would consider a good deal here in Germany, but for less than the price of that Astra you can have a Mazda 323 amateur rally car with nearly the same power and four wheel drive.
http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=207673143&lang=en
Alfa Romeo Alfa 75 3.0 24v Race Car
http://suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat/alfa-romeo-alfa-75-3-0-24v-race-car-sofia/206702831.html?lang=en
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTY3WDg1NA==/z/ZlAAAOSwPYZVALa1/$_1.JPG
“Completely restored 70’s car. Cash offer or trade for???”
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/strathcona-county/ultimate-soap-box-derby-car/1061163255?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDg5WDgwMA==/z/hWAAAOSwBLlVGwdp/$_27.JPG
Bet that’s not what you expected after reading the first line….
It’s definitely streamlined and light weight. But does it come with Flintstone propulsion, or does it need an external power unit to get started? 😉
Moon disks…and no tires. Pretty cool find!
Vauxhall Vivas 2 for 1 Drift or Race car
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/edmonton/vauxhall-vivas-2-for-1-drift-or-race-car/1060719987?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/z/aiQAAOSweW5VIMRG/$_27.JPG
Not race cars yet, but lots of potential. Rare around these parts, so seems like a decent price…
Where these ever sold in North America?
And for the last one, a not so great deal! Anybody want to pay $50k for an engineless, transmissionless, 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier? Anyone? Anyone?
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/st-albert/2003-cavalier-drag-race-car-as-new/1050880372?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTMyWDgwMA==/z/gsQAAOSwBahU29mk/$_27.JPG