With my stash of car pictures being nearly depleted, it’s time to do something different. Trying to find some solace in this pixelated deficit, I dove into my freezer for culinary satiation before scouring craigslist classifieds from random cities across the nation.
First up: Eugene, Oregon. Why Eugene? While rummaging in the freezer, I remembered having this terrific ice cream, made with coconut milk instead of moo-juice, that is produced in Eugene. If it weren’t for that, would I have ever heard of the place? So let’s see what is for sale there, with this 1976 Cadillac convertible being up first.
Damned if these convertibles didn’t prove to be a shrewd investment as the asking price is $245,000.
If you like red, you are in luck.
Perhaps some want a little luxury at a more palatable price point. How about a 1976 Lincoln Continental? In my neck of the woods that 460 V8 alone is worth a goodly percentage of this Lincoln’s $2000 asking price. At only 33,000 miles, it’s not even broken in.
It would make a wonderful Christmas present for someone’s wife – if they lived near Eugene, of course.
Then again, that Lincoln is rather over-the-top in a delightfully tacky way. I’m a low-key kind of guy, so I’ll go for an Oldsmobile. But this car looks familiar for some odd reason.
At least it costs less than the Lincoln, reflecting it’s 200 cubic inch deficit; or not. One of the ads had a $2200 price with a second having an $1100 price. Either way, the owner does know how to find a nice background.
Long ago, I heard some idle internet rumor that many people living in the states bordering the left coast often avoid American cars like Dracula avoids sunlight. Regional tastes do vary and I suppose this 1984 Nissan Stanza was a popular choice back in the day. This Stanza is an absolute time capsule.
This color combination is reminiscent of that quarter-million dollar Cadillac.
I intend to visit Eugene one day soon to see if the coconut milk ice cream people give free samples, with an added perk of seeing some truly fine cars like this Mercedes 280CE. This is one Mercedes I could see myself driving at some point.
The ad is confusing as it says the price is both $1500 and $2500. Either way, I can think of worse ways to blow a few grand.
Another internet rumor I keep hearing is how some people are bemoaning the height of current pickups. It’s hard to figure because if there was no market for them, they would not sell, and thus they would no longer be built. Obviously Ford missed the mark for somebody as this 1985 F-150 has had hieght correction surgery performed at some point.
I would much rather drive to work in a snowstorm in this F-150 than in this Ranger. The only real downside is Red being powered by a 300 cubic inch straight-six. Having way too much experience with a 300 of this vintage, I’m not sure how that fuel-swilling lump of despair is able to move this rig.
No doubt there were some decently powerful 300s built, but sadly I’ve yet to encounter one.
Maybe pickups with terrific ground clearance and charming personas aren’t your thing but something more diminutive is. Eugene has a number of choices such as this 1982 Toyota.
It isn’t perfect, but it would be ideal for periodic light-duty hauling.
For the most part, the pickups I’m finding in Eugene tend to be of the three-quarter ton variety like this 1965 Chevrolet C-20. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. For $1500, this would be a steal in other parts of the country.
Of these three pickups, this one would get the Goldilocks Seal of Approval™ for being Just Right.
Looking at these ads reminds a person of all the various automotive innovations there have been over time and how some didn’t catch on nearly as well as others. One that sounded great but would prove to be short-lived was the four-wheel steering of this 1990 Honda Prelude.
In a sense, the owner of this Honda didn’t fully exploit a fine opportunity; had it been me, I would have cranked the front wheels to their stops to illustrate the change in direction of the rear wheels. It would have been cooler than dry ice. But perhaps he wanted to downplay this capability and diminish the “just something else to go wrong” demeanor of some buyers.
GM made an attempt to revive four-wheel steering by making it an option on some of their pickups about ten to fifteen years ago. The thud it made in the market was likely the same one Honda heard.
Speaking of thuds, this 1969 Plymouth Fury has certainly experienced one.
This two-door is advertised as being fixable with parts being located nearby. Let us hope it returns to its furiously fantastic fuselage fineness.
Overall, Eugene looks like a great place with a little something for everyone. Why, there is even a diesel Mercedes rat-rod to be found!
Note: Listings were searched with a maximum price of $6500 (except for the Cadillac) and no newer than 1990.
The ice cream advertised on the big rig behind the rat-rod diesel Benz isn’t made with coconut milk. Nice juxtaposition, though.
No, that was pure coincidence. The coconut ice cream is the So Delicious brand.
Excellent work Jason. I saw that Caddy convertible and thought “That is exactly what a man of Jason Shafer’s station in life needs, it’s perfect” Then I saw the price and thought it’s a bit much for a pragmatic midwesterner.
But that Chevy pickup, what a sweetie! How about we fly out to Portland, have Paul pick us up at the airport, buy that truck and head for Missouri? Might be good to pick up a yard of topsoil too, that road trip in an unloaded 3/4 ton might turn into a chiropractic tour of 7 states.
There are three more of these in the can featuring random cities in the US. Oddly, I’ve seen only one other of these Cadillacs, only one Studebaker, and three of something that appeared to be extinct plus some other rare iron. That’s my teaser for today.
We would be better off to buy both the Lincoln and the Chevrolet pickup and simply pull the pickup back. The ride would be better on our aging backs. The Lincoln could then be sold for about what we have in it, if not a smidge more.
Some interesting things in there .
The 300CE Mercedes is worth maybe $600 *IF* it’ll drive under it’s own power .
-Nate
Well it is good to see that there are still some who believe that the 76 Eldorado convertible is a rare collectible. It will surely join the Duesenberg and the Bugatti Royale in the rarified air of high-dollar classics, so that price is a bargain.
I occasionally check Oregon CL for Studebakers. It is funny to see what Pacific Northwesterners consider a rusty car.
I have the reverse experience with Minneapolis Craigslist – I am entertained by the number of ads which state “no rust” and are accompanied by photos showing a car with actual holes in it.
Depending on the car, that could be true:
“Would you call that paint color ‘deep red?'”
“No rust!”
The Caddy price has to be typo, nobody’s that delusional. Or are they?
Maybe they are throwing in a free house with the purchase? I’ve seen it done for effect before, as the high dollars attracts attention to the ad.
According to the pictures in the ad, the car can apparently turn green and into a completely different model when you open the driver’s door. I’d say $245,000 is a fair price to pay for morphing power like that. Maybe it’s a Transformer.
Bahahaha Paul!
$245,000 for an Autobot sounds reasonable.
the eldorado is certainly a typo. i remember that collectors bought the last cadillac convertible bc convertibles were thought to be legislated out. that didn’t happen. so many collectors were cought with cars that didn’t appreciate… well…. not appreciate the way they thought it would.
here we go.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-Cadillac-Eldorado-Convertible/122827650720?hash=item1c991936a0:g:vrcAAOSwr1pZyqNq&vxp=mtr
hard to believe but i really like the lincoln.
Not a fan of bright red cars but I would definitely take that Stanza
The Toyota pickup and the C20 would be great too.
I can’t find deals like that in South Carolina
Try loading http://www.leboncoin.fr – there is an app too – you can search the whole of France for oddities and great cars. Set the parameters: say all Renaults under €1000 before 1990. Surprising what turns up – many more interesting automobiles than in the UK where I also live. Think it has something to do with the French character peut etre mes amis.
I really like that Cutlass Salon — enough that I looked it up on Craigslist just to see more pictures. Unfortunately, no interior pictures, but it is apparently a 1-owner car.
Of all the cars overflowing this cornucopia, the one that seems the rarest to me is that red Stanza. I haven’t seen one of those in the wild in at least 15 years. That cushy, perforated upholstery was probably the Stanza’s most distinguishing characteristic.
That car lives one block from us. I’ve posted it more than once, including with its For Sale sign, about a year ago. She’s a bit…eccentric.
The Cutlass Salon… Yes, the Cutlass Salon!!
It the owner is a bit eccentric, this car as a new purchase would kind of make total sense. I love the late-70s shade of powder blue.
This car wouldn’t make sense as a Chicago driver, and Eugene’s a long way from here, but I hope it (eventually) finds a good home.
(Great assortment / piece, Jason!)
A bunch of nice finds here. You’re right about the Olds’ owner having an eye for the right backdrop; the Mercedes, on the other hand…. I’d still love to have it, though, assuming the portable bathroom isn’t a subtle hint as to its condition.
I love Cadillacs but $245,000?? Not even if it came with Elvis in the trunk!
The Lincoln however had me mentally figuring out costs travelling out to Oregon and driving back to Ontario.
Would consider the Olds if the price was decent (I’ll have to check out the Craigslist ad) and/or the Mercedes.
Except for the Stanza, I think that I could find examples of most of the others “nearby”.
I’d be tempted to buy the Chevy C20 and then use it to tow that ’69 Fury back to Ohio.
Except for being white instead of green and being a year older, that Plymouth is the same model I officially learned to drive in and earn my driver’s license. If it had a 383 2-bbl, then it would be ideal for a nostalgia restoration project. (The grille on the ’69 is much nicer than the bland ’70 version.)
Also, the C20 would make a nice keeper! Maybe the extra parts available for the Fury would add enough ballast to smooth out the ride? 😉
It didn’t take much imagination to guess what might be the reason for the smashed up front end. Perhaps one of the grandkids borrowed granddad’s old car to give it a little “exercise. You know, since granddad only drives it around town on occasion and it hasn’t been out on the highway in decades. And, the grandson had never experienced the old V-8 powered sedan of yesteryear. And, he got to enjoying the (possible) 383 cu in V-8. But he didn’t realize that you have to plan your braking about a half a block or more away when you’re cruising at a rather high speed. See, the young’un was most likely only familiar with late model cars with four wheel disc brakes. Anyway, that’s my guess.
Paul has written many times about the magical auto-preserving climate in Eugene. Some of these vehicles have obviously benefited from it. I don’t understand it myself. The greenery would suggest a decent amount of humidity and rain and they even get some snow. So how do cars do better there than elsewhere, like the southeast which doesn’t have much snow or salt, but doesn’t create curbside classics at near the rate Eugene does?
I personally love 76 Eldorado convertibles, but I don’t think I would pay quite that much. Considering the era, they really aren’t very broughamy. They dropped the earlier rear fender skirts which gives it a lighter, less massive look. No pillow top seats or crazy upholstery, no wire wheel caps, and the drop tops of course have no B pillar. The full width dash style is nice IMO. The whole car has the feel of something that could have been built in the 60’s. It was an anachronism from an earlier, more optimistic time. I’m glad the mini bubble on investing in them made the production number so high.
Oregon is a magical place. :0
The number of Eldorado convertibles was fixed before the beginning of production. Cadillac had ‘X’ number of convertible top assemblies, and announced at the beginning of the model year how many would be built. They could have sold a few thousand more if they’d had the parts.
I love that generation Prelude, it’s like a 3/4 scale MN12 Thunderbird SC, and it’s so rare to see them so clean like this, and in my favorite color! I like the Fury too, damage doesn’t look too bad but getting the body parts to fix it (and the 440 to swap in) may cost as much as the car.
I thought the previous generation was better looking, and this generation just looked like a slightly smoothed over (and less attractive) version.
I love the fourth generation though… Yes, even the weird Avalon-esque dash.
I like the second generation too, these are just a bit more in tune to my tastes. I like the fifth generation too, as those appear to be another evolution of the basic second gen design. The fourth gen does nothing for me though, it was too much of a departure.
I see the Lincoln has dropped to $1800. If it were nearby it would be mine. Now, I’m not one to pass a car up for distance – couple years ago I flew to Seattle and bought a Desoto Airflow and had it hauled back to central Mo – but hauling makes this one unreasonable.
I should do these searches closer to home. But wait – I have a dozen good deals sitting around now! What was I thinking??
You are in luck; I’ll be doing the Columbia / Lake of the Ozarks soon enough. If you are in Central MO, either is close-by. 🙂
“height correction surgery” on the F-150.
Freaking. PERFECT, Jason!
Something for everyone, if you live in (or near) North Dakota
https://nd.craigslist.org/cto/d/old-trucks-and-equipment/6381072636.html
Harrisburg, Jason. I’ll be watching. And trying to control myself.
I recently ran across this 1953 Nash LaMans 2 door hardtop, complete with a continental kit in a nearby town. For sale? Don’t know and so far I’ve resisted the urge to ask. Last licensed in 1962, so it’s nobody’s driver.
Wow! I’m no AMC guy but I would so drive this. I am not sure I ever knew about the Le Mans – it appears that it was the OHV “Dual Jetfire” six as opposed to the regular Ambassador single carb six. I think this one is a 55 though, due to the slightly raised wheel lips on the front fenders.
J P, after looking at more pictures on the internet I think you are correct. I’m no Nash fan, but if I were in the market for another project I’d be banging on his door!
I do a little picking (not so much off topic – this post is about picking on Craigslist!) and around the corner I found this visible gas pump. They are around, but this one is right where it has been since about 1920. Still attached to the remains of the 200 gallon underground tank. Haven’t convinced him to sell it yet, but I’m working on it.
I can only wish that these had actually raced at Lemans in 1953:
“A disappointing outing for Team Nash, after arriving at Circuit de la Sarthe to find all three cars disqualifed by French scrutineering. Due to an administrative misunderstanding the racers were equipped with non-stock Continental Kits, which were thought to be mandatory for racing on the continent. Although Team Nash felt that they could have given the winning C-Type a run for the money, they could only pin their hopes on the sole Nash powered entry, the Nash-Healey of Yves Giraud-Cabantous and Pierre Veyron… Which retired after two hours… with engine problems.” 🙁
Eugene, OR, Paul? Never heard of it. Someone should go there though and snap some photos. If there’s this many classics from there online, there’s probably a lot of classics by the sides of the curbs… 🙂
On a serious note, I’m surprised to see the aforementioned Salon on here again. And that Eldorado needs color-matching wheelcovers, which you could get on that generation of Eldorado. The black and red go okay, but if you’re driving something as outlandish as that Eldo, you want it to be totally color-coordinated.
The Stanza and the Lincoln are beauties. Love the Stanza’s upholstery.
” . . . but if you’re driving something as outlandish as that Eldo, you want it to be totally color-coordinated.”
May as well go Full Bill Mitchell and get the suit while you’re at it. 🙂
No matter how many times I see that picture, that suit is never not ridiculous.
I’m guessing that they will throw in the red polyester suit, if you buy the car! Maybe it is in the trunk, hopefully without Bill still in it…?
Cherry red Boss Hogg!
Bill was still wearing it in 1987
I guess that rules it out for being recycled into a Stanza interior, circa 1984.
The Nash: Did Nash, or the Continental kit maker, provide a new and longer chrome molding for the side of the car ? How thoughtful. And, I kinda think that was an up-or-down taillight, depending on year, or whim ? Somebody tell me . . .
Yes, Bill’s Santa suit is *just* a bit much, methinks. The matching shirt is perhaps the real sin. I’m reminded of my boss, Dave, and his mid-seventies leisure suits. That fad didn’t last long.
OK, besides the old Plymouth, I also like the Stanza, the Prelude and the ‘Yota pickup.
And, I’ll confess that twice in the past six weeks I’ve done Craigslist searches in Ohio and surrounding states – and even farther away like Texas and California – for Mopars of the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. There’s more than a few very nice old SweptWing Chryslers, Dodges and Plymouths. If only I could win the lottery or inherit a nice chunk of change, I’d be tracking down some nice old cars to begin my car collection.
Liked the post. A electric cross section of CC cars from Eugene, Ore where I was born over 66 years ago. I would take the ’65 Chevrolet pickup out of the bunch. Also lived in Lowell and Oakridge as a young child. I have often thought of moving to Oakridge but at this point in my life I don’t think it would happen. Lowell is also one of the vary rare areas on the western side of the Cascades in Oregon to have a large population of rattlesnakes. My grandmother had a whole collection of rattles from snakes she killed in her yard. And The Dalles as a kid remember going to visit people with my grandparents and they had dead rattlesnakes hanging from the trees because they did not want their dogs to get near them.
Wow, I recognized this rig right away, Paul has posted on it (and it’s stablemates) more than once:
https://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/d/79-toyota-corolla-hatchback/6393696535.html
Oh no…what’s next, the bread van?
I’m sorry to see it go; it was there for some ten years, along with the Caddy and the van. Time marches on…
… and owner seems to be moving on. If the Corolla were a stick I’d check it out.
Sorry, but you couldn’t pay to take an Aeroback Cutlass (or its Buick brethren), those things are just plain hideous. That C20 tho… wonder what shipping would cost to 44017 🙂 ?
No surprise, but at $2K for a 33K mile example, that 1976 Lincoln is already GONE at 11am Pacific time. I’m not surprised, at that price.