You know that fancy internet car auction site, Bring A Trailer? While it doesn’t happen often, nine cars sold on the site yesterday for under $10,000, and there’s a surprisingly good selection among them, whether you want something sporty, pragmatic, Asian, European, American, really old, or surprisingly recent. Talk about deals in unexpected places.
In fact, deals are starting to return to the market in general. My contacts in the wholesale world report that prices on the backend are coming down, and that seems to be bleeding into Bring A Trailer. When was the last time you saw nine cars sell on that site for four-figure prices within 24 hours? It feels like it’s been ages.
So, if you don’t have Grade A money to spend on a fun car, let’s take a look at what Bring A Trailer can bring on a good day, running through all nine sales in chronological order, from the beginning of the day to the end. Let’s get cracking. Oh, and feel free to click on the subheadings to view any of the listings, should you want a better glimpse at these cars.
1985 Porsche 928S Project — $9,500
This day of bargains started out with what can be described as a little bit of a basketcase. Not only is this Porsche 928 a non-running hideously complex aged German grand tourer, it also reportedly needs an entire wiring harness. However, before you write this off as some overpriced fantasy, there are one or two things you might want to know.
For starters, it’s a five-speed car, which isn’t just rarer than an automatic car, it’s more engaging once you get it running. Then there’s the interior, which is unusual for an old 928 because it’s in excellent shape. These cars often suffer from decades of neglect, and one common result is upholstery that looks like a Tumblr user’s jeans. In any case, this isn’t a machine for the timid, but for those willing to get stuck into 928, we’re looking at a promising start.
1993 Mitsubishi Minicab Pickup 4WD — $8,000
It goes without saying that we adore kei trucks, and while this Mitsubishi Minicab is expensive at $8,000, it’s freaking nice. We’re talking just 17,000 km displayed on the odometer, fetching red-and-gold two-tone paint, four-wheel-drive, and a manual gearbox. This, my friends, might just be the crown jewel of kei trucks, and it sold for sensible used car money.
Okay, so it’s been repainted when it was in Japan, but it’s rocking a Maryland title, the interior looks legit, and it’s overall just a happy little thing. It’s no surprise that bidding was fierce on this one, but you could do so much worse for $8,000, which makes this an endearing pick.
1951 Packard 300 — $5,100
It feels like mainstream American cars of the ’50s have failed to find appeal among younger audiences, but that just means some of them are great deals. Take this 1951 Packard 300, for example. Not only did it remain in the same family from the day it rolled off the dealer lot until 2020, it’s rocking a straight-eight engine with 150 gross horsepower, mated to an optional two-speed automatic transmission. How rare is a straight-eight by today’s standards?
Packard was a luxury marque, and the 300 held roughly the same role as the E-Class holds in today’s Mercedes-Benz lineup. That meant it got all the luxuries of the time, from a defroster to a channel-seeking AM radio to soundproofing. Sure, those aren’t impressive features today, but in 1951, this was where it was at. Sure, this particular example might not be pristine, but it’s a solid driver that should offer a lot of fun for $5,100.
2002 Infiniti I35 — $7,200
While some might dismiss the I35 as another regular-ass used car, the fact of the matter is that older normal cars like these are rapidly disappearing from our roads. Be it uneconomical collisions repairs, mechanical attrition, or the hand of rust, these once-common sights are vanishing before we can even realize what’s happening. So, for someone to keep an Infiniti I35 nice, well that’s a wonderful thing.
With just 56,000 miles on the clock, this rebadged Nissan Cefiro isn’t going to set anyone’s hair on fire with its front-wheel-drive layout, four-speed automatic transmission, and surprisingly cromulent 3.5-liter V6, but it’s a neat little nostalgia trip that’s just waiting in the wings for whatever comes after Radwood.
1995 Lexus SC400 — $9,695
I could be wrong, but I have a strong feeling that values on these cars are going to the moon in the next few years. I mean, it’s a wonderful grand tourer that shares bones with the Mark IV Toyota Supra, and this one ticks all the boxes. Dripped out in oh-so-’90s teal? Check. Borla exhaust to let you hear that four-liter 1UZ-FE V8? Check. A mere 63,000 miles on the clock? Absolutely. The SC400 whips the llama’s ass, and even with this one’s aftermarket wheels, it’s still a catch.
Okay, so it also has aftermarket BC coilovers, adjustable toe arms, and some fresh brake components, but it hasn’t been messed with too much. The stock CD player and tape deck is still here, everything I can see is reversible, and this thing would be just right with a set of stock or period-correct wheels. Overall, I’m calling this one a big ol’ W for the buyer.
1988 Honda Acty — $8,050
Another kei truck? You bet, although this one’s murdered-out instead of resplendent in two-tone. Yes, this 1988 Honda Acty can almost get none more black, thanks to a respray, 13-inch steel wheels that look massive on it, a chunky set of bolt-on overfenders, and a surprisingly sweet set of clear-lens taillights.
Sure, it might not have a four-wheel drive like the Mitsubishi we saw earlier, but it’s still JDM AF, yo, and it looks suitably modified to slot among any number of golden-era tuner car garages. Plus, with just 40,000 kilometers on the clock, this isn’t some banger that somebody fixed up, but instead, a low-mileage example tricked out to taste. While it definitely isn’t for everyone, this Honda Acty looks like it’s going to make its new owner very happy indeed.
1987 Volvo 240 DL — $4,300
Sometimes, you just need a brick. The Volvo 240 is the archetypal East Coast hipster ride, and for good reason — not only was it a reasonably hand-me-down for rebellious children of academia back in the day, it’s a brick shithouse on wheels, with bumpers meant for bumping, rugged simplicity, and a look that’s anti-fashion enough to make a statement. Even with 152,000 miles on the clock, this thing still looks the business.
Granted, this Volvo 240 isn’t perfect. There’s a minor hit on its Carfax, the spare tire is missing, the exterior isn’t totally original, and there’s some hail damage going on. However, the underbody looks remarkably clean and if you want to pretend you’re a New York City hipster circa 2005, this seems like as solid of a starting point as any. For $4,300, I’m saying hell yeah.
2003 Ford Focus SVT — $5,800
These days, it seems like the phrase “nice Focus SVT” is an oxymoron, what with how frequently these picante hatchbacks were hooned to death. However, here before us lies what appears to be a nice Focus SVT, and what a sight for sore eyes it is. Sure, 170 horsepower isn’t a massive figure by today’s standards, but it was good enough to dash from zero-to-60 mph in a shade under 7.4 seconds in Motor Trend instrumented testing, and it got all of the hot hatch inputs right. This is a little three-door with proper fizz.
Sure, this example may have 107,000 miles on the clock and a hit on its Carfax, but its seats are in decent shape, the underbody is relatively clean, and even the headlights don’t look too oxidized. Sure, this one reportedly makes a transaxle noise when the fluid is warm, but considering how few clean SVT Focuses are left on the roads, a Bring A Trailer sale price of $5,800 makes this one feel worth rolling the dice on.
2002 BMW 745Li — $5,200
Is it just me, or is the story beginning to turn for the E65 7 Series? Thanks to the current M3, the infamous Bangle butt 7 Series is no longer the most controversial BMW of all time, and perhaps due to the kindness of time, people are starting to look at these things as what they are — immaculately appointed long-distance cruisers that felt leagues fresher than a contemporary S-Class. From available satin veneers to optional massaging front seats, these things meant business, and they’re better than you’d expect today.
Of course, finding a nice 745Li these days is more difficult than plucking a bouquet of four-leaf clovers, but this one seems to have the right ingredients. Not only has the same family owned it since new, but it’s a California car that’s claimed to be garage-kept, and the seller swears that everything save for a front parking sensor works. Slap a fresh set of tires on it, hope that the N62 valve stem seal gods are feeling generous, and this thing’s good to go.
Take Your Pick
It doesn’t happen often, but once in a while, Bring A Trailer turns up some bargains. Out of these nine cars, which would you most want to take home? While my wandering eye views the Lexus SC400 with admiration, my “I could fix it” ambition draws me magnetically toward that 928. I know it’s bad news, but temptation is one hell of a drug. Are you similarly crazy? Let me know in the comments below.
(Photo credits: Bring A Trailer)
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If a anything I’m tempted most by the 928. To me these look like Toothless from “How To Train Your Dragon” movies. Electrical issues just make it even more like Toothless when we first meet him; broken, angry and moody.
As its new owner I’d cosplay fixing those issues as Hiccup rehabilitating Toothless and I’d finish the job by painting half the spoiler red.
Those poor SC400s have been low-rent sporty hood favorites for many years now and I haven’t seen one that wasn’t clapped out. The one in the article has the expected mods and I expect it’s been ridden harder than a rented mule. $10k for that is insanity.
However…. The wheels are tasteful and it’s not stanced with rolled fenders.
Sure stock would be preferred, but I think this one is worth the $10k gamble.
It’s your $10k 🙂
virtually, yes
I do not think fantastic means what you think it means.
fantastic
adjective
1 it’s a fantastic notion, but it would explain everything: fanciful, extravagant, extraordinary, irrational, wild, mad, absurd, far-fetched, nonsensical, incredible, unbelievable, unthinkable, implausible, improbable, unlikely, doubtful, dubious; strange, peculiar, odd, weird, eccentric, insane, whimsical, capricious; imaginary, visionary, romantic, unreal, illusory, make-believe; informal crazy, cock-eyed, oddball, off the wall; British informal barmy, potty, daft. ANTONYMS rational
2 the mountains assumed weird and fantastic shapes: strange, weird, bizarre, outlandish, queer, peculiar, eccentric, grotesque, freakish, surreal, exotic; whimsical, fanciful, quaint, imaginative, elaborate, ornate, intricate, rococo, baroque, phantasmagoric, Kafkaesque. ANTONYMS ordinary, unremarkable
Ohhh Packard!
This was a terrific deal and I’d take ten of these at <$10k before I took one of those hideous and complex modern ones.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1979-bmw-733i-7/
Im shocked that that 928 is that much money in that condition. I would figure that price for a clean runner. But what do I know?
The Packard has a straight 8. I don’t know why I’ve always been oddly fascinated with the straight 8. Why is it that it fell out of favor? Yes, I understand it must’ve been really long (that’s what your mom said) but they fit it then. What was the last vehicle to use one? Anyone?
I had a 1993 Lexus SC300 with the 5speed in Imperial Jade Mica. Just a superb vehicle in every way. The one to have was the 1997. That was the first year of the refresh and last year of the 5 speed. It was available in an amazing electron blue. Just gorgeous and exceedingly rare.
The Focus SVT were cool little cars. I would rip one of those happily.
OK everyone, that’s my $.02.
Same on the 928, wasn’t one recently featured for a fraction of that with a spare drivetrain? IIRC the interior was in good nick but it needed a respray.
That 745 for fuck-it-money is oddly tempting. How bad could it be as an occasional driver?
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-swaps/1333289-lsx-into-porsche-928-completed.html
Me: I’ve got some money I’d like to set on fire
Thomas: I gotchu boo
Fuck no.
Cute.
No.
No.
No.
Weebs only.
Fucking Christ no.
No.
No.
Volvo
I really like that Packard. Would be a nice cruiser and not one of the usual suspect ’50s American cars you see everywhere, plus my grandfather had a Packard back in his bootlegging days, though he didn’t highly regard Packard’s post war stuff. An ex and a friend both had Volvo 240s. The ex’s I drove from FL to MA. It was really slow. Still probably better to drive than most new cars, but not exactly fun and comparing it to new cars doesn’t say much. Bulletproof, but age catches up with everything (like it did my friend’s about 10 years ago when he let it go after a constant string of problems from an otherwise good condition car). If that Lexus didn’t look like I’d never got the vape and weed smell out and I’d be chasing and cursing Mickey Mouse “mods”, I’d call that a great buy. My sister had the Maxima of that Infiniti. It was a nice car until it completely rotted out to the point where the sills were held together by blistered paint and the radiator held up by its hoses in about 7 years—that’s far worse than an ’80s Subaru or ’00s Mazda. Almost everything I’ve heard about 928s says they’re cheap because they’re not nice enough drivers to be worth the trouble. Those Focuses are rare now (and have been for a long time) for a reason: Ford really cheesed out on the US version, which is a shame. While I did enjoy driving a cab forward box truck to some degree, I have no interest in those weird grocery cart trucks beyond driving one around a parking lot for the experience. I wouldn’t touch that BMW.
the Mitsubishi is the cutest kitten in the litter – can’t turn it down
I like the Packard, but I’d probably end up with the 938. I’d put a lot of money into it. I’d end up putting no miles on it and then it would be listed at BAT in another 2 years, older but no better.
That SC400 is no WinAmp.
It’s a sketchy repackaged copy of Winamp with an unnecessary “keygen” in the .zip that installs rootkits and botnet agents on your computer.
So, Winamp basically.
New wiring harness on the 928? Get one from Kroon. Indistinguishable from a new one from Porsche. Problem solved.
That’s a very tempting project.
The SC400 for sure, but I have grave concerns about its previous treatment. It’s been modified a bit and is wearing an absolutely horrendous set of aftermarket wheels. Slash, are my eyes deceiving me or did the aftermarket coilovers lower it?
My brothers in Christ, this gem of a GT has been tooned and hooned. The low mileage makes me cautiously optimistic that it hasn’t been beaten within an inch of its life, but I’d imagine a lot of those miles were hard ones. For nearly 10 large I’d be a little more patient and wait for an old lady owned one. They’re definitely out there.
Speaking of which-let’s not talk these up too much. They can be our secret. We don’t need the JDM bros realizing they’re basically bargain MK4s and filling them with vape juice and conspicuous quantities of used tissues.
That train left the station 10+ years ago. At least in coastal California, IME the SC400 is very popular with 3rd and 4th owners with questionable driving habits. I love those cars but will never own one because they’re all roached.
If you type “cromulent” into the search function, you will notice every article containing the word has been penned by Thomas. Clearly there is an agenda here to expand our vocabulary (or identify the non-Simpsons fans), and as a self-appointed spokesman for the hoi polloi, I find this effort most anomalous.
He’s just trying to embiggen us all.
I’ll take the SC400 and SVT Focus, please. I owned a 2000 Focus SE back in 2004 that was a decent commuter vehicle for running all about Houston, but hardly fun to drive. When the SVT Focus started hitting the used market I briefly considered picking one up, but couldn’t bring myself to relegate it to commuter duty and just kept the SE for a few more years until it was ready for retirement. I still secretly want a SVT Focus, but boy is it hard to find one that hasn’t been beat to within an inch of its life.
That Packard is calling to me!!! It knows my name!
I will hear it’s siren song in my dreams.
My parents had an early first-gen Infiniti I30, a ’96. If that car was still around, I wonder if it could find any traction on BaT. It had a properly weird spec: five-speed manual, no sunroof, cloth seats, and it was purple.
I worked with a guy with nearly the same spec, except his was gold. It was a really odd car, if I’m honest. The gold paint faded, as all gold 90s cars do, to the point that it was at least nine different shades of gold. The cloth was nice in the Houston heat, but the shifter was numb and it didn’t feel very luxury for a supposed luxury brand. The I35 he traded it in on was much more up to the luxury task.
The Kei trucks may be titled now but let’s see what happens in a few years.
Seeing these Kei trucks makes me realize how spoiled we are in Canada thanks to our 15-year rule. We get access to the next gen with EFI and better parts support for the same price. They aren’t as charming looking of course.
If I was looking for a project, that 928 would be in the garage for sure. But, I have enough of those currently. Therefore, I would absolutely loved to have grabbed that Packard. Easy on the budget, easy to wrench on, and what a cool old cruiser to use as vintage spring-summer-fall transportation. I’ve even got a “classic route” to arrive at work which avoids the four-lane – perfect for a car with a 2-speed transmission.
I had stopped visiting because of their continually upward pricing, but apparently I need to go back to checking out BAT once again.
A what now?? That sounds intriguing and deserving of some research.
While a few interest me, if it were my money the Volvo Brick. It will just run and a good commuter
The KEI trucks are runners up.
The I-35 hit me in the feels. I inherited a 2000 I-30t from my father in law, looked a lot like this one, but with twice the mileage. He kept it beautifully until his passing in 2015. That one had an even lesser engine (3.0) than this one, but that “cromulent” description is accurate – performance is perfectly adequate. What was great about that car is that it was a reminder of how good Nissan used to be – the interior was very comfortable and well designed, the leather was supple but not “easy chair”, and best of all…everything still worked on that car. It was that way when I traded it in as well. I was sad to see it go, but it was necessary…one of the things that was touched on here was the rust factor. While the outside was washed and maintained, the salt monster quietly did it dirty. One of the big problems was that the radiator support was integral to the engine mounts, and this support was never really designed to withstand the corrosion that it saw here. I discovered this when i had to replace a radiator, and nursed it along for a while until I recongnized that it was probably not going to last much longer.