cheap, old and obscure

My first car. Long gone but sometimes I wish I still had it.

JamesMcD wrote: I like Daimler Darts (SP250): *edit* I forgot about the cheap criteria, sorry.

I realize this is subjective, but that is one powerfully ugly motor vehicle. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

This one isn't quite old, and fails my estimation of cheap, but I think it makes up for everything on obscure. And the weird is cranked up to 11, which is always a plus:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=271017026450&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648#ht_500wt_1182

I've seen some prices on Subaru 360s that made me momentarily consider buying one, and you won't run into too many people who know what they are in the US. As I recall, there are some really interesting swap opportunities, too.

In reply to Josh:

For some reason the VIN on that Citroen gave me a giggle, 7MANH0000N...

SAAB Sonett III. There's one rotting away in my town.

LADA Niva. 4x4 awesomeness.

Appleseed wrote: SAAB Sonett III. There's one rotting away in my town.

Saab, Born From Gliders.

Oh yeah, the Sonett is a good call. I'd never even heard of it until I met a guy with one up at the restaurant on top of Angeles Crest Highway, pretty cool cars.

Lets see for cheap and obscure I've owned :

a 1969 Reliant Scimitar GTE

Hyundai Stellar

three Lada Nivas

Mazda 808

Honda S600

seems I've got a bit of an issue here :)

Hal wrote: My first car. Long gone but sometimes I wish I still had it.

I learned to drive in a 4CV, and still have a '61 example at my folk's house in Seattle. If it didn't cost so much to ship it over here I'd have it with me where I could rebuild it correctly (I have a 100 hp Gordini engine that woudl bolt into it)

Fiat 850's

PS: That Velam is so cool

AutoXR wrote: BMW ISetta... common....generic Try my french Velam Isetta...

JoeyM wrote:

oldtin wrote:

I love this. The picture name says that it started life as a fiat 126B. Was the Volga a badged-engineered version?

I don't know what the berkeley is going on here BUT I LIKE IT.

Chris_V wrote: I learned to drive in a 4CV, and still have a '61 example at my folk's house in Seattle. If it didn't cost so much to ship it over here I'd have it with me where I could rebuild it correctly (I have a 100 hp Gordini engine that woudl bolt into it)

Too bad you don't have it since we don't live very far apart.

With that engine you would probably be able to break the speed limit. I always thought that the fact that mine couldn't was why my father bought it for me.

In reply to Hal:

Haha! Yeah, my parents one they bought new had the 28hp 750cc engine. They still have it, too, but dad's upgraded it to the 40 hp 850cc engine. Don't know that it can do the speed limit yet. But the 100hp version I have should be able to accelerate like a 944 (as it only wieghs 1300lbs).

Borgward Goliath, aka Hansa 1100. Sorry no pics. for now..

I have two cars that didn't sell well when new, were both reviled for their ugly looks, but they both have great engines (turbocharged JDM SR20DET dropped into the latter).