Let’s face it – a dollar, or in this case 5,000 of them, doesn’t buy what it used to. Often, the toughest part of penning the regular $5,000 Challenge series is finding cars from our classifieds within this price cap that are both interesting and, in some cases, salvageable within a reasonable budget.
This time around, we’ve opted to up the ante, raising the price cap by 50-percent, to $7,500, in an effort to broaden the selection. Fortunately, all of these choices come in well below that limit, and range from driver-quality cars that need a bit of work to those nearly ready for the weekend show-and-shine.
1977 Mercury Grand Marquis
A ride cushy enough to perform surgery in the back seat on the interstate. An engine with ample power, and a corresponding thirst for gasoline. A hood — and trunk — larger than the footprint of most starter homes, and a two-tone paint job that could only come from the era that gave us disco, polyester bell bottoms and pet rocks. Like the woolly mammoth, the age of cars like this 1977 Mercury Grand Marquis has come and gone, but it’s hard to look at these pictures without thinking, “what a magnificent beast.” It isn’t certain how many owners have graced the driver’s seat of this Merc, but it’s clearly been pampered its entire life. Recent mechanical work should address the car’s immediate needs, meaning it’s ready to take to a weekend cruise-in, preferably a few states away. The asking price? $5,500.
1959 AMC Rambler American
Ask anyone who works at an animal shelter, and they’ll say the same thing: purebred dogs, especially puppies, have no trouble finding a home. “American Shelter Dogs,” the current favored name for mixed breeds, can be a hard sell, though most are just as intelligent and loyal. Think of this Rambler American as the automotive equivalent of the American Shelter Dog – it won’t ask for much, and chances are good it will deliver years of faithful service to its next owner. It won’t get lost in a parking lot, and chances are good you’ll own the only example in your neighborhood, city, or possibly even county. The asking price? $7,000.
1992 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo
To some, an automobile from the 1992 model year is nothing more than a used car, but with two and a half decades behind it, this Oldsmobile is now eligible for display at Antique Automobile Club of America shows. Sold from 1988 through 1992, the Trofeo was Oldsmobile’s range-topping trim for the Toronado, blending an equal mix of sportiness and elegance. In its final year, just 5,197 examples were constructed, and seeing one on the road today is a rare event indeed. This summer-driven coupe is said to be extremely clean, with just 56,000 miles showing on the odometer. At shows, it will likely garner more looks and questions than a perfectly restored tri-five Chevy, Mustang, or Road Runner, for a fraction of the investment. The asking price? $6,000.
1974 Plymouth Satellite Sundance
A car is only original once, leaving the next owner of this Plymouth Satellite (in unusual Sundance trim) with a dilemma: repair the few rust spots and repaint, or leave it as-is and drive it? If the paint is addressed, the vinyl roof and fender dings should be as well, and in that case, it becomes just another restored mid-1970s Mopar. We’d replace the mis-matched tires, and we’d probably track down a set of Rallye wheels to replace the existing Cragar five-spokes (which are, at least, period-correct). Though not perfect, with a few weekends of work this would make an interesting driver. The asking price? $7,200.
1980 BMW 733i
Imagine a time before air bags, electro-nannies and computer-controlled window switches, when automakers like BMW sought to build sport sedans for those who relished the feel of a properly apexed corner and a rev-matched down shift. This 733i is a time capsule back to that era, complete with a four-speed manual transmission and a 173-horsepower inline six beneath the hood. That’s not to say this is a simple car to wrench on, since BMW’s 7 series has always pushed the envelope for innovation, but a competent foreign car garage should be able to address any mechanical issues as they arise. The asking price? $5,000.
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