This collection is newer than most you find. Rather than focusing on the 1950s or the 1960s, this bunch is no older than 44 years. And as new as 24 years. There seems to be no rhyme or reason why they all came together as a collection, but the seller makes a point of saying he/she is not a dealer, and all of these are good-running cars with good titles. So, if your automotive interests migrate to more recent vehicles, they’re all in Syracuse, New York, available here on craigslist, and are mostly offered at $10,500 each (this price applies to seven of the 10 transports up for sale). And the Olds Vista Cruiser pictured is not one of them. Thanks to Yony Primo for this expansive tip!
1979 Ford Pinto
This is a low-mileage survivor with 63,000 documented miles. If came from Colorado and has made the car show circuit. It has a 4-cylinder engine with a 4-speed manual and apparently needs nothing.
1985 Oldsmobile 98
Sporting Royal Brougham trim, this luxury car has 98,000 miles and was treated to a repaint a few years back. We’re told the undercarriage is quite clean and it’s the only one of three not offered at $10,500 ($6,500 in this case).
1986 Ford Thunderbird
This is the Elan edition (no, not that guy Musk) and was originally a California car. It has only 57,000 miles and is wearing Mustang GT wheels, though the originals come in tow. Looks like a nice one!
1987 Mazda B2000
Fans of Japanese cars may go for this one, which has been lowered with air suspension. It’s been given a recent wrap (gold paint underneath) and is said to be a real turner of heads. 86,000 miles from Delaware.
1991 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser
Station wagons seldom got any bigger than this one. It has a third seat which is rear-facing, and the car came out of Oregon. 86,000 miles of the odometer and we’re told it runs quite well.
1992 Buick Roadmaster
Another station wagon land yacht, these boats were the end of a Detroit era. This one has 71,000 miles and a moon roof. It also has a third seat and came from Florida. $12,500 takes this one.
1994 Chevrolet Caprice
Wrapping up the big wagons is this Chevy with 129,000 miles. It’s been lowered, perhaps to appeal to the West Coast crowd. With no needs mentioned, this is another $12,500 automobile.
1994 Chevrolet Corvette
Finally, something other than a wagon. This C4 Corvette comes with a custom hard top and originated from Florida. It has the LT1 V8 engine and we’re told it’s a daily driver.
1995 Cadillac DeVille
Here’s one for those drivers who like to be spoiled. This Caddy has no rust, though it came from Pennsylvania, and the odometer clocks in at 85,000 miles. Go in style wherever your travels take you!
1999 GMC Sierra 2500
The only pickup in the bunch, this one has 124,000 and came out of Tennessee (why does this non-dealer have all these cars from various parts of the country?). Lowered by ¾, we’re told this is a solid runner with custom Hugger Orange paint.
Reminds me of a collection of cars the seller might have grown up with and went out and bought for nostalgia purposes. The Olds Vista Cruiser caught my attention but it has either been sold or is the sellers keeper.
That would make some sense. Recently I commented to a friend that his collection of old cars & trucks didn’t seem to have a theme. He quickly told me that all but one of them were representations of vehicles he had, or his wife had, or his parents had, or his grandparents had.
Yes! I looked at my wish list, most on there are diverse, but what the parents owned; a ’73 Javelin, ’77 Cutlass Supreme, ’81 Caprice Coupe, and so, so many Buicks…
This collection plays out like my childhood through teen years. I’m 43 and I’d live to take a spin in every one of these cars!
I have been called many names in my life Russ, but this has to be the first for “Yony”!
Well I was interested in that little Mazda truck until I read they lowered it.
I hope he sells them all and buys something worth while!
Evidently they were “worth while” to the owner. Maybe he’ll check with you on “worth while” vehicles in the future. Keep in mind, it’s their money and you have no horse in this race.
@ Troy. It would be easy to put back to stock. We used lowering blocks on the rear leaf springs and up front we backed off the torsion bars and it rides on air shocks.
I’ve never seen a ’79-’80 Pinto in that color. Too much cash for a 2 door, though.
Seems to me the seller is bored, and if he can get a ton of money for not so special cars, then maybe he’d consider selling.
It would’ve bern nice to view this post without all the bs clickbait ads. Not to mention missing pics and descriptions of one vehicle under pic of another. Barnfinds is better than this.
Russ,
Isn’t the Mazda a pickup also? So the 99 sure is the only full size pickup but not the only pic kip?
It’s the holidays so overlooking that a great write up
Two for 10,5 at best. The Pinto might be the best car there. In that case, the Pinto and two other cars. Let up all remember this, NYS cars, I am from Binghamton and Syracuse cars are much worse. Cars of that era, it was common to see rust holes in a two year old car from that armpit of Net York.
You sound proud of living in Binghamton. If Syracuse is the “armpit” of New York, it seems pretty clear what part of New York Binghamton, which lies due South of Syracuse, must be.
We fled 3 years ago…It all sucks.
That Pinto sold on Bring A Trailer in October for $7200. I bid on it too. Good luck getting a 50% profit out of that.
I’ve lived here in the capital region of New York for a little over ten years now, and I’m amazed when I see relatively new cars with rust. I guess people don’t understand that to keep the rot away, all they have to do is wash and wax their cars a few times a year. I’ve seen 5 year old cars with rust up here, I guess it’s a good indicator of who not to buy a car from. But I’m from SW PA, And it’s just as bad there.
Yup. I washed my cars every time it was dry probably 2 plus times a week.
You are correct. But as any car guy knows that’s not end of the story. I shipped it from Florida to NY. Paid BAT their fee. Paid NY 8% sales tax and title fees. The car would idle but not drive. Replaced and refreshed the entire fuel system. Then once it drove found out that there was 3 inches of play in the rack and pinion. Additionally undisclosed in the auction was that the heater core had need removed for the coolant system (although in retrospect you can see that in the video). Someone had tried to replace it before and destroyed the under dash plastic heater box. If I get $10500 I won’t lose too much. But of course you get all that.
Apparently the Thunderbird came from Bring A Trailer as well at $7000. Guy is probably a dealer.
Really? ONE ad for all these cars? He has no idea what hes doing!
Wow! Thank you, Russ, for commenting and posting an article on my cars, that’s very cool! For the most part you are right. My acquisition of many of them are nostalgic. I grew up in the third row of a 72 Olds and a 72 Vista Cruiser is what I drove home from the DMV on my 16th birthday when I got my Learners Permit. The freedom of that experience remains alive in me today! This particular one has been on the 2018 Hot Rod Power Tour, and after joining it in Bowling Green KY, we spent 2999 miles in 10 days in it.
I used to take my now 83-year-old father to the Daytona 500 every year and camp in the infield. But after expenses escalated, we began going on “Roadkill” style trips. We would fly somewhere and buy a 30+ year old car and drive it home. At the end of the trip I still had something I could sell! (See Roadkill S1:E1 on youtube). We have continued doing that for some time now. Thus, my love for third row long roofs began.
On the other hand, some of the cars I bought just because they appealed to me or I had another connection, like the Mazda B2000. This was on the showroom floors when I was on work study from BOCES, working at a Mazda store, my senior year in high school.
Some of you note the prices and cost because some I purchased online. I would remind you that cars online are not always as they appear. For example, someone noted that I purchased the Pinto on BAT for $7,000. While that is true, it is also one of the worst online descriptions ever assigned to a car I purchased online. Cost goes up. Initially I paid BAT their fee. Then I had it shipped from Florida to NY. When it arrived, I paid good Ole NY their 8% sales tax. It would idle but not drive due to a filthy fuel system which led to replacement/refreshment of most of it. Once it drove, we found 3 inches of play in the steering requiring a rack and pinion rebuild. Also not disclosed was that the heater core was removed from the coolant circuit (in retrospect you can see this in the BAT video) and the heater core had to be replaced. But someone had already tried and broke the heater box. @Daniel, all I’m trying to say is that if someone gives me $10500, I won’t lose too much! If they don’t, I go by my wife’s wise advice, “never buy a car you won’t be happy with if you have to keep it”.
On the other hand, some of them come much better than expected like the Mazda and the T-Bird! It’s possible I make a couple bucks and start all over.
In any event, if you are truly a car enthusiast and not an armchair critic, you understand! If you have never replaced an optic spark 500+ miles from home in a NAPA parking lot, you might be an armchair critic. If you have never stopped it McDonalds on a 100-degree day and bought bags of ice to throw on your intake manifold, you might be an armchair critic. If you have never driven with a parade of hot rods and classics through Beautiful Butts VA, you might be an armchair critic. If you have never had people walk up to you at a car show and say “I had my first kiss in this car or my dad had this car, or I had one for these in high school”, then you might be an armchair critic. I you’ve never paid cash or wired the full amount for a car and you still pay the bank $450 a month for your 2015 CRV, you might be an armchair critic. You get the point; this is about the Journy.
On the other hand, if you are car enthusiast, bring your lawn chair. I’ll be around Syracuse in one of these cars at a car show. The tail gate will be down. Grab a PBR out of the cooler, we have a lot to chat about!