And now, another installment of “What in the Sam Hill Happened?” Today’s subject is a 1961 Chevrolet Impala convertible, or perhaps I should suggest that it used to be a ’61 Impala convertible. Whatever its story, I sincerely hope no one was harmed in this car’s transformation from what it was to what it is now. Let’s take a closer look and see if we can unravel this mess. Located in Los Angeles, California, this once nicely modded Impala is available here on craigslist for $38,000.
Those old station wagons keep on rollin’, and today’s discovery, courtesy of Zappenduster, is the seldomly encountered Ford Fairlane Squire, a 1966 example to be precise. The full-size Country Squire makes BF front page news pretty often, so this smaller, intermediate Fairlane Squire is a welcome review topic. This one is unusually equipped, so let’s take a closer look at this resident of Fruita, Colorado. Here on craigslist is where you’ll find it, and it’s available for $15,500.
I always find discontinued auto marques an interesting study. In my time on earth, I’ve counted fourteen U.S. brands that are no longer with us, compared to, by my count, only ten domestics that are still with us (eleven if you include trying-to-hang-on Rivian). The reasons for disappearances are many and varied, and today, I’d like to focus on DeSoto via this 1950 Custom Coupe. DeSoto had some good sales years until it didn’t, and then it was ultimately crowded out. That being the case, I was pleased to find the listing, courtesy of Jack M., for this restored coupe. It calls Farmington, New Mexico, home, and it’s available here on craigslist for $14,000.
Show of hands if you remember Nissan’s Maxima station wagon. I’d completely forgotten such an animal existed until I noticed this listing for a 1987 model surfaced by Mitchell G. It is in surprisingly nice condition and has to be a rare find these days. Calling St. Petersburg, Florida, home, this high-end family hauler is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,700.
Well, we received a lot of interesting comments about this 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Classic, and for obvious reasons. Today, let’s wind things back three years and review the 1985 variant – and this one has been bestowed with the exalted Brougham [ˈbruːəm] trim level features. It also has wheels that make a lot more sense… Beyond that, it’s in fabulous condition, considering its locale. Curvette has done the honors of submitting this tip, and those with an interest will find this highly optioned Olds hanging out in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada, where it’s available on craigslist for $19,000 ($13,490 U.S).
Purity! That’s why I selected this 1930 Ford Model A to review. Now, purity doesn’t necessarily mean cleanliness; no, I’m thinking more along the lines of “original”, “as intended”, “not messed with”, and that’s what I see in this old and popular Ford. A resident of Naples, Florida, this car, going forward, is a blank canvas – lots of possibilities here! If you’re interested in learning more, you can find this 95-year-old Model A here on eBay, where it’s available for $9,500, OBO.
You know, one advantage of harboring a barn find is that you get to use its horizontal surfaces to store stuff. Perhaps not ideal, but I know I’ve done it, and so has the owner of this 1955 Ford Customline Fordor Sedan. I mean, where else are you going to park your helmet, paddle, weed-wacker extension, and blue canvas bag? The seller sez it has been sitting for 30 years and it’s a two-owner car, but that’s about it for commentary. Jim A. found this barn-bound Ford for us; it’s located in Riley Township, Michigan, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $2,900.
The sun was setting on GM’s rear-wheel-drive intermediates (G-body) cars in ’88. It was down to just two, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Oldsmobile Cutlass, such as today’s topic, a Cutlass Supreme Classic. For Oldsmobile, it had been a heck of a ride with the Cutlass, first as an A-body, setting sales records in the seventies, and then later in the eighties, as a G-body, rubbing shoulders with the Cutlass Ciera, the new front-wheel-drive A-body. One thing that Olds engineers likely didn’t anticipate 37 years ago was wheels larger than fourteen or maybe fifteen inches in diameter – so much for that limitation! Today’s “visually notable” discovery, located in Westbrook, Maine, is courtesy of Zen and can be found here on craigslist for $12,995.
Ford was working on a lot of excitement back in 1964. The April introduction of the Mustang was, of course, internationally newsworthy (even Ian Fleming’s blockbuster Goldfinger, filmed in ’64, featured the new pony car), and the lowly compact Falcon got a kick upstairs, enjoying a sharp-looking exterior upgrade that meshed perfectly with its “Sprint” performance version. Today’s discovery, courtesy of Curvette, is a ’64 Falcon Sprint convertible, and it’s very nicely outfitted. Seattle, Washington, is where you’ll find this Skylight Blue drop top, and it’s available here on craigslist for $28,500.
A 1993 Lexus SC 400 is hardly the general fare for Barn Finds. Actually, Lexus’s (or is it Lexi?) don’t make the cut often, and that’s with good reason; they’re generally not the stuff of what’s been found, languishing in a barn for years. That said, Lexus makes, and has made, some very fine cars, and the SC series is right in line with that claim. Today’s find, surfaced by Curvette, is one of Lexus’ more sporting models and appears to be a sound example. North Tacoma, Washington, is where you’ll find this 129K-mile two-door coupe, and it’s available here on craigslist for $9,200.
Two, well, actually three, things struck me when reviewing the listing for this 1962 Chrysler Newport Town & Country wagon. First is its color, second is its four-door hardtop configuration – unusual for a station wagon, and three is the fact that these are rarely spotted. Add that to the station wagon vein that I’m in (1960 Pontiac Catalina reviewed on 11/3), and I thought this car would be an interesting BF subject. It calls Sequin, Texas, home, and it’s available here on craigslist for $26,000. Three cheers to Tony P. for this tip!
We cover 1960 Pontiacs here on BF from time to time, but rarely the station wagon version. Today’s find, courtesy of T.J., is a Catalina Safari, and it’s spectacular looking as well as being unusually equipped. The seller claims it’s one of only 714 assembled with a three-on-the-tree manual transmission, and that’s not all! We need to look this one over in detail. Chadsworth, Ohio, is where you’ll find this beautiful long-roof, and it’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $25,000.
A 1969 Buick LeSabre made me miss Physics class! How’s that for an opening? It’s a true story, and more on that later. Anyway, these were everywhere-cars at one time, 162K LeSabres were assembled in 1969 alone, helping to propel Buick to a fifth-place finish in the domestic production race that year. This two-door hardtop example is as clean as they come and declares only 79K miles of use. Marion, Ohio, is where you’ll find this hardtop, which is truly worthy of the question, “Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?” and it’s available here on eBay for a current bid of $5,020 with the reserve not yet met. BIN is an option for $12,500.
Way back when, I recall a 1959 Ford four-door sedan occupying a place in our family’s motor pool. It was a Custom trim level, wore a dull gray hue, and was powered by a six-cylinder engine. As a wee-tike, I recall the vacuum-powered windshield wipers and their peripatetic, hurky-jerky movement based on what seemed like how fast we were moving. And that’s about it; we weren’t a Ford family, and I don’t remember another one gracing our driveway. That minimal memory has driven me to review today’s find, a sharp-looking 1959 Galaxie 500 four-door sedan. Orchard Park, New York, is where you’ll find it, and it’s available here on eBay for a current bid of $3,001 with twelve bids tendered so far.
Man, that’s a lot of wood! This baby looks more like a cabin cruiser than a car, but no, it’s a 1994 Chevrolet Caprice station wagon – a very popular model at least in sedan form. And of course, there’s no real wood, just Di-Noc appliques. Well used with 180K miles of experience, this cruising Caprice still looks fresh. Cave Creek, Arizona, is where you’ll find it, and it’s available here on craigslist for $6,500. Thanks are due to Jack M. for this tip!
What’s in a name, right? Automobile models come and go, as do their names; some are memorable and venerable, others not so much so. President? That’s a good one; so’s Commander – it’s unassuming. Crown? That denotes high ranking. How about Dictator? Oh, I don’t know about that. One of Merriam-Webster’s definitions for dictator is, “one ruling in an absolute (see absolute sense) and often oppressive way.” I’m not sure there’s a way to euphemistically improve on that. Regardless, that’s the model name Studebaker chose for their entry-level cars offered between the years 1927 and 1937. Research indicates that the name was taken in stride in the U.S., but not so much so in other parts of the world. And of course, times change. Things or words that we may have used 80 or 90 years ago have often fallen out of favor today – but I digress. Today’s discovery is a neat-looking 1936 Studebaker Dictator coupe that’s clearly a project. Let’s look it over and see what potential it may have. Calling Spring, Texas home, this stylish three-seater is available here on eBay for an opening bid of $7,790 – there is a reserve.
