Oddballs

Barris Berry Buggy is Back: 1972 Mini T4

Enthusiasts have been talking about the increasing value and collectability of weird, whacky, and wonderful 1970’s Dune Buggy models over the past year, and the barn find found here on Craigslist thanks to reader Michael, is a great example of a… more»

Pre-Miura Project: 1964 Lamborghini 2R Tractor

As many of us know, Lamborghini and Porsche were among today’s modern exotic car manufacturers that had a stake in the farming apparatus industry many moons ago. Similar to Porsche’s use of vehicles like the Cayenne today, tractors helped… more»

SkyRanger with 7,500 Miles: 1991 Ford Ranger

This unusual Ford SkyRanger is yet another American Sunroof Company creation that seems both clever and crazy at the same time. Yes, this is the company that had its hand in the ASC McLaren featured this week, as well… more»

Build it Your Way: Austin Mini Panel Van Project

This is quite a project: what we’re looking at are the remains of an Austin Mini panel van, a variant of the classic Mini we see even less frequently than the Countryman. The latter has fancy wood trim and… more»

20,000 Original Miles: 1986 Subaru XT

As some of you know, I had a short-lived dalliance with an original owner Subaru XT6. Needless to say, the love affair was short-lived. That said, I still can’t help but notice these unusual cars when they pop up… more»

E-Class Alternative: 5-Speed 1988 Mazda 929

Here’s a car that’s already extinct before you factor in the extreme outlier on the feature list: a rear-wheel drive 1988 Mazda 929. These are often overshadowed by Toyota’s Cressida of the same era, but here’s where this one… more»

Return of the Golden Sahara: George Barris Lincoln Capri

This famed Petersen Motorama showcar was lost for 50 years, but has since returned to light and is now slated to go to auction at Mecum’s Indianapolis event in May. The 1953 Lincoln Capri on which it was based… more»

Castillian Cast-Away: LaDawri Victress Coupe Kit

This big, black cast-away coupe actually represents a very interesting bit of fiberglass car history, and for only $650 as found here on Craigslist – it would be a (relatively) inexpensive way to build one of the last surviving… more»

Obscure and Extinct: 1980 Fiat Strada

Yes, this unusual Fiat was sold in the U.S. for several years as the Strada, a hatchback that was built on the aging Fiat 128 platform. Featuring styling that even today remains quite avant-garde (or polarizing, depending on how… more»

Samurpel? Opeluki? 1973 Opel GT Samurai Mash-Up

Some things are just unnatural. Tofurkey, for example. Nothing against tofu, or turkey – but why mold it in the shape of a Turkey? So, a 1973 Opel GT setting atop a Suzuki Samurai frame, like the one found… more»

Foreign Diplomat: 1979 Nissan President

The Nissan President is one of the more unusual JDM cars. It pulls many styling cues from 1970s American vehicles and couples them with Nissan’s own flavor of design. Big American cars have long been popular with executives in… more»

Just Wow: 1965 Chevrolet Corvair 4-Door Convertible

I’ll just say it, we Corvair owners can be an…interesting bunch, and a Corvair owners’ Facebook group that I belong to turns up oddball cars with alarming frequency, but this one is really something! What we have here is… more»

Build-A-Beast: BMW M1 Replica Kit Car

The world of replicas, or replicars, is vast and curious. How many legendary sports cars have ended up with a fiberglass mold made of it, built on the chassis of mundane vehicles like old Beetles and Fieros? Some of… more»

Amar-What? 1985 Armaretta Coupe By Lerini Coach

With an asking price of $25,000 as listed here on Hemmings.com, this 1985 Armaretta Coupe could be yours for 10% of what it cost to build it for the Los Angeles Auto show in the ’80s. Thanks to reader… more»

Alpaca Edition! 1971 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow

Look, we don’t make this stuff up. We just write about and post what we see. This time around we have a 1971 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. In common configuration four-door sedan. Well, “saloon” as our friends across the… more»

Godzilla Tough: 1985 Mitsubishi Diesel Jeep

Like Coca Cola, Corvettes, and Oreo cookies, Jeeps are a uniquely American product.  Born just before we entered World War II, the legendary all terrain vehicle emerged from the fires of war to become a plaything for Americans obsessed… more»

Barn Finds