Forum Find: E46 Touring, Full M3 Conversion

What started life as a pedestrian automatic 323i has now become a full fledged dream wagon. This E46 Touring has benefited greatly from the death of a low-mileage 2004 M3. There's little that wasn't swapped over to the wagon, including manual trans, gauges reflecting actual motor mileage, differential, seats, steering wheel, etc. This is one hell of a daily driver set up that could also be great on the track. We found the car through it's original for sale thread on bimmerforums, here, and the actual ad is on autotrader, here, for $18,750, in Chicago, IL. 

2000 BMW 323I, Full M3 Swap

Craigslist Find: Viper Powered '51 Ford Woody Project

One of the easiest ways to get a lot of attention at a car show is shock value. We can't think of anything more shocking than a Ford Woody Wagon that's running a Dodge Viper power-train. Aside from having this very surprising power-plant, this car has had several nice body and suspension mods that have this car well on it's way to getting some serious hot rod cred. This build already has a pile of high dollar parts that is sure to cost more than the asking price. Find it here in Farmingdale, NY, for $12,000. This car is at a nice point in the build where the next owner can either go crazy with body and interior, or wrap it up and have this car on the road in a couple of months!

1951 Ford Woody Project, Viper Powered

Craigslist Find: Audi S4 Avant, RS4 Body Upgrades

For the most part, Audi has been very fair about sharing it's performance wagon with the US, but we never have gotten Audi's best. The RS Avants. This seller took it upon himself to turn his regular S4 into a RS4 and the results are simply stunning. Adding bulging RS4 flares and Ferrari Grigio paint has turned this car into probably the best looking Audi we've seen. The seller used original RS4 panels with molding, meaning you're not going to have your fender flares cracking off the body in a couple of years. Seller has wisely opted to not extensively modify the motor, but only gave it a refresh. There are some other cool mods like a Gallardo Steering wheel with RS4 airbag/cover, Alcon 6 piston brakes up front, Wilwood 4 pistons on the rear, and coil-overs on all four corners. This car is  as close to a 50 state legal RS4 as we can get over here, all it needs is a catalytic converter re-installed. Find it here, in Snoqualmie Ridge, WA, for $28,000. The price is steep but, where are you going to find another one?

Audi S4, RS4 Rebody

Craigslist Find: '95 525I Touring, S50 Swap

BMW is, to this day, quite cruel with their performance wagon distribution to the US. So we have to improvise. This E34 wagon not only has a nicely modified S50 from a dearly departed E36 M3, but it also has it's 5 speed manual as well. This car looks great with the M5 bumper swap, drop, and a nice set of CSL replica wheels. We don't mind the green that much, but we would like to know what color the interior is. A few things are going wrong with the car, most concerning is as the seller describes "...speed wobble in the passenger rear wheel, but only when going 53-57 mph... I suspect that it's either a bad wheel bearing or needs to be balanced properly." The worse case scenario is the wheels bearing, which repairing yourself is cheap, but it's a pain. There is some confusion about the condition of the paint on the roof as the seller states in one part of the ad that the roof has been sanded down and needs paint, while in another part says that the roof was taken to bare metal and painted at the same time as the bumpers. All in all, this looks like a great daily driver with some great performance mods that's in very fair condition compared to most E34's that we see for sale these days. Find it here, in Redmond, WA, for $8,000 OBO. 

1995 BMW 525I Touring, E36 M3 Drive-train Swap

Forum Find: UPDATE: '73 Corona Wagon

UPDATE: This car is still for sale and has had a dramatic price drop to $3,100. We thought it was a solid deal at $5,500, so you can imagine how great we think this deal is now! Find it here in Modest, CA.

1973 Corona Wagon

Event: JCCS 2012, Part 6

Quite possibly the coolest car Honda ever made.

Craigslist Find: '99 Impreza Wagon, WRX Swap

This WRX swapped '99 Impreza looks to be a great deal for someone who is looking to do a little bit of work. The car is being offered at $5,000 but there is an issue where the car is laggy under full boost. We're assuming it could be something as simple as a boost leak or a plugged cat, but there could be a much more serious problem. The seller is willing to have the problem diagnosed and fixed, but would up the price to $7,000. The seller reports that the wagon just made the long journey from PA to SoCal with no issues. This Impreza wagon looks great as it sits and makes a healthy 243hp to the wheels when running properly. Find it here, in Chino, CA, for $5,000 as is. Being as the car is currently registered in PA and for sale in CA, we would like to note that this may not be smog legal as it sits.

1999 Subaru Impreza Wagon, WRX Swap

Forum Find: 525IT, S50 Cams, 5 Speed Swap

This E34 looks great and promises to be good fun while grocery getting. The lackluster automatic has been swapped out for a 5 speed manual and the motor has been given a little bit more breathing room with a set of S50 cams. The car sits on adjustable coil-overs and doesn't come with the AC Schnitzer wheels that are pictured. This car is a pretty good deal at $5,500, but there are some minor issues that need addressing. The passenger seat doesn't adjust correctly, some of the front end is a mismatched white, the power sunroof is non-op, and the headliner is slightly sagging in the rear of the vehicle. Find this great daily driver here, in Northridge, CA.

1995 BMW 525IT, 5 Speed Swap, Mild Drop

Forum Find: '00 323I Touring, 5 Speed Swap

Well cared for, lowered, 5 speed swap, 323I touring. It basically sells itself in very few words. This car has very nice list of recent maintenance items and below average miles on the odometer.  The stance is just right, falling right just in the realm of daily drivable with minor scrapes every now and then. The matte black roof isn't something we would boast about as it will look like a cheap fix for a sun faded roof. We would suggest that if you cannot live without the black roof to have it painted glass black. This car should turn out some impressive fuel economy numbers and be a very competent daily driver. Find it here, in Gainesville, FL, for $9,000 OBO. The price is on the high side but it is rare to find a 5 speed RWD touring.

2000 BMW 323I, 5 Speed Swap

Event: JCCS 2012, Part 2

The quality of Datsun 510's at this year's show was the best we've ever seen.

Craigslist Find: Rare, Vinyl Top Survivor 510 Wagon

Some people like their classic cars completely stock and as original as possible. This rare vinyl top 510 wagon has a reported 32,000 miles and is in original/unrestored condition. The car looks great, but we need to see some documentation to prove the authenticity of the mileage. Especially with the price being at $14,500. Find it here, in Woodlandhills, CA!

1971 Datsun 510 Vinyl Top Wagon Survivor

Craigslist Find: Ultimate Beach Car, LT1 Swapped 300TD Benz

If you're fortunate enough to live in Hawaii then we're sure you're aware of the grueling tole you take on your car every time you go to the beach. Salt air, sandy people, bumps and dings from your fellow beach goers, and the inevitable break in. The great thing about this Merc is that you have all the space you could need for surf boards and people, the body is rough and already rusty, and the motor has been swapped out for a LT1 and 4L60E from a '97 Camaro SS just in case you need to make a quick get-away. This car has had it's plates turned and is in storage status with the DMV. The seller says they have extra fenders and bumpers to go along with the car and is asking a very reasonable $2,500. Find it here, on Oahu, HI! Special thanks to Travis for the submission!

1982 Mercedes 300TD, LT1 Swap

Craigslist Find: '91 BMW E30 Touring, 316TI in the US

It may be 2012 but the E30 touring is still a rare thing here in the US. This one looks like it's in great condition and doesn't appear to be lacking in any way. The BBS RS wheels look great as well as the black leather interior.We love the mildly useless headlight wipers that some of these Euro spec cars came with and the 316 motor is extremely rare on this side of the Atlantic. As good as this car looks you would expect a hefty price tag to be attached to it, and you'd be right! The seller is asking $19,500 and truth be told, we think it's worth it. Find it here in San Diego, CA.

1991 BMW 316TI

Craigslist Find: '00 BMW 525IT, Stanced

Here we have a 525IT that has been static dropped and sits just low enough to provide street sweeping services for the local neighborhood. It looks great and has an interesting dark wood grain vinyl wrap down the side. The car also has the more desirable 2001-03 headlights and bumper. The seller states the the rear coilovers need to be replaced. Find it here for $7,500 in Mira Mesa, CA.

2000 BMW 525IT Static Drop

Event: July 2012 Eagle Rock Datsun Show and Swap Meet, Part 3

We are very fortunate to have a great show like this one happen multiple times a year in such close proximity to our offices.

Event: July 2012 Eagle Rock Datsun Show and Swap Meet, Part 1

It seems like yesterday when we went to our first Datsun Show and Swap Meet in Eagle Rock. It was a small venue that consisted of about 20-25 cars, primarily 510s and a couple of vintage Mazdas.

Craigslist Find: Rare Manual Trans W8 Passat Wagon

The W8 motor is a double edged sword. On one hand you have great performance, on the other you have expensive repairs being as the Passat was the only platform this drivetrain was ever offered in. This W8 wagon has the very rare and desirable manual transmission and looks to be in good condition. This car is being offered by a dealership in Roy, UT so we recommend either checking the car out yourself or having a third party inspection done. We love the color and the thought of owning a motor that ended up being the base architecture of the Bugatti Veyron's power plant. $6,995 seems to be a reasonable price for such a rare vehicle, find it here.


2003 Passat W8 Wagon, Rare Manual Trans.

Craigslist Find: Diesel. Drift. Wagon.

Very rarely do three words get us as excited about a used car as Diesel, Drift, and Wagon. We'd love to pull all of the stickers, relocate the exhaust (yes, that is the exhaust sticking out of the rear window) and roll this as a daily driver. This is a car that could get you into some big trouble so the old comic book adage "With great power, comes great responsibility." rings true for the next owner. We smile at the thought of hosting our own operation-smoke-screen on some nasty tailgaters, but it's that kind of childish thoughts that get you into trouble. The seller has three different power settings that the car is capable of running and the fuel economy you can expect. The max being 300hp and 400tq and stock being 160hp and 260tq returning around 30mpg.  Find this car here, in Powdersprings, GA, for $3,500. We can't think of a better way to take four friends and your dog around a track.


1984 Mercedes 300TD, Drift Wagon

Craigslist Find: SVO Powered Pinto Wagon

Here we have the makings of an ultra sleeper. With minimal mods you could make this SVO motor scream and no one would suspect your little powder blue Pinto wagon to blow the doors off of their new Mustang GT. This car would be an absolute blast even if you left it stock. Find it here in Payson AZ, for $2750.


1979 Ford Pinto Wagon, SVO Power

Forum Finds: E30 Tourings

If the last post left you lusting for E30 tourings here's a couple that are a bit more stock and a bit more reasonably priced.