California Deals

I have a work trip that will keep me in San Diego for 2 weeks. I've been sporadically scanning craigslist looking for deals I wouldn't be able to pass up. I know smog testing is tight on older cars and failing that, they could get sold off for a bargain. Do they do smog testing starting in 1972? There are definitely some rust free vehicles I would love to pick up around that vintage. Drive or ship are both on the table depending what the car is but rust free beaters seem pretty attractive to me. Ideally the cars would be sub $3k but that is partially a flexible number. I would love a rust free older civic but all the ones I spotted on CL were pretty hacked up. What about rotaries? Do RX7's tend to pass smog out there? I've always been excited by the early ones. Even a rust free Metro would be cool. I'm thinking late 70's to early 80's might be prime picking overall. I am also open to a buy there sell here flip. Here being Massachusetts. Probably any rust free Toyota pickup would sell good here.

Who has suggestions of things to keep an eye out for while there?

Lots of nice, cool, rust free cars in San Diego. Pre 1974 does not require smog iirc.

RX7s can be difficult to smog which is one of the reasons the 1st gen (especially carbureted) can be found for a song out here. 2nd gens are a bit easier thanks to fuel injection and 3 cats. You can probably get one of those temp stickers if the seller has not smogged it. CA laws says that the seller is responsible for smog but practice says that the buyer sometimes does it.

I've shipped several cars from California over the years to South East Massachusetts. I have never been to California, but I have had several California cars. My vote would be for a 79 RX7 if you can find one. I love mine! Amazingly the 79 I have is not a California car, but rather a Massachusetts car its whole life. If you find a 79 and possibly need parts let me know I have loads of them.

Chris

A quick lunch time search showed me that trucks are pretty cheap out there and should have good resale out here. Maybe I buy a car, truck, and trailer and cruise them all back. Plus I have a backup vehicle ready and waiting.

Tow vehicles:

1980 F100

1973 C20

1970 Cadillac Eldorado

Towee:

1980 BMW E21

1969 Plymouth Valiant

1967 Dodge Dart

RX7 GSL-SE

1982 BMW 320i

There is also a few older 323's and Protege's showing up. I've always been curious to see how those drive. Probably not a money maker to flip back east though.

That last 320i looks pretty slick and a good driver