Other Than Craigslist, Where Do You Find Decent Projects?

Hi everyone.

Well, I am getting a bit frustrated lately with the search for a project. I just cant seem to find anything decent in my price range (3500). I wanted to go vintage, but the price of pre-76 cars has gone insane. Where do you guys look to find cars other than Craigslist? I thought message boards of various car enthusiast groups might work, but they seem more insane than the crazies on CL. Am I not thinking of something? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Local junk yards

Going back a few years I was able to find my Morris Minor on eBay for $500

I find a lot of projects just driving around. You have to get a mind set of peaking into backyards as you drive by and being able to ID card under covers.

Goodwill/VOA auto auctions.

If you live someplace with actual seasons, try and use that to your advantage. If you want a convertible, jeep, muscle car, etc look for one in the winter. Prices tend to go up in the spring when the weather turns nicer and people have tax checks burning holes in their pockets.

I met a guy at a flea market that said he and his son would take country drives looking for old cars sitting outside or in back yards. They had pretty good luck, but there were two of them, and it did eat up time.

EvanB wrote: Goodwill/VOA auto auctions.

Around here Goodwill used to be good.

The local sheriff's department auction.

I second the driving around rural parts. I've seen several projects throughout western Maryland, WV, VA just on my way to camping or hiking trips. Doubtful that the owners ever listed them anywhere.

Copart auctions have some interesting stuff.

Sometimes you just gotta put in the legwork! It may as easy as craigslist or a random sighting while driving down the road. I have a lot of friends that get a lot of road time (pizza delivery, oilfield parts, utility workers, lawn care etc) that are always reporting their finds. I hit a lot of car shows and swap meets and TALK to people that may lead to gold. I am typing kinda fast right now because my brother showed me an estate sale picture that down in the bottom corner he spotted 3 Mustang parts.

Bruce

1-877-Kars4Kids... 1-877-Kars4Kids

K a r s Kars4Kids

It's in your head now!!!

But seriously, aren't these vehicles for sale somewhere?

I know in Foxboro, Ma. there's a charity donation place and you can walk through the lot and arrange a purchase.

At least you could a few years ago

Have you tried a make/model specific Facebook group yet? I have seen quite a few deals compared to CL. There are generally knowledgeable members but some groups can be a cesspool of stupidity.

Wait. You live in Oxnard and can't find projects? You live within spitting distance of one of the richest car troves to be found. I'm in Nocal and just yesterday did a Craigslist search on vehicles prior to 1975 and under $2k. Within 10 minutes I had a half-dozen cars that made me say "If I didn't already have two projects in the garage....." It's not like 2/3 of the country where snow and salt destroy cars. You live in the land of dryness. What are your parameters? What am I missing?

ebonyandivory wrote: 1-877-Kars4Kids... 1-877-Kars4Kids K a r s Kars4Kids It's in your head now!!! But seriously, aren't these vehicles for sale somewhere? I know in Foxboro, Ma. there's a charity donation place and you can walk through the lot and arrange a purchase. At least you could a few years ago

And if you donate your car to VOA, it can become a vee-hickle of hope for someone in need!

I hadn't thought about Facebook, good call.

I suppose I can drive around, I do see cars under covers a lot. The problem with CA is that everyone and their uncle comes here to find good cars, which jacks up the price and makes the good deals a race to see who gets there first. I had my sights on a 74 Alfa Berlina for 3500 and it was gone in less than 24 hours.

I called Goodwill and they said they don't sell to private parties. Same with the other donation places.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll keep hunting.

In reply to Kreb:

Running and driving, no rust, not a VW. If it is post 1975, it has to pass smog before it can be registered to a new owner.

I didnt think I was being too crazy, but maybe I am.

Dude you live in Southern California. I drive around and see potential projects all day. Go to the Palmdale/Lancaster/Little Rock/Lake Los Angeles area and you'll see cars sitting in yards everywhere. Even on the route 138 there's shops that have cars just sitting in front because of people not paying etc. I was up there on Monday and I saw a dozon or so cars I wanted to stop and ask about.

What specifically are you looking for? I know of a few places that just has old mercedes sitting there. Even on craigslist. But id you're looking for old american muscle, then it'll always be expensive.

samba

Is there a way to search more than one CL location at the same time? Or even ALL of them?

Hasbro wrote: Is there a way to search more than one CL location at the same time? Or even ALL of them?

Searchtempest.com

I stumble across projects completely by accident. Usually when I don't have the money to buy them. People s me in the cop car or miata, and talk to me at the gas station or wherever and try to sell me cars. It's strange, and I need to make/carry more money than I do.

In reply to Hasbro:

The Craigslist app too

Facebook marketplace.

There's something to be said for trying to locate a car that's not on the market and convincing the guy to sell. My cousin had the ultimate example of this: Every day he'd drive past a mid-70s 911 and never saw the thing move or washed. He found the owner who said that he'd parked it with transmission problems, and now the tires needed replacing et cetera. After half- a dozen polite conversations, the guy sold it to him for $2500. My cuz fixed the clutch, spent a couple grand on tires and maintenenace items and especially now that the aircooled market has gone insane, it's the greatest investment ever.

Good advice, everyone.

I DO think I need to not look at American iron in general. Even run-of-the-mill 66 Mustangs are crazy expensive. I think I will target cars like old Mercedes, Opels, Volvos, etc. I will probably also start looking at 80's cars. I had an old 87 5.0 notchback that I miss. Another fox-body might be fun...

I am looking to get something in the next few weeks, so whatever I end up with, I will make sure to post it on the forums.