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In the News: New Cars Bad, Old Cars Good
This is Collector Car TL;DR: a weekly recap of what happened on Collector Car Feed, plus car auctions, listings, automotive news… Things of interest to someone who might watch Collector Car Feed. You know, you.
And you can get it weekly by giving me your email address.The Videos
This past week in Collector Car Feed videos was Readers’ Rides: the viewer car review segment. Please don’t send your car right now, we’re a little backed up. But if you do send it to the right email address, we will have no choice but to take a look eventually. We’re currently working on Q3 2023.
Unheard of: he said he was going to turbo his car “some day”, and then he did
This episode highlights a young New Zealander’s JZX100. In his email from 2023, he states he plans to turbo the NA motor “soon”. The cohosts universally agree “soon” means “never”, but what happens next will shock you.Got flexed on by a high school kid. Is this the hardest slammed Toyota on earth?
The cover truck here speaks for itself; a Subaru DL owner also builds an engine from a box of scraps.The Subaru WRX you can drive without letting people know you drive a WRX
The Legacy GT is presented. Quoting the owner: “I have had this Subaru for two years. I have honestly learned quite a bit [about] how reliable Subarus really are: they are not.”This video includes my favorite email of the bunch, so, watch this one if you’re only watching one.
The News
If Americans Don’t Want Small Cars, Why Did This Honda Fit Only Depreciate $1,180 In Eleven Years?
The Autopian reports on a Bring A Trailer listingin which a 1600 original mile Fit sells for $18,000. It’s even a CVT. Gross!Yes, It’s Going to Be Much Harder to Get a Nissan Z in 2027
Nissan is switching to a “made to order” system for the Z. Considering I’ve spotted three outside of SEMA since they entered production in 2022, this basically means we’re never going to see another new Z ever again.Stellantis reports first annual loss, no profit-sharing checks to UAW employees from 2025
Year over year sales are down 2% for Stellantis between 2024 and 2025, and if you’re surprised… how? All the leftover Challengers and Chargers are gone and peak Jeep Wrangler was what, a decade ago now? This begs the question: when will the aftermarket start making angry eyes and grilles with cheekbones for the Bronco?The Cars
1988 Nissan 200SX
Already sold, this was an S12: the Cope 240SX. This also wasn’t a turbo model, just a base, and it even has a salvage title. But at 31,000 miles on the clock and a $4500 asking price with the guarantee that it “runs and drives great”, anybody can see how it sold quick. Expect to see this one up for auction soon, probably on Cars and Bids.
1,600-Mile 2015 Honda Fit EX
As mentioned, this CVT dorkmobile sold for eighteen grand, proving there is a market, at least to one guy, for a sub-$20K subcompact.
This was actually proven last summer when a 2019 Fiesta ST sold for $18,250. What a better purchase by every imaginabe metric.
Ongoing Auctions
2016 Ford Fiesta ST
This FiST just looks good on those RPF1s, and it has the optional Recaro seats. I kind of want to buy it and swap those parts over to my black Fiesta ST (also a Cars and Bids purchase). This one is kind of a basket case and I expect the price to stay low, even though it won’t, because Cars and Bids bidders are mentally ill. A statement by the owner: “The car was tuned from 5k miles up until 75k miles when I installed a big turbo; that engine ate cylinder 1 around 93k miles due to a bad tune.” Classic.
2000 Toyota Celica GT
This 7th gen Celica GT auction ends today. At time of writing, it’s at $6850. It has 48,400 miles, somehow wound up on aftermarket wheels, and almost certainly burns tons of oil regardless of its mileage (this is a 1ZZ powered base model, not the desirable GT-S). But you never see 7th gen Celicas with mileage like this. I’m guessing it doesn’t really have legs and will stop around $8500.
2003 Nissan 350Z Coupe
Worst year, worst trim, worst color, timebomb transmission, mediocre mileage (~110,000), accident on record, known flaws include basic work you’d expect to be done before sale at auction. And yet, somehow, this will go over ten grand.
1991 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo
This is a USDM 300ZX TT. It has 6900 miles. It’s at $85,000 at time of writing with 3 days to go. I hope the high bidder is sweating bullets, because low miles or not, this is no Supra. Really nice car, hope you never make your money back.Final Thoughts
It’s been a week of nothing but bad news from automakers, while at the same time prices soar at auction for both late model hoopties and neoclassic halo cars. Is it rose colored glasses, or is the landscape really just that bleak? Let me know at collectorcarfeed@gmail.com.
See you Soon.
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Duncan Imports vs Zilvia.net: Shutting Down a Bring A Trailer Con Artist
Gary Duncan of Duncan Imports was caught bidding up an already shady Nissan 240SX auction by the 240SX detectives over at Zilvia.net.
We lay it all out in the video above, but basically, this 590 mile 1995 Nissan 240SX zenki had some prior issues that Duncan had failed to fully disclose when it was listed for sale on their website in 2020 for $39,000, and they sure didn’t bother to fill in the details this time, listing it on Bring A Trailer. Some OG 240SX gunners didn’t agree with that and took the auction to pound town.
In an attempt to save the auction, Gary Duncan bid up the auction himself, dropping $19,427 on the table and telling everyone to bid higher lest he walk away with it. Thing is, he was using an alt. That’s called shill bidding and it’s pretty much the shittiest thing a car dealer could possibly be caught doing, which he immediately was, because this boomer signed one of his old BaT posts “Gary Duncan”.
Would you ever buy a car from this absolute legend?
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Ranking Every SCION FR-S For Sale on Facebook Marketplace
The Scion FR-S is one of three North American variants on the Toyota FT86. Synonymous with the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, this front engine, rear wheel drive, four cylinder sports car was badged by Scion in the US from 2013 to 2016. The second generation 86 has since been released for the 2022 model year, helping to continue pushing prices down, or as far down as they can be considering the current used car market.
This has to be the most riced platform in recent history, with Scion practically begging purchasers to throw on a chassis mount wing and Rocket Bunny kit. In this video, we check out nearly forty Scions. Did we find anything worthwhile? Click through and find out.
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Ranking Every E46 BMW M3 For Sale on Facebook Marketplace
The 2000 to 2006 E46 BMW M3 is the first North American M3 to get the same engine and power output as its European counterpart. This front engine, rear wheel drive sports car, available in coupe, sedan, and convertible, came with a naturally aspirated 333 horsepower 3.2 liter inline six, touting an 8000 RPM redline. Available in a six speed manual or clunky single clutch SMG that should be avoided at all costs, this is a Euro tuner favorite and has held its value quite well over the years. Today we’re trying to hunt down a six speed coupe worth buying. Will we find one? Click through and find out.
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Facebook Find: 1978 RA40 Toyota Celica
Now here’s one you don’t see every day. Forget the 240SX, forget the Miata, forget the MR2. There’s a safe bet you’re the only one rolling up to Cars & Coffee in a 2G Celica coupe like this. Find your own using the Collector Car Feed used car listing aggregator!
Described as a “true barn find”, the owner states this vehicle was bone stock on acquisition, but has since added a laundry list of tasteful upgrades, mainly targeting the suspension and drivability.
How many cars do you see with SIX horn buttons? What is even going on with this steering wheel?
The interior is in beautiful original condition, but the owner states the paint job is about 25 years old and a “ten footer”; looks great in pictures, though. We suspect the flares may be a shortcut to covering up some rust, but it sure is a killer look.
Listed for $7800, this looks like a fantastic deal if the 2G Celica does it for you. You won’t win any races, but you’ll be snapping necks all over town.
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1971 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible Sells for $151,000, Sets New Bring A Trailer Record
Four years ago, a six figure Olds 442 just didn’t exist: even $40k was a bridge too far. But prices are up and 442 auctions have exploded on Bring A Trailer with over two dozen in the past year. Today’s set an all time record at $151,000; pictures below.
Find your own Oldsmobile with the Collector Car Feed search tool.
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Time Capsule: 2000 Honda CR-V LX
Take a look at this beautiful first generation Honda CR-V! Found on Facebook Marketplace with only 84,000 original miles, this crossover is looking absolutely cherry and ready to handle the six weeks of winter ahead. Find your own using the Collector Car Feed used car listing aggregator!
The first gen Honda CR-V had only one engine option: the venerable B20B. All wheel drive was an option, and from the looks of it, this particular model doesn’t have it. But maybe that’s what is keeping the price reasonable on what would absolutely make a great utility vehicle.
Fold down those factory-fresh seats and haul lumber, PVC pipe, a flatscreen tv, and most anything else the average person might wish to transport.
With under 100,000 miles, this CR-V is a rare sight on Facebook Marketplace. A 22 year old Honda with five digit mileage doesn’t come around every day, so if you’re in or around Overland Park, Kansas, it might be time to make a move.
Checking the usual suspects, we found two first-gen CR-Vs sold on Cars & Bids, averaging $7,700 sale price, both with roughly twice the miles of this pristine example. This is a certified solid buy!
