6 winter workhorses under $6000
The Hagerty Marketplace is filled with lots of powerful muscle cars, sleek sports cars, and vintage SUVs that are sure to become the jewel of some devoted owner’s collection. However, our daily drivers are often utilitarian, and sometimes there are jobs that our prized cars just aren’t cut out for. Here are a handful of affordable vehicles that we on the media staff would consider adding to our own fleets to fit various winter roles.
1972 Datsun 510
We’re not going to pretend that a 50-year-old Datsun makes sense as a winter driver. But, after visiting some vintage races at Laguna Seca, we’ve been bitten by the 510 bug. $4000 is about right for a car in #4 (Fair) condition, and this one has more than its shares of bumps and bruises. Those imperfections make that price seem a tad high, but on the other hand it does have a 2.0-liter engine swap from a Datsun 610, making this a bit of a muscle car. Maybe. If we squint just right we can see it in vintage rally livery that makes those dents look like battle scars. Ice racing, anyone?
1991 Mercedes 300D
This beige beauty, powered by a five-cylinder diesel, has racked up nearly half a million miles, although it seems to have survived them quite handily. The owner notes it does look like the 300D needs a paint job, as the clearcoat is failing on many of the car’s horizontal surfaces. If its past is any indication, this Benz could be one in which to rack up the winter miles without worry. After all, it’s not like another 100,000 miles is going to hurt its resale value.
1992 Volvo 240
Volvo’s long-lived 200 Series was built for nearly 20 years before it was discontinued in the United States in 1993, making this ’92 model one of the last of the breed. These Swedish standbys were built in huge numbers and have a reputation for reliability and simplicity. Their staid design has become both endearing and iconic, and this one looks pretty darn good in seldom-seen red paint. It has survived 30 years of service relatively unscathed, and with only 150,000 miles, this brick has plenty of life left in it. And if the 2.3-liter four-cylinder does start acting up, there’s plenty of room in the engine bay to upgrade.
1984 S-10 Blazer
Chevrolet’s entry into compact SUVs in the 1980s, the Chevy S-10 Blazer, came out to battle Ford’s Bronco II, and we’ve got to say that its styling has aged a bit better than its Blue Oval rival. OK, truth be told, your author is biased because a 1986 4×4 model was his first car, which served valiantly through high school and into college.
Chevrolet’s 2.8-liter V-6 was never a powerhouse and is only adequate in these compact SUVs, but the overall package was pretty well thought-out and nimble. This one has plenty of blemishes, but they just make the rough-and-tumble little 4×4 ready for splashing around in inclement weather. You’d be hard-pressed to find a 4×4 that’s more affordable.
1985 Ford E-150
If you’ve got a winter project in your garage, you may need to haul some bulky parts. How about this simple, utilitarian, 302-powered Ford Econoline that keeps all of your gear both secure and out of the elements? We don’t have enough time to extoll all the virtues of vans, although we will point out that this one doesn’t cost a whole lot more than a camper shell for a pickup.
We’ll always find a way to rationalize a vehicle purchase, especially when it has a V-8.
1979 GMC K2500
We’re not sure what the current owner calls this 3/4-ton 4×4, but we think the blue beast of burden would make an excellent “Babe.” Aspiring Paul Bunyans, take notice: Even its wooden stake sides are painted to match.
The drivetrain consists of a crate replacement Goodwrench 350 V-8 and a four-speed manual with a “granny” low gear. Although not mentioned, its transfer case could be the famously burly NP205, which would make GMC a seriously stout work truck for just about any job you could throw at it.
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I’ve had a few drinks. I looked at the calendar and, sad to say, confirmed it is not April 1
Insanity is anyone choosing one of these over a 70’s C3 Corvette for about the same price.
Old diesels do not like to start in cold weather. I had a high mile 300D wagon that ran fine in summer but when we got a week of cold weather, I could not start it. I ended up rope towing it to the top of a hill rolled it down, slammed the automatic into gear and it spun the engine fast enough to start the car. Starter could not spin it fast enough to overcome lack of compression needed light the diesel. And yes, the glow plugs worked. It just was not tight enough to start in cold weather.
Love the Volvos. Had a few of them. I had the heater core go bad on a 740 wagon, all day, expensive job for a good mechanic but Heated seats were nice.
I would stay away from those two junk gms.
There appears to be a lot of Hagerty readers, or at least commenters, that don’t actually like vintage vehicles? Interesting.
When we used to live in northern Indiana, I would put away the Porsche and buy a winter car nearly every winter. Put the car away in November, buy a beater, get the Porsche out in April (maybe March if the weather cooperated) and then sell the beater. A list of these cars would include a Chevette, VW bug, 2nd gen Trans-Am, Fiat 124 coupe, etc. Something cheap and disposable to get to work and back while we drove the wife’s car on any trip of significance.
The bug had a gas heater in the trunk (frunk in today’s terms). The heater had to be used as an on-off switch. The driver was either freezing or burning up. There was no middle ground.
I put studded snow tires on the rear of the Trans-AM which helped in typical northern Indiana winter weather. However, on a road trip on dry roads, as I braked for a stop light, the rear end snapped around as those studs offered very little traction. Fortunately, no one was around and no damage was done.
The Fiat needed new front shocks. I took it to the local Fiat dealer to have them replaced. When I arrived back at my house, I noticed two dimples in the hood. The dealer didn’t tighten the top fasteners and the shocks tried to come through the hood. After the dealer fixed the hood, it was the only part of the exterior that looked good!!
Not much to say about the Chevette. After all, it was a Chevette!!
In the Rust Belt, most have those have already dissolved. If you find one that’s kind of decent, the selling price will be comical.
The money should be used to enter an addiction centre, there are some serious drug issues on display here
Are you kidding me? Those prices for those vehicles are ridiculous! You would have to have your head in a place where you couldn’t possibly see the sunshine to pay those asking prices. Go ahead and pull the trigger on one of them but remember, “A fool and his money are soon parted”.
I used to buy winter beaters ( beater with a heater) late 70’s for $50-$100. Cheapest one was an old amc ambassador $35. Just needed a brake job which I did myself on the cheap. Ahhh the good old days
yep insane prices for nothing. the Volvo is good but I’d look for an 81 or so turbo, turn ghe boost to 16 psi and have fun. worth about 1000 bucks. the van would be nice but at 10 miles to the gallon no fords for me. that ones old enough to be a good driver though. the 510 would be good with a buick aluminum v8 under the hood or a cheap ls. the Mercedes engine is good, put one in a jeep with a 5 speed stick out of a dodge truck but that’s a 500$ engine.
I owned one of those early S-10s. 2-door with v6 and manual tranny. It was in the era when they really were “utility” vehicles and were laid out for full sized men. I’m 6′ and a little on the thick side (Mom used to say I was “husky”) and I found that S-10 to be perfect in size. It had no seat adjustment other than fore and aft. It was nimble and fun to drive with the 5sp.
The one in this article looks very good. No real rust.
I’d pick that Ford van even though I generally don’t like Fords. It’s pretty much a unicorn to see one of that vintage in that condition as most were boogie vanned out, got used up as work vans, or ended up being lived in down by the river. I’d spare it from winter use, though, and keep it as a good weather swap meet/road trip/camping/light towing vehicle.