Auto Flip Insider #1

Let’s see what wonderous vehicles the internet can taunt us with this week!

Warning - Some elbow grease may be required.

• 1978 Volvo 242 GT - Located in Troy, MT - $5,000

• One low effort image, a low-effort description, and Facebook-only communication make this ‘78 a prime candidate for refurb/resale.

• The Volvo 240 is known worldwide for its reliable build quality, mechanic simplicity, and ahead-of-its-time safety equipment. The GT Trim (seen here) was only offered on a few hundred coupes worldwide. Sounds like its time to make space in the garage, huh?

• Five of these unique coupes have sold on BringATrailer.com since 2021, bringing in between $5500 (for a poorly repainted, non-original example) and $19,000 (for a fully refurbished, all original example)

• Roughly 50% of the time, when someone says “this car is ready to drive cross country”, you can trust them. I’d say those are pretty good odds in this particular case…

• 1982 Mercedes-Benz 300TD - Located in Burnet, TX - $5,300

• The short-but-sweet description, four “ehh” photos, low price, and original dealership paperwork are enough to inspire a last minute flight booking and subsequent cross-country roadtrip.

• The W123 Mercedes-Benz 300TD is one of the world’s greatest vehicles - with it’s 5-cylinder turbo-diesel engine - is a robust, efficient, and timeless mode of transportation that will surely outlive many of those reading

• Dozens of these 300TD wagons have sold on BringATrailer.com over the last four years, with the auctions closing anywhere in the $7,000 to $95,500 range (big range, we know).

• The mileage shouldn’t scare anyone who is familiar with these cars, but the description certainly leaves many questions unanswered. Be sure to ask plenty of questions before packing your bags…

• 2001 Kawasaki KX500 - Located in Bozeman, MT - $8,500

• This Craigslist ad has all the signs of a great flip - Poor quality photos, uninformative description, and limited contact information for the seller (Craigslist email only).

• Nicknamed the “Widow Maker” among seasoned enthusiasts, this 500cc 2-stroke produces 66hp and weighs only 220lbs. Need I say more?!

• Two of these 500cc 2-stroke monsters have sold in 2023 on BringATrailer.com, with one bringing in $10,900 and the other bringing in $13,500.

• Maintenance history, title status, and potential mechanical issues are not mentioned. Just remember - when it comes to riding dangerously fast dirt bikes on your HOA’s common areas, it’s usually easier to ask for forgiveness instead of permission…

• 1964 Honda CL72 Scrambler - Located in Reading, MA - $1,800

• A one sentence description, a single nostalgic image (with just the right amount of Sepia, I might add), and an asking price that even your financial planner will approve of. Can you really afford NOT to buy this?

• The Honda Scrambler 250 is an excellent machine, as beautiful as it is bulletproof. The 250cc carbureted single cylinder 4-stroke engine makes just enough power to go wherever you need to go for, and is reliable enough to get you there no matter the distance - so long as you’re not in a rush.

• Ten of these beautiful ‘74 Honda scramblers have been sold on BringATrailer.com since 2020, earning sales from $2,450 to $9,000.

• Seller lists a missing title, and an odometer that shows 69,000 miles. Personally, I’d let it roll over to 70k before submitting to BaT…

Join us every Monday morning for your weekly dose of well-priced automotive treasures!