More Cars I'd Buy For Under 100 Grand

As promised, here are some more cars I'd buy for $100,000 or less. I've already mentioned a vintage, restored 1957 Chevrolet Corvette and other cars that could be had for well under 100 grand including an original Datsun 240Z, a first generation Mazda RX-7 and any Porsche 911.

Any Ferrari would be grand and I often think the older the better. The 250GT Berlinetta from the 1950s are my favorite but too expensive to buy and maintain for even this much money. More in line with the price range is this 1987 Testarossa I found on e-bay with a "buy it now" price tag of $42,000. That would still leave enough money for some repairs and to put some gas in the thing, since its fuel consumption is definitely high, especially if you drive it like it was meant to be driven -- Ferrari FAST!

Or, how about cruising down the highway in a drop-top 1974 Jaguary XKE, listening to the purr of that V-12 engine? This baby would set you back $70,000 according to its recent listing on e-bay, but it has only 32,000 miles and is impeccably restored. The extra 30 grand (probably less than 25 after taxes and shipping) would help you keep it cruisin'.

But, my all time favorite car, from the days when I only dreamed of having a driver's license, is an old Cord. This 1937 model can be purchased for $80,000. What a classic look with old swooped back fenders, suicide front doors, wrap-around coffin grill and concealed headlights. It has a lot of engineering qualities we like today, such as front wheel drive. And, with less than 1,200 made this year, it's a rare find, not something you'd see parked in your neighbor's driveway or even displayed in most area old car collections. The classic Cord, if I suddenly won $100,000 in the Powerball, would be first on my list. What would you buy?