[Sorry if this is mis-categorized, but I figured it'd be faster to mention it in a single post than single-car posts...]

Lots of good stuff listed on Detroit's Craiglist, and you can find even more if you visit Ann Arbor (MI) Craigslist and search as it gives you the "nearby listings" and they include most of Michigan and northern Ohio.

All kinds of years, models, etc., including (later) 442s, Hursts and even a few "sweet-spot"TM 1969-1972 cars.

I know everyone says, "If I had the money, I'd...", but I really mean it. Some of these postings...

Drew

 

I'm from Massachusetts originally, so the term "rust belt" worries me.

 

I lived in MA. for most of my life...if it wasn't rust from the salt it was acid rain!! Living in MN I have found good rust free parts in MN,SD ND and IA. Very surprised with available parts out here including good project cars. Back in MA not may places to hide a car or store a car. I found two, never used fenders for my car in rusty SD that still had the GM sticker on them go figure!! They use a ton more salt and crap out here then in MA
but parts and part cars are not uncommon. So Joe what part of MA are you from?
George

 

Shrewsbury (Worcester area)

 

The thing is that a lot of the vintage cars for sale in the rust belt are from rust free areas so don't automatically assume they're all rustbuckets or you can miss out on some good deals, tons of rust free unfinished project cars around here in garages too.
My rust free California car is from Wisconsin.

 

Sorry, but the vast majority are not and I do automatically assume these cars have rust until proven otherwise. A number of years ago I was in the market for another 442 and made it very clear that I would pay accordingly for a rust free car. Apparently the definition of "rust free" is confusing to a lot of people.

By the way, there are also a lot of "California" cars that were not originally sold in California. Now, a black plate car is one thing, but those are few and far between these days.

 

I lived in Quincy for 16 years. I bought my 68 there. It was in such bad shape that at one point one of the previous owners parted it out. Fortunately it was still titled so it passed a few more hands before getting to me. Now it's just about done.

Now I live in Upstate NY. The rust is much worse here. I think they use a mixture of salt and urea on the roads here.

 

Now I'm from California and now in Michigan, and I find that the old axiom of "buying a bad-running non-rusty car is ALWAYS better than a great-running rusted-out one" has served me well.

HOWEVER, what I've recently come to find out is that many cars with ANY kind of following tend to be stored away here. Sure, cars from the mid and late 1970s aren't THE ones to have, but if you find one in good shape it's because someone squirreled it away before winter.

With the Woodward Dream Cruise being what it is around here, ANY "classic" or "collectible" vehicle gets you a "ticket" for the show. Also, many of these folks built their own car as a line worker (or at least worked for the company), meaning you can find some cars that have been "babied" that by most yardsticks should've--at best--died as donor cars for "better" models.

Add in the fact that the economy sucks here more than usual and you get lots of healthy 2nd- or 3rd-tier vehicles at very reasonable prices.

[But yes, rust sucks. It never sleeps and should be run away from at the slightest sign. Can't hurt to LOOK, though...]

Drew

 

Drew,

Can you post a few examples of what you are referring to?

Thanks,

NS