Time for another post from the crew bringing you “Real or Mem More Wrecks” — the online sweepstakes game from the days when buying a car remotely was about as chancy as spinning a roulette wheel. Back then, a little too much enthusiasm often separated folks from their hard-earned dough.
Over the past decade, most of the truly awful sites have been swept from the internet (except, perhaps, the darker corners). The ones that remain have been mostly sanitized. Even Bring a Trailer, which began as a scrappy, casual listing site, now requires more documentation than a return flight from Havana.
But take heart! The former wild west of online listings still has a gem: our beloved Craigslist — home to some of the best (and sometimes most baffling) collector car ads you’ll find in this second quarter of the twenty-first century. Please, Craigslist — never change. We’re all big boys and girls; we can navigate without a nanny.
And as every YouTuber says, “Let’s dive in.”
1963 Mercedes-Benz — Evanston, Illinois — Listed at ~$30,000
First up for your viewing pleasure: a 1963 Mercedes-Benz listed for just over $30K near Chicago. You may know this model as one of the greatest letdowns in car history — the successor to the legendary 300SL Gullwing.
We went from Gullwing to Pagoda. So, if you think civilization crashed in the 21st century, think again — it crashed in 1963.
Powered by a 2.3L inline-six engine, this beauty could go slow with a manual transmission… or even slower with a Mercedes automatic. Yes, a few rare five-speeds were made, but good luck finding one.
Designed by Paul Bracq, this car’s lines show true elegance — sleek transportation without the tacked-on black urethane bits that modern GT3 cars wear for that one mythical occasion when they might top 100 mph.
(Fun fact: More GT3s today haul golf clubs where their back seats used to be than have ever seen triple-digit speeds. And no, please don’t bring up Ferrari.)
This particular Pagoda is listed in Evanston on our beloved Craigslist, and current market trends put values in the mid-$60K range. Looks like this seller might’ve missed that memo. Have some fun with this one!
1956 Ford Thunderbird — New London, New Hampshire — Listed at $14,500
Next up: a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, listed for just $14,500 in New Hampshire.
Oh, the poor baby birds.
Back when Corvettes were still made from rough fiberglass (requiring every grinder blade in North America just to make the panels halfway smooth), Ford had a better idea: steel bodies, a proper V8, roll-up windows — and something better than a two-speed Powerglide.
The Thunderbird was the rage. But then the bean counters chimed in — the postwar baby boom meant everyone was starting families, and Ford was told the car needed a back seat.
It was sacrilege. Especially after Ford had even offered some Paxton/McCulloch supercharged homologation specials (around 200 made).
But Ford didn’t care. They simply turned the T-Bird into a plush cruiser and drove off into the remainder of the 1950s.
Here’s the collector car twist: savvy folks believed Ford would never do another small two-seater, so they locked these original “baby birds” away.
Problem? Supply and demand. Too many people preserved their pet Ford Flamingos. So when they re-emerged on the collector market, they were simply too plentiful.
(Tip: The cars that truly skyrocket in value are the ones everyone once threw away or drove into the ground — think 1974 Jeep Wagoneer. Who would’ve ever wanted one? Got me.)
This T-Bird isn’t an “F-Bird” (the rare factory-supercharged model), and no, these haven’t become the holy grail folks once expected. But at $14,500, this seller seems ready to give their dream car away.
This car is listed near New London, NH, and values today hover around $35,000. Another owner listing without checking the comps — happens all the time on Craigslist. Gotta love it.
Until Next Time…
See you soon with more adventures from the wild world of online collector car buying — or crying.
Penned by
Don-te Yousef Seriously