The Weirdest Things We Found On AutoTrader
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As you no doubt know, AutoTrader is full of listings for new and used cars, but it is also the platform Canadians turn to when they want to sell their weirdest vehicles, and today we’re celebrating the oddballs.
Since there are so many different kinds of Canadians, it only makes sense that a website catering to their vehicular needs would feature many different kinds of automobiles. Here, we’ve assembled six of the strangest ones we could find on AutoTrader right now.
1988 Ford L8000 Fire Command Centre
AutoTrader doesn’t just help users sell cars, it also helps them sell trucks, RVs, and even former fire command centres, apparently. OK, so the nation’s fire departments won’t be looking to buy this customized 1988 Ford L8000 as most of the important firefighting equipment has been removed. But their loss is your gain.
What this massive vehicle lacks in ability to control a blaze, it makes up for in comfort. A former owner converted this vehicle into a camper to make it the coolest RV on any campground you’re likely to visit.
The L8000 comes complete with a mattress, a couch, shelving, and attractive flooring inside. Better yet, the emergency lights, winch, and PA system on the outside all still work. For sale in Edmonton, Alta., this fascinating truck has just 23,000 km on the odometer and could be yours for $12,000.
Back in the ‘80s, American engineer Lou Richards wanted to make a lightweight sports car in the same vein as the Lotus Seven and came up with the Trihawk 304. Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed one significant difference between the 304 and the Seven: a missing wheel.
In order to skirt safety regulations, Richards made his sports car a three-wheeler and opted to register it as a motorcycle. The resulting vehicle borrows suspension components from the Renault 5, and the 67-horsepower, four-cylinder engine from the Citroen GSA. Who needs a Morgan Three-Wheeler when you could have this Franco-American mishmash instead for an asking price of $20,000?
If you’re into performance cars but want something a little more modern, you could take a gamble on this Factory Five 818C. If you recognize the name, it’s probably because of Factory Five’s excellent Shelby Cobra replicas but the company created some of its own designs, too.
This example was assembled by someone in Barrie, Ont., and is powered by the flat-four from a 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX, which they claim is tuned to make 255 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. Installed in the middle of this chassis, the engine is located ideally to create a nimble car with serious handling capabilities.
Unfortunately, as is the case with many kit cars, this 818C isn’t without its issues. Although the seller says it runs, they also say that it is undrivable because of an issue with the transmission. Could you be tempted into spending $10,000 on this car despite its flaws?
If the Factory Five racer above didn’t scare you off the concept of kit cars, we’ve got very good news for you, in the form of another kit… vehicle. This 1932 California Cruiser kit is actually based on an E-Z-Go golf kart and features a 48-volt electrical system.
Although it likely won’t go as quickly as the 818C, it does feature attractive creamsicle orange upholstery, white bodywork, and hotrod-style flames at the front. The impressive style doesn’t come cheap, though. This 2012 E-Z-Go is being sold for just $50 less than the 818C and has an asking price of $9,950.
Speaking of cars that look older than they really are, this 1985 Excalibur Phaeton Zimmer is a double classic, in some senses. Not only is it now nearly 40 years old, making it a classic in its own right, but it was designed to look like a much older vehicle.
Modelled after the 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK, the Excalibur Phaeton Zimmer features a long hood, a spare tire carrier in front of the doors, a chrome grille, external horns, external exhaust manifolds, and a whole slew of other retro design cues.
Although you may have seen another Excalibur Phaeton Zimmer driving around, you’re unlikely to have seen a better example on the road. A car show winner, this oddball classic has been tuned to make 400 hp and an airbag suspension to make it one of the most comfortable "replicars" on the road.
1921 Dodge Brothers Touring Convertible
If you’re more interested in buying something that is old than something that just looks old, this is the car for you. At 103 years old, this 1921 Dodge Brothers Touring Convertible is ready to take you on a journey back through time.
So old that it predates Dodge’s entry into the Chrysler empire, this Touring Convertible features wooden-spoked wheels, a split windshield, handsome blue paint, and what can only correctly be described as an “awooga” horn.
Fully restored and drivable, the Dodge Brothers Touring Convertible feels like a steal at just $12,000, though you might also have to invest in old-timey driving lessons in order to drive it.
