Oddball On The Cheap: 1990 Isuzu Impulse RS Project

The second-generation Isuzu Impulse is an underrated sporty car and is a great driver's car for a front-wheel-drive design. Considering that many of its components were used in the M100 Lotus Elan and that the second-generation Impulse's suspension was engineered by Lotus, that is even more remarkable.

While its styling is polarizing and many people will confuse it for the much more common and related Geo Storm, these cars are still very much worthy of saving, and this is a very worthy project. The car needs a clutch and valve work, some very minor bodywork, removal of bumper stickers and a detail job, possibly backdating the stereo to a Geo Storm or Impulse stock head unit if you're a purist, but at $900 for a rare 5-speed Japanese sporty car that's an excellent alternative to a 240SX, MX-6, Prelude or Celica, plus a little bit of work done, you can't go wrong.

Find it here on Whidbey Island in Washington State for $900, or go here if ad disappears.

Deal Of The Decade: 1986 Honda CRX Si, $300

This front-yard find is advertised as a 1986 Honda Civic, but eagle-eyed car people will notice that it is a CRX Si (early CRXs were also badged as Civics, much like early Toyota Tercels were also badged as Corollas), and it is rare to find a CRX Si of any kind that has not been riced to death or hooned. This one looks restorable, could use some paintless dent repair, a going-over with a clay bar or compounding/buffing, some badge replacements and most likely interior TLC, it is said to need a cylinder head too, but between being a decent-looking early Si in stock condition and its price range, it is a very good project car. $300 doesn't buy much in the world of cars these days, especially enthusiast cars, but this Si has even more potential than the 1985 Toyota Corolla AE86 project also posted today and needs less work to be a functional car. A buyer's guide to the 1985-87 CRX Si can be found here, and gives an idea of what to expect with this car, and a forum for 80s Hondas can be found here for the lucky buyer of this car.

Find it here in Eugene, Oregon, (or go here if ad disappears)