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Nobody needs to spend six figures to own something interesting. Motorious currently lists more than 2,100 vehicles for sale under $20,000 — and buried in that pile are JDM legends, a British V12 convertible, a 440-powered grand tourer, and one of the weirdest four-wheel-drive coupes Detroit ever built. Here are the ten we would actually write a check for.
1. 1996 Nissan Skyline — $16,500
The Skyline name carries more weight than almost any badge in the hobby, and this four-door example gets you into it for Miata money. It runs a 2.5-liter inline-six backed by a five-speed manual with all-wheel drive, so the good stuff — six cylinders, three pedals, power at every corner — is all present. It is being offered through Gateway Classic Cars' Houston showroom.
2. 1974 Jensen Interceptor Convertible — $10,950
A British grand tourer with a Chrysler 440 under the hood and only 21,480 miles on it, for less than a used Corolla. The catch is honest and up front: the car was damaged in an accident in the late 1970s and then parked for decades. A body shop has confirmed it is repairable, NOS front fender and rear quarter panel are included, and the interior, gauges, glass and top are all said to be in good shape.
3. 1968 Ford Torino GT Fastback — $10,900
Ford called the roofline a SportsRoof. Everyone else calls it a fastback, and it is the same shape that makes big-block Mustangs so expensive — except this one is a Torino GT with a 390 four-barrel, a C6 automatic, a 9-inch rear with 3.25 TracLoc gears, and 65,724 title-verified miles. It is a genuine project: the engine does not run, the driveshaft is missing, and there is rust underneath. The bones, though, are the hard part to find.
4. 2009 Pontiac G8 GT — $19,900
Australian design, American power, and the best four-door Pontiac ever sold here. This one shows roughly 74,000 miles, wears Sport Red over black leather, and comes with a three-month service contract from the selling dealer. G8 GT values have been climbing quietly for years — a clean one under twenty grand will not look like a bargain for much longer.
5. 1986 Mazda RX-7 GXL — $12,900
Second-generation RX-7s have spent the last decade quietly disappearing, and clean original ones almost never surface. This GXL is advertised as a one-owner survivor, which is about as good as it gets for a rotary car of this era. Pop-up headlights, a wedge profile that still looks modern, and an engine that spins to the moon.
6. 1992 Jaguar XJS V12 Convertible — $10,900
Twelve cylinders. Drop top. Under eleven thousand dollars. The XJS is finished in white over brown leather with a brown power soft top and shows 73,425 miles. Yes, a V12 Jaguar demands a real maintenance budget — but there is no other way to buy twelve cylinders and open air for this kind of money.
7. 1989 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Westfalia — $17,900
Westfalia prices went vertical years ago, so a sorted one under eighteen grand deserves attention. This blue-and-white example shows 109,070 miles, was repainted in 2024, and has had a long list of recent work: new coolant lines, starter, alternator, battery, plugs, distributor, exhaust and front brakes. It is a camper you can actually drive home.
8. 1990 Ford Bronco — $19,900
Full-size Broncos have gone the way of the square-body pickup — everybody wants one, nobody wants to pay restoration prices. This fifth-generation truck is advertised as a clean, one-family-owned 4x4 with a V8 and automatic, power steering and brakes, tilt, cruise, power windows, air conditioning and new tires.
9. 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk — $14,900
Brooks Stevens reskinned an aging Hawk on almost no budget and produced one of the most elegant American cars of the 1960s. This one is gray with a contrasting black roof, a 289 V8 and automatic, black leather seats, and a houndstooth-lined trunk. Park it next to anything else at a show and watch where the crowd goes.
10. 1980 AMC Eagle — $12,995
AMC invented the crossover a quarter century before anyone had a word for it, and the two-door Eagle is the rarest and best-looking version. This one has 60,420 original miles, the 258-cubic-inch inline-six, a TorqueFlite automatic, full-time four-wheel drive with Dana axles, a factory pop-up sunroof, and nutmeg vinyl bucket seats with plaid inserts. Nothing else on this list is this strange.
Prices and availability were accurate at the time of writing. Browse the full run of affordable metal in the Motorious inventory.
