Home » We’re Buying A Fun Car On Copart And We Need Your Help Choosing The Right One [PARTNER POST]

We’re Buying A Fun Car On Copart And We Need Your Help Choosing The Right One [PARTNER POST]

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We get invited to so many great car shows, and we want to show up to them in something fancier than an Aztek. At the same time, I think we’ve all engaged in the fantasy of buying a car off Copart. That’s why I’m so excited to announce that we’ve partnered with Copart to go through all the steps of buying a car from them. Even better, you’re going to help us pick the car.

Buying cars has gotten increasingly miserable, with many of the traditional online sources becoming a better fit for masochists than hobbyists. Copart has long been known to enthusiasts as a place to find cars in all sorts of conditions. It serves as a single-source auto solution for enthusiasts and wrenchers like us, but one with a more curated experience that allows you to find, inspect, buy, and receive delivery in one place. And with more than 220 locations, the selection is basically untouchable (imports, trucks, classics, even vintage Rolls-Royces!)

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Copart has a relatively low-cost Membership, which brings a bunch of perks, especially because every state has its own laws about who can bid and buy at auction, and Copart makes navigating those regulations a lot easier. Copart also puts verifications in place to avoid issues like fraudulent sellers.

Here’s What We Want

Jag Copart

We’ve been watching Copart auctions for the last few weeks as this deal has been coming together, and there’s been some gold. Gold, Jerry! Just look at this Benz. It’s gorgeous. Check out this Olds!

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If you’re not familiar, Copart is a massive online source for cars, utilized by everyone from individual hobbyists to large government agencies. Last year they moved more than four million units (mostly cars but also a lot excavators and other construction/farm equipment), many of which were cars with clean titles and keys, in running condition. Where do these cars come from? Everywhere. Fleets, financial institutions/ banks, dealers, rental car companies, governments, and individuals. I’ve noticed a lot of great cars, lately, have been donated vehicles.

Sweetolsmobile

What we’re looking for on Copart is a car that’s going to impress. We want to make a statement when we roll up to a car show or a fancy auction. We’re going to pick something suggested by a reader and bid on it in order to guarantee maximum impact, but we do have a few suggestions before you start searching.

  • We want something incredible and interesting. You can easily find a nice Maserati Ghibli on Copart and it’s a lovely-looking car, but it’s not interesting or exciting. Wow us.
  • It’s gotta be drivable. We’re ok with doing a little mechanical refresh on a car so long as we can make sure it can take us to whatever car shows we end up attending. When you search Copart you want to look for vehicles that run and drive (which means that it’ll start and move forward/back one at least one full tire rotation on its owner power).
  • We’re open to spending a little money, within reason. There are some nice cars on Copart (like this Lamborghini Gallardo), but spending a ton of money is easy. There are a lot of great deals here and the story is more fun if we get a smokin’ hot deal, right?
  • Copart will help arrange delivery so we’re open to getting a car from anywhere. Still, it would be cool to check out the car ahead of time so we’re going to put a small premium on something that’s near one of our contributors (Chicago, LA, Toronto, New York, North Carolina).
  • If it’s carb’d, ideally it’s a car before 1975 so we don’t have to worry about registering it in California.
  • The more unlikely the better! Surprise us.

Again, these are just guidelines and we’ll definitely bend them for the right car.

How To Use Copart To Find The Perfectly Imperfect Cars

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You don’t need a Copart Membership to look for cars, but my guess is that once you start looking at cars you’re going to start considering it. I’ve got a Membership, and I’ll explain how to get one and the perks that come along with it a little further in this post.

In the meantime, searching for cars on Copart is pretty straightforward, and there are a lot of options. First, go to the Search bar or Vehicle Finder tool. Or just click this link.

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You can search, sort, and filter results by make/model, types of damage, year, location, and radius from wherever you are. If you’re feeling super weird I highly recommend searching Other/Other as there’s some wild stuff available.

Condition is important because there are a lot of vehicles on here that would make a great project car, or even daily driver, that you’d never find on a regular auction site. Copart makes it possible to get access to these cars, either directly or through a third-party. If you’re going to build a weekend racer do you really care about light hail damage? Absolutely not. If you’re looking to swap the drivetrain from a newer Viper into an older Volvo how much do you care about some scratches in the paint?

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How And Why To Become A Member

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There are three levels of Membership and you can see the full details right here. Here’s when/why/how to become a Member at each level:

  • Guest Member: View auctions and get updates on vehicles on your watch list. If you want to help us/help yourselves out please sign up!
  • Basic Membership: I think this is the sweet spot for most people who are looking to just buy one or two cars a year. For $99 a year, you can bid up to $2,000 with no deposit and just a 10% deposit over that.
  • Premier Membership: This is what I have, and for $249 a year I can put down a $400 deposit and bid up to $100,000 daily, track multiple cars, et cetera. This is for people like David who seem to constantly be buying and selling cars.

Again, what you’re planning to do will indicate which plan you want. Either way, if you love the site and love browsing cars, do yourself (and us) a favor and register.

What’s Next?

Start dropping the most interesting cars you find right here in the comments, or email us at tips@theautopian.com and we’ll start bidding on the most interesting cars!

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MaximillianMeen
MaximillianMeen
2 months ago

I think someone else commented on this Studebaker Champion, but I’m going to second it along with a recommendation that Torch wears a Fozzie Bear costume to drive it.

1951 STUDEBAKER CHAMPION for Sale | CA – ANTELOPE | Mon. Oct 07, 2024 – Used & Repairable Salvage Cars – Copart USA

I didn’t see anyone recommend this Nash. Just take a look at that sofa that Nash calls a rear seat! If that doesn’t scream Autopian Class, then I don’t know what does!
1949 NASH AIRFLYTE for Sale | CA – ADELANTO | Mon. Oct 14, 2024 – Used & Repairable Salvage Cars – Copart USA

Strangek
Strangek
2 months ago

That Nash is fantastic!

Manwich Sandwich
Manwich Sandwich
2 months ago

Seconded on both the Studebaker and the Nash. Just saw you posted this and these are my top picks as well!

Tartpop
Tartpop
1 month ago

I love that Studebaker, just like my great grandma used to drive!

JDE
JDE
2 months ago

This is the ultimate Cali Beetle, and the Manx is always cool. https://www.copart.com/lot/64930064/clean-title-1970-volkswagen-beetle-co-denver

Strangek
Strangek
2 months ago
Reply to  JDE

Primary damage is vandalism? LOL.

JDE
JDE
2 months ago

https://www.copart.com/lot/75096644/clean-title-1964-lotus-replica-or-portland-north

This replica is a bit cooler than the pinto Merc, but already on the block, 2 days left.

JDE
JDE
2 months ago

https://www.copart.com/lot/73721604/salvage-1936-mercedes-benz-uk-az-phoenix

Pinto Powered Mercedes Kit Car? Just to see how bad….or maybe how good these old kits were.

Mike Smith
Mike Smith
2 months ago
Mike Smith
Mike Smith
2 months ago
Reply to  Mike Smith

Um… can someone better versed in XJ’s than I am take a look at this listing and see if there is a poison pill anywhere? Because if not, this looks like a potential steal… https://www.copart.com/lot/70419144/clean-title-1987-jeep-cherokee-pioneer-co-denver-south

Mike Smith
Mike Smith
2 months ago
Reply to  Mike Smith

One possible source of sketchiness – the vin checksum digit is wrong on the tag under the windshield on that jeep. How does a thing like that happen?

MATTinMKE
MATTinMKE
2 months ago
Reply to  Mike Smith

The dash on that Franklin is outstanding.

Ben
Ben
2 months ago
Reply to  Mike Smith

Extra points for any Cannonball runs made in this Franklin.

IanGTCS
IanGTCS
2 months ago

Location? Check. Chrysler? Check. Convertible? Check. Unique in that there can’t be many left? Check.

https://www.copart.com/lot/73353914/salvage-1991-dodge-shadow-nc-lumberton

Or maybe a nice Cadillac:
https://www.copart.com/lot/57912574/clean-title-1989-cadillac-allante-mi-flint

Saul Goodman
Saul Goodman
2 months ago

https://www.copart.com/lot/53531854/1956-ford-customline-co-colorado-springs

This one’s real nice. It’s estimated value is a 10 grand which I’d say is great for something this original and pristine.

In all honesty though, it could be an awesome rat rod.

Scott Ross
Scott Ross
2 months ago

I’m already a member. I bought two vehicles from Copart. A 2001 Dodge Dakota and a 1987 Kawaski Concourse. The Dakota needed a frame pull in the rear and a new bed along with an enhanced inspection (PA salvage to Reconstructed title process) The Connie, I lost my drive on that one once I got a BMW 1150gs. But I still have it, and I want to get back on that project this winter.

Toecutter
Toecutter
2 months ago
World24
World24
2 months ago

I’m glad I double checked what you guys were looking for. I was .2 seconds away from suggesting some random commercial van I saw that was weird. Never heard of it before.
Anyway, my suggestions are all classics:

Collegiate Autodidact
Collegiate Autodidact
2 months ago

Okay. Good that this website is getting more sponsors since it’s not easy to succeed long-term as a journalistic website nowadays but that’s disappointing about Copart. Last year I had a rather unpleasant experience with Copart so I’m not particularly fond of that company and won’t be doing any more business with them. Yeah, my own experience is merely anecdotal, as I’m sure there are plenty of people who have had positive experiences dealing with Copart, but there’s the fact that in 2021 Copart’s founder and current chair, Willis Johnson, donated a boatload of money (something like $1 million) to South Dakota governor Kristi “Dog (& Goat) Killer” Noem to facilitate deploying National Guard forces to the Texas/Mexico border even though SD is more than a thousand miles from said border.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/07/02/pentagon-national-guard-silent-whether-troops-are-hire-after-gop-billionaire-funds-border-mission.html
Also covered over on the old site, FWIW:
https://jalopnik.com/billionaire-copart-founder-willis-johnson-is-privately-1847198880
Ah, well. Wishing you all the best in your ventures. Peace out then.

Spikersaurusrex
Spikersaurusrex
2 months ago

“…something fancier than an Aztek.”

Wait, don’t go getting posh on me. Did David ruin the Aztek while living in it? Can’t get the smell out? If not, I’m not seeing the need.

MATTinMKE
MATTinMKE
2 months ago

Right! What about the Nash? Get that running, it has a great story and is cool!

Papa Bruyant
Papa Bruyant
2 months ago

Need to avoid going down the Copart rabbit hole until after work, but just want to say Autopian’s sponsorship/partnership programming is a model for how to do it right. Art and commerce CAN mix if respect for the audience is maintained, and you continue to do so in creative and elegant ways. Well done.

PresterJohn
PresterJohn
2 months ago
Reply to  Matt Hardigree

I just want to say I also greatly appreciate that these posts are marked more conspicuously that any other site I’ve seen.

Toecutter
Toecutter
2 months ago
Reply to  JCat

I just came across that same Lotus 7 replica. Upvoted.

Ottomottopean
Ottomottopean
2 months ago
Reply to  JCat

Damn, if that Stealth were a manual I might be bidding myself.

TheDrunkenWrench
TheDrunkenWrench
2 months ago

This is the perfect time to search for the Brown Diesel Stick Shift Wagon the internet automotive sphere demands!

Frank Wrench
Frank Wrench
2 months ago

I’m thinking a Peugeot 504 wagon, Brother Wrench.

TheDrunkenWrench
TheDrunkenWrench
2 months ago
Reply to  Frank Wrench

So you’re the brother that’s frank with the customers, telling them that the other brother is plastered whole working on their cars?

What would our shop be called?

A. Barth
A. Barth
2 months ago

The FrankenWrench

Frank Wrench
Frank Wrench
1 month ago

The Wrench Connection

Saul Goodman
Saul Goodman
2 months ago

I’m glad it’s still being mentioned lol

Freelivin2713
Freelivin2713
2 months ago

79 Checker Marathon for $350 (tree fiddy)

Data
Data
2 months ago

Sadly there were no Excalibur’s available. It just screams Autopian to me; well after air cooled VW, rusty Jeeps, 80’s Chrysler K Cars, The Aztek, and Smart cars.

JurassicComanche25
JurassicComanche25
2 months ago

So lets talk risky things. Like a trojan condom in 1988. Or getting a new job in 2008. Or perhaps this Caddy with no notes.

https://www.copart.com/lot/69289544/clean-title-1972-cadillac-commercial-pa-philadelphia

Long distance? Comfort? Seating nearly all the staff? Yes. But there is risk- does it run? Maybe. But then its a GM, and a 5.3 is cheap and easy to slide into that bay. Lets do it.

Ottomottopean
Ottomottopean
2 months ago

You said that your mascot for the year was the Mustang II, right?

https://www.copart.com/lot/75172034/clean-title-1978-ford-mustang-tn-knoxville

StillNotATony
StillNotATony
2 months ago
A. Barth
A. Barth
2 months ago

To clarify a bit, are you looking to transport 4 people + stuff or is the assumption there will be a chase/support vehicle (so a coupè could work)?

Frankly, that Olds is a stunner and is exactly what I had in mind, with one small exception: it should have a straight-8.

W124
W124
1 month ago
Reply to  Matt Hardigree

My comment with several recommendation with Copart links has been waiting for approval now 21 hours. Is this normal?

Arch Duke Maxyenko
Arch Duke Maxyenko
2 months ago
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