Found: 5 Iconic Cars We’re Thankful For This Holiday Season

This week, for the holiday centered around being thankful, we picked five of those iconic cars — five cars we’re thankful for.

found-iconic-cars-gear-patrol-full-lead

Editor’s Note: We love scouring the internet for reasons to spend money we don’t have on cars we daydream about owning, and these are our picks this week. All prices listed are bid amounts at the time of publishing.

Everyone has their favorite cars, their most hated cars, and cars that garner an inexplicable love. And then there are unquestionable icons that everyone can agree the world was made a better place because they were built. This week, for the holiday centered around being thankful, we picked five of those iconic cars — five cars we’re thankful for.

1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

found-iconic-cars-gear-patrol-grand-wagoneer

What we like: The grand-daddy of SUVs started life in ’63 under Kaiser, then went to AMC in ’72 and finally retired in ’91 under Chrysler. The Grand Wagoneer showed us that even a working-class family hauler can — and should — have style, class and luxury.
From the seller: Records show that the truck spent much of its life in New York and Massachusetts before the seller relocated it to California earlier this year. Shortly after the seller’s acquisition in 2015 it received a remanufactured engine, and, within the past year, a new heater core and rear window regulator have been installed.

Mileage: 141,000
Location: Valley Center, California

2004 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Roadster

found-iconic-cars-gear-patrol-viper

What we like: The Dodge Viper (rest in peace) was a wild concept car come to life. It was more extreme than any other America sports car when it hit the road. And though it may have been snuffed out of production this year, there’s no doubt it raised the bar and set the tone for America performance back in the ’90s.
From the seller: The second-generation Viper featured a lighter and stronger chassis compared to the first generation and was capable of a 4.0-second 0-60mph sprint and 0-100mph in around 9.3 seconds when new.

Mileage: 26,209
Location: Houston, Texas

2006 Mitsubishi Evolution IX SE

found-iconic-cars-gear-patrol-lancer

What we like: Some may say the Lancer Evo VIII is more important than the Evo IX, but one could argue that the IX was the model that proved Mitsubishi had confidence in the US market. Enough so, in fact, to bring it back again and solidify the now-legendary status it has on our shores.
From the seller: The car was serviced every 5K miles and recently received an oil change and tire rotation. It is now offered with extensive service records, the owner’s manual and factory booklets, a clear AutoCheck report and a clean Texas title in the seller’s name.

Mileage: 174,000
Location: Austin, Texas

1992 Acura NSX

found-iconic-cars-gear-patrol-acura

What we like: The first-generation NSX was groundbreaking. It showed the world you could have Ferrari-esque perfromance with a price tag half as large.
From the seller: Service within the past 2,000 miles included a valve adjustment along with replacement of the timing belt, water pump, drive belts, clutch and a window regulator.

Mileage: 40,217
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

2000 BMW M Coupe

found-iconic-cars-gear-patrol-bmw

What we like: The last vestiges of BMW’s early-’00s sense of humor. The company put a legendary engine from the E46 M3 into the smallest car it made and turned the two-seater into a hatchback — you know, for added practicality.
From the seller: Modifications include BBS wheels, Z06 front brakes and 997tt rear brakes, a Magnaflow exhaust, TC Kline coilovers, Ground Control camber plates, Conforti Shark ECU and intake, a Strong strut tower brace, a black vinyl roof wrap and an aftermarket stereo system.

Mileage: 115,000
Location: Littleton, Colorado