Most of my younger years, I had something I would store and buy a winter beater. Has some pretty bad ones but usually only paid a few hundred for them.
Couple of the worst ones were a mid 70's Buick Skylark. Ran great but the drivers door didn't open (It was a coupe) when I got it because the PO backed out of the garage with the door open and bent it. I eventually got it open and working somewhat but sometimes it didnt want to close or stay closed. Used to run my seat belt through the door handle. Then the heater fan went out and I had to access it through the wheel well, outside, in the winter. Rear suspension was gone. When the passange door starting giving me grief, I sold it for the motor. Took my new heater fan motor back out first.
Another memorable one was a 73 Impala wagon with a 400. Very rusty and snow and slush would come in through the rear fender wells. I eventually fiber glassed them. Worst part was driving it home for the first time and the timing chain jumped and it died while sitting at an intersection. Fixed that and kept it for a couple of winters. What a tank! It had a Skull painted on the DS front fender so it was known as the Skullmobile. The skylark was one of the beaters to store my Regal, which I still have and have had for 29 years. Still awaiting a Re-do V8 transplant. The wagon I had originally gotten to store my 442 and kept for storing the Regal as well. I also had a 74 Cutlass which was my winter beater and daily driver when I had the 442. Best car I've ever owned. Before that I bought a 65 Buick Le Sabre (another great trouble free car) from my dad when I stored my 65 Impala. Drove it for several winters. Sold the Buick to a friend drove it for years, then sold it again. It wouldn't die.
Regal pictured, first back in the early 90's and now. Just pushed it out of my shop thinking it was going into the new "cave". Not sitting snow covered.
More recently (2007-2008), I stored the Jetta (trying to sell it and keep it clean) one or two winters and drove a 94 Mazda 626 V6 stick. It was tough to work on and had it been a 4 cylinder, I might have kept it but many things were wearing out so I sold it. Hit a dear with that one and did some body work.
