New Jersey man goes front yard car shopping with just $3,000 budget, it isn't long before he finds a beauty
Published on Sep 07, 2025 at 1:27 PM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Sep 03, 2025 at 2:58 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Alessandro Renesis
Dom Tracy went front yard car shopping in New Jersey with just $3,000 in his pocket, and a long list of ‘beauts’ to choose from, including a school bus and a couple of iconic Ford models.
No listings, no marketplace – just driving around until something caught his eye.
The rules were simple: the car had to run, it had to drive, and it had to be sitting in someone’s yard, and he had to buy it on the same day.
And just when it looked like it might be impossible, one truck finally stood out.
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The results of Dom’s front yard car shopping expedition
The hunt began with letdowns.
A school bus converted into an RV sat tempting but far too expensive at $5,000, a Toyota Tacoma carried a $9,500 price tag, and dually truck listed for $8,000 looked tough but stayed out of reach.
Even a PT Cruiser priced at $2,500 was dismissed – cheap, yes, but it lacked the kind of ‘cool factor’ Dom was looking for.
Each yard came close, but none delivered.
Then came the Ford Ranger.
A V6, rear-wheel-drive pickup that looked like it had been waiting all day to be chosen.
The seller admitted it needed some work – shocks, a gasket, maybe an exhaust repair – but the important part was clear.
It started without complaint, idled smoothly, and drove in a straight line.
That alone made it the strongest contender of the entire trip.
Auction-style negotiation happened right there in the driveway.
Dom offered his $3,000 cash, but the seller would not drop below $3,500.
After a quick run to the ATM, the deal was struck.
Keys changed hands and the challenge was complete.
The budget was broken, so technically he cheated, but the goal had been met: a same-day pickup pulled from a New Jersey front yard.
front yard car shopping: complete.
Why the old-school hustle matters
The deal highlighted just how different car shopping feels when you take it offline.
Instead of scrolling through endless listings, Dom was knocking on doors, chatting with owners, and making offers in person.
It was awkward, unpredictable, and at times hilarious… but that was the point.
Every conversation came with instant feedback.
Some sellers shrugged him off, others admitted their cars did not even run, and one man fielded nine messages on his phone before deciding whoever showed up first would get the deal.
It was messy, but it was real.
That kind of raw, cash-in-hand buying is rare now.
Most people only experience it through family hand-me-downs or the occasional garage sale find.
Dom’s New Jersey safari ended with a Ford Ranger, $500 over budget and shocks on life support.
But it’s also a reminder that the best stories rarely come in under budget.
Subscribe to Dom Tracy’s YouTube channel to follow along, or watch the full video below:
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Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
