Records have been constantly reset at car auctions in the last 12-18 months, and while that’s exciting for prospective sellers it poses a dilemma for those looking for cheap cruisers on a budget.

For that reason, we decided to sift through the listings currently up for grabs in this month’s Grays classic car auction and find some bargains that’ll still turn heads at your local Cars and Coffee.

How about a nostalgic throwback to the golden era of cheap Japanese turbo fun, with a dash of torque steer for extra laughs?

That’s exactly what you’ll get with this 1990 Mazda 626 Turbo, which looks to be highly optioned car (check out the sunroof) and has the 2.2-litre turbocharged four-banger and five-speed manual. At the time of writing it’s only at $1200 with no reserve, so it’s hard to see how you’ll lose.

Torana’s have long been unaffordable for the Average Joe looking for a cheap club-plate cruiser, so why not adopt its uglier cousin instead?

This Vauxhall VX 2300 GLS will certainly be a great conversation starter at your local car meet, and while it may only be a four-banger it has room for the kids – and right now bidding is sitting at $4500. You’d struggle to get a Torana front grille for that these days.

It isn’t all left-of-field oddballs in this list either, we’ve managed to find an Aussie V8 that’s already an up and coming classic.

The E-Series reintroduced the V8 back into the Falcon range with the EB Falcon S XR8, and with the values of VN SS Commodores skyrocketing in recent years we have no doubt this 1994 ED XR8 will follow suit.

It is an auto, but looks to be all original with a well documented service history. As we type, bidding sits at $5800 (although reserve is yet to be met), so it could prove as a cheap way into a classic V8 Falcon.

If the Vauxhall doesn’t take your fancy, but you’re still after a four door chrome bumper classic, then this 1978 Ford Falcon 500 could fit the bill.

It’s no GT, but with bids currently sitting at $5600 with no reserve it’s still mighty tempting for a springtime weekend cruiser on a budget.

The Japanese performance heros like the Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra, Mitsubishi Evolution and Subaru Impreza WRX have all seen a staggering rise in prices in recent years – so what do you do if you still want a cheap, turbocharged Japanese performance machine?

This Toyota Celica GT-Four is a good option, and while it isn’t the full Group A Rallye homologation special built for WRC it still has a high-revving turbocharged four-pot, 4WD system and light weight body – the exact recipe that gave so many JDM heroes the mystique they’re famed for today.

At the time of writing bidding sits at $15,000, far cheaper than many other Japanese heroes from the same era.

Most of these listings start wrapping up tonight from 7.30pm AEST, so follow the link here if any interest you and to bid.