If you’re headed to the Monterey Peninsula this week for all the automotive festivities, you’re doubtless giving serious thought as to what to drive to and from the events that make up America’s glitziest rolling car show. Driving something ordinary amid all the vehicular glamour, though, simply isn’t acceptable. You need something special, something like this 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier convertible. Just think of how it’ll stand out among the pricey exotics and luxury rides swarming the Monterey Peninsula!

This carefree Chevy for sale on Monterey’s Craigslist (and so impressive, it can’t even fit in the photographer’s frame) might well have started life in the National Rental Car fleet at the nearby San Francisco airport, where it no doubt ferried free-spendin’, rental-category-upgradin’ tourists down to Carmel and Fisherman’s Wharf during the go-go ’80s. How appropriate it would be for this car to be purchased this week and to retrace those miles as a classic car?

CRAIGSLIST|CAR AND DRIVER

This Cavalier fulfills three key elements of an ideal Monterey Car Week steed: First, it’s a convertible, which is a must-have, what with the temperate Central Coast climate, for taking in the spectacular scenery along Highway 1 and throughout the peninsula. Second, it’s vintage, which means it fits in among the Porsche 356s, Alfa GTVs, BMW 3.0CSLs, and other classic tin that lines the streets everywhere that week. Third, and this is key, it’s a cinch to park.

CRAIGSLIST|CAR AND DRIVER

Best of all, this classic Chevy, which shows only 48,000 miles, is on offer in nearby Castroville (itself a destination thanks to the annual artichoke festival) for only $2900. Sure, you could spend $29,000 or even $290,000 on a classic convertible at one of those fancy auctions and slide right into the “typical” Monterey car scene. But this Cavalier offers that open-topped joie de vivre and vintage cachet at a fraction of the price, and you won’t see another in Monterey—likely ever.