The original Grand Theft Auto has 59 vehicles, and you can steal almost every one you see. Many appear in only one or two cities, and several have a different model in each city, so a Taxi in Vice City does not look like the Liberty City one. Below, each class is listed with the cities where it turns up and, where it applies, what a crane pays for it undamaged. A hot car is also your best escape from the police, and some jobs, such as the vehicle missions in Liberty City, start from a parked car.
Take any car you like when you need to travel, but pay attention when you want money. Sports cars and muscle cars pay the most at the docks, up to 12,000 for the Beast GTS, Cossie, Counthash and the later Penetrator, while taxis and bikes pay only 2,000. Buses, trains, emergency vehicles and a few unusual ones are not bought at all. Details are on the crane bonuses page. Stats such as top speed are not listed here, because they are not shown in the game.
Sports, muscle and customized cars
Vehicle
Where you find it
29 Special
Vice City; crane pays 4,000
Beast GTS
Liberty City, San Andreas; crane pays 12,000
Bulldog
Liberty City, San Andreas; crane pays 8,000
Challenger
Liberty City; crane pays 4,000
Cossie
Liberty City, Vice City; crane pays 12,000
Counthash
Liberty City; crane pays 12,000
F-19
Vice City; crane pays 10,000
Flamer
San Andreas; crane pays 6,000
Hotrod
Vice City; crane pays 10,000
Itali
Liberty City; crane pays 8,000
Itali GTB
Vice City; crane pays 8,000
Itali GTO
San Andreas; crane pays 8,000
Jugular
Liberty City, Vice City; crane pays 8,000
LeBonham
Vice City; crane pays 4,000
Mamba
San Andreas; crane pays 8,000
Monster Bug
San Andreas
Panther
Vice City; crane pays 8,000
Penetrator
Liberty City (first model); San Andreas and Vice City (second model)
Porka
San Andreas, Vice City; crane pays 10,000
Porka Turbo
Liberty City; crane pays 8,000
Roadster
San Andreas; crane pays 8,000
Speeder
San Andreas; crane pays 10,000
Stallion
Liberty City; crane pays 6,000
Stinger
All three cities; crane pays 8,000
Stinger Z29
San Andreas, Vice City; crane pays 8,000
Standard cars
Vehicle
Where you find it
Brigham
Vice City; crane pays 4,000
Bug
All three cities; crane pays 2,000
Classic
Liberty City, Vice City; crane pays 8,000
Impaler
Liberty City, Vice City (different models); crane pays 8,000
Limousine
All three cities, four variants
Mundano
All three cities; crane pays 6,000
Portsmouth
Liberty City, San Andreas; crane pays 4,000
Regal
All three cities; crane pays 4,000
Thunderhead
Liberty City, Vice City; crane pays 8,000
Vulture
San Andreas; crane pays 4,000
SUVs, trucks and vans
Vehicle
Where you find it
4 x 4
All three cities; crane pays 4,000
Juggernaut
San Andreas, Vice City
Love Wagon
San Andreas; crane pays 6,000
Pickup
Liberty City (first model); San Andreas and Vice City (second model)
Repair Van
All three cities; crane pays 6,000
Tanker
All three cities
Transit Van
All three cities; crane pays 6,000
TV Van
All three cities, one variant per city; crane pays 8,000
Public service
Vehicle
Where you find it
Bus
All three cities, one variant per city
Coach
All three cities
Taxi
All three cities, one variant per city; crane pays 2,000
Government and emergency
Vehicle
Where you find it
Ambulance
All three cities, one variant per city
Fire Truck
All three cities
Squad Car
All three cities, one variant per city
Tank
All three cities
Railway
Vehicle
Where you find it
Train
Liberty City and Vice City
Motorcycles
Vehicle
Where you find it
Bike
All three cities; crane pays 2,000
Superbike
All three cities; crane pays 10,000
Miscellaneous
Vehicle
Where you find it
Boat
Liberty City and San Andreas; scenery you cannot drive
Helicopter
Scenery you cannot drive
Model Car
All three cities
Tips
Switch cars when your wanted level climbs. A fresh vehicle is harder to spot, and a respray removes the chase. See wanted level.
Tanks and emergency vehicles are never bought by the crane, so use them to cause damage, not to earn money.
Keep a car undamaged if you plan to sell it: every dent lowers the price.
