Which car to resto for a first timer?

[TerryBPP]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

I've been shopping for a pre-smog 914 but their prices have gone up quite a bit lately, no doubt due to gas prices.

Old VWs, hmmm. I was kinda leaning towards a MG but I want a car that won't leave me stranded due to electricals. E-30s are hot and so are 2002s. Parts are expensive though. Miatas are the favorite because parts are cheap but my wife hates says if I'm going to buy a convertible she will only give a thumbs up to Boxster. That'll blow my budget.

The miata idea isnt bad. I just watched a episode of Gearz on Speed. The dropped in a 5.0 ford motor and a lotus looking body kit. Still borderline fellating hairdesserish.

[JeremyD]

Not sure a bug would make a good autocross car - do they make quality suspension parts? Greg - let me know if you ever decide to unload that 2002.

[tabs]

DON"T DO IT!!!! Buy something allready done if your of mind to...

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by tabs

DON"T DO IT!!!! Buy something allready done if your of mind to...

tabs, don't you have a car he can restore for you.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

I've been shopping for a pre-smog 914 but their prices have gone up quite a bit lately, no doubt due to gas prices.

Old VWs, hmmm. I was kinda leaning towards a MG but I want a car that won't leave me stranded due to electricals. E-30s are hot and so are 2002s. Parts are expensive though. Miatas are the favorite because parts are cheap but my wife hates says if I'm going to buy a convertible she will only give a thumbs up to Boxster. That'll blow my budget.

I have a '71 914 that I was going to turn into a track car (it's a decent restoration candidate and in generally decent shape but not perfect by any means), but given how many projects I have right now and how little free time I have to spend on them, perhaps I could work out a deal to sell it with you?

PM me if interested for details.

[cantdrv55]

Sent you a PM, Jeff.

[onewhippedpuppy]

914, 240Z, 2002, '60s Mustang, Alfa GTV (still fairly cheap). Driver type examples of all can be found under $10k. Personally, I'd go for the Alfa, because they're dead sexy. '60s Mustang would be another good one, it's the only musclecar that hasn't skyrocketed in value. Dirt cheap parts, both new and used, available everywhere. Not much of an autoX car though. Other interesting ideas would be a 1st gen RX7 or 1st gen GTi.

[RichMink76]

I vote for a 914. they are inexpensive enough and make a great autox candidate. Very fun.

[Dueller]

Gonna go out on a limb here....1st generation RX7. Fun, nimble, simple, quick and more plentiful than flies. Rust generally isn't an issue. A/C works fairly well if that is a consideration. More after market speed/performance products that are cheap cheap cheap....especially if you buy used. Huge factory support thru Mazdaspeed. Used whole parts cars can be picked up for chump change. Maybe not as iconic as a 914 or 2002 but still a noteworthy car.

[berettafan]

Well Cesiro likely just shot a load all over his screen!


I like the Miata idea as well. Girl car or not they get raced and that, in my book, makes it more of a mans car than 90% of the late model mustangs, neons, vettes, etc. out there.

914 would be a winner too.

BUT for ease of parts i suspect a trans-am era (the race series) domestic would be great fun. i've had the bug for a trans-am replica for some time and i suspect a very cool car could be done for reasonable bucks.

Good point on having to LOVE the car too. If i wasn't completely infatuated with my 911 i'd have given up long ago. It takes quite a bit of irrational commitment to get through such a thing.

[onewhippedpuppy]

For a trans-am era domestic, it's hard to go wrong with a Mustang. The GMs and Mopars have all gone through the roof, but the Mustangs are still reasonable. For now at least. For a fun car that you could track, a Shelby clone would be a lot of fun.