Coolest classic, "practical" car with good MPG

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

Jake, same technique as here: Project 73 911 R/RS -- Week 3

Grinder, wire brushes, and then lots of POR15 prep, a lot more than the directions say. After it was washed off, let dry, then went at it with the gun.

the entire front end of my truck was virtually gone, the A-arms were missing probably a full 25% of their metal. One was so bad that I'm sure a pothole at speed would have collapsed it and sent the truck tumbling.

I have used POR-15 myself, and the stuff is terrific. But I suspect that the front end of your truck wasn't gone -- POR15 can only stop rust before it gets to a point of no return.

Most pre-1973 cars that cost under $2k will have rust that is beyond POR-15's abilities.

Just sayin,
-Z

[onewhippedpuppy]

So a pre-1973 under $2k cool driver to take ladies on dates? Would you please share whatever it is you are smoking?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Depends on what it is. And what the girl likes. I know some hippie chicks who'd think a 70s minibus would be the coolest thing in the world (and probably some opportunity to turn it into a shaggin' wagon).

[onewhippedpuppy]

I think you'd probably go right through the floor on a $2k pre-1973 shaggin' wagon VW. That might ruin the mood.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

So a pre-1973 under $2k cool driver to take ladies on dates? Would you please share whatever it is you are smoking?

Agreed.

I just spent 10 minutes looking on eBay and there was nothing I would even remotely consider taking a date out in . . .

[MattKellett]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Fiat-giannini-fiat-500-giannini-showcar-hotrod_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ39Q3a1Q7c66Q3a2 Q7c65Q3a3Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQ hashZitem220281751073QQitemZ220281751073

Not really in your price range at all, but damn cool all the same
Matt

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Depends on what it is. And what the girl likes. I know some hippie chicks who'd think a 70s minibus would be the coolest thing in the world

Shaun, do you aspire to date hippie chicks, or just quirky chicks that have esoteric tastes?

Maybe the best way to approach this is to find a woman... or several... and take them with you car shopping one Saturday.

Make sure you find something that has front seats go all the way back. Cloth, not leather or vinyl, too. If you need me to explain all that, you might not be esoteric enough to date this type of woman.

[Dueller]

I'm thinking a Dart Swinger with the slant six.

Better yet, forget about the practicality/gas mileage and buy a sixties/seventies era hearse, paint it white with a ghost busters logo.

Wait....you're fairly young and chicks of your generation wouldn't get it.

How 'bout an old Grumann van painted up like an ice cream truck complete with music?

Yeah...that'll have 'em lined up.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Make sure you find something that has front seats go all the way back. Cloth, not leather or vinyl, too. If you need me to explain all that, you might not be esoteric enough to date this type of woman.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Dueller

I'm thinking a Dart Swinger with the slant six.

That's gotta be it. Shaun, this is your destiny... you'll embrace it as soon as you take it for a test drive and hear those lifters.



Until the Spring, anyway.

[Dueller]

[Shaun @ Tru6]

1973 Orange Super Beetle Convertible. $975. Needs minor welding (would take me about 2 hours based on description) and signal light wiring to be on the road. Has been stored since 1981 so would need tires, but he's driven it around the yard over the years so it does run and drive now. $975, could probably get it for $750.

ghey? or sorta cool? i've always thought of Beetle convertibles as chick cars whereas an early 60s coupe in Heron Gray with red interior as more something I would drive.

Thanks Dean!

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

1973 Orange Super Beetle Convertible. $975. Needs minor welding (would take me about 2 hours based on description) and signal light wiring to be on the road. Has been stored since 1981 so would need tires, but he's driven it around the yard over the years so it does run and drive now. $975, could probably get it for $750.

ghey? or sorta cool? i've always thought of Beetle convertibles as chick cars whereas an early 60s coupe in Heron Gray with red interior as more something I would drive.

Thanks Dean!

Well having owned several beetles as a teen, I can tell you that that car will need some serious work to get the bugs worked out and to get it presentable and reliable. Fortunately the parts are cheap and it would make for a fun project.... but make no mistake, it WILL be a project.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I'm not worried about presentable Tim, that's called patina! I probably shouldn't say this, but I love driving the truck around. Scare's the bejeezus out of anyone with a nice car. let's just say I always get the right of way.

yeah, any beater old car will be a project. rebuilding the front end of the 4Runner was a BIG job, even with cutting most of the junk out and installing only new parts, still took some time.

my hope is in the next few months to find some unloved car that someone needs to get rid of that I can relatively easily and cheaply get into good drivable condition. I would think any 60's VW product would be pretty darn easy to achieve that goal. There can't be more than 30 parts on a whole car.

ordered those sticks today BTW. should be here Friday. should start cutting/welding following weekend.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

I can tell you that that car will need some serious work to get the bugs worked out and to get it presentable...

A presentable car...in Boston? ROFLMAO! Clearly you've never been in Boston, Tim.




j/k, j/k. I think I saw one or two many years ago...

[MOMO3.2]

How about a Volkswagen Fridolin!



Mike

[87coupe]

My vote is for a VW notchback, although I'm not sure it fits the price point your looking for.



That one has a little something special in the trunk...



And for the non-sleeper look...

[Tobra]

Super beetle convertible is a great car, drove one for 20 years. The seal around the rear window will probably leak, and the heater is not great for Mass. winters, you will need to replace the front suspension or it will shimmy like it is going to come apart at speed.

The dimensions are almost identical to a 914, wheelbase, track, weight...of course the weight is distributed well in a 914. For under a grand it almost certainly has major issues(if front frame head or shock towers are rusty, run away. The window regulators for the convertible bugs are NLA, if the rear seat is missing, keep in mind it is not the same as a coupe, and will be virtually impossible to get

[onewhippedpuppy]

I vote chick car. Are the hardtop bugs hard to find?

[williecoyote]

Here you go. (No affiliation)
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/844099408.html