Coolest classic, "practical" car with good MPG
 

While scanning CL recently, I came upon a ratty 72 VW Type 3 Fastback. Neat little car with a 1600 that would probably get 30+ MPG in mixed driving, has lots of space, easy to work on, parts cheap, etc.

What's out there that has some style, relatively practical (for a single guy), parts are easy to get, and is good on gas?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221565490.jpg

The 356/Vdub engines can be fairly good millage makers... my 356 even with Weber 44s on it gets ~32mpg... when it is running.

Hey Shaun, up the coolness factor and get a Karmann Ghia. :)

http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/c...rmann_ghia.jpg

I should have included "cheap" in my description Jim.:(

For coolness, Thom recommended a Type III Ghia. I love this car, but prices are rising fast, and they are RARE!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221567692.jpg

914 1.7. If I can ever find time to get its issues sorted out.

kinda gutless, but good fuel economy and they can be had cheaply. More importantly, they have that mid-engined Porsche goodness to them

How cheap is cheap?
I would throw out BMW 2002, MGB, VW single cab

Cheap is well under $2K, realistically $1K, for a car that drives and can be a drivable restoration. the fastback for $800 was ratty as heck, but registered and on the road. best part is it didn't need any welding. but it was ugly!

key component here is that it must be relatively practical. 2002 fits, rusty ones can be found for $1K+, MGB not really practical, miss my old 63 VW Crewcab a lot, but like Ghia's, prices are up, so trucks are out.

Actually, I'll second the 914 1.7. They can get 30+mpg!

I should get one and set it up identical to my 914/6....

Original VW Rabbit GTi

Shaun, that is a cool car and you can get a nice one not needing a ton of work, relatively cheap. At least cheaper than an MGB, 2002 or a 914. The only down side is you live where it really gets cold and unless you have a long highway drive that car is never going to be warm in the winter.

There are plenty of running cars for $1k to $2k.

But are they reliable? Doubtful, especially when you factor in age, rust, parts availability, and repair cost. Most of the cars from the 70's and earlier had little or no rust proofing, so unless you find a gem that was used in a very arid area, you are going to have issues with rust.

I would suggest upping the ante to at least $5k. Better to buy a car that's sorted out and repaired vs. a rust bucket in need of much.

-Z-man.

MGB? Are you high or something? If you get that, be sure to buy a TR6 to sit next to it. They look good nestled together in the garage...and they better because that is the common view :p

'67 squareback. Air cooled, hatchback goodness. If you can find a clean one. Big if.

Put a sidecar on the Ducati.

Yea the 1.7 914 isn't big on performance and it suffers from the usual problems - the shifter is complete crap/sloppy, it's ugly, it's not very comfortable and the heater doesn't work. Actually pretty much nothing works. But the engine runs well and the suspension and brakes are good. One of these days maybe.

Gas mileage is great - I drove it all the way from New Mexico to here on I think three tanks of gas - I'll check my receipts. And that's with Webers. If you find one with the injection in good shape (good luck with that) you'll definitely get even better mileage.

Fiat 124 Sport coupe.

You really don't like Shaun, do you?

:D

1988 Honda CRX with a big a$$ tailpipe on the back and some wicked cool Grafix on the windows!!

RICE, MAJOR RICE!

Are you actually planning to buy such a vehicle, or is this just a conversation starter?

excellent question. both. I found the fastback while doing my standard search for Porsche stuff. Porsche wheels were mentioned in the ad.

I use the 4Runner for business (company vehicle) and it's great in the snow, but gets 12-17 MPG. The bike is awesome for gas, fun, and running around, but will be put away in November, earlier if it snows.

As winter sets in, I'll need a run around car with character. Thought I'd also see what's out there for interesting, low-cost vintage, practical cars.

Kurt, these really have no heat?

Shaun:
Just realized you're from MA - have you considered a Subaru? Granted, it's not what you'd consider a 'vintage' or a 'cool' car, but they are very, very dependable and with AWD, you won't have problems in the winters.

The Subbie XT was a different looking car, and the SVX was a terrific grand touring car. (But the Flat Six in the SVX won't be a gas sipper...) Even the Loyale or an older Legacy would do the trick for you.

I would also think a VW GTi or Jetta would work for you as well.

If you want something with a little flash, consider the Toyota MR2 - 1st and 2nd gen, although the 2nd gen cars are still running above $3k, more or less.

I doubt that an older VW / Porsche / MG / Fiat would do well in the harsh winters - rust would be a major factor. If you were just looking to run the car in the summer, that's a different story.
- Z

You won't find any good older cars in MA. Or anywhere in New England for that matter. Trust me on this.

Anything good has long since rusted away to nothing.

They have heat, but just not very good heat. And I bet the car you are looking at has rusted out heater ducts.

Modified GEO Metro's are hot -

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221578670.jpg

Or look for a GEO Rura"L" suv -

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221578974.jpg

A2 VW GTI. Their time is coming!

1st gen GTi, 1st gen MR2, 240Z, 260Z, 924, 944, RX7, BMW E30, Saab 900. All can be had for under $5k easily, many for much less.

My neighbor has a Saab 900 turbo. Great car generally and solid, but one thing to watch out for is the main wiring harness. Apparently his went bad and the part is (you guessed it) "NLA" from Saab. He had to have a new one created at a cost of almost $2,000. Other than that though, he swears it's an awesome car and pretty quick with the turbo.

Actually.... have you ever driven a Suzuki Swift GTi with the g13b DOHC 16 valve? 1.liters, ~100hp, 8000rpm redline.

They are really fun, light cars. I'll don my flame suit and admit that I find them more fun to drive that a VW GTI

http://www.modifiedstreetcars.com/ca...20gti-1192.jpg

No-one will accuse them of being pretty, but they are cheap, reliable, go like stink and are wonderful rorty little beasts

good thoughts all around, thanks.

let me add that it must be "classic" meaning 1973 is the last year, much prefer 60s. I'll be dating with the car, so in the obvious absence of money, it must say "quirky" and maybe, cute. And that's the kind of woman I want to date anyway, rare that they may be. I could probably sell something and get a nice car, but I don't care much for nice cars, though I did put some new 325is heated leather seats in the 4Runner. No reason not to at least drive in comfort. :) Finally, it just has to get me through the winter, the E will be done this spring.

As to rust driving through the winter, one of the first things I'll do is break out a quart of POR15 and the HPLV and have at it. I redid the entire front suspension and frame rails of the 4Runner last January, drove through 4 months of salt, never washed it, and still looks brand new, so the stuff works.

[HIJACK] I just bought a 1990 4runner for an upcoming diesel swap. Frame & suspension are solid but has surface rust over everything. What did you do to prep? I take it you didn't have the frame off?[/HIJACK]

This may stimulate some ideas; it's an eBay Motors search for cars and trucks from 1950 to 1973 priced from $500 to $2000:
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/Cars-Trucks___W0QQModelYearf0c65f14Z1973172304Q7c197217 2303Q7c1971172302Q7c1970172301Q7c19691722ebQ7c1968 1722eaQ7c19671722e9Q7c19661722e8Q7c19651722e7Q7c19 641722e6Q7c19631722e5Q7c19621722e4Q7c19611722e3Q7c 19601722e2Q7c19591722ccQ7c19581722cbQ7c19571722caQ 7c19561722c9Q7c19551722c8Q7c19541722c7Q7c19531722c 6Q7c19521722c5Q7c19511722c4Q7c19501722c3QQ_catZ600 1QQ_flnZ1QQ_gcsZ13QQ_ipgZ50QQ_pcatsZ6000QQ_sopZ2QQ _verZ4QQ_madZ1?_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=2000&_udhi=500&_ fcsfc=0

Hopefully this link will work!

Jake, same technique as here: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/152355-project-73-911-r-rs-week-3-a.html

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.

Any pics of your 4Runner? great trucks! just dog slow and bad on gas.

Ha! I admire your hard work, but I assure you that is more work than I'll be going through on my '90 4runner!

Pics of my 4runner, replaced my Samurai:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/428901-its-better-burn-out-than-fade-away-3.html
Needs brakes & and suspension bushings. Have a VW 1.9turbodiesel going in, unless I can get a swap kit for a MB 5cyl diesel.

As for a classic, I'd be looking at MGBs, but hard to imagine what you'll find for <2k.

AMC Eagle wagon. It's platform dates to 1970. Plus it makes a super cool snow car.

Bonus points for finding a clean non-wood paneled-look 1988 model. You can't kill the AMC 6.

Demerits for the iron duke 4, tho.

My '86 944 gets 30mpg, and you can get one needing a new head or tranny for not so much at all. If it must be older maybe a 924? How about a Chevy LUV?

I tried to return to days of yore and recall the cars I thought were cool and might now still be cool and affordable. The list is short:

Ford Cortina. Friend of mine had one with, I think, an Abarth exhaust on it. Great sound.

VW Beetle. I love seeing them on the road.

1970's Celica's were great.

2002...if you're looking to drive the car in the winter in Mass, you can find beater 2002's.

Some of the old Datsun's were very cool.

the ladies will love it!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221589385.jpg

Jake, how much is a turbo diesel and swap kit? My truck still runs strong with 190K on it, maybe I just need better mileage.

On your brakes, they're probably the same as my 95, if not, see if you can get 95 brakes. they are bigger than 993TT and stop the truck faster than any Porsche I've ever owned. I sometimes worry someone will rear-end me.

So far I've gutted the interior, painted the dash facia "stainless steel", dyed the dash and all vinyl black, put in a new instrument cluster window and various controls and made all the instrumentation lights red instead of the sickly green. Also put in an Irmscher (Momo) thick rimmed steering wheel which was probably the single greatest mod I've done so far. I drive this thing like my old 84 Targa!

hoping to bond on new rear quarters I got on eBay before winter, lay down some fatmat and then put the new carpet set in. Should be a brand new truck.

Some process pics.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221589081.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221589111.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221589151.jpg

Here's your ride. :cool:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/cto/839937208.html

Anything with a dodge slant 6 in it.

I want whatever he was smoking to think that car is worth 3k.