Small leightweight coupe project?
 

Time to start another project and not sure what to get.
Something to drive any time in any weather.
Daily commute is about 35 miles each way on mountain roads.
Looking for something small, lightweight, good mileage, fun and different.

Right now considering an original mini, a bug or a karmann ghia.
Any other ideas?
Hopefully running ~ $5 - 10k????

1970-1973 Datsun 240Z.

Pick up an old sports car with a blown engine and put about 8k of electrics into it.

Example:
Keith's 1974 Fiat Bertone X1/9
http://www.evalbum.com/imgm.php?n=3586b.jpg&w=300&h=189
Keith said if he were to do this project today, he would go with lithium batteries not the lead acid he used.

That should lighten it up enough for you.

We're pretty happy with our early Miata with a hard top.

30+ mpg, Mazda reliability, double wishbone suspension on all four corners and 50/50 weight distribution. With the hard top, it is pretty secure, with great visibility out the back compared to the tiny vinyl window in the soft top.

Of course, being able to take the top off is a huge bonus.

Edit: Just saw your last requirement- "Different". Guess we can scratch the Miata idea.....

Volvo 1800, p1800 and variants
Scirocco
Fulvia
Alfa GTV6
Audi Coupe GT
Saab Sonett
Gen 1 RX7
Gen 1 Celica (find a twin cam!)
Corolla AE86 GTS
Gen 1 MR2
MGB GT
Triumph GT6, GT6+
Triumph TR7
Jensen Healy Twin-cam Coupe (rare)
Fiat 850 Racer (rare)
Fiat 124 Coupe
Honda S800 Coupe (rare)
Porsche 914
Mercury Capri (original ones - seemingly rare)
Opel GT
Opel Manta

Good luck. Report back.

An old GTI.

What year is your Miata? Try as I may (full tune up etc.) I can only manage 25-27 mpg in my 1996.

But then I am kinda liberal with the use of the gas pedal. ;)

Sorry for the hijack, to the OP, what about a BMW 3 series convertible?

An early two door ford escort. And do it up Ford Escort Mexico style. Fast light and EASY to work on.

Early Rx-7...but may not meet your MPG approval.

Looking at what you already have in the stable, I would say go with a hot rodded BMW 2002... another thing to consider and it may be a kooky idea is to take a 1988 Fiero GT (has the best suspension of all the years and you really don't see Fieros on the road anymore) and drop a Subaru or Honda motor and tranny in the rear of it.

I like your bug, mini, or KG idea, but I don't think you're going to get into on for $10k. I would love to have my old hot-rodded '63 bug again - or my '61 Ghia. Minis are a hoot.

BMW 2002-

can be a daily driver no problem, they are amazingly reliable cars and very fun to drive. If you want a hotrod then drop a 90-91 318is engine and trans into one for an instant hooligan machine that get great gas mileage and is a blast to drive. Excellent parts support, easy to maintain/repair, and you can pick up a good driver with a 5speed swap for 10 or less easy enough. I have a beater that was a parts car for a car I sold a couple years ago, blow by, leaky everything, 200,000mi, beat to death and still screams after starting on the first kick. Just drove it from northern to southern California without a hitch. I have had a few British cars and none were good as daily drivers unless you removed the British bits under the dash and hood, what is the point?

Forgot to add:

Chevy Corvair - Late Model (LM) with the better suspension

any time; any weather; mountain roads ===> AWD

Subaru Rally car or BMW X series (they have a 1 series out now in AWD IIRC); small AWD Audi, etc.

1993. Last year for the puny 1.6. In 1994 the engine was bumped up to a massive 1.8.

Over 30 mpg on the hiway, less than 30 around town.

Aw, yes... mine had the brutish 1.8 :D

To the OP... an even more brutish Mazdaspeed turbo Miata can be had for around $10K.

An all wheel drive Toyota Celica turbo. 1987-93 ? Hard to find without some rust around here but 200 hp 4 valve 2.0 l intercooled , 5 speed Decent power ,brakes, AC, seats. Stealthy but fast. Around 30 mpg and certainly all weather capable rally car type package.

the 'any weather' part sort of rules out the 914, but its a great choice for a lot of other reasons.....like handling, mileage, cost, upgrade-ability, etc etc.

oh, and its still a Porsche, sorta.

Love mine -

Alternatives might be 944 / 968. cheap and cheerful, great handling.

let us know what you end up with -

td

Opel GT !

Not small or light, but awesome.... BMW 633 or 635 The old shark nose bodied ones.