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.

Or this: Honda Civic Lightweight Racer Special | eBay

+1 to rsNINESOOPER on the BMW 2002

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rE5jJSWi1jo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Please don't destroy a rel. rare & wonderful car like a "2" by driving it in salty snow/slush.

get something newer, with AWD

Isn't Tennessee outside the rust belt?

Check out this beauty:

TheSamba.com :: VW Classifieds - Exceptional Volkswagen Beetle

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1384407514.jpg

What about a generation 7(the last one made) Toyota Celica VVTLi-192bhp, great fwd roadholding.?

THE most fun DD i ever owned was a 65 mini S.....that thing was a hoot.....but, not built to last 50 years and not much metal (1350 lbs) between you and a soccer mom in her SUV.

Next would be a 93 MR2 Turbo. It was still going when I sold it with 165 miles on it. Only had one rear wheel bearing go out on it in 14 years.

Thanks for all the ideas!

What do you think of this 2002? Dude wants $5500 delivered. Some "miinor" rust. Will get more pics if this looks like it could be a decent deal.

1973 BMW 2002

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1385127401.jpg

Great project!

Does "any weather" include exposure to salted roads?

Nice, had a 72 and it was a blast to drive. Like a more powerful 510. It says no heat, not sure if that's because the fan is inop or if the heater core is shot and he bypassed it. If you have to replace, could be a pia to get to. I did one on my 190e- 16 valve. Not fun.

Roundies (Round tail lights) carry a little more desirability and character (bumpers, brightwork). They should command a higher price. I picked up a '76 a few years ago for $3,500. I expect the values to continue to rise, but there were a lot of these cars made. So, they should be available. $5,500 could be a good deal, depending on the condition.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1385131501.jpg

I was looking at the 2002 in Florida!

There is also a 1600 in Cali on Ebay that looks good. I may have speeder go look at that one.

A 2002 is my next project car.

Check this one out: http://www.autotraderclassics.com/classic-car/1976-BMW-2002-1238213.xhtml?conversationId=161669

You have to check the rust yourself. Rear shock towers are a bad spot that these rust. Did I mention checking the rust?

Otherwise, there are great little cars.

LOTS OF EAZY SWAPS
if you stay with GM motors in a Fiero

far eazyer then going with a jap motor

eco-tec 4 is lite and bolts in with it's trans
they come in N/A turbo or supercharged factory form


if you want more power in a V6 there is a long list of GM motors
most just bolt in the stock position a few require a custom motor mounts
some are alloy others iron blocks like the newer 3.9 60 deg V6
the 3800 SIII supercharged can be bumped up to 300 hp with a few basic tricks
while a heavy iron lump they are cheap and strong
and get good mpg if driven for economy

others swap in V8's the older 4.9 caddy alloy block is the eazy swap
chevy mouse needs a adapter kit as does the LS motors

my Fiero has a caddy north star V8 4 cam/valve all alloy motor
they need a custom flywheel and minor mods to fit the stock trans
with custom tube A-arms and vett 13'' brakes

How about a lotus europa? One is sorta trying to fall in my lap.
Not a big fan of the rear end though.
Not a lot of details yet, but supposedly in pretty good shape. Just been sitting for a while. "Ran well when parked!!" :eek:
Asking price was $8k. I may go look at it.

Not the actual car, but it is this color:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1386854934.jpg

E30 3 series BMW ... $5-$10K will buy you one of the nicest ones around. Very reliable, fun to drive, excellent tune-ability, and, with the right tires, very good in snow.

A 93 or later MR2.....turbo or N/A. Mine (turbo) was bullet proof for 168K miles.
The big problem is finding a stock/un-molested car. The F & F crew thinks they can make em' "better".......NOT!!

A modern 914.....where everything works. Around 2700 lbs.

Never owned one, but owners I have talked to say they are fragile, fragile, fragile. Get good with fiberglass fixing.

They are also much smaller than people think, so if you're close to six feet tall, you may have trouble getting in and out. Makes a 914 seem gigantic!

Otherwise, they are cool as hell. Dunno about parts availability.

here's somethin that might fit

Replica Kit Makes Kellison Super T Super T | eBay

and you can't get lighter than a triumph spitfire. Swap in a 4age toyota and five speed for a nice combo.

Larry Breitkreitz's 1973 Spitfire, with Toyota 4AGE 4-cylinder