Lamenting Our No-Longer Affordable Hobby

[onewhippedpuppy]

A stock 240SX is pretty uninspiring. I had a 1993 as my first decent car, it handed great but that KA24DE is a truck motor and not very rev happy. With an SR20DET it would be a blast.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

I wouldn't mind getting a Corrado or a Harlequin.

If you get a ‘Rado, make sure it’s a VR6. The g60 is money hungry!

[speeder]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

A stock 240SX is pretty uninspiring. I had a 1993 as my first decent car, it handed great but that KA24DE is a truck motor and not very rev happy. With an SR20DET it would be a blast.

Going to be selling this '95 S14 240SX w VQ35 swap soon. It has about $25k in parts and work in it and will be sold for a considerable loss. PM for more details. It runs really strong.

[slow&rusty]

Denis - Is the AC hooked up?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Denis, that would definitely up the fun factor. The US market 240SX was a great car looking for a great motor.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

Denis - Is the AC hooked up?

I'll confirm but pretty sure it's not present on engine at the moment. It is originally an A/C car so it would still have everything under the dash and probably even the hoses under the hood still. It was a pretty hard core performance build and A/C was intentionally left off. It would need to be reinstalled to be a driver in hot parts of the country.

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Denis, that would definitely up the fun factor. The US market 240SX was a great car looking for a great motor.

It's a built, 3.8 stroker w mild cam, custom headers and cat back making probably ~400 hp now. 350z 6-speed manual. Super driveable and sounds amazing.

[zelrik911]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

A stock 240SX is pretty uninspiring. I had a 1993 as my first decent car, it handed great but that KA24DE is a truck motor and not very rev happy. With an SR20DET it would be a blast.

Very interesting thread, thanks for starting it as I am having the same thoughts.

Those JDM performance cars would be a lot more fun than a cheap 25yo European car but I am not sure if they would be worth much money when you go to sell.

About 25 years ago a rich friend bought a Celica GT4 and we did a Targa rally in it with me co-driving . We whipped many super expensive P cars & exotics, at one point we slowed down a bit because we knew the people following us in exotics wouldnt get through the upcoming twisties in the forest at the speed we could.

Before the event we played around fitting bigger Turbos & tuning the software bringing it up to Works specs - and I am reminded of this whenever I follow a 930 Modification thread on this Forum where they are doing the same thing, concept similar but the GT4's are worth nothing now compared to a 930.

[slow&rusty]

Those Celica Altracs (GT4) are seriously incredible cars with the 3S-GTE engine.

While they may never have the resale of a 930, they are mostly owned by enthusiasts and hobbyists / cult owners who know what they have. Toyota will never make another car like this, so they will eventually have their day in the sun..think "Datsun 240Z" and "510" for example.

Many of us cut our teeth on Japanese cars and they provided a fabulous platform as we developed our automotive ability and increased our mechanical confidence.

Those 70s-90s Japanese performance cars ARE great!

[javadog]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

Those Celica Altracs (GT4) are seriously incredible cars with the 3S-GTE engine.

How many are in the US? I did some quick research and Wiki says they sold 77 of them in 1987, as 1988 models. That all?

[911 Rod]

The latest versions are all right hand drive from what I can see?

[manbridge 74]

One of 81 from 1993. My second, has 85K miles. First was a 1990 model that I sold to a friend so I’ve owned these since 1997. Most I see today are trashed. Heavy but build quality is good. Responds well to less weight and free flow exhaust. At 85 mph they are in boost onset and will chomp through fuel. Fun in snow but needs a bigger rear sway to cure understeery I’m-driving-a-hammer feel. Even with bigger bar you have to anticipate needing to grab hand brake to swing back end around on ice. Probably 62/38 front to rear weight distribution. I have a JDM Torsen rear diff that I need stub axles to install. Someday..

[onewhippedpuppy]

I love the Celica Alltrac/GTFour. Never driven one but I’ve always loved the rally heritage. They were dominant until Toyota was caught cheating.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by speeder

I'll confirm but pretty sure it's not present on engine at the moment. It is originally an A/C car so it would still have everything under the dash and probably even the hoses under the hood still. It was a pretty hard core performance build and A/C was intentionally left off. It would need to be reinstalled to be a driver in hot parts of the country.



It's a built, 3.8 stroker w mild cam, custom headers and cat back making probably ~400 hp now. 350z 6-speed manual. Super driveable and sounds amazing.

looks to be a pretty awesome fun ride! those 240's were popular in large part to being rwd.

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

One of 81 from 1993. My second, has 85K miles. First was a 1990 model that I sold to a friend so I’ve owned these since 1997. Most I see today are trashed. Heavy but build quality is good. Responds well to less weight and free flow exhaust. At 85 mph they are in boost onset and will chomp through fuel. Fun in snow but needs a bigger rear sway to cure understeery I’m-driving-a-hammer feel. Even with bigger bar you have to anticipate needing to grab hand brake to swing back end around on ice. Probably 62/38 front to rear weight distribution. I have a JDM Torsen rear diff that I need stub axles to install. Someday..

What do you think these are cars are worth?

The one I posted a pic of was under $10,000.00

[plexiform]

There are still cool yet affordable aircooled ways to have fun. Nothing beats the look, sound, vibration, and smell of a vintage motorcycle.

[manbridge 74]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

What do you think these are cars are worth?

The one I posted a pic of was under $10,000.00

I would say 10K unless a true time capsule survivor. It was never in a movie like F&F like the Supra so will likely stay under the radar for some time yet. And the rally version shared almost nothing with this car. Even the engine block was different. Contrast that with the first Renault R5 turbo that contained many alloy bits from works car. They go for around 100K.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I know far less about the USDM Alltrac, but I know the JDM GT-Four was a true homologation special. Particularly true for the ST185 GT-Four RC and the ST205, which even kept the plumbing in place for the anti-lag system.

[widebody911]

This was $40k a week-and-a-half ago https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2105771

[911boost]

That is insane.

The prices of Busses is still crazy too.

[slow&rusty]

There were so many cool Japanese Sports cars of the '80s that are undervalued, overlooked and remarkable...to name a few to what's been mentioned on this thread:
1) Mitsubishi Starion \ Dodge Conquest
2) Mk.3 Toyota Supra Turbo
3) Toyota Corolla GT-S (RWD and FWD)
4) All years and generations MR2
5) Nissan 200SX (esp. the VG30 V6 and Turbo variants)
6) First Gen. Subaru Legacy Turbo
7) Isuzu Piazza