[Marine Blue]

Originally Posted by AM94

As an aside, would it be the kiss of death come resale to take a Sportmatic coupe and swap it out for a manual box? I assume it would always be a bit of a Frankenstein?

I'll start by saying that I prefer manuals but since driving my Sporto for the past few weeks it would be a damn shame if someone removed it in favor of a manual. Sporto's are manuals with a vacuum actuated clutch and a torque converter. Yes the torque converter kills the off the line acceleration but that is the only hindrance I can see. The advantage is that you can downshift into 2nd and stop at a light or stop sign without getting out of gear. When you're ready to go the torque converter engages and your off. Beyond that it is essentially a manual requiring you to choose your gear

Amazing how the Sporto was the reason I hesitated buying the car but I find it one of the coolest aspects of the car (other than the visceral driving experience).

As far as the OP's question, I have to agree that finding that car that falls in the middle of a full restoration and a basket case is rare. I happen to have found one but it was a right place right time scenario and I wasn't even looking.

Good luck with the search and don't give up.