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Looking for a "project" car

V

VinylxScratches

Golden Member
I don't know much about cars but I would like to learn. What would be a decent car to get that has abundant parts as in I don't have to scour the world to locate something. Right now I'm leaning toward the Porsche 914. It really appeals to me and I hear it's easy to work on.

Any other ideas?
 
Why on earth would anyone want to buy such a hideous car? Get a Camaro or a Mustang and have a fast, cheap car that's plenty reliable. 🙂
 
Budget?

No sense buying a project car only to find you can't afford the parts you need to complete it. I would imagine it might be kind of hard to track down parts for a '70s Porsche, not to mention a bit pricey...someone else with more experience *cough, ZV, cough cough* might be able to offer more insight 🙂

For a dirt cheap project, with parts available everywhere - 1982 - 1992 Camaro / Firebird, if you don't mind the white trash image associated with them. 1979 - 1993 Mustang is also a good pick. For more of a roadster type car, you can pick up an older Miata cheaply as well. Sounds like this may be more your thing, since you said you like the 914.
 
or a miata if you are more into the small cars. I've had an 89 5.0l mustang coupe and much prefer my current 94 miata.

missed Black88gta's last line 🙂.

Toyota MR2s are nice too if you don't want to go convertible.
 
Get a Jeep...fix it up, do a little rock crawling, break it and then you get to fix it again. Breaking stuff actually is fun because then you can upgrade it.
 
Originally posted by: desy
old volvo 240
easy to work on and lots of available paprts
Click to expand...

Good idea! IIRC, all kinds of easy swaps for these as well. They're pretty comfortable, relatively safe, and even practical. Building a 500rwhp 240 would rock, particularly if you scored a station wagon! Nothing would be more fun than burning someone in an M3 or whatever in your Volvo hoopty.
 
Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
or a miata if you are more into the small cars. I've had an 89 5.0l mustang coupe and much prefer my current 94 miata.

missed Black88gta's last line 🙂.

Toyota MR2s are nice too if you don't want to go convertible.
Click to expand...

what makes you you prefer the Miata?

I have a 1996 Miata and had considered ditiching it for a foxbody.

 
I have a friend that regularly tinker old VW's but also I have been told that Mustangs and anything with the small chevy block works.
 
Originally posted by: CRXican
Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
or a miata if you are more into the small cars. I've had an 89 5.0l mustang coupe and much prefer my current 94 miata.

missed Black88gta's last line 🙂.

Toyota MR2s are nice too if you don't want to go convertible.
Click to expand...

what makes you you prefer the Miata?

I have a 1996 Miata and had considered ditiching it for a foxbody.
Click to expand...

A fox body mustang is a lot like driving a 1960s car with power options and a/c. They sound great and I love the torque but they don't feel(steering, brakes, shifting, sitting position, refinement) as nice to drive as the miata. The 94+ mustangs don't feel as crude but they feel bigger and gain weight. Plus I just really like the convertible aspect a lot more then I thought I would and it doesn't hurt that my miata is turbocharged.
 
914/4's are mainly good because they're VWs that Porsche didn't want to have the VW badge on. To check if the body is straight and hasn't sagged, remove the targa top, open both doors, and then see if the doors close properly. Many of the parts are straight off VWs, making them cheap and easy to obtain. Many bug shops also work on them and likely have one or two out back. Engine access isn't as easy as a beetle however.

One thing that is worth keeping a note of is if smog testing is done where you live. That can change which cars are favorable toy cars and which aren't. Don't overlook old trucks for the learning experience. They're simple, things are easy to work around, and they're generally able to run alright even when they've been shot and left for dead. A friend of mine picked up a '53 GMC truck for $25 at an estate auction, put a new battery in filled it with gas, and drove it home. No, there's no digits missing from that price.
 
Originally posted by: ZetaEpyon
I really want to get a late 70s 240Z and drop in a small block V8.
Some day, some day...
Click to expand...

Me too.. some day!

@OP: What did you plan on doing with the car after its done? Race it, show it, off-road, just as a learning experience, etc?
 
Originally posted by: Imported
Originally posted by: ZetaEpyon
I really want to get a late 70s 240Z and drop in a small block V8.
Some day, some day...
Click to expand...

Me too.. some day!

@OP: What did you plan on doing with the car after its done? Race it, show it, off-road, just as a learning experience, etc?
Click to expand...

A project car is never "done"!
 
Originally posted by: BassBomb
Originally posted by: Imported
Originally posted by: ZetaEpyon
I really want to get a late 70s 240Z and drop in a small block V8.
Some day, some day...
Click to expand...

Me too.. some day!

@OP: What did you plan on doing with the car after its done? Race it, show it, off-road, just as a learning experience, etc?
Click to expand...

A project car is never "done"!
Click to expand...

I know. Close to being done? 😛
 
Originally posted by: ZetaEpyon
I really want to get a late 70s 240Z and drop in a small block V8.
Some day, some day...
Click to expand...

There are no late 70's 240Z's. They only made them to 1973. The 260Z came in 1974, then the 280Z from 1975-1978.

The earlier cars are lighter but will need chassis strengthening to handle the torque. The later cars are heavier but can handle more power.
 
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