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old cars that are surprisingly awesome (and expensive)

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jagec said:
I had one of those, it was an awesome car albeit underpowered.

Some people shove the mk2 engine into the mk1 body. 2-300 hp turbocharged goodness in a ~2500lb chassis.
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only an idiot would do that.


A clean Datsun 510 can be attractive and pricey.

To throw a truck into the mix, the Chevy C10 had some very aesthetically pleasing years. See a lot of them at car shows.

EDIT: as far as datsun 240/280s go, I really prefer the lines of early 70's over the 80's.
 
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We had 2 nickel-and-dimes brand new when I was growing up. 4 doors so less appeal, but looking back I wish I had kept mom's.
 
Nsx

Most lotus models

Gmc syclone and typhoon

80s vw westfalia (surprisingly expensive, check the 90s ones too). They drive like crap but hold their value well for what they are.
 
500E is an amazing car, no question about it.

10 years ago I would give up my nuts to own one.

Today, I wouldn't even want it. I get electric shocks just thinking about the maintenance or cost of parts on that thing.....and reliability nightmares that WILL happen.

Mind you, if you gave it to me I would certainly drive the crap out of it until it's death.
 
There are a ton, relatively speaking, of old 80's and 90's cars that are way awesome if you can find one in good shape. Or put one back in good shape. Compared to buying something new they are cheap, the issue being you generally can't get financed on an old car the way you can on a new one. That 500e is a good example, even a 400e which is really really cheap, is a hell of a car if you can handle maintenance. BMW's v8 and v12 cars of that era are the same way, I've seen more than a couple with forced induction. Other than degradation and in comparison to new stuff, old cars don't become less good. If they were awesome new, they still are. If you can care and feed them properly and have reasonable expectations.
 
Ns1 said:
The first 2, what are we back in the initial D era?

I'll have to look at the 3rd one
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When the 240SX came out, it was at the bottom of my list of cars.
The truck engine seemed to be such a huge letdown in that thing. As the years went buy there just seemed to be much better cars to play with.
This thing hit the scene when Eclipse\Laser\Talon came out.
As the years went buy, you saw the Integra step up its game. Nissan eventually added some get up and go to the the engine but around that time the Sentra SE-R came out (91) and that was an outstanding car. Probe GT redesign + Corrado+ a few other options. 240SX was a tough call. I look at it as the equivalent of BRZ\FRS. How much will you sacrifice for chassis\steering feedback?

Stock, these cars are nice drivers if you have the type of roads that can highlight the handling of the car. Its one of those "driving slow cars fast" experiences. The hatch makes it fairly useful as well. Unfortunately the mod crowd have hacked a majority of these cars to death.

also adding VW Corrado VR6, Scirocco and 1991 Nissan Sentra SE-r to the list.
 
Dodge Colt Turbo?
Dodge Omni GLH?

I also owned 3 RX7s. All were 12a engines and 5 speed transmissions. Great fun those cars. One I paid $50.00 for because the guy couldn't keep it running. I bought a haynes manual, adjusted the carb (this was pre-internet days), and drove it for 3 years.
 
pauldun170 said:
When the 240SX came out, it was at the bottom of my list of cars.
The truck engine seemed to be such a huge letdown in that thing. As the years went buy there just seemed to be much better cars to play with.
This thing hit the scene when Eclipse\Laser\Talon came out.
As the years went buy, you saw the Integra step up its game. Nissan eventually added some get up and go to the the engine but around that time the Sentra SE-R came out (91) and that was an outstanding car. Probe GT redesign + Corrado+ a few other options. 240SX was a tough call. I look at it as the equivalent of BRZ\FRS. How much will you sacrifice for chassis\steering feedback?

Stock, these cars are nice drivers if you have the type of roads that can highlight the handling of the car. Its one of those "driving slow cars fast" experiences. The hatch makes it fairly useful as well. Unfortunately the mod crowd have hacked a majority of these cars to death.

also adding VW Corrado VR6, Scirocco and 1991 Nissan Sentra SE-r to the list.
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yeah, nobody talks about the 240sx without a corresponding conversation about sr20det conversion.
 
JCH13 said:
Lotus 7
Lotus Esprit
MG MGB (or similar)
Porsche 944
Fiat X1/9
Triumph TR7
FC/FD RX7
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Nice group. I owned a '74 X1/9. Horribly underpowered but handled like a slot car.


I'd add:

Volvo P1800 and P1800ES
The venerable Jaguar XK-E
 
Ns1 said:
yeah, nobody talks about the 240sx without a corresponding conversation about sr20det conversion.
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ive got a s13 in my driveway with a built rb25det in it. my daughters boyfriend used to race/ drift it until he hit a wall and mashed up the front end. the motor is fully built tho, still runs great without the front.

4vobyp.jpg


its on jackstands with no wheels so i put one of my 14" subaru wheels on it. he wasnt amused lol
 
pauldun170 said:
Assuming cars are in top condition (In other words, ignoring all the people who had them as first cars in high school when they were worn and old)

First gen Toyota MR2's
Original Mazda RX7's
Original VW Rabbits\GTI's
I forget the year but late 70's Ford Fiesta's
80's turbo Dodges\Shelby's
240z's
US spec Merkur XR4Ti
91-94? Nissan Maxima SE (with 5spd)
Full Size Bronco - Preferably topless
GMC Cyclone\Typhoon
Mandatory Grand National entry
Late 80's early 90's Mustang 5.0 LX notchback+5spd with proper options.

I could spend all day listing out fun\intersting cars
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Someone told me that one of these in very good condition can fetch $40K.
 
Fastest I've ever driven personally was a Silver 280Z a buddy had years ago, he let me drive and just said go for it one night back in the mid 80's out on the highway.

It took awhile to get there, but the way those things were set up I started backing off at 140+ on the highway and it started feeling a bit loose, it wasn't new.

Where pretty much highway rockets.

1280px-1976_Datsun_280z.JPG
 
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