YACT: Recommend me an old (1970-1980) car as a second car.

Panakk

Senior member
Jan 17, 2000
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Something that's below 10K. I did look at a 1976 Porsche 911 Targe that looks sweet. Corvette's are nice too.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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boss


edit: probably not below 10K for a nice one.
 

DougK62

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2001
8,035
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81
Get an 88 Pontiac Fiero GT. They're a hoot to drive and are still cheap.

 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
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Originally posted by: Panakk
Something that's below 10K. I did look at a 1976 Porsche 911 Targe that looks sweet. Corvette's are nice too.
The "mid-year" (what the mid 70's 911's are called) 911's with the 2.7 litre engine should be avoided if you want anything resembling reliability. They are far and away the least desireable of the 911 series.

ZV
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Chevette. That way you can refer to your car as "The 'vette" but not pay Corvette prices. ;)
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,565
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I kind of like the old Triumphs and Fiats. My Step-Dad had a 1971 Triumph TR-6 and that car was a blast to drive. He stored it during the winter and only drove it during the springtime and summer.

It helps if you know how to tinker with cars though when looking at vehicles of this era, especially when it comes to old British or Italian cars.
 

Panakk

Senior member
Jan 17, 2000
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Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Panakk
Something that's below 10K. I did look at a 1976 Porsche 911 Targe that looks sweet. Corvette's are nice too.
The "mid-year" (what the mid 70's 911's are called) 911's with the 2.7 litre engine should be avoided if you want anything resembling reliability. They are far and away the least desireable of the 911 series.

ZV

they one i saw had the 2.7 litre engine so i should stay away from it.
 

slurmsmackenzie

Golden Member
Jun 4, 2004
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you'll spend closer to 14K, but a trans am with the bird on the front is by far the sweetest looking (performance isn't tops in it's class, but...) muscle car ever!
 

thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
9,030
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I"m a dodge dart kind of guy but you seem to be more into sports cars so I will say an early 70 240z/260z. They are still rather cheap even in good shape and are great looking cars.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
42
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Originally posted by: Panakk
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Panakk
Something that's below 10K. I did look at a 1976 Porsche 911 Targe that looks sweet. Corvette's are nice too.
The "mid-year" (what the mid 70's 911's are called) 911's with the 2.7 litre engine should be avoided if you want anything resembling reliability. They are far and away the least desireable of the 911 series.

ZV
they one i saw had the 2.7 litre engine so i should stay away from it.
Depends on how much work you want to do on the car. There's a reason that mid-70's 911's tend to be less expensive than other models. The issue is that, through much of the 1970's most companies were struggling mightily to reach emissions requirements and in most cases reliability, drivability, and power were off from earlier and later years. The biggest issue with stock 2.7's is that the head studs tend to pull out of the magnesuim crankcase, an issue that is compounded by a FI system that tends to run lean, a 5 blade fan instead of an 11 blade fan, and the thermal reactors which caused heat-soaking in the heads. This can all be fixed, but repairing the head studs is expensive. Also, these years of 911 are least likely to be collectible (aside from the 3.0 litre Turbo cars, of course).

ZV
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,130
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Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
I"m a dodge dart kind of guy but you seem to be more into sports cars so I will say an early 70 240z/260z. They are still rather cheap even in good shape and are great looking cars.

Parts, though :shocked:
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
Firebirds are good.
240z's are also great choices.
Smaller european sports cars are good if you don't mind doing maintenance.

Basic formula:
2 Doors
straight 6 for Japanese
V8 for american
RWD
People have to know what it is when they see it.
If it was seen in a popular movie (ie: Smokey and the Bandit) your chances of it being a collector car will increase.