"puppyknuckles" (puppyknuckles)
09/25/2013 at 15:04 • Filed to: None
1
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"puppyknuckles" (puppyknuckles)
09/25/2013 at 15:04 • Filed to: None | 1
| 16 |
I just got some exciting news. A couple I've been friends with here in Brooklyn forever have sold their apartment and are moving into a property upstate this fall. There's a two car garage, and these friends have told me one spot is mine if I want to put a project car there. Now I've got fantasies running through my head of what I could work on all winter. Let's assume $5K - $7K is the budget. I don't have tons of mechanical experience but want to gain it. Not afraid of some projects. What would be a great car to learn on? Here's some cars that I love, not sure if they'd fit the bill (or budget). What cool cars haven't I thought of?
The other thing is this: the house is 40 minutes from Lime Rock Park. So.... maybe PROJECT TRACK CAR???
ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR
> puppyknuckles
09/25/2013 at 15:09 |
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Foxbody Mustang. Go nuts with aftermarket or late model parts. Will be cheap and plentiful. Make it handle and out perform modern cars with 90s tech on a budget.
Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
> puppyknuckles
09/25/2013 at 15:10 |
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No clue how easy they are to work on. But this little Alpine looks pretty cool at 5k. Also there is no rust, a rarity in Michigan.
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/408916…
OtherBarry
> ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR
09/25/2013 at 15:13 |
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agreed. Cheap, power, aftermarket support. Miata too expensive to catch up powerwise to the 5.0. Plus burnouts are easier with torque.
cazzyodo
> puppyknuckles
09/25/2013 at 15:15 |
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I hope you get some good tips and document this process because I would like my next car to be a project (even though I have no experience I love anything with a motor and want to learn). Assuming I gain access to a garage.
deekster_caddy
> puppyknuckles
09/25/2013 at 15:16 |
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Need a motor for your project? I've got a nice cadillac 500" V8 looking for a home! Just needs an engine bay large enough to handle some real torque...
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puppyknuckles
> ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR
09/25/2013 at 15:19 |
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My DD is a '12 Mustang GT... so a foxbody track car is definitely interesting to me...
Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
> ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR
09/25/2013 at 15:19 |
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Why no love for a late model F-Body? Too expensive? Falls apart too easily? What gives?
Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
> puppyknuckles
09/25/2013 at 15:20 |
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Kickass friends!
The thing you have to remember with a track car is that, yes, you can build one for $7k, but it's going to cost you a lot more to run it than that. Tires, broken parts, track fees, consumables...all of that factors in, especially if you're running often enough to warrant having a dedicated track toy.
I'd find something older to play with that I could take out on track every once in a while and slowly make more track worthy over the years.
2002 would be great but maybe a bit underpowered. Alfa GTV6 would be great for doubling at track duty, $7k will get you a solid example. a 1st gen notchback Mustang wouldn't be a bad project; cheap to buy, cheap to get parts for, stupidly easy to work on, quite dependable, and there are good chassis upgrades out there for slowly working it out on track. Triumph TR6 could be grabbed in that range and might be a little more sprightly than an MGB. Datsun 1600/2000 might be pushing that price range but would be similarly cool.
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ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR
> Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
09/25/2013 at 15:32 |
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Ford fan. That is a good suggestion though.
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ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR
> puppyknuckles
09/25/2013 at 15:37 |
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AND WITH THEIR POWERS COMBINED THEY COULD RULE THE TRACK!
/imsicksothisisfunny
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puppyknuckles
> ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR
09/25/2013 at 15:39 |
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I WILL GET LADIES???
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ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR
> puppyknuckles
09/25/2013 at 15:50 |
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the right kind of ladies.
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puppyknuckles
> Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
09/25/2013 at 15:53 |
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I'd actually love to rock one of the 3rd gens on the track (only because they look great, I don't know if they're really good drivers or not). A guy last time I was at Lime Rock had one stripped out and caged and he was damn quick.
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Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
> puppyknuckles
09/25/2013 at 16:01 |
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I've always heard that the typical Camaro/Firebird handles better than a stock Mustang of the same era. GM dialed in the suspension just a bit better than Ford, although for a good part of the late 80's early 90's, the Mustang had the more powerful V-8. I'd bet both cars have oodles of aftermarket parts available, as well as an ample supply of OEM & salvage parts as well. Very little beats cheap V-8 power and rear wheel drive.
BJohnson11
> puppyknuckles
09/25/2013 at 17:09 |
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Remember, with most project cars (especially older stuff if you're doing a restomod), the majority of the cost is in the upgrades/projects. So for example, my truck cost me $2100, but to do almost everything I want to it, it will cost closer to 9 grand (and that's without paint). SO is the 5-7 grand the total cost? Or just upfront?
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puppyknuckles
> BJohnson11
09/25/2013 at 18:45 |
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If it were a pure classic that is not going to go on the track, I'm thinking 5-7K upfront to buy something decent. Then I can work/invest as I am able. Needs to be running, move under its own power and is legal to drive on the street, but that might need things rebuilt, some major or minor restoration, and will just be rewarding to own even if there is a bunch of work to do. Maybe I'll do some of the things it needs over the winter, enjoy it, and sell it for something else... not necessarily needing to flip it for a profit but would be nice if that happened also.