"Shmevans" (icantdriveanyslower)
02/12/2016 at 15:00 • Filed to: None
1
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"Shmevans" (icantdriveanyslower)
02/12/2016 at 15:00 • Filed to: None | 1
| 27 |
I’m hitting the road tomorrow to check out a possible project car for my dad and I to get to work on. It will be our first such project and want to find something interesting to do up. Not a show car by any means, just a nice, cool driver.
I found this ‘73 Colt/Cricket (Mitsubishi/Dodge & Plymouth) online and the seller wants $2000 CAD or best offer. Seems a little steep to me but with so few of these out there it’s a hard one to put a good value on.
The car has apparently been parked since 1978(!) for some reason which I know is a pretty big flag but could also be a bargaining chip. It was primed in “the early ‘80s” but clearly never finished. I’m told it has been indoors its entire life.
It comes with an 1800cc engine installed but also with the original 1600cc. The original motor apparently had low compression so was swapped out. Everything appears to be intact in the engine bay (besides the battery missing front right) and the seller claims that it actually runs! I guess I’ll find out tomorrow for sure...
My one major concern - obviously - is rust. The driver’s side front quarter and sill might need some work but it’s hard to tell from the blurry pictures and the red primer (also I haven’t seen the passenger side at all). The bottom is pretty shabby which I guess is to be expected of a car that has been sitting this long and I’m tempted to say that if I poke around at the frame and things seem solid enough that most of this will likely be remedied with disassembly, a wire-wheel, lots of patience, and some good stone-chip paint. Am I crazy to think that? The one chipping frame rail has me most worried but it could be okay underneath. Leaky diff. too, but that’s okay.
Other than that the body looks surprisingly tidy for an old Colt with the only obvious bad rot on the truck lid and a few holes in the trunk floor. It does however look nice and straight in there which says to me there haven’t been any major (or even minor) hits.
Same story with the front. It appears to be nice and straight. Good bumpers is always a plus too, when they are likely next to impossible to find in good condition.
My favourite thing though has to be the awesome condition of the interior. It needs a wipe, sure, but other than that it looks to be in great shape. Bonus for the great looking grille being in there!
My dad and I don’t have much experience with body work but I know the basics and he is a decent enough welder. I think my biggest worry is going to be scarcity of parts, especially body parts, if needed.
So, as someone looking for some advice looking at a first project to tackle, what are your thoughts? And yes, I know that being a Canadian car this is actually a Plymouth Cricket but there are no doubt more American readers with more experience with these cars which are Colts down there. Thanks!
Party-vi
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 15:03 |
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Put a 318 in it and call it a day.
MonkeePuzzle
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 15:19 |
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well, it looks solid. I’d probably price it with a complete engine swap and replacement of all rubber parts in mind and see if you think its worth the money. But it’s a pleasing shape, and likely a good project, and you never know, you might surprise yourself and get the existing drivetrain running.
smaller RWD cars aren’t easy to come by, this could be quite a laugh if you do it up right!
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Shmevans
> MonkeePuzzle
02/12/2016 at 15:23 |
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This is exactly why I’m thinking so hard about it. I might play up the rusty underbody and the fact it’s been stationary for nearly 40 years and bid him nice and low on it. See where we end up. Hopefully he doesn’t read Oppo. ;)
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Party-vi
02/12/2016 at 15:24 |
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I think a 4G63 might fit better. lol
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MonkeePuzzle
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 15:26 |
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hopefully he does! I’d be willing to let it go cheaper to an opponaut than a random :)
yeah, the underside is rusty, but looks pretty surfacey, not holes and through.
best of luck!
oh, don’t forget, might want to price cost of moving it, likely going to be a full day of effort to get it out of the barn and a ton of work to get it rolling onto a trailer.
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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 15:27 |
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That’s cool! I think it’d be an awesome project, and you’ll have the only one around, that’s for sure.
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Shmevans
> HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
02/12/2016 at 15:30 |
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Thanks! And that’s part of the problem kind of. It will definitely be a rare sight on the road which is great, but there is NO support for these things. The only forum I’ve found is out of Australia ‘cause they’ve imported so many Mitsubishi Colts there. All of the ones in NA have turned to little piles of reddish brown stuff.
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Shmevans
> MonkeePuzzle
02/12/2016 at 15:31 |
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He’s promised me it will be out and ready to view tomorrow so that’s a start. And I plan to use my CAA (AAA) to get a free flatbed tow home so it should be all good! Some of the comments here already are tempting me even more.
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MonkeePuzzle
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 15:33 |
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you’ve come to the wrong place if you want to be talked OUT of buying a car, ANY car!
although, not knowing much about the car, $2K does seem steep. But... it might not be far off, so if you can talk him down.
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Party-vi
> HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
02/12/2016 at 15:33 |
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Boo and hiss. That engine bay is no place for a high-output I4. V8 is love. V8 is life.
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Shmevans
> HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
02/12/2016 at 15:35 |
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I’m really kinda hoping to stick with the carbs for a more original feel so the 4G63 might be out (for now). Plus I’d like to keep it as original as possible until its all sorted.
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Shmevans
> Party-vi
02/12/2016 at 15:38 |
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I could always weld together the two engines it comes with right? Let’s see, a 1600 and an 1800 would make it a 3.4L V8. Nice! Probably really well balanced too!
Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 15:40 |
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If that were a Toyota Corona, I’d be like “Yeah!” But I have trouble seeing any value in that car at all, let along $2,000 worth. It may be collectible for some reason that I wouldn’t know...
Berang
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 15:41 |
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I had a Colt years ago, but I only paid $300 for it. I could see myself paying maybe $1000 for it today. I wouldn’t pay $2000 for this one.
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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 15:45 |
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I get that you can’t replace the sound of a carbonated engine.
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Shmevans
> Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
02/12/2016 at 15:45 |
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I’m kinda seeing it as a 1973 Mitsubishi Colt. Which is pretty cool I think. But yeah, I’m thinking the $2000 price tag might be a little much. But with some fender flares and fender mounted mirrors this would be looking so JDM, yo. Except for that whole left hand drive thing...
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Shmevans
> HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
02/12/2016 at 15:46 |
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What I now imagine it will sound like on start up...
Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 15:51 |
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Offer $300 and a coupon for a free doughnut or coffee with purchase at Tim Horton’s. That’s gotta be worth that car.
ClassicDatsunDebate
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 16:33 |
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There’s a reason there is “so few out there”. If that car was only on the road for 5 years and is as rusty as it looks, you can see why the rest of it’s brothers are already long dead and gone. Even in the late 80's when me and my friends were driving our high school beaters, these cars were few and far between. If you want the same experience but not something that will fall apart around you, you may want to look at a first gen Civic or a 510 or B210 or a Corolla or an 808. Even a Capri would be better.
shop-teacher
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 16:37 |
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I wouldn’t touch it personally, but you best bring a magnet. I bet it’s covered in bondo.
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Shmevans
> Berang
02/12/2016 at 17:06 |
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Yeah I’m going to be pretty aggressive if I make an offer considering the work it needs and the rarity of replacement parts.
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Shmevans
> Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
02/12/2016 at 17:07 |
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Excellent input. Maybe I should just show up with some Timmies and grease the wheels a bit that way.
RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 17:38 |
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A fellow in the local town near here has a pristine, restored Colt wagon....very nice! :) It’s reliable enough he DD’s it all year, except in the winter when he stores it!
If you can go for it at a decent price, I’d say have at it! :)
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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 20:41 |
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hahaha.
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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 20:54 |
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Another cool swap to consider could be a 2.6l turbo from a Starion/Conquest. Same family, but a bit more modern.
Flman1967
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 21:23 |
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As a guy who’s done a fair share of project cars, I’ll tell you this: buy the most complete car you can afford. There will still be plenty of work for you and pops to complete. Spending $100 on the absolute worst car in the world, because, heck, it’s $100, never wins. One of my favorite builds was a 1967 Pontiac tempest 4 door. I bought it from an old lady wearing just a bra and shorts (it was 90 plus in philly) out of her driveway. Had she given me the car, I would have felt better, but $100 was a lot of money in 1988. I spent all my spare time in college on it. I ground the valves (OHC 6 engine), dyed the rugs, ... Ad nauseum. Got $700 for it at Sanford.
sdwarf36
> Shmevans
02/12/2016 at 21:25 |
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The head’s cracked. I’ll bet you the $2000. Bet the other motor came out because of a cracked head too.
I worked as an automotive machinist for many years. If a car ever blew a head gasket-what do you do-you bring it to the machine shop. You see all the trends. Some motors you never see—others you have a bunch in the shop at once. Those Dodge Dolts haunted us for years. Until the cars weren’t worth fixing. If left outdoors-they all turned to iron oxide. This one got lucky and got a roof over its head.
Tell him you’ll give him $300 for it-$400 if he pulls the motor + brings it to the dump. Find a donor motor. Your choice. Stock the Dolt was only 100 hp. Should be easy to beat.