Project car ideas?

"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
07/18/2016 at 11:22 • Filed to: None

I want something older than 1989 that does “slow car fast” well. That would balance out the Q45 nicely, which is lovely and sounds great but is a total boat with zero steering feel. I had a lot of fun in my first car, a 1989 635csi, and I’d love to experience that old school feel in something light that handles well.

Requirements:

Pre 1989

Manual

RWD

Under $5k

I think that limits me to a handful of vehicles:

- BMW 2002, E12, E21, E28

- Fiat Spider or X19

- Triumph Spitfire

Can Oppo think of anything I missed? No MGs please... the MGB is just not my style.

DISCUSSION (59)

Spridget > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:28

Mercedes W201?

yitznewton > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:30

Depending on how clean you want, there’s the MR2 and RX-7

deprecated account > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:30

My friend is swapping a K20 into an X1/9. I think that would be a good looking and fun to drive project car no matter what you do with it. Although if you’re living somewhere that’s not generally dry, I’d either shy away or find one from a place that is.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:30

924.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:33

Old Corollas/Celicas/Supras? AE86s are probably not gonna fit the bill because of that damn drift tax, but older models are out there and readily available in that price range.

BMW 2002s have jumped a lot in price in the past year, so many may be out of the $5k mark or require a good amount of work. How “project-y” do you want to get? haha

200SX maybe? Or perhaps a Datsun 510?

facw > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:35

I like the X1/9 may as well have a proper mid-engined sports car (MR-2 is also an option here).

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:38

I’ve been shopping Porsche 944s and they check all the boxes. As does the 924.

Datsun 280z/Nissan300zx?

nerd_racing > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:39

I’ve got an 85 RX7 I’d sell you. 12a from Georgia originally so no rot, but the interior is a bit dry. Drove it for a while till I had an ignition coil go out. Should be getting everything to do a direct fire Blaster 2 ignition coils and HEI modules for the leading ignition this week from summit (ordered the parts last night).

Kinja'd!!!

best pic I have of it for now. If you are interested I can take more pics. It’s manual as well.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:39

Fiat 850, Alfa Spider? In any case, try to get something with a detachable roof, it increases the sensation of speed and makes cruising along a country road fun as well.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:51

190hp (not too fast)
all manual
built for corners

Kinja'd!!!

Thomas Donohue > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:55

What about an Alfa Spider?

Kinja'd!!!

yitznewton > nerd_racing
07/18/2016 at 11:57

Quite the Mazda corral you’ve got there!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 11:59

Kinja'd!!!

That budget will snag you a Fiero in pretty decent condition.

djmt1 > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 12:11

Dolomite!

Kinja'd!!!

lone_liberal > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 12:14

If you can find an X 1/9 or Spitfire that isn’t sacrificing itself to the Iron Oxide God then, sure, they could be fun. I wouldn’t bet finding a solid one, though.

nerd_racing > yitznewton
07/18/2016 at 12:28

Thanks, not pictured is the what NA I’m grafting an MX3 roof and hatch onto. I’m really loving the diesel 323 this summer too. Definition of slow and steady.

nerd_racing > yitznewton
07/18/2016 at 12:32

Good choices. I just sold my clean AW11 for $2800 part way through the head gasket change.

Noah - Now with more boost. > nerd_racing
07/18/2016 at 12:37

haha maybe! I’ve considered these before and I’m scared of the 12a/13b motors - I definitely want to learn carburetors on a piston engine before I move onto carbs on a rotary

Noah - Now with more boost. > yitznewton
07/18/2016 at 12:37

Yep MR2s are also an option! Thx! As I mentioned to nerd_racing though I don’t know anything about carbs OR rotaries so I’d rather learn one at a time aka probably no mk1 rx for me

Noah - Now with more boost. > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/18/2016 at 12:40

I’m really into foxes, I’d get a quad headlight hatch with the 302 though. That said these are really cool and I’m surprised they aren’t expensive yet

Noah - Now with more boost. > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
07/18/2016 at 12:41

Yeah 2002s are a total stretch, it would have to be a steal or very rough as you said. The 510 definitely appeals to me, as does the 200sx but they’re both really hard to find in my area, only seen a couple of each for sale on craigslist, ever

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 12:51

In “Project” guise they’re still available well under $5k. I wish I had bought the barely-running 86 SVO for $1000 when I had the chance in 1999. But alas, I was holding out for something “better.”

nerd_racing > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 13:00

From all accounts the nikki carb is a joy compared to others (holley especially). The biggest drawback to a carbed rotary is the ignition system, which I’m tackling the day the ignition components get here. I’ve debated deleting the “rats nest” that is pretty much vacuum solenoids for emissions purposes and idle up valves. If I go that route the thing will be just as simple as a piston engine carb and vacuum system. It will have 3 coils though.

Noah - Now with more boost. > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/18/2016 at 13:10

YEP. Totally would, specifically a GT in the ugliest period color I could find

Noah - Now with more boost. > djmt1
07/18/2016 at 13:11

I wish!! Love Triumphs, pretty much every model. These are nowhere to be found in the US though

Noah - Now with more boost. > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
07/18/2016 at 13:12

That’s true! A 944 would be cool. I’ve always liked those interiors

Noah - Now with more boost. > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
07/18/2016 at 13:12

That could work for me. Especially with engine mods

Noah - Now with more boost. > Thomas Donohue
07/18/2016 at 13:13

Definitely into Alfas (I remember when you could get a diver quality gtv6 for 5k ish) but not these really. Thx tho!

Noah - Now with more boost. > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
07/18/2016 at 13:13

850s are very hard to find here, a spider would be my best bet there.

Noah - Now with more boost. > lone_liberal
07/18/2016 at 13:14

Yeah I’m prepared to accept some level of rust, as long as it isn’t as bad as my old 6 series (the entire ass end had rotted out behind the lights).

Noah - Now with more boost. > Spridget
07/18/2016 at 13:16

A good suggestion but I’m a BMW nut so realistically if I bought an eighties German sedan it’d be an E28

Noah - Now with more boost. > facw
07/18/2016 at 13:17

Yep that’s what I’m thinking. The X1/9 would be a ton of fun

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 13:17

Problem is, all the GTs are either completely trashed or so pristine that you can’t afford them. There’s not much in between.

RT > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 13:19

An AW11 MR2 or Fiero is basically a more reliable version of the X1/9.

Still works as a good project car, very similar looks and driving experience. Just larger parts selection and smaller running costs to make the long term a bit easier.

Noah - Now with more boost. > nerd_racing
07/18/2016 at 13:19

Yeah there’s an awesome youtube video series by this really eccentric guy that goes through every step of rebuilding a 12a, so I’ve actually heard of the Nikki vs. holley debate

Noah - Now with more boost. > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/18/2016 at 13:20

Yeah the GTs I’ve seen are all a little scruffy, they don’t come up very often

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 13:22

I can think of MANY options...

Nissan 280ZX:

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1…

Honda CRX SI:

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1…

VW Karmann Ghia:

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1…

Alfa Romeo Spyder:

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1…

Porsche 924:

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1…

Porsche 914 in somewhat bad shape:

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1…

A 1967 Porsche 912 in *dreadful* condition:

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1…

1987 Ford Mustang GT convertible:

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1…

1962 Chevrolet Corvair:

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1…

Noah - Now with more boost. > RT
07/18/2016 at 13:22

That’s definitely something to consider. An MR2 would be sweet

nerd_racing > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 13:24

Do you have a link? Also I’d cut you a deal sans engine and trans if you wanted to put something with pistons in this. I hear the fox era 5.0L Ford is one of the easiest to swap in. I originally bought it to steal the rotary out of, but its way too clean for that, unless someone was going to keep the good shell and give it a new engine.

borkborkborkbork69 > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 13:31

Triumph TR-7. I had a ~’76 hardtop back in the day. thing handled like a slot car, engine was surprisingly fun for the mid 70s.
cheap and unloved but tons of fun.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 13:33

They are certainly light, and by modern standards are moderately quick, but certainly not fast.

Their looks are a little dated in stock form, mostly because of the bumpers and big rubber spoiler, but with a little finesse some people have cars that don’t destroy the cars identity but look a little more modern by looking for parts from 924, 951, and 968.

One thing though, if you ever do decide you want something with more get up and go; engine swaps are apparently pretty hard to self create because of the torque tube and rear transaxle but not impossible. And the S2 and turbo engines command a pretty big premium. And finally, there isn’t a ton of tuning potential. If you fell in love though and had a big pile of money there are more straight forward LS swap kits.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 13:34

One other car that interests me is the Merkur XR4TI.

Jonee > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 14:02

Kinja'd!!!

You can get a nice Gremlin for that money.

MrFurzzy > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 14:43

FB Rx7. Manual, RWD, light, lots of fun, and definitely can fall under the project car category.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
07/18/2016 at 16:46

There’s a minty one on craigslist near me right now! totally would

Noah - Now with more boost. > nerd_racing
07/18/2016 at 16:48

one hour of eccentric but highly informative goodness

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
07/18/2016 at 17:12

That 280zx is like new compared to most of the ones near me.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
07/18/2016 at 17:29

Obviously that means it’s time for you to take a vacation to Florida...

;-)

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/18/2016 at 22:06

914? though the price of beaters are just getting crazy.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/19/2016 at 00:30

Kinja'd!!!

FIERO!

nerd_racing > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/19/2016 at 06:13

Awesome thanks!

Noah - Now with more boost. > nerd_racing
07/19/2016 at 09:58

No prob!! I loved watching this haha

Noah - Now with more boost. > nerd_racing
07/19/2016 at 09:59

BTW where are you? I’m in the Boston area; would totally consider a deal on that RX sans engine, that’d be fun

nerd_racing > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/19/2016 at 12:30

Buffalo NY area. But I can meet part way with it on a U haul.

Noah - Now with more boost. > nerd_racing
07/19/2016 at 13:13

Hahah I’m gonna have to pass then, thx tho!! It’d be hilarious to do a deal with an oppo

nerd_racing > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/19/2016 at 13:19

Don’t trust Buffalo? lol

Noah - Now with more boost. > nerd_racing
07/19/2016 at 13:21

Lol I’ve never been! I hear it gets outrageously cold though.

nerd_racing > Noah - Now with more boost.
07/19/2016 at 14:07

we are just as far north as boston is. I drove over there a couple summers ago to visit some friends from college. We just get a lot of lake effect snow. The 7 is from Georgia though so it’s not even rusty. I’m doing a tough mudder in NH next month actually.

Noah - Now with more boost. > nerd_racing
07/19/2016 at 14:21

Ahhhh ok that explains what I’ve heard about the weather then