Best Race Car Under 30 Grand?

"JR1" (type35bugatti)
02/13/2014 at 12:05 • Filed to: Economical RaceCar, Oppositelock

Yesterday I posted on TruckYeah that if one was to buy an impractical "speed king" at least make it a SprintCup Car.

http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/if-you-have-to…

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And that got me thinking, what kind of race car can you get for 30k? Now I always thought the best answer was a used SprintCup stock car. The 2007 Monte Carlo above raced in the Busch Series back in 2007. Unfortunately like all former race cars its day has come and gone. Now the Busch car simply is a relic of a bygone era. We as consumers however benefit. This old Busch Series car can be bought for a cool 29,900 dollars. This car has an 800 hp 358 ci v8 engine, a four speed transmission, and heavy duty race rear axle. That equates to roughly 37 dollars per horsepower. This isn't just any old normal horsepower either. This is full on thoroughbred racing horsepower. This is the kind of power that could move mountains, blow up Pompeii, or kill every Prius within a 50 mile radius. All of that and more could be yours for less than the price of a fully loaded Fusion. Just let that sink in for a minute...You could be like the racing Chuck Yeager smoking tires and peeing yourself with utter joy for less than a Ford Fusion. For the money there isn't a more worthy car for sheer thrill per second.

Of course I am only 19 years old. There is no way I could buy it. But maybe you could. Or perhaps you want to spend your money on another unnecessary but worthwhile race car. So I beg the question, for 30 grand what impractical race car would you buy?

TLDR: You have 30k what race car would you buy/modify?

DISCUSSION (19)

Paul, Man of Mustangs > JR1
02/13/2014 at 12:13

I've seen ARCA chassis with bodies and suspensions (no engine) for about ten grand. Toss in a motor of your choice, and you've got a ready-to-rock race car. Take it to the local autocross and tear up the track!

For Sweden > JR1
02/13/2014 at 12:15

Tires would be abhorrently expensive, but worth it.

daender > JR1
02/13/2014 at 12:16

I like checking the back of Sports Car Magazine's classified ads.

1985 Fox Body Ford Mustang American Sedan Class

Reclassified, buyer backed out. Complete car ready to race next year. Motor refreshing 20 min. run time to check for leaks. New Ford racing cam, world class T-5 trans with an extra new T-5 trans. Comes with extra tires and rims. $5,895.00. Send e-mail: racer2269@hotmail.com

Or this one.

World Challenge Civic Si

Long Beach winner, FabTech cage, two way shocks, Kaaz, fresh 2.0Si, Hondata, Skunk2, DBA/TSX brakes, WC-TC, GA-ST, STL/U, ITA, and H1. Price $18,500. Contact Branden at (970) 485-1849

But my favorite

T3 2008 Honda S2000 CR

Professionally built and maintained. Driven by Tom Wickersham. Track record holder at Laguna Seca, COTA, Thunderhill, Sonoma, Fontana, and Buttonwillow. Undefeated in '13 Majors, winning 8 of 8 races. 4 sets of OZ Racing wheels, fresh BFGs dries and rains, coolsuit, Traqmate, Ohlins, Schruth, Racecraft seat, and spares. One of the last real CRs built. $29.5 Contact Mike at (510) 339-1516

Because #winning racecar.

JR1 > Paul, Man of Mustangs
02/13/2014 at 12:16

Even better. Pop in an LS engine and suddenly you have the car dreams are made of.

Dusty Ventures > Paul, Man of Mustangs
02/13/2014 at 12:24

I don't know how well it would "tear up the track" at an autocross. It's not designed to turn right (unless you find a road course car) or maneuver a course that tight at speeds that low. Not a "hurr durr only turns left" dig, just a fact. The suspension set up, weight distribution, everything is designed to take high speed lefts as quickly and easily as possible. Tight steering inputs at speeds below 40 are definitely not it's bag. Be absolutely EPIC down the straight bits though

Paul, Man of Mustangs > Dusty Ventures
02/13/2014 at 12:28

I'd probably move the battery and other stuff for better weight distribution, and I think that the suspension is symmetrical, so it would just need realignment. Or at the very worst, it would need all left-hand control arms. Also, I'd probably try to find a way to put in rack-and-pinion steering.

At least it would be one of the most fun cars at an autocross.

It's a "Porch-uh" > JR1
02/13/2014 at 12:31

I guy I used to work with bought one. The cost of tires is the biggest issue with owning one of these over a street-car-based race car. Some of the pieces are bespoke, so a replacement often means having them fabricated (or doing it yourself if you have the tools and talent). Other pieces are very heavy-duty (like you mentioned) so replacements or rebuilds are also pricey. On the other side, because everything is made so beefy, you're less likely to break them.

My main issue with them is that I like road courses, and most aren't setup for that. I like having good brakes, so that would have to be an immediate upgrade.

JR1 > daender
02/13/2014 at 12:32

Too cool, I just wish they were as practical as they were fun.

It's a "Porch-uh" > JR1
02/13/2014 at 12:33

Used C5R.

I've seen several in GRM classifieds for about $30K and each time I see one, I wish I had $30K to spend on a race car.

daender > JR1
02/13/2014 at 12:34

The Mustang seems semi-practical if you don't mind not having zero sound insulation or climate control, it's still a hatchback but now with no back seats!

JR1 > It's a "Porch-uh"
02/13/2014 at 12:37

You would have to upgrade brakes and maintaining the car could hurt, but at the end of the day I'd have to imagine it is still all worth it.

JR1 > It's a "Porch-uh"
02/13/2014 at 12:38

That's surprising I didn't think the C5R would be that low

It's a "Porch-uh" > JR1
02/13/2014 at 12:47

To be clear, these are not the factory Pratt & Miller-built C5Rs, but privateer cars that run SCCA and NASA. Some have done World Challenge.

Dusty Ventures > JR1
02/13/2014 at 13:01

Personally, I like both speed and versatility in a race car. I want quickness, I want it to be able to handle both fast and slow, tight corners, and I want it to be able to deal with rougher courses and even unpaved/ungraded courses. Remember when the Martinsville track started coming apart and it damaged Jeff Gordon's car, costing him the win? Yeah, I like a race car that would hit that hole and go "I didn't feel anything." And if once I'm done beating on my race car I can turn out onto the street and drive it home, well that's even better. So, with that in mind I checked my favorite classifieds and found these within the $25-$30k range.

Kinja'd!!!

This Cossie Escort is actually $20k, but I'm including it because HOLY SHIT IT'S AN EX-COLIN MCRAE CAR! WITH HIS SIGNATURE ON THE HOOD! AND IT'S A COSSIE ESCORT!!!!!!!

Kinja'd!!!