Which classic car?

Ian F wrote:

tuna55 wrote: a 122 (Amazon) and its cousin, the P1800, are surprisingly useable vehicles. Very simple to work on as well.

The rear seat in an 1800 is not even suitable for children unless one of the people up front is REALLY short. A 122, on the other hand, does have a usable back seat, even in a 2-door. All were manuals. Parts are easily available. Community is a bit hit or miss depending on where you live, but you can usually find a few other enthusiasts near by.

All were NOT manuals. VolvoClearingHouse has a running automatic right now.

tuna55 wrote: All were NOT manuals. VolvoClearingHouse has a running automatic right now.

Ok... I've never seen or heard of an automatic 122... all 1800's of that era were manuals because no automatic would fit in the trans tunnel until they revised the pan in the late 60's. Granted, not that you would want one. The automatics Volvo put into their cars back then were horrid.

Amazon:

One I like...

One that's...creative....

And back to the like (awesome)

Maybe you'd prefer a PV?

I go for imports more, but an old wagon would make a cool dog hauler

Here's a reasonableRambler Wagon, I think 63 was the best year for these in terms of style. This one's an auto, many if not most were 3-on-the-tree.

ScottRA21 wrote:

I prefer mine like this, although I admit bias:

get a sonett II and make it mid engine RWD, since that doesn't exist I'll take an Rx3 SP.

Steve Chryssos wrote: Wallens and I were having a similar chat recently. You are not alone. My mind veers towards a sleeper bank robbery escape vehicle with hopped up suspension like the Chevy from the movie Dirty Larry Crazy Mary. A Ford Galaxie moonshine runner would work as well. As for relative comfort, that depends on how big your relatives are. Yuk--Yuk--Yuk

this

Pick from this convenient list http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Cars-Trucks-/6001/i.html?Transmission=Manual&LH_Distance=48221..200&Model%2520Year=1960|1959|1958|1957|1956|1955|1954|1953|1952|1951|1950|1949|1948|1947|1946|1945|1944|1943|1942|1941|1940|1939|1938|1937|1936|1935|1934|1933|1932|1931|1930|1929|1928|1927|1926|1925|1924|1923|1922|1921|1920|1919|1918|1917|1916|1915|1914|1913|1912|1911|1910|1909|1908|1907|1906|1905|1904|1903|1902|1901|1900&_dmpt=US_Cars_Trucks&_fln=1&_flso=1&_fpos=48221&_fspt=1&_myi=1900-1960&_qfkw=1&_sadis=200&_ssov=1&_trksid=p4506.c0.m282&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=&_udhi=15000

I'm really liking the Pontiac, Volvo amazon, '50 Chevy wagon, and that '63 rambler. The rambler has a striking resemblance to the falcon. Anyone have pics of them done up pretty. And other pics of them mean and dirty?! The amazon is also interesting. Looks like a cool little package. It's definitely good looking. What performance potential do they have? I have no knowledge of Volvos. PONTIACS YESSSSS!!! More Pontiac goodness please.

Wait a minute. Is that a Jenson interceptor? Do those really fall into my price range and come with a manual?

thunderzy wrote: Wait a minute. Is that a Jenson interceptor? Do those really fall into my price range and come with a manual?

Honestly, I have no bloody idea. I just threw it out there just in case?

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: In reply to bastomatic: That Rambler wagon just got me feeling all funny......

One of the family cars when I started driving was a '64 Rambler Classic wagon. 2nd & 3rd row seats would fold flat & front seats converted to beds. You could make the interior essentially flat from the tailgate to the dash. I lost my cherry in it & had lots of fun in it for a few years.

Another vote for pontiac. The keep their hubcaps far longer than most cars in '70's chases

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vACWV5sRcY

Ramblers done up:

It's not exactly a common car to hot rod. The stock interiors are not nearly as nice as the competitors in terms of style, but they were economical - the v8 those years with a manual was tested at around 20mpg, no slouch in the early 60s.

ScottRA21 wrote:

thunderzy wrote: Wait a minute. Is that a Jenson interceptor? Do those really fall into my price range and come with a manual?

Honestly, I have no bloody idea. I just threw it out there just in case?

I seem to recall all Interceptors were 727 automatics, but it is basic Chrysler stuff, so I'd imagine a manual conversion has been done.

I've been having an itch for something with a big, honkin V8. And being an long time Mopar fan who is now into LBC's, one of these could scratch that nicely.

All the later Chrysler powered Interceptors were slushboxes, but a manual swap shouldn't be difficult. Make mine a droptop, please:

The valve covers alone are pretty cool. Big block Mopar with a slightly different wording:

Ian F wrote:

tuna55 wrote: a 122 (Amazon) and its cousin, the P1800, are surprisingly useable vehicles. Very simple to work on as well.

The rear seat in an 1800 is not even suitable for children unless one of the people up front is REALLY short. A 122, on the other hand, does have a usable back seat, even in a 2-door. All were manuals. Parts are easily available. Community is a bit hit or miss depending on where you live, but you can usually find a few other enthusiasts near by.

Yeah, I wouldn't put my worst enemy in the backseat of a P1800. Even the 1800ES wagon's back seat is a bit tight (2 door shooting brake). The 122 on the other hand was meant to be a family car, and you can buy the nicest 4 door 122 on the planet for under 10k. I daily drive a couple of 122's (Amazons); yesterday I took myself and 3 other full-sized guys out to lunch in my 4 door. Everyone had plenty of room.

Not all Amazons were manuals, but most were. Also, I hear a SBF fits snugly in the front suspension cradle, and a T5 in the trans tunnel with a little massaging...

Ian F wrote:

tuna55 wrote: All were NOT manuals. VolvoClearingHouse has a running automatic right now.

Ok... I've never seen or heard of an automatic 122... all 1800's of that era were manuals because no automatic would fit in the trans tunnel until they revised the pan in the late 60's. Granted, not that you would want one. The automatics Volvo put into their cars back then were horrid.

The auto was a 3 speed, Borg Warner unit, and actually not all that horrid. I daily drove one for awhile. It was a bulletproof trans, too. But yeah, it's a much more fun car with the 4 speed.

Falcons and even early Mustang coupes (not fastbacks) should fit your price point, and enjoy a ton of aftermarket support.

Personally, I'd choose a 66 Fairlane hardtop. Already has a small block or FE, 4-speeds were an option, and a 5-speed swap is easy.

volvoclearinghouse wrote: The auto was a 3 speed, Borg Warner unit, and actually not all that horrid. I daily drove one for awhile. It was a bulletproof trans, too. But yeah, it's a much more fun car with the 4 speed.

I'm quite familiar with them. The g/f's nice '73 1800ES was cursed with one when she bought it. We went through great effort to convert it to a M41 (classic snowball project...). Fortunately, it's a bolt in project and because of that, I would definitely chose a rust free automatic car over a rusty manual one.

I like the early Forward Look stuff:

Wife owned a couple of 122s... the first one was a borg warner bang box.... the rear seat is decent. I've had a few 1800 models 2 S, 1 E. As has been pointed out already the 1800 rear seat is so bad... putting a monkey back there would be considered cruelty to animals....

Pontiac huh...

What about a 1963 LeMans with the IRS

dculberson wrote:

This. Is berkeleying sweet.