Your biggest CHEAP car lust, logic be damned

bravenrace wrote: TVR 2500M. Tubular frame, fiberglass body, 1900 lbs, all independent suspension, 4 hweel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering.... I sold this 10k original mile example for $8000, and project cars can be found for next to nothing. And the frame is easily strong enough to handle a V-8. I'm puzzled why more people don't see the incredible value in these cars.

Ummm... you just sold me. Where do I find one that does not need 7000 man hours to fix rotting fiberglass for as close to free as is reasonable?

914Driver wrote: R5 V8 Pinto wagon 2.3 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe painted all NASCAR.

I had a '71 Pinto Squire back in the late 70's that I put a tunnel rammed Boss 302 in. It was yellow with wood paneling, black side pipes and 9" in the back with mini tubs and huge meats. I could easily pull the front wheels off the ground with that car. At the time it was considered extremely cool.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

With these cars you are better off buying a finished car than trying to fix up a beater. Because they aren't worth that much, you can get upside down real easy. They only made 946 of them over a 6 year period, so they aren't common, but you can find them. I have one that a little more than half restored for sale, but it's not free. Look in Hemmings, Craigs list, Ebay, and join the Pre-80 TVR yahoo group. TVR owners are a pretty tight nit group, so the easiest way to find one is through them. If I had known, my buddy just sold a driver in need of some work for $3k. They are out there.

Volvo 240 wagon, DSM, EGT/Escort wagon, and yes, a swapped Festiva.

Maroon92 wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

phaze1todd wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: MGB GT

I guess "CHEAP" is a relative term. Festiva with Aspire brakes and suspension and Mazda B6 motor. I found one for $100 that was workable. I'd like an x 1/9

Under $10k for a clean example that runs well seems like I should be able to find one that isn't and doesn't for a lot closer to free. Am I mistaken?

Yes. BGTs are expensive even in rough shape. Closer to free is closer to impossible unless you want to do A LOT of work, and value your time at $0

Stupid iPhone.

I found an mgb gt for $100 that was pretty workable. Fiat x 1/9 on the list for a cheapy

See, now we're talking! In the cars you shouldn't like but do thread, all of us are here because we like cars most people don't!

I already picked up one of my cheapo lusts, my Swift GT. I am so in love with it.

I also would like any of the following, if they are <$1k: Probe GT (either generation) Fiero (4 or 6, but must be manual) Saab 900 Turbo Lincoln Mark 8 XJS (I know, a cheap XJS, but still...)

And I have become fascinated with the Festiva after the thread about them.

I think that about covers my list for now. By tomorrow I'm sure it will have changed.

oldtin wrote: Stupid iPhone. I found an mgb gt for $100 that was pretty workable. Fiat x 1/9 on the list for a cheapy

Wanna sell it for $150? That is a nice ROI

For me, AE86 are just cool. But lots of those young drifter types like them too, so they're stupid expensive for thirty year old clapped out econoboxes.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

oldtin wrote: Stupid iPhone. I found an mgb gt for $100 that was pretty workable. Fiat x 1/9 on the list for a cheapy

Wanna sell it for $150? That is a nice ROI

It's filled out a challenge budget by now. PO didn't realize it had an od trans. Now it has a 5.0 and a t-5. I'll probably want something else by oct

I still want a 1st gen CRX. I passed on a Si for my first car years ago, and I want to go back in time to kick myself. It was just like this one but had the 4-hole wheels :

bravenrace wrote: In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker: With these cars you are better off buying a finished car than trying to fix up a beater. Because they aren't worth that much, you can get upside down real easy. They only made 946 of them over a 6 year period, so they aren't common, but you can find them. I have one that a little more than half restored for sale, but it's not free. Look in Hemmings, Craigs list, Ebay, and join the Pre-80 TVR yahoo group. TVR owners are a pretty tight nit group, so the easiest way to find one is through them. If I had known, my buddy just sold a driver in need of some work for $3k. They are out there.

See - here is the rub - I really don't want a finished car but I can't do body work of any kind. So I always want a rust-free broken car I can molest into what I want it to be. I would feel sacrilegious chopping holes in, welding on/caging one of 946. I need to be in numbers like 1 in 250k or something.

Shifter kart, e30's, Miata's, MGB GT.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

Well any of them would be rust free, as they are fiberglass. Most owners modify these cars. They are rare, but they really don't command high prices, so people feel free to modify them.
Not wanting a finished car and not knowing how to do body work is something you have to deal with, it's not the car's fault. It would be harder, but I think you could find one that is nice but needs an engine/trans, or general mechanical and electric repair. The one I mentioned above that my friend sold for $3k was like that.

I want a Chevy Sprint Turbo so bad I can taste it!!!!

And a Mazda 323 GTX

My first car was an 83 Chevy Celebrity. I always wanted to trick it out (of course you first car always ends up having dreams of rice). I think they have nice lines and would look good in a kinda 80's nascar way.

Any 2-door 78-87 G-body, preferably Olds Cutlass, El Camino, Regal.

VW beetle

Fiero

Y'know, I've always wanted to have enough disregard for people's opinion to drive a 3rd gen F body.

Can't believe i forgot about this one.

bravenrace wrote:

Luke wrote: bravenrace, that TVR was a bargain!

Actually no, that's pretty much what they go for, and that's my point. Believe me, if I could have gotten more for it, I would have! I have another one for sale for about the same price if anyone is interested.

That's more expensive than all my vehicles combined. I think if like 2g for cheap. Lets toss a tiny i6 in an escort with a ranger rear end. We won't break 3g and piss of some kids in expensive cars.

But in all seriousness, I have not even spent 2g on my s13 skyline swap. They can be nice as long as you don't have to replace anything.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Can't believe i forgot about this one.

I had to pick between an integra exactly like that one and a CRX-si. I picked the CRX because the Acura dealer were Jerks. I really like that gen integra.

In reply to N Sperlo:

It's all relative. I'm talking about a collector vehicle, you are talking about dime a dozen cars. It's all relative...

bravenrace wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Can't believe i forgot about this one.

I had to pick between an integra exactly like that one and a CRX-si. I picked the CRX because the Acura dealer were Jerks. I really like that gen integra.

Boy did you ever choose wrong.... that's a 92-93 GSR in Aztec Green. Very rare. Very awesome.

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

No, I didn't choose wrong. I loved that CRX. I also didn't notice that the pictured car is a GS-R. The one I was looking at wasn't.