redkow97 Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 My dad has always wanted a project car, and now that he's got 3 sons through college, no mortgage, and weathered the latest rounds of layoffs at Progressive, I think he might actually be in a position to start looking for one.The dream candidate would be a '69 Mustang Mach 1, or 428 Cobra Jet - but those are hard to find, and harder to find for anything resembling a reasonable price.so what's the cheapest and easiest route? desirable qualities include:- Easy maintenance. A brutally simple V8 and a manual transmission are ideal.- Strong aftermarket parts availability- retro enough to be cool (i.e. 60's is best, 70's is ok, and 80's is out)- cheap and thus, probably common...I'd call my dad a "Ford guy," but that's a preference than can be overruled by budget (i think). But that said, cool old lincolns and mercury models would be other possibilities. It also doesn't explicitly preclude old Dodges, Chevy's, etc.Dad seems to be semi interested in "restoring" a car, but I'm thinking a modern restoration would be more fun. Big 'ole motor with modern stereo and some minor suspension upgrades. If it gets better than 8mpg and less than 350hp, I'll be upset. thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Gremlin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carwhore Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Gremlinmy grandpa has one with a factory V8.Btw demo durby guys love these things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jblosser Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Cutlass. 442 if Pops has the extra monies.Hurst/Olds if Pops hits the Mega-Billions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted October 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Pops doesn't have THAT much monies. Pops (and I) have also never done much work on cars, which is why "common, cheap, and easy to work on" where requests.I'm open to off-the-wall responses too. Jeep CJ-7 was one thing that occurred to me. You can build one part-by-part out of a catalog. That's the kind of thing I'm looking for, except I was hoping for a muscle-car, or an old MG, or SOMETHING kind of cool and sporty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoblick Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 86 - 93 mustang 5.0can get them cheap, and parts are all over the place and cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted October 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 86 - 93 mustang 5.0can get them cheap, and parts are all over the place and cheapI actually just talked to the old man about a ~'92 GT convertible.In that body style, I like the convertibles better. the 5.0 has a huge aftermarket, but it's FI, which is slightly worrisome. worth looking into though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Maverick.I actually know where there are a few decent ones sitting, one I think is already a V8 car. So my initial response was only half kidding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMMW Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Maverick's are way cool. I had a Grabber as my first car. My Uncle used to drag race them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 86 - 93 mustang 5.0can get them cheap, and parts are all over the place and cheaptruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Chevys are cheap and plentiful. BIG BLOCK CHEVETTE!!!Old chevy trucks (pre 73) have a big aftermarket and cool factor. There is no aftermarket bigger than for the small block chevy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magley64 Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 (edited) 60's mustangs are super easy, carb power, and body panels are EVERYWHERE.if you want something easy, and accessible, i'd go 64-68 mustang, especially for a ford guy.(personally I hate mustangs)VW's are particularly easy, but most people feel they are underpowered in stock form, and you have to do a lot of modding to add a LOT of power without breaking stuff.I happen to know old GTOs/GTO clones are pretty easy, too... Edited October 27, 2010 by magley64 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CattaniAFJ Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 I had a buddy that had a BEAUTIFUL triple white w/ blue accents '89 Mustang GT that was tits. He had the leather all redone and upgraded the wheels....and two weeks later, a soccer mom t-boned his ass and totaled it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curby Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 i was going to say a fox body notch 5liter. or just keep lookin on CL for a 60's mustang. There out there. just keep looking. heres a 67 fastback... http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/1994747210.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obesityrules Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 not a ford guy but i would completely consider building a 60-67 comet or a 66-67 fairlane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiggO Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Some help from the expertshttp://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/0510phr_nine_best_project_cars/index.htmlI'm not a ford guy either. In fact, if you gave a Ford Mustang to build up, I'd go out and buy all the equipment necessary to build a large catapult. I'd place the Mustang in it, and launch it at your house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorifto240 Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 In no particular order:Sebring Satellite, Mercury Cougar, Buick Riviera. Lots of cross platform support (Mustang, Challenger/Charger, Monte Carlo)Pretty cheap to get because they aren't hot, but they've still got great lines.I'd even go VW Bug. Easy to work on, great support, still fairly cheap to get, and loads of possibility.If he's got a decent budget (around $10,000) then some of the replica kits are in reach, including the Model A, 32 Deuce, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kip Drordy Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 (edited) Late 60's Chevy II or an AMC AMX Edited October 27, 2010 by Kip Drordy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f4isvt Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Pops doesn't have THAT much monies. Pops (and I) have also never done much work on cars, which is why "common, cheap, and easy to work on" where requests.I'm open to off-the-wall responses too. Jeep CJ-7 was one thing that occurred to me. You can build one part-by-part out of a catalog. That's the kind of thing I'm looking for, except I was hoping for a muscle-car, or an old MG, or SOMETHING kind of cool and sporty. so build a muscle jeep my buddy is rebuilding his 67 cj5 currently powered by a grand national motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSVDon Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Ford Torino GT? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Small block Datsun 510. Parts are readily available if you don't mind paying shipping from the west coast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSVDon Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Small block Datsun 510. Parts are readily available if you don't mind paying shipping from the west coastI like your style.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljCb3IkxHs0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedytriple Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 I was gonna say jeep but you say maybe not. My cousin was talking about selling his mint mach 1 fast back. it is almost a pro street car. All origanal paint and all. He said he is either gonna repaint it or sell it as is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorifto240 Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 I like your style. I'm a sucker for almost any Z car, but the 240Z is on the bucket list. I guess dropping a small block V-8 is a pretty standard build-up.As far as oddball suggestions go:Porsche 914. Porsche style, mid-engine fun, half the price.1971 Monte Carlo. Not like every other Monte out there, good lines, readily available after-market parts. And it was in the movie "Fast and Furious:Tokyo Drift"Seventies Camaro/Firebird - THE CAR THAT BURT REYNOLDS DROVE...nuff said.Scout or Scout II. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpoppa Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Someday, I'm gonna rock one of these: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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