Cheapest Cars to Build?

[theFordguy]

I made a post a while back asking for suggestions and ideas on cars to build, I still havent found one, but i really want one and I have found several i like. But now that i think about it... What is the cheapest car to build up? I even thought about a truck but i figured it would take to much to make it handle right.

I dont know a whole lot and I dont have alot of money. Im 17 and addicted to cars.



SO what is out there to build that is fairly cheap to buy and easy to work on?

[BMR Sales]

Fox Body Mustangs, GM G-Bodies come to mind

[Rod]

Fox Body Mustangs, GM G-Bodies come to mind

cheap to buy and easy to build up

[Restomod]

You didnt mention how much $ you have to get started with. There are cheap that end up not so cheap, I mean you can buy a cheap but rusty hulk and start from there and it wont be cheap in the end if you get that far. Or you can buy a 3rd gen camaro that runs and drives very reasonable and start there. To me the would be the better choice.

[Nicks67GTO]

X3 on the Fox and GM G body stuff

[Schwartz Performance]

How are G-bodies cheap?? 28" chrome rims ain't cheap!!!


But in all seriousness, I agree with everything above.

-Dale

[Ben@SpeedTech]

A lot of us started in your shoes. I bought my first car at 16 and it broke down 3 months later. A few months after that I bought my first Nova for $500 in 1987, and on a high school budget over a couple years I turned it into a fun car. Over time it became an 11 second street strip car and it was a blast to drive. Novas have gotten spendy for a first car on a small budget but I've found if you're patient a good deal always comes along. My son is 16 and we recently bought his first car, a 78 Cutlass G body wagon for $500. he's already done some cheap visual upgrades with a few rattle cans of Rustoleum, we've got an inexpensive set of Trans Am 16" GTA wheels on it and we've put a bunch of decent used suspension parts on it so he can do decent at autocrossing. Here's his build thread- Coppertop Wagon

G bodies are often overlooked by people who are focused on early muscle cars. They have a 108" wheel base like a first gen Camaro, they weigh about the same as an average muscle car, and there is more and more aftermarket suspension support for them. At Speedtech we just developed the first real front coilover conversion to compliment the full suspension system we already sell. G bodies can swallow big tires with the right offset wheels and up to 315s out back if you notch the frame, which anyone that can weld can handle. You can run any drivetrain a Camaro can take too. G body guys are fairly tight knit so there's a few good forums out there with plenty of info and interior and exterior parts are fairly easy to get your hands on too. etc. etc.

I bought my 79 Cutlass wagon for $300 because it had a little front end body damage and ran terrible. $75 got me front end parts from a parts car and the motor just needed some tuning. Now about 4 years later and maybe $8500 total I have a pretty competitive autocross car with a lot more potential as the budget allows. A really nice stock G body won't sell for much more than $2000-3000 so there's a lot of potential to have an inexpensive platform to start a project on. The biggest draw back is that they don't have much of a resale value, so if you build one, it's likely a keeper, or maybe a tax write off, lol!

Let me know if you have any specific G body questions. Good luck with finding a car that suits you!

Here's some recent shots of my car. It's a daily driver so it has some door dings, paint chips, and I get to beat on it everyday and not worry about tearing up a classic muscle car with a lot of value. It runs a 406 small block Chevy and gets 18 mpg on the highway. It was definitely built with a low budget and runs, drives, and competes fantastic.

[xavier296]

+100 on Fox body mustangs. At an autocross this weekend, a bone stock 93 GT hatch ran the same times as a 2008 GT500. They only get better from there, and the aftermarket is huge. My first fast car was a fox, and I recommend them all the time.

[Auto Rod Technologies]

I have had a few fox bodied stangs myself.. I agree that you get a lot for you're money there.
I also like trucks but I see that being more than a fox body by the time you are done.

[Buryingthesun]

please. . . . I hope all the kids buy up the fox bodies and crash them. . . PLEASE GOD I HATE THOSE CARS SO MUCH

[slowcpe]

Coming from a guy who sold his last fox body last year to build a truck, I'll tell you a foxbody is much cheaper I wouldn't trade my c10 for the world and in fact is what I wanted ever since before I got my drivers license. I've looked back at what I've spent on this truck and could've had the car done already. Definitely a lot of bang for the buck which is why I got into them over 20 years ago.

[raustinss]

Your profile name says it all....FORD guy.....go buy yourself a fix body mustang and enjoy the cheap plentiful parts...as a gm guy I've always said a fox body with a LS gm engine....perfect for fast cheap and reliable...good luck

[Nothingface5384]

How are G-bodies cheap?? 28" chrome rims ain't cheap!!!
But in all seriousness, I agree with everything above.

-Dale

28s are old school 35s on finance plan brah lol

What about a 2nd gen nova
Ive never seen a running one more then 1500 around here...uses same front subframe as 2nd gen camaro

[howehot]

Hmmm, G bodies are cheap to build? I must be doing something wrong, lol. My vote is also for the G body. Take your time and find a clean care so your not spending time on rust repair. So many companies have stepped up recently to get them competitive on the track. Small blocks are cheap and easy to get power out of.

[Kenova]

The cheapest car to build is the one that doesn't need body or paint work.

Ken

[Tomswheels]

Nothing makes power cheaper than a Chevy Small Block. Relatively cheap Chevys that handle good out of the box are 82-92 Camaros, and C4 Corvettes. Start rust free, make sure suspension bushings, shocks and tires are decent, and get out and get tracking!

[72BBSwinger]

Miata.

[Interceptor5588]

Thirdgen IROC or Formula

[Bonehead]

I really hate to agree, but the fox body mustang is probably the cheapest. I think that's fading quick though. Those cars have regained their popularity. Though still plenty out there unmolested. The g body stuff though. Wholly cow. I tried to buy one a year ago and the only things I could find under $5000 were rusted out piles. Everyone is darn proud of those Malibus and El Caminos. Wow.

[theFordguy]

Thank you all for your suggestions
But I actually already have a 93 foxbody, 2.3L
And Ive already tore it apart once,
I tore it down, then me and my dad did a ton of body work to it, then painted it.
I dont think he would let me turn my daily driver into a cheap racecar
I love foxbodies but with all the work ive done and the things i would love to do it, i dont want to have to tear it down again and not have a daily driver to go to school in.