cheap beginner cars

[wiedemab]

I'll second the Fox Body Mustang suggestion. I built my '89 coupe right out of College and on a somewhat limited budget. They are fun cars and the aftermarket parts supply is almost unlimited.

[Mock2]

wow thanks for the help really appreciate it. great car tony.
I'm not to scared of alot of fab work my dad owns chubbys perforamce fabrication. If you any of you guys have seen mizfit motorsports car he (my dad) did all the fab work on it. I think you'ev seen it steve.
thanks for the that really opens up options i did'nt even think of.
Thanks Bryce

[jy211]

There was a camaro for sale in kasas in the for slae section. I think it was under $2k...


https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=30055

[Bill Howell]

78-81 malibu, hands down for a budget project that will kick some butt.
Plentiful, and cheap. Here is a shot of mine. I drive it more than the GTO.

[jerome]

s10(this is what I chose), luv, gbody, 3rd gen fbody, 2nd gen rx7, datsun, fiero, fox body

[MonzaRacer]

Bryce,My buddy has that 75 Vega and if you want I might be able to get a few pics of it and a set price or I can give you the guys number and YOU can talk to him.
Its a nice car for what it is and what still needs done. Probably a $3k car maybe less and he has some sort of wheel adapters and a Glastek cowl hood to go with it.
Email or pm me if you might be interested.
I do also have a 75 Monza but its very rough to start on there are many in much better shape out there.
Good luck
Lee

[JEFFTATE]

Third-gen camaros are cheap.
Easy to get parts for, and they perform well.
Just upgrade the motor.
The suspensions already work well.

[1FstChevy]

Ha I like how a few people are pitching the same cars they own, but heck, why not! I'll do the same just since F-bodies are the best!

Get a late 2nd Gen Camaro 79-81 are the best! They have 3 point belts as well, more old school style than 3rd Gens! and might I add the ladies love them! 2nd Gens are also going up in value so even more of an investment!

[Mock2]

thanks guys, I thought about a 2nd and 3rd gen camaro but theres lots of options I'll keep my eyes open thanks guy I really appreicate it.

[BonzoHansen]

thanks guys, I thought about a 2nd and 3rd gen camaro but theres lots of options I'll keep my eyes open thanks guy I really appreicate it.

3rd gen parts fall out of trees.

[LateNight72]

I would do any type of B.O.P. A-Body. A chevelle would be cool, but prices are getting as crazy as 1st Gen Camaros..

[TonyL]

Thanks Scott. Sure, I'll break it down.

1st corvair from Sacramento craigslist with blown engine 350 bucks.

2nd "race car" corvair from craigslist (SF bay area) 800 bucks.

the race car came with a built "140" putting out close to 200 hp. Electric fuel pump, headers, big cam, ported heads, electronic ignition, hi-perf carb kits, carb rotator kit (to prevent fuel starvation under hard cornering, a "must have" ) And a set of flowmasters I sold for 100 bucks! It had a grant GT steering wheel and a tach where the clock should be. new headliner, high output lights, new domelight, new licence plate light, and virtually every neat part that I needed to make the first car whole again. A 4 speed with a brand new clutch and pressureplate, and a full suspension upgrade with poly bushings. (squeeky. but better than stock) But it still needed:

head gasket kit 40 bucks, oil pump gasket 8 bucks, and the heads resurfaced. 50 bucks at the local head shop. (they owed me a favor)

All the work and sweat to swap the engine, transmission and suspension from the race car over to the monza: Free.

I bought a "do it yourself" spark plug wire kit for 30 bucks. and used the cool metal looms from the two fan covers to make my own layout that had symmetry.

I gave 50 bucks for 2 used "fart can" ricer mufflers from a recking yard.

I've probably got 80 dollars in spray paint and bedliner

and 90 in actual DP 90. (all the work was done by me and a friend over a 4 day time span.)

and I got a deal from the local tire guy and gave 175 bucks for the set.

The rims? I got a great deal from our very own PRRC. That's so awesome, I still don't believe it.

I paid 150 for FATMAT

and I think I paid 80 bucks for my shocks. (monroes. UGH. Long story)
And that's it.

The seats were free, Every thing else was done by hand.

I used a store bought freeze plug to block off where the fuel pump went. and a 6 dollar T handle boat plug to become my new oil cap.

And I just bought a 69 camaro spoiler to begin my "diffuser" for the front of the car. Cost me 35 bucks, brand new.

So there you go. Not counting registration, the car cost me less than two grand all together. I still have to do the interior, get a different tach, a stereo and actually "paint" the car. The pics do wonders for the car, it looks far worse in real life. She's good from far but far from good, if you know what I mean.

[TheMonkey]

Thanks for sharing Tony. Car looks like fun to drive.

I like hearing about builds like this. Recent 'Hot Rod' magazine has an article about a couple guys that built up a budget duece that looks great.

[Mock2]

hey guys thanks for the help I really appreciate it if you have anymore ideas please let me know thanks abunch

BRYCE

[s10kool]

well it really depends on what your taste is
i like to lean toward building what you do not see much on the road
but every car guy has a favorite to do

if it were me it would be ofcourse s10 or vega, monza,corvair,datson with radical drivetrain swap

[LS1NOVA]

75-79 nova

[shortrack]

how about a Fiero.......put a V8 in it......theres a couple around up here......they have their own website.......Google it

[FoxGranadaChuck]

Almost any non-Mustang Ford Fox Body. Fairmonts/Zephyrs and Granadas/Cougars are ESPECIALLY sweet!

(I have a pic of a Fox-body Granada as my avatar.)

[dannyho]

now that so many parts are available, you can try to find one of the not-so-collectable mopars. that's what I did. People have come up with some realyl awesome designs for a few A-body barracudas on here

[jasonsnova]

about 10 years ago i built a sbc s10....very cheap and light and they dont look too bad either. if yo want a car 71ish vegas look awesome (like mini camaros) as like others said too 74-81 f bodies are cheap