Looking For Budget Project Car Ideas

[MilesSpeed]

I'm brainstorming for an upcoming PHR story on budget project cars. I'm looking for hot-roddable cars with cool factor. Wanted to include cars from the early 60's through the early '90s.



I would really appreciate some suggestions!

So far here's what I've got:
Monza
Vega
3rd Gen Camaro
Fox body Mustang
80's Monte Carlo
Ventura

[MilesSpeed]

I suppose I could add early Mustang coupe to that list!

[justasquid]

I think your on the right step with the 3rd gen camaro/firebird platform. they are pletiful and still can be had for a decent price. But, I would also suggest the 2nd gen, late 70's early 80's camaro firebird platform. While the prices are rising for them, you still can come across decent deals.

Also, early 80's oldsmobiles or buicks. Regals and Cutless tend to be a fairly popular mod-able car. Even something along the lines of a chevy malibu of the late 70's early 80's.

Honestly though, I really want to see a latter year Fiero modded. they are light, look good and from a base start point, they have a lot going for them. Maybe a v-8 swap or a 3.8 liter turbo car, and for the most part, can be had for very little initial cost.

[MilesSpeed]

Fiero! I almost forgot about those cars! I wonder what the production numbers were like.

[The Stickman]

Fiero! I almost forgot about those cars! I wonder what the production numbers were like.

136K in the first year, and 367K total. The Fiero may be the most versitial car ever built. Alot of people will laugh but consider this. Fiero's have had all these engines installed in them but ordinary people. It came stock with the 2.5L 4cyl and 2.8L V-6. It has had ever variation of the 60 degree V-6(2.8,3.1 3.2 3.4, and 3.4DOHC) The 3.8L V-6(NA, Supercharged, and turbocharged), Caddy NorthStar, and Caddy 4.1, 4.5, 4.9. Olds 4.0 DOHC and Olds 455, BBC SBC 215 Buick, Ecotech, And my favorite the Pontiac Super Duty 4 cylinder, Here is mine.

[Bill Howell]

What is a budget build? I guess I need to know that before I make any suggestions.
While I agree that camaros are the most overdone cars in the world at the moment and some of us beg to be different, to me a budget build should not be a fringe style car. Once you have bought the car, all builds are based on some sort of budget.
PLEASE, don't pick some oddball car just because it is cheap, then pour tons of money into it, and in the process mislead readers that that is a good idea! Some poor sap will then build similar car, and be sick when he gets his pocketbook handed to him on a platter when he tries to sell it. At that point, he has anything but a budget build, and we lose yet another car guy.
Like others have mentioned, G-bodies are cool, and are the next generation of cars that everyone will be redoing. There are so many parts out there that improve them and so many ideas that have not been tried. Pick any g-body, but I suggest a chevy, as in malibu or monte carlo, since those are the ones most will be looking to buy later.
Mustangs are cool, but how many more ways are there to build a fox body that we have not seen? I am old enough to remember the days of 55 chevys, and I don't think there is anything that can be done to one of those now that hasn't been done already.
Mopars are cool and parts are coming regularly now for them also, but, please, no 65 satellite 4 door because it was free.
Remember this, and please, don't take it personally.
You are in a position to do really cool stuff that many of us read about. Don't bore us with half ass cheap builds that anyone can do. You don't have to build a g-force cuda to impress us, but please, a Fiero???? Take a Fiero, spend $75K on it and I doubt many would stop in a parking lot and look at it twice.
So, please, think outside the box, but do it on something that will energize the masses.

[406 Q-ship]

2nd Gen F-bodys another cheap alternative, especially the 78 up Camaro. Even the early 4th Gen F-body is pretty reasonably priced. Early mustangs are kind of out of the budget of the blue collar guy, unless you go for a coupe for the 65 - 70 Mustang.......I just had an idea, what about a 71 - 73 Mustang (cheap and lots of interchange in the early 70's Fords). A 71 - 76 Torino would be a alternate to the Mustang. There is still AMC and Chrysler too, Hornet, Volare....stop laughing, Spirit, Gremlin....I said to stop laughing......et al. These are RWD that have potentual, all will absorb a V8 easily and are very close relatives to the beloved Muscle cars.

You could do a truck too......the posiblities are endless.

[Bill Howell]

2nd Gen F-bodys another cheap alternative, especially the 78 up Camaro. Even the early 4th Gen F-body is pretty reasonably priced. Early mustangs are kind of out of the budget of the blue collar guy, unless you go for a coupe for the 65 - 70 Mustang.......I just had an idea, what about a 71 - 73 Mustang (cheap and lots of interchange in the early 70's Fords). A 71 - 76 Torino would be a alternate to the Mustang. There is still AMC and Chrysler too, Hornet, Volare....stop laughing, Spirit, Gremlin....I said to stop laughing......et al. These are RWD that have potentual, all will absorb a V8 easily and are very close relatives to the beloved Muscle cars.

You could do a truck too......the posiblities are endless.

That black Pacer on the power tour a couple years ago was the bomb and fast too.
How about a AMX?

[jackfrost]

of course I'm biased, but I think the g-bodies are a pretty underrated platform. the non-Chevy cars are pretty plentiful and cheap.

also, disco Novas?

I second the Fiero.

[hdesign]

My vote is for the GM G-body cars, there's a bazillion still on the road and in great shape, parts are available and they're still pretty cheap if you don't get the hi-performance versions. 3rd Gen F-bodies are also a great idea.

Chevy-
Monte Carlo and SS
Malibu
Elcamino (or GMC Sprint/Caballero)

Olds-
Cutlass
442

Buick-
Regal
T-type

Pontiac-
Grand Prix and 2+2 aerocoupe
Lemans

Something wild I'd like to see is a Citation X-11 2door hatchback modded.

[1offwizard]

Early '90s V8 T-bird. Less commonly hot rodded than the mustang, independent rear, and I have a '97 I would love ideas on!

[joemac]

Early '90s V8 T-bird. Less commonly hot rodded than the mustang, independent rear, and I have a '97 I would love ideas on!

This is the one that gets my vote. You can pick a factory supercharged v6 or a v8 model that either has the sbf or mod motor. Your choice. Ford drivetrain parts are plentiful and you see very few tbirds of this era even though they are cheap, plentiful and easy to mod. The only drawback to this platform is there are little to no aftermarket rear suspension components, so to get the rear to handle big power they would need to be custom. Then again, Pro Tourning isn't necessarily about making big power. There are irs cobra guys running 9's through a mostly stock irs that is very similar.

[Bill Howell]

Gawd, I love to stir emotions and make people think! lol

[CRCRFT78]

Hey Liz what about your 510?

[FoxGranadaChuck]

This is the one that gets my vote. You can pick a factory supercharged v6 or a v8 model that either has the sbf or mod motor. Your choice. Ford drivetrain parts are plentiful and you see very few tbirds of this era even though they are cheap, plentiful and easy to mod. The only drawback to this platform is there are little to no aftermarket rear suspension components, so to get the rear to handle big power they would need to be custom. Then again, Pro Tourning isn't necessarily about making big power. There are irs cobra guys running 9's through a mostly stock irs that is very similar.

Plus there is the issue of tires and wheels. MN12 Fords have a rather odd 5 X 4 1/4 wheel bolt pattern. Not many aftermarket wheels can be had in that diameter.

[CRCRFT78]

Liz if you do any G-bodies, 3rd gen F-bodies or anything else requiring a smog could you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE include info on making these mods/swaps SMOG/CARB legal. A lot of mags do the swaps without any consideration for those of us that love these cars but still have to be compliant with government regulations. I hope this suggestion doesn't make you reconsider your project options and exclude them. Do a G-body wagon.

[ITLBTU]

I would love to do a pro-touring/auto-x lsx Vega....

[novaderrik]

I would love to do a pro-touring/auto-x lsx Vega....

make it a wagon- err, i mean "Kammback"- and it could be about the coolest low buck "pro touring" build ever.
there may not be a lot of them out there any more- but do it in the style of the Chevette that Magnante built with the Caddy 500 in it, only instead of going for all out straight line performance, set it up to take corners.
it's actually pretty easy to upgrade the H body- swap in G body spindles on the front and S10 rear axles in a Monza 7.5 housing with updated guts and it's ready for some fun.

[69LT1Nova]

Something wild I'd like to see is a Citation X-11 2door hatchback modded.

LOL! That was my first car!!

The "Iron Duke" 151 ci 4-banger was pretty laughable in the power department though... but I'd still race anything, being a dumb kid and all. The 4 speed was pretty fun.

I wonder what would happen if you stuffed in a 6 from a Baretta with a 5 speed...

[Bad94]

Datsun 280ZX

I know someone with nice one to start with, he wants to build a protouring 280. Hes thinking about doing a LS1/T56, 3 link vette brakes, full cage.

He has another one what he used to run at mid ohio.