what makes a good project car? (not strictly a VW)

[Jim Ratto]

if you were looking for an alternative car to go through and build, what make and model woudl you look for. Or, even more generally, would you search out an off-the-wall thing like a Rene Bonnet or an ATS or a sort of cult-following car like a BMW 2002 or maybe something more widely known, like an early 911 or even something more common like an early Mustang? I think each "way of thinking" probably has its ups and downs. If you were to search out and restor/hot-rod something like a Marcos or a Tatra, then you're kind of in no man's land as far as parts and support and modifying stuff on the car. But, you'd probably have one unique piece of machinery when finished (if?). On the other hand, if you find some 1978 911 3.0, drop it, add Wletmeister stuff, do the Weber IDA3C's, date-back headers/heaters/sport muffler, etc.... then, while the car maybe aesthetically unique, more than likely, mechanically the car maybe be a die-cut of somebody else's hot rod....  though such a car is relatively easy to mod and assemble and run and maintain..... with a large and helpful following (and in the case of the 911, a real race pedigree to learn from). I wish i had the financial footprint to try a little of each.....   it would be cool to dabble. I love talking weird cars.

[danny gabbard]

61-62 chevy impala, anybody got one

[Nico86]

My first choices for non-VW cars would be an Alpine A110 or a Lancia Stratos treated in this way :



But those 2 are only dreams, and when I think about it I realize there are too many cars I'd like to have ! (why not a Renault 4cv, a Renault 8 Gordini, a Mini Cooper, a Simca 1000 Rallye, a 66 Mustang Fastback, a Ford 32, a Dodge Charger or Challenger or every muscle car of the good ol' days, every old Porsches, every old Ferarri's, every 50's big Chevy... sh*t there's too much !)

[Jim Ratto]

I think an Abarth Fiat 500 would be a neat project.

[Harry/FDK]

I would defenately go for a NSU TTS with VW Engination.... Of Course In NSU ORANGE.

[ESH]

There are a few cars I'd really like but going for somethhing totally different to a Bug, in no way exotic and not already inherently quick I'll go for a 4 cylinder E21, preferably a '76 316. Amongst the alterations would be a turbo and EFI.

 

[Jim Ratto]

a 300CE W124 car would be neat, but imagine the 24V DOHC M104 with 15psi boost...  nice highway monster. 

[Harry/FDK]

I would defenately go for a NSU TTS with VW Engination.... Of Course In NSU ORANGE.

a 300CE W124 car would be neat, but imagine the 24V DOHC M104 with 15psi boost...  nice highway monster. 

And then we would hit the hills and serpentine corners.....................................

[Jim Ratto]

this would be a fun, but very obscure project, especially in CA

[Rennsurfer]

WOW, that's a beautiful older E21! Great color, too.

[Jim Ratto]

used to see these everywhere 20 yr ago. 
Where are they now?

Always thought it would be fun to hot rod one.

[kafercup]

Short wheelbase Audi Sport Quattro 

[Jim Ratto]

Short wheelbase Audi Sport Quattro 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Rocket-Racing]

61-62 chevy impala, anybody got one

Cool cars that are pretty unique in design but with good parts availability. I have the poor mans version, a '61 "Plain Jane Biscayne"..

[Rocket-Racing]

used to see these everywhere 20 yr ago. 
Where are they now?

Always thought it would be fun to hot rod one.

They are in Europe 

A large percentage of the MGB production went to the US. The ones sold here in Europe has had a tendency to rot away and lots of cars have been imported from the US (read: California) in later years. At least here in Norway MGBs are plentiful on the road and most of them are US imports.. Not that many GT's but quite a few.

[Sam K]

As much as I hate to say it, fox body mustangs are a great project car. They're relatively cheap to build and can easily be set up to do anything you want. Mine, for example, is a low 11 second car on pump gas and I drive it on the street regularly. Although they are still fairly plentiful, it's noit as easy to find a nice one as it used to be for a decent price. When I bought my first one in 2001, they were everywhere but when i wanted another one in 2006, I had a hard time finding a clean unmodified example. Due to the fact that so many of them have been turned onto race cars, owned by kids or otherwise ruined, I bet in 10 or 15 years they will become very sought after.

[Jim Ratto]

I've always liked early Ford Capri's

this one looks like a lot of fun

[Sam K]

The old german built Capri's are defintiley cool. I dig a lot of theose wierd seveties cars such as Opel GT's, Fiat X19's and Datsun 240/260's and 510's. I just need more money, more time and more storage space. 

[Jim Ratto]

The old german built Capri's are defintiley cool. I dig a lot of theose wierd seveties cars such as Opel GT's, Fiat X19's and Datsun 240/260's and 510's. I just need more money, more time and more storage space. 

X/19's!!! Yeah, I owned one for a few years.... despite the bad rap they get, it was a dependable little runabout. I put 77,000 miles on it in one year.

I'd love to get another one, but ditch the wimpy SOHC 1.5 and use a 2.0 Honda VTEC motor from an Si   

[Bryan67]

I can think of LOTS of American cars but only one non US car. A Datsun 510.

[wolfswest]

there are some nice 80ies jap cars around too, okay, slap me...

80ies: To#¤ta AE86, I prefer the trueno

70ies, celica ta22 or the ta23

More exclusive: the ferrari dino 246gt, a little rev-monster.  would be neat to see this with a ida engine etc... 

[ESH]

WOW, that's a beautiful older E21! Great color, too.

Mine would be a metallic grey though. 

[Speed-Randy]

71 cuda, nuff said

[benssp]

71 cuda, nuff said

Nice, but a 70 challenger is better,My dad misses his old 440 R/T

for me it's gotta be a 41 willys coupe

[javabug]

I'd like to get into a nice Corvair again.  I had a '63 as my first car, so I have a soft spot for the early body cars.



However, the 65+ cars are also very good looking, and the rear suspension is much better.



Rear engine, aircooled, handle great, and look good.  Would be great to build a nice engine and apply some VW and Porsche thinking.

[low oval]

my 2 non vw projects.

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

Here are my other Non VW Projects 68 Chevelle,90 Chevy extra Cab,67 Chevy II 327/350 H.P. 4 Speed can you tell I like Americans?   

[vulgaris]

cool bonneville shubbee!! I went to school in one my friend drove

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

cool bonneville shubbee!! I went to school in one my friend drove

Bonneville??   thats a 1968 Chevelle

[vulgaris]

the bottom car looks like the 75 bonneville my friend drove. I thought the top car was a mercurry Comet GT sorry.

cool bonneville and the black Tundra p/u looks smooth too

show your VW too!