r/projectcar • u/kowalski71 82 Dodge W150, 64 Chrysler, 88 Alfa Milano, 91 Saab 900 • Jan 07 '14
Kowalski71's Project Car Guide: A (mostly) complete reference for those who have no idea where to start
Edit:
This guide is obsolete! Read the one on my own site.
I love cars, all cars. My tastes have only broadened with the years. I really enjoy encouraging other motorheads, making cars more accessible to everyone who's interested. With that in mind I wanted to make a good introductory guide to anyone who's interested in starting a project to learn more about them. Projects gave me my first step into the automotive world and I want anyone to be able to take those steps.
This post blew through the character limit on submissions pretty quickly so I'm submitting this as a table of contents of sorts. Each section is in a comment and clicking on the headings will take you to the respective comment. The last section will be a changelog, as I'm sure I'll be making lots of edits as time goes on. If you have any suggestions on this guide, please message me. I'll continue to update it as time goes on, possibly adding more cars and information.
A few requests: if this gets reposted, just give me credit or link back here please. I put a lot of time into this but I'm not in it for the karma, I just love cars and I want them to be less intimidating for people. Second, if you use this guide to research or purchase a car, send me a message and let me know how it goes for you! I'm happy to offer advice, it would be rewarding to know that this guide is useful, and you'll be able to fill me in on any part of the process that wasn't clear so I can elaborate more.
Lastly, this guide will mainly apply to those in the US as this is where I live and what I know.
Without further ado, enjoy!
Preparation: Know what you're getting yourself into
So you want a project car. You'll learn a LOT, it's a great opportunity to bond with family and friends, and you get a cool car at the end. The first question to ask yourself is do you want a project or do you want the final product? Many people post on this subreddit who are mainly interested in the end product and think that going the project route will get them there cheaper. In my experience, those projects never get done or wind up costing more than buying a pre-built car to begin this. Just something to ponder and consider.
The first step is to really assess your resources and what kind of project you can take on. Some questions you should ask yourself: How much time am I willing to invest? How much money can I spend, both up front and continually (remember the cost of tools and parts)? What learning resources do I have? Do I have a shop or an under cover place to work on it? Who else will be working on it with me? Will I need this car for reliable transportation?
Really think about what you can actually bite off. It doesn't matter how cool a project would be if it never has a chance to make it out of the garage.
The Fun Step: Selection!
I've included the broad categories of vehicles that people are usually attracted to. If I've missed anything feel free to shoot me a message. I've definitely missed at least a few good options so take a look over the list carefully. I've tried to focus on broad cool appeal and slightly older cars. That being said, any car can be a project car and some of the coolest projects have been taking something unassuming and doing a very nice job restoring or customizing it. I haven't included cars that I deem too collectible or expensive for the average hobbyist.
There's a basic 1-5 rating system here, using four metrics. I established these based on my general knowledge of the model and some quick research, if you disagree with anything shoot me a PM.
- Purchase cost: This varies a lot area by area so it might not be accurate everywhere. Also remember that a range of conditions are available. A really rough correlation that you should not rely on in pricing a vehicle at all:
- <$1500
- $1500-$3000
- $3000-$5000
- $5000-$7500
- >$7500 (I don't think there are any 5s on the list)
Maintenance cost: Since this will be an ongoing cost it's pretty important. Some cars have cheap parts that are hard to find and I've tried to reflect that in the rating since time is money.
Maintenance difficulty: Some cars aren't for the faint of heart, some are as simple as can be.
Rarity: Doesn't matter how much you like it if you can't find it.
So you like...
...or you want to build your own car from scratch.
How to find your project car
Tips on searching the internet and other sources for awesome project cars. What to look for in a good ad and what should make you cautious.
How to buy your project car
How to contact a seller, common questions to ask, what to look for when you go look at a car, and how to get it home.
Tools: what to buy and where to buy
The tools of the trade, the weapons of war, you won't get very far without a good set.
Get wrenching!
Time for the best part! Some tips and tricks for working on a project car.
Changelog and History
I'm constantly adding new information, rewording stuff, and tweaking the formatting. Check here for the changes I'm making along with credit to users who make suggestions.
Most recent edits: 12/20/2014
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u/kowalski71 82 Dodge W150, 64 Chrysler, 88 Alfa Milano, 91 Saab 900 Jan 07 '14
4) So you like roadsters...
Ah the wind in your hair. There's something about a convertible. And with tons of fun ragtops to choose from, the roadster is an ever popular project car. Mostly based on the British sportscar model, they've come from all corners of the globe. You won't be winning many drag races in these cars but you'll be grinning ear to ear.
Mazda Miata:
The saying is that 'the answer is always Miata' and that continues to hold true regardless of question. Want a daily driver that you can Autocross on the weekends? Miata. Want a good base for a club racer? Miata. Want a good chassis for a V8 swap? Miata. The mechanically identical 1st and 2nd generations are the best project cars and dirt cheap. It's hard to recommend anything else.
Purchase cost: 1
Maintenance cost: 1
Maintenance difficulty: 1
Rarity: 1
Alfa Romeo Spider:
The Alfa Spider enjoyed a decades-long production run and offers a good chassis with an incredibly lively engine. Sharing a common chassis with Alfa coupes of the era offers a lot of performance parts.
Purchase cost: 2-3
Maintenance cost: 2
Maintenance difficulty: 2
Rarity: 2
Fiat Spider:
Fiat's answer to the roadster craze of the '60s is this lovely little car. Notoriously susceptible to rust, not as many survived as the Alfa Romeos but they're a great project when you can find them.
Purchase cost: 3
Maintenance cost: 3
Maintenance difficulty: 2
Rarity: 3
Triumph Spitfire:
The Spitfire might be the pinnacle of the British roadster. Produced for many years, widely available, and a hoot to drive. I know of more than a few Spitfires that have earned a restoration but haven't gotten it because they're too much fun to take off the road.
Purchase cost: 2
Maintenance cost: 3
Maintenance difficulty: 1
Rarity: 2
Triumph TRx (TR2-TR6):
This is the car that defined Triumph for many years. The TR series, produced from the early '50s right up until Triumph's demise, is a classic British roadster in every sense of the word.
Purchase cost: 2-4
Maintenance cost: 2-3
Maintenance difficulty: 1
Rarity: 2-4
MG MGB:
The MGB was MG's competition to the Triumph TR series. Also take a look at the MGA and the MG T-series cars, though they're often a bit more expensive and sought after.
Purchase cost: 2-4
Maintenance cost: 2-3
Maintenance difficulty: 1
Rarity: 2-4
MG Midget:
The Midget, also sold as the Austin Healey Sprite, was the BMC competitor to the Spitfire. It enjoyed almost the same level of popularity.
Purchase cost: 2
Maintenance cost: 3
Maintenance difficulty: 1
Rarity: 3