NICE(?) 80 Fiesta....where else?

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/2271145083.html

It seems all the title-less cars go to ATL to die ...or get sold.

Actually, GA won't issue them. It's kind of a pain.

I have bought several clean title pre 1986 cars that GA would not issue a title for. Now, they are title-less.

Anyone with experience on these agree with that gas mileage? 50? If that's true, I'm a horrible tuner. Best tank for me is 35, so far.

Sounds optimistic to me, but a best of 35 sounds low. I would have guessed 38-40 without breaking a sweat (no hypermiling, etc).

So, fear not! There may still be room for you to be a horrible tuner!

So if you buy something from GA without a title, how do other states treat that car?

I am curious as to how much it weighs,

when I was in high school one of my co-workers loved it because it could be tossed around so easily !

(and it was his fathers, so I'm sure it got a good thrashing...)

I bought an '80 Fiesta when they were new. 50 MPG? Hmmmm, seems a bit optimistic to me, but then, these cars just begged to be driven balls out, so getting 30+ is hard to do. That said, another factor making anything over 40 look like wishful thinking is the lack of a factory 5 speed (tho, as I understand it, 4th was an overdriven gear). I've seen kits that allow a Ford FWD 5 speed manual to be swapped into a Fiesta, I think even BAT offered it at one time (tho, no more). You can even swap the 1600 FWD Ford Escort engine in at the same time, but I doubt you'll ever get 50 MPG for all the work required.

BUT WHO CARES? These cars are a hoot to drive....in good condition.

As far as the weight question....a few strong guys can lift the rear of a Fiesta and lug it around a parking lot. I know from personal experience.

That is not like a Festiva.

From what I understand weight is around 1800 # give or take.

In reply to integraguy: The 5-speed in the escort is supposed to fit, but it takes a little cutting of the inner sheetmetal around the transmission for clearance and a brace to make it strong again, plus either a custom axle or a custom bracket to keep the OE carrier bearing. As for the Escort motor swap...I've never been a fan of the CHV and would rather keep the crossflow. But in an Escort Pony they (CHV) could get 40+mpg, so drop some weight and play with the gearing and it "might" be close....But again I'm with you...crossflows rule!

93EXCivic wrote: So if you buy something from GA without a title, how do other states treat that car?

Usually not well

I had a couple. Base model and a ghia. Base would give 42 on balls out runs from Georgia to NY, 45 at legal speeds, so I was glad to sacrifice the 3 mpg back when gas was cheap. Ghia was a little heavier but still gave 39-41 in regular use. I loved those cars and miss them. I did have a an evil base model for a brief moment in Miami, but it tried to kill me every time I drove it. Parked it outside during Hurricane Andrew and never saw it again. Only 3 houses were left standing on the block after that bugger came through. Not like I tried to look for it though.

Raze wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: So if you buy something from GA without a title, how do other states treat that car?

Usually not well

That's not true. I've sold many cars with a bill of sale only to out of state buyers who had no trouble whatsoever getting a title in their home state.

Most states issue a title based only on the bill of sale without question, knowing it is the law in GA. A couple of states require a GA registration (which functions as a title, but is a little aggravating to get for a project car, racer, etc.)

I'm not aware of ANY state that will not issue a title for a GA car sold with a correctly executed bill of sale.

Title transfers are based on the laws in the issuing state. So, if I buy a car from someone in PA, the title must be notarized (because that is PA law), even though it is not required in GA. Once it is titled in GA, it falls under GA law. Works similar with a GA bill of sale in another state.

The trouble starts when the bill of sale is not executed correctly. For example, GA does not have title exemptions for cars after 1987. You can't sell a 1989 car in GA without a title (although people try to).

I had no trouble getting a PA title to a Toyota Starlet that I bought in GA a few years back. Very simple process.

Weight of those cars varies on equiptment. I had a base model with rear seat, carpet & pad removed, roll cage added and it weighted 1740 less driver coming off the track after a race. I owned two others and I think the best I ever got was 35-36 mpg. But I didn't drive them for max mpg either, they were to fun to drive fast! The two things holding them back was bricklike aerodynamics and a lack of 5th gear. Yes I know that 4th was an overdrive but just barely.

I personally would like one to modify with a later twin cam head on the Kent engine and 5 speed transaxel. Fender flares and 15X7 inch wheels. Here in the midwest they are all gone except for those that are still raced in IT. Rust is the enemy of the light weight but stiff body they came with.