Best Muscle Car for Beginner

Scamp body and engine compartment look pretty darn clean. The carb spacer/ adapter might indicate a stock intake. The electric choke isn't wired, may be just for early photo shoot. Photo date stamp says 1/ 05, he prolly never set it though.

As a plus, the work indicates this guy prolly knows what he's doing (well, no major CL-type E36 M3 hangin' off it). Not near a $5500 car that needs finishing IMO tho. As long as it runs, drives and stops straight, negotiate all the finishing work down. Take a veteran car guy with ya to check it out.

Scamp looks good for 4 k Ish. That's master cylinder stands out but if its local take a hot rodder with you preferably a mopar specific guy

xflowgolf wrote: It looks like in the more recent pic, the heater core plumbing has been fixed...

nope, the stumps are obscured by the transmission dipstick tube. note there are no heater hoses coming off the intake or water pump.

Coldsnap wrote: Also got my eye on this Nova on craigslist. Seems like it's from a legit dealer with a TON of pictures http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/350-CU-V8-Good-Body-Interior-Runs-Drives-Great-/390545944707?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid=111000&algo=REC.CURRENT&ao=1&asc=14&meid=5760008967257043695&pid=100015&prg=1006&rk=1&sd=390545944707&&forcev4exp=true#ht_34479wt_1165

Well the pictures show:

---old rust in the rear quarters that is coming back through along with the Bondo that was used to hide it before the last repaint ---rust in the door bottoms ---rust in the floors and rockers ---a rats nest of wiring under the dash ---wasted dash pad and headliner ---cheesy JC Whitney seat covers---a bashed front K member---leaf spring shackles with split bushings

There's more but in a nutshell to me the pictures show a $2,000 car.

I would go take a look at that Scamp.

Some morning Skylarks for you from my neck of the woods.

http://greenville.craigslist.org/cto/3562573733.html

http://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/3577670001.html

http://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/3593132563.html

(my pick of the bunch)

http://athensga.craigslist.org/cto/3600724279.html

Coldsnap wrote: I mean this Scamp could be fun http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3620991182.html Hood is sorta tackey

The scoops appear to be reproductions of the '70 Dart/'71 Duster & Demon "Raisin Bran" (dual scoop) pieces. Chrome bezels for the openings seem to be missing. They are available reproduction now, but not cheap.

The rear valance is missing. One from a '70-73 Dart (2 or 4 door) or '71-73 Scamp will work.

It's tough to tell from the photo but the intake looks like a 273 4bbl intake. Low profile and small runners. Would be OK on a stock 318, but better intakes are out there.

Can't tell what carb is on there, but it doesn't look like the electric choke is wired up. That's easy enough to take care of.

I don't like the way the transmission kick-down rod is setup on there. It won't be shifting right the way it is now.

Battery is using a bungee cord to hold it down. Horns are missing. Not sure what you have in the way of vehicle inspections down there, but around here you would have to fix them before passing.

Has a disk brake master cylinder in there. No mention of what brakes are on the car. If it's been converted to the later 4.5" bolt pattern wheels & disk brakes that's a plus.

Doesn't say what rear is in the car. Depending on what's in there it could be a plus or a negative.

His price is high. If the car is solid underneath, and the interior doesn't look like a family of possums has been living there, and some more detail on the mechanicals of the car, I'd say it's between $3500-4500.

If you go look at it, the points above are all negotiating points.

a pretty beastly duster is on cragislist in my area

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Plymouth-Duster-1976-360-4-speed-833-/150998371019?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid=111000&algo=REC.CURRENT&ao=1&asc=14&meid=5777285533334883424&pid=100015&prg=1006&rk=1&sd=150998371019&&forcev4exp=true#ht_972wt_1165

Awesome, thanks Rob!

Tuna that bright blue Skylark is pretty awesome.

Coldsnap wrote: a pretty beastly duster is on cragislist in my area http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Plymouth-Duster-1976-360-4-speed-833-/150998371019?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid=111000&algo=REC.CURRENT&ao=1&asc=14&meid=5777285533334883424&pid=100015&prg=1006&rk=1&sd=150998371019&&forcev4exp=true#ht_972wt_1165

It's not terrible, but I would rather a faded, peeing original paint job than a botched respray. If he's completely honest about everything, it's fine but the whole thing could easily be filler, too.

The engine and tranny are great choices, but his leaving the flywheel weight out and never tuning the carb makes me think he's not as good as he thinks he is. Why sell a car for 1K less because you don't want to spend an hour with a screwdriver to make it run right? Because you don't know how, that's why. What else doesn't he know?

My first car was a crappily swapped V8 Camaro with everything terribly done and it lasted for 5 years, awful bodywork and everything, so who knows.

Coldsnap wrote: Awesome, thanks Rob! Tuna that bright blue Skylark is pretty awesome.

My favorite was actually the bronze colored one above that one. I fear resprays. Check out my build thread for the 'why' - the cab corners I thought needed a little bit of work were under a nice coat of faded MAACO type black, and they were made entirely out of filler. As were the rockers. And the fenders. Bright paint in a non original color makes me very suspicious. If the bodywork had been done properly and everything up to snuff, it should be more expensive than it is. Check it out, though, just bring a magnet and be careful to ask the right questions.

Gotcha. I think original paint is something I want my car I purchase to have. After seeing so many bad rattle jobs on cragislist etc. I don't mind some patina, looks better imo.

Monte Carlo SS Aero Coupe?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3627121805.html

Torino Cobra GT?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3631831869.html

Coldsnap wrote: Gotcha. I think original paint is something I want my car I purchase to have. After seeing so many bad rattle jobs on cragislist etc. I don't mind some patina, looks better imo.

Then check into that bronze one if you dig that bodystyle. It had the mix of patina without looking crappy.

I love the Aerocoupe, Jav, but somehow they were all so hideously slow and complicated. Bryan, if you get some 80's "muscle" like that, do not fear ripping out everything above the block and starting over. The base 305 is a good enough engine, but everything else conspired against them in the 80's to make them really weak, wikipedia says 150-180 hp depending on year. OUCH! You -are- looking for a project, though. Maybe a crate motor install would be a good start.

Man... not sure if it qualifies as a muscle car, probably has been brought up (I stopped clicking links about 13 pages in) but the 1961-1963 Thunderbirds are looking mighty fine. There are a couple locally on the west coast that look to be in good condition for $4800-6500 asking price.

Hurry up before prices go up due to the tax seasoners. Or be prepared to wait them out.

Perhaps expand your area, fly and drive? (sketchy fly and drive) Adventuretime!

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/3576207529.html

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/3577591009.html

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/3497803712.html

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/3613283171.html

In reply to Javelin:

that aerocoupe looks like a really good price. rare car. i had an '87 non-aero SS and was shocked at how flat it cornered. big bars on those from the factory. lower it 4" all around and wake it up with intake / cam / exhaust and you'd have a solid ride.

that torino is a disaster!

Javelin wrote: Monte Carlo SS Aero Coupe? http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3627121805.html

So Hawt! That has to be the cleanest Monte SS I've seen in years!!

damn near priced like a DD, somebody gonna bag that for cruise nights

I love those Monte Carlo SSs. And the Pontiac aerocoupes, too.

I know classic cars are cheaper to insure, cause owners tend to take care of them better. But should I still avoid the color red? As in will a red '71 2 door Nova be a lot to insure vs grandma color.

like insuring

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3593436206.html

vs

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3565881186.html

cool color skylark

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/3577157374.html

Car color doesn't play into insurance costs

That green Skylark looks pretty decent at first blush (aside from the fact that it has Buick wheels on the right side and Chevy wheels on the left). My opinion, worth exactly what you paid for it, is that although it is out of the price range you've been discussing this is more like what you should be looking for rather than some of the half baked/poorly executed projects that have been posted.

Good luck!

Gotcha. I'm going to start considering $7,000 cars because from what I've seen on craigslist everything is over priced and there is always something about the car to haggle over. So a $7,000 might become a $5,000 car

muscle car or grocery getter?

'74 dodge dart swinger http://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/cto/3638446983.html