Brain Pickin’ – Future Muscle Car project, in need of opinions

Hey GRM! I’ve got a future project in my head that I’ve been meaning to plan out, and I’d like to get as many opinions from the community about it as possible.

The thing that turned me into a gearhead was seeing Mad Max: FURY ROAD, and while I bought my first project to learn the needed discipline and knowledge my goal has always been to build some kind of Mad Max-styled car- not the titular Interceptor mind you, but something wholly unique and personal to me that shows my love of bashing something together and having it work wayyyyy better than it has any right to.

My criteria are pretty basic, but some of the cars I have looked at (and my lack of knowledge on ANYTHING Mopar of the era) have some design issues that make it hard for me to pull the trigger, like ford and narrow shock towers, AMC for odd suspension choices, or GM… being GM. In fact, my only criteria is that the vehicle look like murder and have a suspension to handle large amounts of power, with Pro-touring being the big-deal goal so that I could autocross the vehicular equivalent of a Judas Priest’s Painkiller album. It also has to fit a ubiquitous LS-based V8- I’m likely going to modify an LQ9, but depending on cost I am more than open to other suggestions. I will be using an aftermarket ECU for this, naturally.

And finally, I know the inevitable response will be “Well Girthquake… you just described the Fox body mustang. It fits all your criteria!” believe me, I know! But I just can’t get over how (in my opinion) ugly it is, and that so many people have done them before that I’d like to try something else. So please- give me whatever odd idea you got for something sacrilegious. And be as detailed as you can! I love to hear about the real deep ins-and-outs of these old cars.

(And PLEASE Mopar guys, tell me about the old Chryslers. I know nothing.)

Your pretty basic requirements are

Has to look mad max

Needs to be Mopar

Powered by an LS

and Pro Touring suspension?

Doesn't seem that basic, :P

Since your set on gm power id like too thank you for not liking the cosmetics and ruining another foxbody. Have you looked at the 73-74 nova or the disco era 75-78. Still cheap enough to basically build what you want. Not sure it fits the vision you have but theres also late 2nd gen camaros still fairly cheap.  

For a build like this, I always think whatever rust free mid 70s people mover is the best bet. Marque I don't think is that important when we're talking about 40 year old cars. They're all going to be terrible in comparison to new models. I'll echo the disco-Nova, but also throw in '78-'80 G bodies. You might also consider other Fox platforms besides the Mustang. The Lincoln mk VII, '82 (I think?)-'88 Thunderbird, '78 and up Fairmont. 

Jaynen said:

Your pretty basic requirements are

Has to look mad max

Needs to be Mopar

No, I just want to learn ABOUT mopar.

"Doesn't seem that basic, :P"

Yeah, I know.

68-72 Nova. Still reasonably priced, can be made to handle, will hold a big engine and they look deadly with the right stance and blacked out grill

Ford Maverick. They already look Australian too.

Gm 70s whatever.

These guys can probably tell you what platforms the circle track guys are using, but all that gm stuff back then is the same and you can get circle track stuff cheap and with the right research can make a really good handling setup without a lot of cash.

I like the 70s nove, buddy is buildinga crapcan racer put of one, i think it looks good sprayed toro implement red.

ebonyandivory said:

Ford Maverick. They already look Australian too.

 

Good Lord. Onto CL

Mercury Comet also if you like the early 70's Maverick body style.