Help me pick my next silly and cheap project

Like a lot of us I enjoy having an affordable classic car kicking around. I have been without one since I sold my Spitfire late in the summer. I did the following "fix up" on it for just under $200 all in.

Budget wise I'm keeping it pretty small as usual. I went to see a '74 Fiat X1/9 but a description of running when parked turned out to be broken cam belt. Cracked windshield, trash tires, worn interior and rust on the strut towers proved to be too much. Some of those issues I could deal with but not all.

I've got the following candidates to consider:

1961 Austin Healey Sprite

Off the road for a long time. Would need a complete mechanical renovation. Also probably an out of province inspection which is around $500 at registration time. Two lens missing - I think the rear isn't all that cheap to replace. Missing a few switches and the radio on that dash but looks otherwise complete. Radio is useless in car like this. Comes with a hardtop which is nice. Looks complete and not buggered with. Would be a longer term proper mechanical renovation. Almost tempted to leave the cosmetics the same. Asking $1500 which strikes me as cheap. I'd keep it pretty much stock.

1977 Datsun 280Z

Again off the road a long time - 1986. 52628 miles. Paint is shot but body looks solid for a Z. My plan is a sort of resto mod with roll on paint job in a 70s groovy colour - orange or light yellow. De-bumper or convert to early style bumpers. Aftermarket wheels. This one has a five speed which is nice. Old FI system worries me a bit. $900

Austin A40 hot rod.

Sort of out of left field but Austin A40 and convert into a hot rod. Maybe sit on a mini-truck frame plus running gear. Fabricated box. Its $200 for the Austin plus $6-700 for a running mini truck. I do happen to have a nice set of almost new A40 front brakes so I could retain those. A few other random bits and pieces that I have lying around could be utilized - Triumph Spitfire gas tank, Lada Niva gauges, Hyundai Stellar wiring harness, Honda Civic seats, etc. Interior is shot and mostly gone but body is solid with the exception of some rust and dings on fenders.

Thoughts? I know they are all a bit crazy ...

Sprite will have higher resale value when time to dump.

Make sure you fit well enough to drive before you buy.

Since my first ever car accident was in an Austin A40 Devin, I vote for that, but use it as a sedan. For the record, I was a little tyke ,standing on the hump in the back seat when my mother rearended a Thunderbird.

I think the nose alone on that Sprite is worth the asking price. I'd be all over that one. Fix the cosmetics, though - neglected cars look neglected, not cool. I've got a Sprite dash in the garage, let me know what switches you need and I might be able to help.

The sprite is the obvious winner in that lot assuming the rear spring boxes check out and the rest of the rust is manageable. Bonnet and grill are worth what they are asking if they really are as good as pictured.

Where sprites get unexpectedly expensive to restore is when you rebuild the front suspension. They tend to need pretty much everything from new a-arms to shocks and will eat at least 1k to do.

Combined wiper/ignition switch is expensive and rare as a used item Heater control cable with built-in on-off switch is unobtanium. Gear boxes have straight cut first gear and sound like they are grinding gravel when they are new...age does not improve them.

Bugeyes are not what I would call "Usable" as cars. Too small, Too slow and not reliable enough to get you where you want to go and back. Great fun as a toy.

Bugeye

Sprite is worth your time.

Usability is no factor here. I don't intend to take it any very far. I've got a reasonable daily driver for many years ahead. The Bugeye is cool but I do worry about costs as I would feel compelled to do it properly. Suspension parts aren't cheap. I've never had a passion for the Bugeye as such (thought they were out of my play car price range) but I've always wanted an A-series powered car for some reason. It does look awfully solid for the price. Some more pictures.

I've always liked the Datsun Z. As mentioned the 240Z is a lot nicer looking but the 280Z is better mechanically (5spd, better handling, etc) but if I could back date the looks ... best of both worlds. Plus I can't afford a reasonable 240Z at the moment.

Not much love for the Austin hot rod eh?

Sprite. Because I've always wanted one. And $1500 is such a cheap buy in. Big upside when you sell. As long ad its not rusty you will make money. Plus iconic LBC.

I would go with the 280Z because it looks the sexiest out of your group.

In Michigan the Sprite is roadworthy as is... a busted taillight and and no brakes is the standard fare.

I'd be all over that bugeye. No lie.

I vote for the Z since I'd rather spend more time driving the car than working on it. Plus they look really cool in that resto mod style you mentioned.

Bugeye

Plenty of repo lenses for bugeyes available at Victoria British. Cheap. I think updating one to 1275 and a ribbed 4 speed could be done with the right parts car cheaply. But, it souunds like the Z or Austin is more in line with your budget. The bugeye will get expensive quickly if you are restoring it properly.

Also, people on this forum know how to make an S-10 handle cheaply. I have some love for this idea.

The sprite all day long. I don't fit in them worth a damn and it's still the one I'd pick.

The Z is a better car but the Sprite is probably a better project. The Austin isn't even worth considering.

I'd opt for the Z. It will be a better driver.

Z + LS swap = many happy fun good times.

I agree that the 240 > 280 but as long as it doesn’t have an “X” at the end, I’d be interested.

Go with the Z. They look great and are fun to drive.

How are the Sprite's spring boxes?

What I see that I like is that it is rather complete. What I see that I don't like is rust around the PS rear arch, some damage to the DS of the bonnet and whatever that thing is stuck to the PS sill?

How comfortable are you with replacing panels? You mention that this needs to be cheap, how cheap? Too bad you are on the West End of the Universe; I know of an Aladin's cave worth of Bugeye parts that the Widow can't sell for 4k.

If you are patient, there will always be deals to be found on suspension parts.

In reply to novaderrik:

You meant RB swap right?

Like others have said, sprite for a project and looks, the 280z for actual use in the real world with out knowing a tow truck driver on a first name basis.

$1500 for a practically complete, solid enough to hold up it's own weight bugeye? Unless you're too tall for it go buy it, yesterday.