Help me spend money on another Classic?

Short TDLR of the Story.

Bought a 65 Shelby cobra racer to use with my Father in Law. He never used it once on the track and has started driving my TBird and some of my other cars around. Biggest issue is getting in and out of the car. So he still wants to share something with me that in his words comes from the 60-70's has door's and he can use on the weekends to terrorize the locals. FYI I am seriously thinking of thinning the herd that I have and going to a 650S so he would have no old cars to drive and I am not letting him drive that it will end up upside on fire in a week.

Budget is 25-30K. Need to have doors, a 69 year old guys needs to be able to get in and out of it easily with a bad back. Needs to be able to do a solid 75 on the freeway for a hour. Needs to maintain its value. He liked my old 356 but that was 10 years ago and they are seriously difficult to find a replica built correctly and valued right. Same with my old 550 spyder, he has a thing for VW powered cars. He does not like corvettes for some odd reason.

So been thinking 69-71 Mach 1, 69 Camaro, maybe an impala. These are the obvious choices. Part of me wants to find a 32 roadster in glass with a automatic and a 350 as he would drive the tar out of if and I can still use it. He hated my 28 historic racer though. Any suggestions. FYI most of the money is coming from me so I need to be able to sell the thing at the end and I will drive it.

I still have the 57 Cadillac, the 55 TBird and the 28 Roadster in storage. Along with the F350 and the i3 so I am not hurting for cars but he wants to do this with me and since he gave me his daughter kind of going along with it. I have also suggested we find a nice Z06 or a XLR-V or maybe even a GT500 with some major modifications but he is stuck on the 60's.

How about a Yenko Stinger, street legal race car!

I've got a '74 Alfa Romeo GTV that's set up to be a racer that can be legal on the street- so that one can run the Carrera Panamericana. Just needs a clutch.

SCCA log book an all.

alfadriver wrote: I've got a '74 Alfa Romeo GTV that's set up to be a racer that can be legal on the street- so that one can run the Carrera Panamericana. Just needs a clutch. SCCA log book an all.

I am fully aware of that car. I try not to look at it to much because it would break me. Me is an americanish car guy.

If he doesn't have an irrational hatred for AMC like some people do, you can get some awesome stuff for cheap and they appreciate more and more every year.

Except for Porsches? Sounds like a car that's on the list for your dad.

What does he want?

Staying on your American car theme, how about a really nice, really stock, James Rockford Firebird.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Staying on your American car theme, how about a really nice, really stock, James Rockford Firebird.

Only if it comes with a printing press in the back seat so he can make business cards.

If Porsche is on the list I'm at least going to throw out another Euro car.

My II Jaguar. Grace, pace and space.

If that's too highbrow then what about a Hot Rod Baja replica Ford Ranchero?

Really from left field a Rover P6 with the ex Buick V8.

Ooo another.

80's car with 60's roots. Bentley turbo R

Studebaker avanti?

68-70 Charger. Dodge's grown up muscle car.

Buy my 64 el Camino. Efi, overdrive auto, power everything, 4 wherl discs, etc. I'll let a grm member have it for 14k.

Jensen Interceptor?

It's Americanish.

mndsm wrote: Studebaker avanti?

I like that idea.

Woody wrote: Jensen Interceptor? It's Americanish.

Check prices recently? No chance of a nice one on the budget mentioned.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

Well in that case, I'm out of Americanish ideas. How about a 450SLC?

25-35K gets you into a nice 2nd Gen A body barracuda. You can get a base 318 and bring it up to 340 Formula S HP and suspension for not too much and it will be a fun ride.

Karmann Ghia with a hot motor?

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

mndsm wrote: Studebaker avanti?

I like that idea.

Unconventional, cool, can be had pretty fast iirc. Seemed like a good call.

mndsm wrote:

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

mndsm wrote: Studebaker avanti?

I like that idea.

Unconventional, cool, can be had pretty fast iirc. Seemed like a good call.

This is what came to mind for me as well. It's just too bad that the round headlights were a first year only thing. I know everyone knows what they look like, but this pic with Loewy really communicates the styling well IMO:

What about a 60's truck? Plentiful, cheap and easy to work on, would be easy for him to get in and out, visibility is usually great and nice ones could be had well under your budget. They're a great blank canvas. You can make it cushy and luxurious, fast and sporty, lifted and capable. You'd have tons of options to make it whatever you guys wanted. If building or modifying one isn't desirable, then rest easy friend because you can probably buy one that somebody else has already done that fits your taste.

I vote for the '69 Charger, if only for value-retention. While it's possible many of the 60's muscle cars will vary in value as baby boomers leave the market, I argue the "DoH"/Gen X guys who grew up in the 70's and 80's will keep the value of these cars strong as they age and have more disposable income. Personally, I keep hoping to find a cheap project car even if I have to sit on it for a few years before I can do anything with it.

Appleseed wrote: 68-70 Charger. Dodge's grown up muscle car.

Last time I checked, prices on anything Mopar were still through the roof, short of A- and C-bodies.