Let's say you wanted a classic car that you could do TSDs and autocrosses (semi-competitively aka not a million seconds behind other cars in the class but doesn't need to be first in class) with and still be usable on the road (so no crazy engine swaps cause that will put it in a modified class). What car would you use and what class?
Requirements: pre-85, European (but no German cars), under $4k.
Porsche 944 and/or BMW E30
/thread
Oh, wait, no Germans??? Well now, that's interesting... FIAT 124 is your answer then. maybe an X1/9.
Alfa Milano/75, Biturbo 
, Fiat 850 Spyder or Coupe.
Maserati BiTurbo or anything Fiat & RWD
(when stock class gets boring: Turbo 13B (2/3 Axis of Evil, although you could argue 3/3 - Assuming wrecked T2 FC)
MGB-GT
Dacia Sandero
Volvo 1800. I'd have to double check the rule book, but I believe it would run in F Street Prepared. The tough part would be your budget. Along the same lines, maybe a MGB GT, but again the budget may be tough. $4000 will get you a decent driver with some searching, but prepping it to any reasonable level within the rules won't be inexpensive.
Saab 900T
1984 Corvette updated to 1996 specs. Put Euro tail lights on it if you want to be euro.
You can get the $4k buy-in on a ratty one and have money left over for tires. Spend some time over the next few years sorting and updating.
The 84s were the stiffest sprung of of the C4s and handled like nothing else. Then drop in an LT1 and a 6 speed from a 90s car and run with the big boys.
Or if you want to be truly Euro, an 84 Peugeot 505 would be a cool car.
I've seen the occasional TVR Vixen with a low price. Jaguar XJS and XJ6 will keep up with traffic, but you have a lot of mass to manage.
If not for the cost, I love my GTV.
But a good alternative that I've had was an Alfetta. I know those shop up all the time for less than $4k.
I like the Spider idea, too- but to get something good for $4k, it may be better to add some sweat equity.
I have seen Cortina MK2's for a very reasonable price. It's been a while, but those Fords are pretty simple- if engine swaps are ok, well, that makes for a fun car.
Capri's have been cheap, but they rust like the Italians.
No real info about French cars...
Mike wrote: ...you have a lot of mass to manage.
This is a deftly diplomatic turn of phrase.
I bought a running TR8 convertible this past summer for $1300. That leaves $2700 for mods. Once in a while you will see a TVR 280i pop up in that price range. MG midgets and Triumph Spitfires are competitive and cheap. This is the best time of year to buy a a sports car. People are looking to unload cars they don't have winter storage for.
I would do the X 1/9 or a volvo 240.. the 240 turbo might be the best of both worlds for DDing and the occasional TSD and autocross
1965 - 1969 Corvair!
Austin Mini 1000.
alfadriver wrote: But a good alternative that I've had was an Alfetta. I know those shop up all the time for less than $4k.
Alfetta is on the radar. Same with Lancia Scorpion. Basically what I am thinking is once I am done with the Yugo I am going to keep my eye out for something else that will be more streetable and sell the Yugo after the challenge.
you and I have similiar interests sir!
I was gonna say Stratos, but $4000 totally kills that.
How about a rubber-bumper MGB? It still delivers that classic driving experience, parts and cars are plentiful, and the top goes down. For autocross, you can do it for FSP. If you really want to be competitive, check the rulebook but I believe all MGBs are on the same line so you can mix and match as desired.
S30 280z AW11 MR2 FA RX-7 Datsun Roadster
bastomatic wrote: Austin Mini 1000.
You're not going to get one for under $6000 that isn't a rusty turd.
93EXCivic wrote:alfadriver wrote: But a good alternative that I've had was an Alfetta. I know those shop up all the time for less than $4k.Alfetta is on the radar. Same with Lancia Scorpion. Basically what I am thinking is once I am done with the Yugo I am going to keep my eye out for something else that will be more streetable and sell the Yugo after the challenge.
Having driven both Scorpions and X1/9s and compared the two, I see no real reason to go with the Lancia other than the wow factor. The Fiat is far cheaper to buy, fix, build, etc and there is a lot of online guidance available. The Lancia is going to be more expensive, difficult to find parts for, and only marginally quicker. They are neat cars, but have a lot of weirdness built into them.
alfetta/gtv6
93EXCivic wrote:alfadriver wrote: But a good alternative that I've had was an Alfetta. I know those shop up all the time for less than $4k.Alfetta is on the radar. Same with Lancia Scorpion. Basically what I am thinking is once I am done with the Yugo I am going to keep my eye out for something else that will be more streetable and sell the Yugo after the challenge.
Add in the possibility of a GTV6- they come up pretty reasonable, too. And a lot of the 119 chassis Milano will work, with some effort, on the 116 chassis Alfetta and GTV6. A very popular swap is a Verde 3.0l into a GTV6, but i've also wondered if a 164 V6 can be worked into as well- base 164's are really cheap, and the 3.0l is a great engine to work on.
Oh, and I think the GTV6 is the only Alfa so far to win a LeMons race.
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