Is there a bargain semi-classic muscle/pony car?

Gotta love the Galaxie. Not so much the 352, but a 390 can be procured. A 428 crank can also give it some cubes. Neato big car.

Mav it 'til you can't mav it no more!

Let's see if I can get these quotes right. This is like a hall of mirrors.

Xceler8x wrote:

alex wrote: Oh yeah. She grew up with a '68 F100 with an I-6 and three-on-the-tree (and just about cried when her parents sent it to the scrapper when the last of the body mounts had returned to the Earth), loves driving my dad's MG, rode a '76 Honda until recently, and I've turned her into a wagon nerd. She's down. She's *definitely* one of those girls who will go out of her way to prove she can do something normal conventions say she can't, like wrenching on and driving a vintage hulk.

Time to go shopping then! You will let us know what you get right?

Certainly. I think this is a little while off, but it's definitely on the table.

Xceler8x wrote:

alex wrote: Anyway, I think this is firmly in the Weekend Toy category; she won't be driving to court in this thing. Maybe.

Wait a min? Huh what? Court? You're leaving out some pertinent details that, as your internet friends, we need to know.

She's a lawyer. Yes, I got lucky.

I do have a soft spot for Galaxies, and anything that can take my 460 is a big plus. There's a '68 4 door driver for $2K on CL, and although it's not what I'm looking for (the coupe is more like it), it's hard to pass up a clean classic cruiser.

ReverendDexter wrote:

fast_eddie_72 wrote: Well, kinda- '70 to '77 Capri. Sometimes called a "mini muscle car". You can get them for pocket change and a 302 fits great.

Where are these Capris you claim can be found for pocket change?

I see them listed often for a few hundred bucks.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/2256983754.html

This one looks familiar.

http://appleton.craigslist.org/cto/2242087814.html

This one is $1,700. Maybe not pocket change, but it sure looks clean.

http://york.craigslist.org/cto/2248816246.html

Or this one.

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/2261942808.html

A couple years ago I went to a local car show and got bit by the 'old car bug.' The way I found my car was typing in a year range and price range into search tempest. I found a lot of rusted out two doors, a few trucks, and a lot of well kept sedans. There isn't much left that isn't a rusty hunk of junk for a reasonable price out east, so I didn't want to get too picky.

I can't do body work so I went with the well kept sedan, and I've been having a blast. The front and rear clips are usually very similar to their more popular coupe brethren too.

I would recommend the possibly higher buy in of a GM product because the parts tend to be a little cheaper and have higher availability. Another advantage in my case (Fairlane vs. Chevelle for example) the ford uses a leaf spring rear where the chevy has a more desirable coil spring rear.

$400 71' Malibu with no rust, working ac, and unwanted 307.

$900 68' Fairlane 500 with no rust, tired 289, drove it home.

What about something like a Nova or a Skylark?

Many of the AMCs are hit and miss. The AMXs and Gremlins bring big dollar, but a Hornet had a V8 option and they're dirt cheap. I had a 73 Hornet Sportabout wagon that I bought with 7400 (not a typo) miles for $1500.

I had a running 302 Maverick that I got for $500 that I would describe as "ratty," but even the stock wheezer 302 moved it along VERY impressively since they're pretty lightweight.

This is hardly a pony car or muscle car, but the 80s GM G-bodies are a dime a dozen, they swallow any GM engine and transmission with almost no modification, and parts are ridiculously cheap. Light car + big block = muscle.

I guess a good question is... what's the budget?

Leach wrote:

914Driver wrote:

EZ Rods are the automotive equivalent of herpes. I always hope I've seen the last of them, but unfortunately, I can always count on them coming back to ruin my day.

That Panther based thing looks like what Elvis would drive if he were alive today.

I have seen the coupe before (there is one here in my small town) but I have not seem the Crown Vic version. Thanks for ruining my day.

They make a Gen4 Camaro based one that is equally hideous. I'll be kind and not hotlink a picture. Just trust me. Unfortunately, they (EZ Rod) show up at Carlisle every year and it's hard to avoid their display....

I guess everybody's definition of "bargain" is different. 60's and 70's driver mopars can be had here for $1k-$2k, especially if mama's not hell-bent on a V8.

I'm probably an idiot for not picking this up today:

http://nwga.craigslist.org/cto/2230402006.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/cto/2232624126.html

That malibu looks really nice, much nicer than the only one I have ever gone to look at for sale, which was twice the price, had no engine, and the roof was covered in a thick layer of body filler over the rust from the vinyl roof. lol i agree the 4 door ones are likely to be a much better deal.

not cars but whatever. ideas none the less.

Oh man. I want a snub-nose '70s Ford van something awful. One with 4wd in proper '70s E36 M3 brown is a dream car of mine. Thanks for reminding me.

wait wait wait. i found a better pic of teh 60s one.

Ooo oo! I know they are crappy pics and hard to see but I snapped some pictures of one of those snubby nosed Fords with a pickup bed, big wide Cragars, big pipes... It was super awesome!

Leach wrote:

The Homer finally went into production.

poopshovel wrote: I guess everybody's definition of "bargain" is different. 60's and 70's driver mopars can be had here for $1k-$2k, especially if mama's not hell-bent on a V8. I'm probably an idiot for not picking this up today: http://nwga.craigslist.org/cto/2230402006.html http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/cto/2232624126.html

That first one has a '66 front end on it.

I might need to start looking in GA for project cars...

Flo? Is that you?

from the Cars movie)

Gah. I die a little inside every time I see one of those abominations. I'm beginning to regret starting this thread...

I second the G body route for obvious reasons. Tons of mopars can be had, I am on the hunt for a duster at some point but the gf says finish the Olds first. Most 70's rigs are unappreciated so can be had on the cheap at times.

@ 914Driver:

Or Al's Custom Cruiser from toy story 2?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Disney-Toy-Story-2-ALS-Toy-Barn-Hot-Wheels-Set-DieCast_W0QQitemZ200503919784QQcategoryZ19223QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D180620353465%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7799991185476806835

been so long since I have seen the movie, or even compared it Cars, but Pixar does have a history of recurring items throughout their movies.

Mustang II

Trans Am Mav. Doo eeeeet.