lol this probably isn't the right forum for this, but as some of you know, I was possibly undertaking a cortina mk3 restoration. Well this fell
through, being owned by a guy in prison etc etc. was all dodgy. So I'm now looking for some form of classic car to restore instead before I take
on a locost. I just see a tintop / classic being more all year round practical. Has anyone any ideas what sort of things are good to take on, Eg/
parts popular, reasonably cheap (Student budget)?? Not a fan of MGB's, im more an american fan, mustangs, impalas, though i've taken a fancy
to the triumph vitesse . . any other suggestions??
Cheers
Matt
can't go wrong with a midget really (unless it's not your cup of tea?)
great fun to drive - get a 1275 (?) one instead of the 1500 and they are pretty cheap to buy and restore!!
Steve
It all depends how much rust you are willing to undertake.
Do you have a decent welder?
How much you looking to spend?
Iain
Mk 1 or 2 Escort and fit a zetec in it, good practice for the locost
volvo amazon , quite fast , handle well , reliable daily driver , that will always be saleable if in original condiditon
of course theres tuning bits available aswell , something out of the ordinary .
this was posted the other day
Might be interesting?
Cheers
Mark
Series Land Rover! checkhow many on here have played with landies before building locosts. Easy to work on nice big bits you can't break with a
big hammer you can even find Stage 1 series 3 with a V8 or an early 90 or 110 with V8.
Once finished they make an excellent support / recovery / tow vehicle for the locost and you get a bit more respect in the scrappies if you turn up in
one when finding parts. You can pretty much put all of a locost running gear and engine inside a short wheelbase landie with the chassis on the roof!
handy if you are off to collect kit or have to move lock ups mid build (one guess how I know this
They are also much fun serious off roading and very attractive to ladies who would like to own horses and or live in the country until they try and
drive them! at that point you will be permenant designated driver
You know it makes sense
Caber
Spitfire/GT6 You'll be ace at the welding by the time you're finished 
Much nicer than the Midget and MGB and a proper chassis to boot, but thats a personal opinion
Sorry but its got to be an MGB but Sebring style like mine>
Will look like>
&
quote:
Originally posted by MattCraneCustomsHas anyone any ideas what sort of things are good to take on, Eg/ parts popular, reasonably cheap
Yank tank
Only trouble is they arent that practical when you start looking at the fuel bills!
I know people who have had alsorts of classic yanks, never had a problem getting parts and they are stupidly easy to get very silly power from.
You can pick up a Firebird or Camaro in need of some work for about £2.5-3.5k (that'd get you a 5.7 camaro or a 6.6 firebird)
I am torn between a yank and a chopper as my next project
but I think this has potential:
Pistonheads Classified
Id love to find my first ever car and restore that.
mini 850 reg no. TBR 19V. Probs doesnt exist anymore.
Matt see U2U. Cheers, Pewe 
quote:
Originally posted by pauldm
Sorry but its got to be an MGB but Sebring style like mine>
Will look like>
&
gotta go with David on the yank tanks, absolutely beautiful, but i'm after something which doesn't cost a lot, over a long period, ie/ small
sums of money over a while. MGB's I usually hate, but that sebring style looks really nice, different to the usual toy car styled ones. Now
possibly looking at a triumph gt6, any thoughts on this from the 'oldies' on here? what were they like?
Cheers
Matt
quote:
Originally posted by MattCraneCustomswhat were they like?
Cheers
Matt
As a rule MGs are more pleasant to drive than Triumphs, Triumphs rattle an awful lot -- even when they were new. However Triumphs have one saving
grace a seperate chassis that makes repairs a lot easier.
However the Midget is just too small for anyone over 5'8" and the standard B 1800 is just you heavy for its engine.
Both the 1500 Midget and the 1500 Spitfire suffer from engine bottom end problems.
The GT6 was awful claustrophobic and the handling wasn't great even on the later cars.
The Tr5/Tr6 looked the part and was quite quick these days the old Lucas injection problems they had will have been dealt with. Trouble is they rust
like nothingn else
The Sunbeam Alpine was the best looking car of the late 50s early 60s but oh the rust, they also lack decent spares support.
Spares support is also a problem with the Rover P6 2000/3500.
Triumph 2000 and 2500Pis are good cars and have the spares benefit of sharing a lot of parts with the Tr6 and Stag.
Stags and Tr7s are just trouble as are SD1s.
Land-Rovers are great projects - great spares support but when you come to sell a restored one supply exceeds demand.
Anything Vauxhall or Ford isn't worth the effort, with older UK Fords lift the bonnet and examine the vertical seam between the inner wing and
he front inner wings -- any rust here just make your excuses an walk away -- same test also applies to the Hillman Hunter (aka Coventry Cortina)
annd the Avenger.
Imps make good very cheap projects and are great fun to drive but watch out for rust at the suspension pivots front and rear -- rear rust is difficult
to fix.
[Edited on 23/5/07 by britishtrident]
Fiat x1/9 cos its cheap and wonderful (but awful to weld).
Capri if you like american cars and want a european equivalent.
Sierra - when it all gets on your nerves you can use it as a donor.
Austin A35 - excellent welding practice + you get more white knuckle thrills at 35mph than you would at 135 in most cars.
Good luck
Dave
wow thanks for the posts guys, some good info there . . . but i'm now more lost than before!! arrgh!!
Regards
Matt
quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by MattCraneCustomswhat were they like?
Cheers
Matt
Like a Spitfire with a roof and a very heavy straight six engine
Sorry.
. Always liked the look of the GT6 but been put off by the dodgy handling. Stick in a v8 or a zetec/XE/K
(to taste) and sort out the rear suspension and it's a winner. quote:
Originally posted by DarrenW
Id love to find my first ever car and restore that.
mini 850 reg no. TBR 19V. Probs doesnt exist anymore.
i know i have said it before but i would get a swedish car, a saab 96 is a great car to restore, they don't rust that badly and where they do
rust its generally easy to repair and they are pretty cheap at the mo, you could get a prestine one for a few thousand.
or get a resto like me for a £100. and there is only really a few places it needs welding, basically at the end of the sills and part of the bulkhead.
the engine is easy to tune too, though i have junked mine and am trying to get a audi engine and gearbox in there.
they are also a bit unusal, you get plenty of attention on the road and the freewheel makes driving interesting! though you can lock it.