From the obscure to the absurd... love them old cars

[salsashark]

So I was watching a show on HDNet the other day called Chasing Classic Cars. This particular episode, the host goes to the Concours d'Lemons a counter culture car show celebrating the lesser appreciated automobiles. Ok, that's a nice way to say piles of crap, but it looked like fun either way.

Well, this got me thinking. Do you have an unexplainable love for a completely random car?

I'm not talking about lusting after a 428CJ Mustang, split window corvette stingray, or a Mercedes Gullwing... I'm talking about the truly odd ball cars that have a weird way of burrowing into your heart and make you love them despite all practical reasoning.

Mine:
There's something about the Opel GT that I absolutely love. Even after getting rid of mine because I didn't have the time or money to restore it, I still love them. They're small, don't really have enough power to get out of their own way, parts are incredibly hard to find, they have minimal community support and are often referred to as "The poor man's corvette". All that being said, I still find myself regularly cruising craigslist and ebay in search of the next pile of crap to fill up my time and garage space.

[rybo]

Funny you should mention it....I saw one for sale up here just recently and thought "That's kind of a cool old car"

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/2383114203.html

For me it's the Sunbeam Tiger -

Before I was born my dad had an Alpine and always dreamed of the Tiger, I guess the dream has passed on to me.

[dirkterrell]

I've always thought the Studebaker Avanti was cool looking:

[Sean]

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/2383114203.html

I like the seats.

[dirkterrell]

Here's a front shot of the Avanti:

[Bueller]

My favorites growing up.

[salsashark]

Funny you should mention it....I saw one for sale up here just recently and thought "That's kind of a cool old car"

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/2383114203.html

For me it's the Sunbeam Tiger -

Before I was born my dad had an Alpine and always dreamed of the Tiger, I guess the dream has passed on to me.

I saw that one the other day... tempting...

[FZRguy]

Nope, just mainstream 69 Camaro with a big block or a 302 does it for me.

[OUTLAWD]

Liked the Avanti's and Opels

but also like the boats





and my old man's 66 Belvedere

[Finklestein87]

Cars are so boring now

Aerodynamics can suck it!

[200sr20]

Detomaso Pantera! Fords answer to exotics back in the day. Overall the car is sweet, to bad it didn't last.

[DorJammer]

My favorites growing up.

A Vega freak? No way, I love Vegas, must of had 5 or 6 of em. Even had the Cosworth Vega back in the late 70's.

I had a Chevy 283 in mine. You could buy the bodies for $150.00 bucks with a blown 4 banger, drop the V8 in in a weekend, and you had a Q ship to cruise downtown with. I would race em, till I blew the rear axle out, and drop the engine into anothone. (GT's were the best for this they had the 350 auto transmission)

Wow, memories

[MAZIN]

MG, my 64 pontiac catalina, 64 Dodge Dart GT, 87 grand wagoneer.

[JonnyD]

1984 Chrysler Laser with a turbo, digital dash, and pizza wheels. It's the car I learned to drive on, really wish I had the space for one! Really like all these obscure cars.

[Ghost]

I'm not old enough to really play this game, but one of the first cars I had was a used 1989 200SX Turbo that I bought off of my cousin. Mine was white, had the digital dash and TALKED! (Whoo-Hoo! FUTURE CAR! Not annoying in the least...)



The 200SX was never that great, nor that well loved, nor really much of a performance car (even with the turbo), but it was *ALMOST* all of those, and so I think that counts for something (or nothing).

And, despite it's rather lackluster lifespan, it definitely kindled my love of RWD Nissans and Turbocharged cars in general.

Lately, I keep finding myself looking online for a good used 240Z from the 70s...

[Ghost]

For Salsa:

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/2396668751.html

Don't let this one get away!

And, for all 914 lovers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HCGkJcaA_c

[TFOGGuys]

I Helped a buddy build a V8 Opel Manta back in high school, another buddy had a thing for V8 Pinto conversions, everything from a 302 (easy and fit well) to a 351W (tight squeeze, but still all under the hood) to a 429SCJ with a tunnel ram (not even close to actually fitting, but holy sh!t was it fast). I worked in a speed shop from right after graduation until 1997, so I got to sell all the cool stuff, work on it, and drive it. My personal development projects were a little stranger...a Datsun 510 with a serious 4 cylinder and nitrous, and a 240Z with a home brewed destroked 630 hp roller small block designed to break 200mph....

[Ghost]

My personal development projects were a little stranger...a Datsun 510 with a serious 4 cylinder and nitrous, and a 240Z with a home brewed destroked 630 hp roller small block designed to break 200mph....

"Just" 630Hp? Lol, that's insane.

510s are definitely becoming popular.

In my fantasy 240Z project, I was only debating whether I should go with the typical RB25/26DET or do a more "front-midship" build with an SR20DET stuffed as far to the firewall as I could get it...both way tame in comparison.

Of course, I also want(ed) an STI-swapped Brat or XT...so...my goals are smaller...

...and I miss my 1995 LT-1 z28 6MT. Polo Green, all-original, 27,500 original miles...does that count for the purposes of this thread?

[rfranks303]

74 amc javelin. My dad bought one for us to work on when I was 11 we did a lot of work berfore he passed away a few years later. 14 years later its still mine and still a work in progress. Ps it will always be a work in progress.

[salsashark]

Lately, I keep finding myself looking online for a good used 240Z from the 70s...

My next door neighbors' kid has one rotting in front of my house. Hell, I'd pay you to steal it!

Kidding of course. It's a nice looking little car.

For Salsa:

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/2396668751.html

Don't let this one get away!

Yep, same one Rybo posted a while back... If I had the garage space, I'd seriously consider buying it.

[derekm]

short notice but
http://www.goldensupercruise.com/

[zPurpleRoom]

1989 Ford Taurus SHO.....the body was crap but man that engine was sweet!

[Ghost]

My next door neighbors' kid has one rotting in front of my house. Hell, I'd pay you to steal it!

Kidding of course. It's a nice looking little car.



Yep, same one Rybo posted a while back... If I had the garage space, I'd seriously consider buying it.

Hey, maybe he's trying to sell it?

I keep seeing a few "project" 240Zs listed for sale locally maybe his is one of the "needs a trailer" projects. ;:

I've never actually seen one up close in recent years, I just kinda want one...I almost pulled the trigger on a fantastic 1-owner 22k mile one in CA last year but I dawdled and it, of course, sold.

I know of someone with garage space, let me know if you get the Opel--I'll get a "cheap" 240Z and we can not drive to local car shows together (since neither will probably run).