I'm still on the hunt for an old CRX or something of equivalence (I doubt I'll find an AE86 for decent money), but I've noticed that the websites( Craigslist, FB Marketplace, and Autotempest) either don't have what I'm looking for, or have unresponsive sellers who ghost you after the initial response.  ... View more

Howdy Hagerty forums! Sorry for the breaks, life has been getting in the way. I got a new job working for a pretty damn cool company in the automotive aftermarket. While I don't get to directly work with the cars, I help out with shipping and QAing the parts.   Introduction aside, lets cut the crap. I'd say I'm a different enthusiast than what I was a year ago. Not only have I matured (I think?), my tastes have changed quite a bit. My focus is much more on Japanese, and to an extent, euro cars. BMW 2002s, old Corollas (everything from KE20 to AE86/82), and Hondas. However, I feel ready to make the leap.    I think I'm ready for a project car. I understand I've been saying that for like forever now, and y'all have tolerated my disconnected ramblings since last April, but I genuinely feel ready. I may have somewhere to store it, I've got a job so I can fund it as long as it doesn't need an eye watering amount of work, and I just feel ready to elevate.    So where do I go from here? Who in the PA/NJ/NY area should I talk to about early imports? ... View more

Hey everyone, it's been a minute. Life's been busy with work and other things, so I haven't been able to be as actively near as much as I'd like. I got my finances in check (set up credit card/bank account), and I may have finessed myself a much better job than my current one. Even better, it's related to cars and a helluva lot more hands on.    Now, back to the title. I've begun hunting for an early 80s Toyota Celica, mainly to get an idea of how much it's gonna run me to not only buy but mod. Problem is that Hagerty has nothing on it. The 82-85 Celica isn't on the evaluator, and I'm looking for a non-supra model. Hemmings has 1 article on it, and it's around five years old, so the info may not be the most relevant. Ultimately, can't find anything on it. I've kicked the idea of asking around on the FB forums but I'd rather hear what y'all gotta say on it.  ... View more

Oh boy. I was recently gifted all the bits and piece to rebuild a 1.8 Volkswagen Type 4 engine, or the engine in the 1.8 liter Porsche 914s. My boss was initially going to rebuild the engine for his own 914, but due to life and other circumstances, that never ended up happening. Since I've shown a lot of interest in his 914s among other cars, he's more or less gifted me all the parts to build a HiPo 1.8. Problem is that I've got about three or so weeks to build this thing.   Well, technically I don't HAVE to complete it in three weeks, but I would like to get this project moving faster than a snail's pace. I'm spending Thursday, Friday, and a solid chunk of Saturday working on this engine, and this thread will be where the update's go. Wish me luck.  ... View more

I think I've come to the conclusion that I really wanna work in the car industry. Ideally some where in the aftermarket/tuning. Maybe a job at Shelby or Mugen, as examples. Problem is that 1. Traditional four year college isn't an option; both grades and financially. and 2. I've got no clue where to start. What should I do? ... View more

Mazda Miatas, BMW 3 series, and Honda Civics. Most enthusiasts under the age of 21 have looked, thirsted over, or have owned one of these cars. But why have these three cars became the new 240sx, 944, and Foxbody?   Starting with the Civic, a 16 year old with an impact gun, some friends, a chromebook, and $4000 can make a sh!tbox Civic into the pocket rocket Ecoboost Mustang owners fear. While it gets harder and harder to find clean 90s Civics, beaten up ones are common and cheap enough to get repaired on the low. And with a D-series or B-series, HP mods are plentiful and easy. Unlike the previously mentioned 3 series, you really don't need a degree in astrophysics to slap a turbo onto a D16 in an EF Hatch. Added with the fact that insurance won't totally kill you, the Honda Civic makes arguably the best enthusiast car for a teenager.    On the other side of the spectrum, we have the 80s and 90s 3 series. Hard to fix, not exactly the cheapest, and somewhat uncommon, the BMW 3 series is objectively a terrible car for a teenager. But the E36 has taken a new life in the drift and general street car community. I see more 17 somethings in 325is than any other demographic. And I'm not gonna lie, I love the E36. They're not terribly expensive to buy, they handle pretty well, and damn they look good.    Miata Is Always The Answer. Whats not to like. 2 doors, convertible, a stick shift, and pop up headlights. I can say the Miata has become the car for teenagers. Just look on Tiktok and Instagram. It's got the benefits of both the E36 and Civic. RWD like the E36, handles like the Civic. It's like Babys first 240sx, just not $15,000 like the glorious Nissan. While prices have begun to rise, especially NAs, deals are still abundant.    A lot of the popularity of those three can be attributed to social media. Tiktok, Instagram, youtube, etc. Donut Media's Money Pit Miata has absolutely influenced teenagers to get them, same with the 350z. And I can't wait to see more of those in my high schools parking lot.  ... View more

When people mention performance bargains now a days, my mind instantly jumps to the 2015- ecoboost Mustang. 300 horsepower, six speed manual, gets 30 MPG highway, all around a pretty solid performance bargain.  ... View more

People look back at the 1960s and see it for one of two things. A decade of tension, and a decade of change. Tensions with the USSR, civil rights protesters, and between citizens and the government as the Vietnam war became more and more despised. Along with the tension came change. The fall of Jim Crow era laws, better relations with the USSR under Nixon, and the beginning of the end of America in nam'. But along came those changes were the new American sports cars. Long front end, short rear deck. V8 engine, either a four speed manual or three speed automatic, and bias ply tires. Loud paint, loud exhausts, and loud performance. The birth of the American muscle car.    It was in April of 1964 when the Ford Mustang began to roll off the factory floor and into the hearts of buyers across the country. Inexpensive, sporty, well designed, the Mustang sold like hot cakes because it was the hot cakes. It made the sour'd Corvair look like a children's toy, gave the Valiant the bird, and spit onto AMCs shoes. No one really made a car like it either. Sure, the GTO would come out in the same year, but that was more of an option package. But the Mustangs success would be thrown back in it's face by decades end.    "It's a small viscous animal that eats Mustangs" proclaimed Bunkie Knudsen, giving the new for 1967 Camaro a definition. Eat, tear, and beat down the Ford Mustang. While the Camaro never out sold the Mustang during it's first generation, it made Ford's pony car look like a female dog.    Chrysler also saw the success of the Mustang and decided to also make it's weapon. The sleak, elegant, and fast Dodge Charger/Challenger came onto the scene in 1966 and 1970 respectively. Faster, better looking, and cooler, the Dodge Charger was the perfect foil to the Ford Mustang, especially when it was chasing Steve McQueen's in 1968's Bullet.    Even AMC of all companies wanted a slice of that speed pie, with the S/C Rambler and Javelin. While they don't hold the power like the Challenger or Camaro, they certainly have a cult following, and there's always gonna be "The AMC guy" if you catch my drift.    Now, 50 some odd years later, and those cars are all worth north of $50,000. A 1968 Dodge Charger R/T with the 440 Super Commado goes for about $50,000 in shabby condition, says the Hagerty evaluator. Damn. Of course that is an R/T with the 440, it's going to be expensive. Even a base model, stripper with the 318 and automatic will run you $20,000 in mediocre condition.    I think unobtanium is the wrong word. It isn't a Porsche 930 or Ferrari 250 GTO, that's what real unobtaniam looks like. However, it's very sad to see cars I absolutely adore go for so much money. Which is why a lot of my focus has been directed to 80s and 90s cars. Foxbody Mustangs, 2002/E21/E30/E36 BMWs, S13s, Celica Supras, RX7s, etc. Those are all cars you can find for under $10,000, and if you look hard enough, under $5,000.    Not to end of a gloomy note, I am happy to see the muscle car market fix itself. This isn't 2009 Barrett Jackson anymore, you're 1 of 25,000 Cuda' isn't worth $45,000. So maybe in a couple years, certainly not now, I'll be rolling around in one of those unobtainum Camaros I so desperately want.  ... View more

Now, I can't really comment on what the build to have is, but I know of some. Old Honda Civic hatch, either a frankensteined B20/B18/K20(depends on the size of your wallet), a turbo the size of your face, and then the rest of the cash on making it reliable and handle well. Not exactly that build directly, but something along the lines of that. What was the car build/mods to have?  ... View more

My love for the Corvair isn’t exactly hidden. Nor do I make an effort to hide it. With my boss giving me the engine out of his 62’ forward control, I’m gonna attempt to get it running and maybe find the rest of equation. All it really needs is a starter and carburetors As I get the money to fix it, I’ll make some update posts. Now it needs a name.  ... View more

So the shop I help work just pulled the drivetrain of a 61' Rampside Corvair. The owner has no use for the engine itself, only the 3 spd transaxle. Because of that, I was gifted the engine to tinker and mess with. The engine isn't seized, and isn't in terrible shape. Now it's gonna need work, and I really haven't given it a better look to see what it needs. So what do I do with it? ... View more

We all have a holy grail of some kind. For some people, it's 1985 Jordan 1s in the Chicago colorway. For others, a well kept Victorian era house is a holy grail. For us car guys, it's our dream car/thing. Myself personally, my personal automotive holy grail is one of the 14 Canadian spec Yenko Stingers (YS-118 through YS-131). The where abouts for all but 2 of these Bolero red Corvairs is a mystery, and I'd love to have one. What about you? ... View more

I've been doing some research into old Corvairs, especially the 64' Monza. One thing I've found consistent in my research was the amount of period correct modifications. From Judson/VW superchargers to Weber conversion kits, I was surprised to learn that there was a small community around racing them in the 60s. It makes sense ya know? The Corvair was a poor man's Porsche. ... View more

I've been too busy with school to really write anything of value. The Fiero piece I wanted to write has been sitting on the backburner because I just haven't had the free time to write it. As compensation for my lack of posts, here's some cars I've seen in Ambler, Pennsylvania.  The greatest condition SW20 MR2 I've ever seen Mercedes 280SE with a bit of front end damage. Next to it was an 88' 911 Carrera A nice 66' Thunderbird. Notice the Landau top. 96(?) Impala SS in a gorgeous purple. A Shelby GT350 I nearly rode my bike right past, Whoops. This incredibly clean looking Honda Civic/Integra. Tbh, I couldn't tell. This 1JZ swapped BMW M3 I saw just chilling at a skatepark. ... View more

Hey everyone! A couple of hours ago, I got the news that I'm allowed to intern at this local mechanics shop. I'm going to be fixing and EV swapping this early 60s Corvair Rampside, as well as more or less being a shop rat for the owners collection of Porsches and other great stuff. However, other than my shortly lived McDonalds gig, I have very little work experience, and very little mechanical experience. What can I expect? ... View more

Is it obnoxiously late? Yes. Am I about to ramble on about my favorite yacht? See answer to Question #1.   The 1964 Ford Galaxie is somewhat of a dream car to me. Actually, all of the 1964 Fords could technically fill this spot, especially the Falcon. But, that's another ramble for another day.    The 64' Galaxie is my favorite year for the Ford Galaxie because, well look at it. Long, sleek lines from end to end. Beautifully round tail lights, a fastback roof that screams speed, and 17 feet of pure gorgeous. It looks just so damn cool. The appearance is split a 50/50 split of business and "business". If your business is roasting tires, of course. I could spend an eternity talking about this year of Fords.    Now let's talk about engines. Now, you can't have a boat without an anchor, so the 390/427 FEs look pretty correct in the engine bay. However, everything from sixes to literal racing engines were available on the order sheet. Now, assuming you ticked the correct boxes, you could get a HiPo "muscle car" years before the real HiPo muscle cars were released(yes, I'm aware that full size coupes aren't muscle cars in the technical definition, but that's why muscle car is in quotes).    Honestly, I don't wanna continue this rant any longer because the monster I drank an hour and a half ago is beginning to ware off, and I can't find the motivation to make a cup of coffee.    Everyone, take care and have a lovely Easter weekend! ... View more