Project car conundrum

Sooo, this is a bit hard to talk about, but due to a series of unfortunate (perhaps lucky) accidents, we now have a metric crap ton of potential project cars sitting at world headquarters. We had a 1971 MGB and a 1965 Mercedes 220SE coupe. Early this year we added a 1970 Spitfire to the company pole barn. Since then, we have decided to redo our Triumph TR3 and make it a proper project car this time around. We then acquired a 1973 Ford F-350 ramp truck that we want to write about (probably in our sister publication-Grassroots Motorsports). I have also finished a series on vintage tow vehicles, using our 1959 Edsel wagon as a basis for the series.

And in the last 8 weeks we have picked up a nice 1980 Spitfire, a rusty 1966 lotus Cortina, the world's worst 1964 Series 1 Lotus Elan, a decent 1952 MG TD, and a pretty solid 1965 Sunbeam Tiger. To make things more confusing, we have been offered a 1966 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, in beater condition, that we think would be fun to write about.

I wanted to start with the Lotus Elan, as I think it is the most challenging project car we have ever done. And I know in my heart that I need and deserve this punishment.

And I was thinking, if I were to survive the Lotus, the MG TD might come next.

I am still pretty hot to find an Alfa Spider as well.

So what on this list interests you most? I think we have offered you guys a pretty crazy selection, but would love to get some input.

And I will ask Ed to post some pictures of all these crappers.

Lotus!

They are all worthy to punish you. So start with the Lotus and get the best of the lot (Spitfire) running well enough to enjoy while the Lotus is taking your time and energy. Cheers.

Pictures!

Ramp Truck

Edsel

And in the last 8 weeks:

1980 Spitfire

A rusty 1966 lotus Cortina

The world's worst 1964 Series 1 Lotus Elan

A decent 1952 MG TD

A pretty solid 1965 Sunbeam Tiger.

And the threatened Rolls Royce project. Not going to lie, I love the color.

The logical choice is to start on the cars that need the least amount of work to get to running condition so you can enjoy them while you work on the rest. With that said my vote is Lotus.

Tim Suddard wrote: I am still pretty hot to find an Alfa Spider as well.

Can't say that I have a preference of any of the projects you have, or threaten to have- all of them are interesting in their own right, as I see it- being so different from each other.

But I do have to ask- what flavor of Spider were you thinking? The earlier Giulietta/Giulia Spider, or the later 105/115 Duetto?

They are very different.

That being said, based on your track record, if you could find a Giulietta Spider Veloce project, I would not be surprised that it would sell at auction for north of $100k. You guys do good work.

Cortina in a vintage tarmac rally/hillclimb guise and the ramp truck!

Go ahead and do the Lotus, cause I like to watch people suffer.

Secondly, I want to vote for a Non-Brit car as the next project. I know that that is what is in the barn inventory, but to be honest, after 40 years of playing with Brit cars I got bored with them. Bit too much inbreeding to stay interesting.

My list.

57-61 Corvette

61-70 Renault Alpine would be nice. Failing that I would settle for the Renault R5 Turbo

You could do a Saab Sonnet, but it will always be ugly.

On the German side, other than a VW or a Trabant, I don't see anything that is in the same financial bracket as your readers. An Opel GT might work if you can ignore the Yankee roots.

The Italians offer plenty with the broad palette of etceterini based on plebeian production parts; this would allow you to expose the reader to coachwork rather than panel replacement. (Cause there ain't no panels to be bought!) You are well overdue to try your hands at the English Wheel and shrinking stump. Think of all the advertiser potential to the companies that well metal-shapping tools to the hobby. Do a 124 if you must, at least its not British.

The Japanese I am sure host a lot of possibilities, but other than a 240Z that you have already done, I cant think of one that turns my crank.

Regardless of what you do, I'll be reading along.

I'd like to see the Élan and the Rolls projects happen concurrently, assuming that the Élan will be done right and the Rolls would get the drive-a-beater treatment.

When the Élan is done, I'd be in the mood to follow an MG-T restoration.

Let Hemmings Sports and Exotics write about Spitfires.

Without a doubt the Lotus Elan is the most compelling project. I'm really wanting to see that one come back from the grave.

An Alfa Spider would be much appreciated as well.

Not all that interested in the Rolls, but meh; if you build it I'll still read the articles.

Of course I can't afford them(likely...) but if I were to choose.... The 65 220 coupe would be my first. I've also always wanted a Tiger... but I've kinda outgrown that....

The Merc might be fun

Looking at it from the "what does the magazine need?" standpoint...

Get rid of...
The Tiger. Been there, done that just recently. It's even the same color.
Rolls. Is a beater Rolls really something your demographic is interested in? Is it motorsports? I'm guessing no. I may have a slightly different viewpoint of CM's demographic than the GRM message board does.
The Lotus. Seriously. Unless you want to demonstrate that it's possible to build a Lotus Elan completely from aftermarket parts.
MGB. Yawn. It's pretty hard to get excited about a B.

Keep...
The Edsel, if only to tow the camper.
The ramp truck has excellent promotional potential for both magazines if done well, and may actually earn its keep.
The Cortina. Good project car. Excellent project car, in fact.
Spitfire. Turn it into a racer, showing a potential entry into vintage racing.
The TD. Mostly due to the current condition of the car. It's more antique than classic by this point, but it's a lot more relevant than a Rolls Royce.

The fence, depending on how you plan to build the car.
Mercedes. I'd love to hear how it's going to be a Classic Motorsports car.
TR3. Sounds like you have plans.
The Alfa, if only because it's not British.

Pfft. You do not have too many cars. You just don't have enough people. Nuff' said.

Personally, I'd like to see the Cortina. It shares parts with the 70's Capri I've been thinking about looking for, and it's a fun car that could be used for track, rally and cruising. Plus, Margie likes it. You're going to need to bank some spousal good will before tackling that Elan.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

Whoops, forgot where I was for a moment. Send the Rolls across the Garage to GRM.

Or just give it to Tom. He'll know what to do with it.

Good stuff, guys. The Alfa I seek is a 1972 Spider. Once you read our next issue, you will know why.

We all thought the Rolls would be funny and very different, if we end up getting it for $3000-5000.

And on the GRM side we have an E36 M3 coming.

Silly me, I forgot to mention another car we just got... A total rat 1988 BMW M6. How does that grab you as a modern classic project car?

Now that I can get behind. Love those things.

I want to see the ramp truck because I foolishly believe that life would be nirvana if I didn't need to hook up or maintain a trailer to haul around the little 1200 or the F500. Oh and the drive would be way better as well not having to negotiate traffic with 30+ feet of vehicle with a hinge in the middle. I know this not to be true but I really do want to here about the reality of using a ramp truck to get the car to the races.

Tom

That MGTD looks kind of familiar. Where did you find it? Does it have a Volvo engine in it by any chance?

Ramp truck > Cortina > Edsel > Rolls > Elan

The others are of little interest to me, personally. I like and appreciate them as cars, but they've been done before.

Tim Suddard wrote: Silly me, I forgot to mention another car we just got... A total rat 1988 BMW M6. How does that grab you as a modern classic project car?

How times change. When I first started reading GRM, an '88 M6 was almost a 10 year old Euro muscle car.

Now it's a classic that is pushing 30. wow.

Tim Suddard wrote: Good stuff, guys. The Alfa I seek is a 1972 Spider. Once you read our next issue, you will know why. We all thought the Rolls would be funny and very different, if we end up getting it for $3000-5000. And on the GRM side we have an E36 M3 coming.

Ah. I hope you have a sidebar with our friend George and Dee Schweikle.

(and probably the best Spider of all eras- not including the style of the Duettos)

Tim Suddard wrote: Silly me, I forgot to mention another car we just got... A total rat 1988 BMW M6. How does that grab you as a modern classic project car?

Cause we dont all posses your photographic memory

That would work just fine.