Dirty Dozen: Twelve Great Project Car Platforms

Seems like an ideal time to search up the video of the 1982 road test where a shiny new Z28 stomped all over a shiny new 928 on a road race track.

Ha! Between me and my close friends we've owned all of these cars save for the Escort GT and the  Neon, and all have been absolutely incredible to drive and modify. Wonderful list, and helpful write-up for sure.

I was surprised by this list when I first read through it; not because of the cars, but because it sounded like GOOD old GRM.  Then I caught the article's date.  Yeah, a bit outdated in more ways than one.  I do miss the days of the magazine truly embracing bottomed-out-depreciation cars as good content, but I understand why that's changed.  But to the point of updating this list, I humbly offer my suggestions for alternatives in today's market:

1)  BMW e30  —>  BMW e36 and e46 (non-M cars)

2)  Dodge Neon  —>  2000s Celica GTS

3)  3rd gen Camaro/Firebird  —>  3rd or 4th gen Camaro/Firebird

4)  Escort GT  —>  Focus SVT

5)  Fox body Mustang  —>  SN95 or new edge Mustang

6)  Civic/CRX  —>  2000s era Civic/Si

7)  Miata  —>  Miata (because Miata is always the answer, right?)

8)  Nissan 240sx  —>  Nissan 350z

9)  Sentra SE-R  —>  Mazda 2

10)  Saab 900  —>  Saab 9-3 aero is the obvious choice, but the BMW z3 is a better one

11) Saturn  —>  Saturn Ion

12)  Mk2 Golf  —>  Mk5 Golf

You'd think autocross would be a Z3 festival, but it didn't turn out that way. I've never run one but I have driven one on the street and it seemed like it had all the ingredients.

I  have had 5 Saturns. Two of them were the 1997 SC2 with four wheel disc brakes.

Fun cars for the money. Just replaced one with the 2019 Honda Civic Si Coupe.

If memory serves, the 97 SC2 won the SCCA in its class back then. I remember seeing it trounce the Hondas, at the Reno Grand Prix.

Update might include the Saturn Ion Redline with competition package , I wish I had not let mine go.

Rob

MadScientistMatt said:

Keith Tanner said:

And seriously, are there any running Escort GTs and Neons left?

I think my co-workers stockpiled the lot of the Escort GTs (and 323s, MX3s, etc) for Chump Car.

Nah I have a BG chassis collection as well. Protege lxs are still out there in numbers for BPs

I think a new version of this list would have to include the C5 Corvette.

chaparral said:

I think a new version of this list would have to include the C5 Corvette.

C4s are quite a bargain too, if a bit outgunned by the C5.

In reply to darkbuddha :

It's older, sure, but the cars on the original list can still be found for a song. Yeah, okay, not as easily, but they are out there, especially here in Florida.  But you can bet that a new list is something that can happen. 

In reply to Jordan Rimpela :

I agree that we're a but spoiled with bargains here in Florida, but I've also noticed that prices for decent fox bodies, e30s, early Miatas, and 240sx have definitely picked up in recent years.  But you're right that cheap ones are still out there if you're willing to start with something sunbaked and a bit beat.  My thought was that the cars on the list should be just a couple bolt-ons away from being ready-to-run without too much rehab work. IMHO, that's just a tough ask of any normally used car pushing 30 yrs old.

For rallycrossing fun the OG list is still better than new suggestions. Suspension travel was still a thing in the early 90s and 14" and 15" wheels that can fit proper gravel rubber is a huge plus. 

The OG list is a reminder that IT class racing is a lot of fun.