What about a Maverick? Or a Falcon? I think I've seen some stupid cheap mid-60's Falcons for sale and all the first Gen Mustang stuff should fit that, right?
What about a Maverick? Or a Falcon? I think I've seen some stupid cheap mid-60's Falcons for sale and all the first Gen Mustang stuff should fit that, right?
LanEvo wrote: Lower it and add rivet-on flares like the old rally cars:
oh my!
You are forgetting one of the best vintage racers ever... and bonus that it seats 4 comfortably until you cage it.
I'm voting for the Crapi too, problem is they are very hard to find.
I vote for Volvo.
Someone mentioned it earlier, but a B210 makes a great race car. They're cheap if you can find one, and almost bullet proof. They were also pretty dominate in their day. Not sure why they haven't caught on so much in vintage racing. I saw an old Devendorf car (I believe) a few years ago for around $7k. Everyday runners I've seen go for around $2 or so for a nice, unmolested car.
Something like a Datsun 1200 also makes a good vintage car, and Opel Mantas were banned in showroom stock in their day because they were too fast.
Last and my favorite is a Fiat 128. They make absolutely fantastic race cars and share a similar drive train to the X1/9.
i vote Kadett because Oliver
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: You are forgetting one of the best vintage racers ever... and bonus that it seats 4 comfortably until you cage it.
No way you're going to find a solid '02 for challenge money.
mad_machine wrote: oh my!
The 450 SLC 5.0 Gruppe 4 rally cars are totally badass...and almost totally unknown.
Very cool basis for a project car. Looks like a member here has been working on one: ja17us Reader's Ride
alfadriver wrote: You are missing one of more popular obscure cars here- Volvo 122. I just looked into my Trans-Am book and they raced the entire time. Those pop up all of the time, look cool, and are modern enough.
mad_machine wrote: How about a Volvo Amazon?
Same car.
Why no love for the 140 series Volvos?
While a bit rusty (can't imagine why), I sold my '72 142 for $2000 with a ton of spares. I still kind of want it back.
Mazda GLC if you can find one that hasn't been turned into a rotary drag machine.
A few more good suggestions. I will add the Vitesse and 142 to the radar. The issue with most of the cars suggested is actually FINDING one.
The Benz is very cool, but it is not legal for the small(ish) bore racing I want to do. That may well work for the driver/show car, however. 
In regards to Datsuns and BMWs, those command high prices in my area. I don't want to drop $4k on a car that has no motor/trans.
bearmtnmartin brought up a good point though, in that some kind of production class car might be good as well. I could expand my search to include MGBs/GTs, Fiat 124s, GT6s, and maybe Sonetts.
Cripes, even a small bore like the (as mentioned) Morris Minor or Ford Anglia Super would be good.
Ok, as I should have expected, instead of NARROWING my search, the GRM people have managed to expand it. Thanks a lot. 
If you wanted a race only Kadett I have a fantastic sport sedan that would be a great racer. No title due to a confused estate that didn't get properly settled, but a good solid car I'd sell cheap. I only bought it to keep it from being crushed, I haven't even sat in it yet.
I would go with a Chevy Vega.
Ok, so now I am curious. Why have a couple of folks suggested a Vega? For the racing I want to do, I don't have the option of swapping a V8. It needs to be the 2300. I don't think there are any go-fast parts for either the motor or the car. Please 'splain.
Those SLCs are seriously overweight, lol.
If you want a oddball racer go with a Triumph TR8. There is a surprising amount of support for the chassis and the engine is light and tested and it has a 5 speed gearbox.
Heres the 1980 Manx rally where the TR8 (TR7V8 in UK speak) won. It was a popular race car back in the day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T1mkj9uiqw
Chassis is light and it comes stock with a V8 and any rover v8 engine bolts in. I want one.
As far as support: http://www.thewedgeshop.com/
Roadsters are far more common than coupes.
If you want something more sensible get a S30 (240z/260z/280z) and call it a day. Good looking cars, tons of support, wide variety of engines.
What are the rules for the type of racing you want to do? Like what is allowed?
The weight of the car in comp spec is 1lb/cc. Thus, any 1900 Opel will be 1900 lbs. I don't need to be (and really, can't afford to be) top dog, I just want to avoid being a rolling chicane and not spend my kids' college funds in the process.
Does it have to be a stock engine? Or could it be any engine from the manufacturer?
If this is the case that TR8 wont fit the bill and TR7s i don't know anything about.
You could do Alfetta GTV. Stock they would be 2.0l I4 and around 2000lbs weight if you need 1:1 there. Rareness is a problem here.
1st gen toyota celica. With 2.0l 18r or 2.2l 20r engines.
Ultimate oddball car S10 Datsun 200SX. IIRC has the same engine as the 510.
It's hard to think of a vintage car that's not garbage and doesn't command a premium. I think you could get the Alfetta and the 200SX for a reasonable price. The 200SX is one of the weirdest looking cars ever made though.
If "vintage" includes 80s then....
Find one of these Celicas in widebody form.
70s Toyota Corolla, especially if engine swaps are allowed so you can put a 18R or something like that in it. Support for this chassis is endless because it's popular in Japan.
Whats the rules on rotary? Because RX-3. Do it.
Normally I would suggest toyota MR2 but with a 1.6l engine no way you are getting one to 1600lbs.
Of all of those 4 cylinders the alfetta would have the most potential unless you can do a turbo build then I would go 22RE engined Celica. The rotary car can surpass that in power on the cheap but idk how they handle. The Alfetta would be pretty damn awesome actually if you can find one, so would a RX3. Alfa engines are amazing and the car is cool looking and rare. Everything you want really. RX3 is a decent looking car, is odd with it's rotary engine, and i've never seen one so it would be interesting. Might fit you quite a bit if you can use rotary. 1G Celicas are probably expensive now and are just about as awesome and good looking. Sadly it looks like RX3s are up there now as well. All the really interesting cars are >$5k now.
Check out the cosworth Vega, I'd try to make a clone.
Classic Mini.
Keith Tanner wrote: Classic Mini.
This. Sort-of. It'll itch the vintage racing bug quite well and since you're in SoCal, you have Heritage Garage reasonably close who are a great resource for parts and racing knowledge. What I fear, tho, is whether it would work for HPDE. In full-on race prep, it's still not going to be speedy when not running with similar cars.
I'll also put in a vote for Volvo. You can build up one for HPDE work and then cage it for racing. Just make sure the engine work isn't illegal for the class. A B20 can be built up to perform quite well and be reliable, but doing so won't be domestic-V8 cheap.
Which brings me to choice #3: notch-back early Mustang. They can still be had for reasonable money and the engine will be easier to "grow-into" as your experience improves. Nothing sounds quite like an uncorked V8. 
Of all the cars you mention.. the overlooked on is the fiat 124 Spider. This is a rally proven design (the first Abarths had the solid rear axle, later had independent) The chassis is strong, and there is still a ton of support for both the car and especially the engine that lived on well into the 90s and used in such competition cars as the Lancia Delta Intergrale.
And unlike most of the others in this list.. they are still way undervalued and cheap
Ian F wrote:Keith Tanner wrote: Classic Mini.This. Sort-of. It'll itch the vintage racing bug quite well and since you're in SoCal, you have Heritage Garage reasonably close who are a great resource for parts and racing knowledge. What I fear, tho, is whether it would work for HPDE. In full-on race prep, it's still not going to be speedy when not running with similar cars.
I was actually looking at one - supposedly a real Cooper that has misplaced a few Cooper parts - and decided against it. They cost real money to buy and then make go fast and you really, really want one with a cage even for HPDE. They are a ton of go faster bits available for them, though, and they are fun to drive.
TBH, if I wanted to track a Mini I'd probably ask one of my mates in the UK to find a good ZCar conversion, but those are anything but vintage legal. Motorcycle engine where the rear seat used to be tends to do that.
mad_machine wrote: Of all the cars you mention.. the overlooked on is the fiat 124 Spider. This is a rally proven design (the first Abarths had the solid rear axle, later had independent) The chassis is strong, and there is still a ton of support for both the car and especially the engine that lived on well into the 90s and used in such competition cars as the Lancia Delta Intergrale. And unlike most of the others in this list.. they are still way undervalued and cheap
I was going to mention that as well, they are nice looking cars too.
BoxheadTim wrote:Ian F wrote:I was actually looking at one - supposedly a real Cooper that has misplaced a few Cooper parts - and decided against it. They cost real money to buy and then make go fast and you really, really want one with a cage even for HPDE. They are a ton of go faster bits available for them, though, and they are fun to drive. TBH, if I wanted to track a Mini I'd probably ask one of my mates in the UK to find a good ZCar conversion, but those are anything but vintage legal. Motorcycle engine where the rear seat used to be tends to do that.Keith Tanner wrote: Classic Mini.This. Sort-of. It'll itch the vintage racing bug quite well and since you're in SoCal, you have Heritage Garage reasonably close who are a great resource for parts and racing knowledge. What I fear, tho, is whether it would work for HPDE. In full-on race prep, it's still not going to be speedy when not running with similar cars.
Ah, you don't have to pay the Cooper tax. There are some slightly ratty racers out there for decent money. I think any vintage racer is going to be slow when sharing the track with modern machinery, although you're going to be waving Miatas by on the straights. I can tell you that they're absolutely ridiculously fun to drive, and there's a reason they're a vintage racing mainstay. I'd be hesitant to try to run something without any parts availability as a racer.
Ok, adding 200sx to the list. That thing is so odd, it is awesome.
I am trying to keep it to 1975 or older due to smog laws.
I may just have to look at American pony cars, like Keith said. Maybe not a Mustang, (since, you know, apparently I am automotive enthusiast hipster, but an old Dart or Falcon. The only REAL issue I see with that, is that these things in vintage racing rock something in the neighborhood of 400hp, and that is kinda scary...
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