What Car: Oddball Vintage Racer Edition!

What about the Saab 96? I was actually wondering if there is a floor shifter that can be adapted.

Geekspeed wrote: What about the Saab 96? I was actually wondering if there is a floor shifter that can be adapted.

I can't see why not. A Sonnet is essentially the same with a floor shifter. Although believe it or not, I'd try racing with the column shifter - it's really not that bad and it's close to the steering wheel.

I know of one 96 race car - a 2 stroke that does PHA hillclimbs. It's incredibly slow. And obnoxously loud in the worst possible way (like a F500 with a snowmobile engine, only nowhere near as fast). I'd build a V4 car, personally.

I want the Pinto.

Pre'75 DeltaWing???

^That's less awful than it could have been.

Ian F wrote:

Geekspeed wrote: What about the Saab 96? I was actually wondering if there is a floor shifter that can be adapted.

I can't see why not. A Sonnet is essentially the same with a floor shifter. Although believe it or not, I'd try racing with the column shifter - it's really not that bad and it's close to the steering wheel. I know of one 96 race car - a 2 stroke that does PHA hillclimbs. It's incredibly slow. And obnoxously loud in the worst possible way (like a F500 with a snowmobile engine, only nowhere near as fast). I'd build a V4 car, personally.

I know that car, and get stuck behind it or beside it in the paddock and you will want to end your life in a hurry. The noise is just terrible!!!!

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/200x-classifieds/1500-alfa-romeo-gtv-1750-1971/83713/page1/

Not exactly oddball, but not common, either. And the path to being fast is very well documented. U2 and 2.5l Challenge as well as BS without question.

Plus the added bonus if you do a good job, it will be worth 10x the challenge price.

Not that I'm biased or anything.

Eeeesh, the rust looks bad though. You have to realize that I am from CA, and rust scares me due to its foreign nature.

What about this?

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/4433802817.html

In reply to Geekspeed:

I've seen a lot worse. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alfa-Romeo-Other-Coupe-Alfa-Romeo-Giulia-SCCA-F-Production-Race-Car-/281314930542?forcerrptr=true&hash=item417fad2f6e&item=281314930542&pt=US_Cars_Trucks#ht_207wt_1105

Just remember, a GTV vintage race car, be it 1750 or 2000, sells for at least $25k. (although, Giuliettas are selling for more than that)

Anyway...

Low-ball this one- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alfa-Romeo-Stepnose-1960s-for-parts-only-/131170881925?pt=Salvage_Parts_Cars&hash=item1e8a64d185&vxp=mtr#ht_82wt_1105

Getting a 2.0l engine for it is really easy.

Geekspeed, as to the difference in driving styles between V8 sedan and lower power small cars, this is an over simplification but think point and squirt corner exit focus verses momentum mid corner focus. It's more a case of the cars weight than the power level.

For most people starting out in a low power car is the way to go, the tire and fuel bills are less and you will learn to drive well much faster.

The classic new racer roars up to the corner, stands it on the nose on corner entry, abruptly lets off the brakes, this bounces the front end unloads it and causes understeer, so the driver winds in more steering, the car scrubs speed till the front grips and with the wheels wound in more than needed the back end steps out and so the driver applies more throttle than needed, which after the rear tires grip again unloads the front end and makes the car understeer off the corner and in some cars as the front end gets to the FIA curbing it may finally grip and so the back will step out. These are not big slides but small 2-3ft moments that scrub off speed everywhere.

In a small car with no power this is really really apparent, with more power not so much and so since you never bog the motor you've convinced yourself that because the car is sliding around you at the maximum.

In the low power car you'll learn to rotate the car on corner entry, how to steer the cars with the pedals rather than big wheel movements and most importantly bend the tires into a corner getting maximum grip at of all four tires at the same time rather than pairs of tires (front, back, one side).

  Hope this makes sense.

         Tom

These Alfa's pop up cheap from time to time?:

alfa refurbished , new water pump , altenator, fuel pump,paint, hoses , fans, brakes,& more. rebuilt WEBERS runs very strong. DOING ALFAS FOR 40 YEARS , OWNED QUADRIFOGLIO IN N.J.

alfa romeo 1979 gt veloce coupe - $4850 (moreland ga.)

The only issue I have with Alfettas is acceptability in vintage series. While I've not been to a huge amount of races, I've never actually seen one at an event. It's not like a continuation of a car- the MBG or Alfa Spider or even Fiat Spider, and they were not massively popular cars back in the day.

That's kind of why the prices are as reasonable as they are.

My first Alfa was an Alfetta GT, and while a fine car, once I got my GTV, it was gone. A GTV6 would be a better choice, EVEN if it's a more modern car.

I agree with alfadriver. I've owned a couple of Alfettas, and once I bought my '73 GTV, and then GTV6, there was never a question of getting another one. Either of the others is SOOOO much better. Not that there's anything really wrong with them, but for an Alfa, they aren't all that inspired to drive.

I do like the Alfettas, but they are pretty expensive here. GTV6s are hard to come by under 7-8K as well.

Tom, I definitely am looking for something low powered to start. I like the B-Sedan/TABS/C-Sedan cars because they start with ~100hp and can be built up as time/money/skills allow.

The hunt is still on, and I will let you guys know what I find out about the various cars when I see them.

Boy, if it were me I'd want to do something different like a slant 6 4-speed A-body. If you can get one with a 170 cid instead of the 225 you should be able to get that thing just about square on the bore/stroke and turn it into some significant rpm. Nothing wrong with Alfas but I can't believe a Valiant/Dart would be cheaper to acquire.

Prolly just me, though...

If you want a cool alternative to 122, 1800 or 142 Volvos, check out 544s. They're significantly lighter than any of the others. A little more trouble finding parts, but there were gazillions of them made in the day, so it isn't so bad. Stiff chassis, tough components, good suspension, the motor builds well...

And don't forget Corvairs! not quite small-bore, but hardly muscle car either.

First gen:

Or second gen:

Enough said...

As an old British car racer, I'd have to nominate one of them.

Nash Metropolitan:

Triumph Mayflower:

Riley 1.5:

How about a Datsun 1200 or even a roadster?

chandlerGTi wrote: How about a Datsun 1200 or even a roadster?

That's a darned good idea.

oldsaw wrote:

chandlerGTi wrote: How about a Datsun 1200 or even a roadster?

That's a darned good idea.

Can't argue with those lines

camaroz1985 wrote:

Ian F wrote:

Geekspeed wrote: I ran a 96 3cy. in hill climbs, track days, ice race. With a factory spec race exhaust, the noise was not that bad. What about the Saab 96? I was actually wondering if there is a floor shifter that can be adapted.

I can't see why not. A Sonnet is essentially the same with a floor shifter. Although believe it or not, I'd try racing with the column shifter - it's really not that bad and it's close to the steering wheel. I know of one 96 race car - a 2 stroke that does PHA hillclimbs. It's incredibly slow. And obnoxously loud in the worst possible way (like a F500 with a snowmobile engine, only nowhere near as fast). I'd build a V4 car, personally.

I know that car, and get stuck behind it or beside it in the paddock and you will want to end your life in a hurry. The noise is just terrible!!!!