Hey guys.
So, the wife finally gave the green light to the Chumpcar/LeMons project. Woo! Now I can get my vehicular mayhem on. The search is now on for a donor. I have hit CL and ebay, but damn, people are asking a lot more for cars these days. I can't even get an engineless shell for under $1000 it seems.
Where are you guys finding your donors? There have got to be other sources than CL. Please share your secrets!
GS
Insurance/towing auctions. Insurance auctions especially. Waynimal just missed out on a running $800 SRT-4 by $100, complete with super-official receipt.
I would also suggest checking with Salvation Army. They auction off donated cars once a month.
In reply to poopshovel:
How do you find these? Can you just google "insurance car auction" in your area and find them?
Www.copart.com
What are you looking for?
Unless you have a real itch to build your own car, consider trying to buy an already built LeMons/Chump car. It'll cost you a lot less.
Klayfish wrote: Unless you have a real itch to build your own car, consider trying to buy an already built LeMons/Chump car. It'll cost you a lot less.
QFT
I have a LeMons ready Miata for $1000!. Just add your seat!
DukeOfUndersteer wrote: I have a LeMons ready Miata for $1000!. Just add your seat!
In this case, i think bought not built is the way to go.
Negotiate. Look behind sheds.
We got Charlie (the amazon) for $200 from a priest who told us he'd send us the title (never did) and the LTD for free from a team members Dad.
If you're looking for a RX7 with under 40k miles to start with, you're not going to find it. If a Corsica with a leak will do, you'll find a few.
I am just looking for a car that is mechanically complete (doesn't have to run, just needs to have the parts there) and has a manual trans. You would think that wouldn't be so hard to find. Of course, everything here in CA is more expensive.
Geekspeed wrote: In reply to poopshovel: How do you find these? Can you just google "insurance car auction" in your area and find them?
https://www.iaai.com/
$200/yr. Worth every penny. Wayne bids for free through work. You can cruise the auctions without an account, then, if you see something you want, register...or find someone who's registered to bid for you. All from the comfort of your big cushy chair.
Recent scores (don't remember the exact numbers - have the receipts somewhere, but both were around $300 IIRC:)
Perfectly running, rear ended 86 integra (CRX donor.)
Perfectly running, driving, rear ended Mazda 323 GT (Festiva donor.)
IAAI rules.
OR, call all the towing yards in the area and see if they do public auctions...THEN show up in person and see if they'll wheel and deal with NO TITLE AND NO PAPERWORK - some will be cool. Some are scared of liability issues. We used to get all kinds of E36 M3 for $90. Prices are a little higher now that scrap prices are up. List of cars we've bought for $90:
Running 1st gen CRX - (The General Tso...now at Hong South doing LeChump.)
Running (horribly) Turbo New Yorker.
Running (horribly - but just needed timing adjustment) Turbo 600 (the boss hong.)
Running V6 Dodge Shadow Vert.
If you want something you can drive on the street, they'll do the paperwork for you, but it'll cost a couple hundred extra. Play the game. They want the car to disappear and money in their pocket, without having to pay one dude to load it on the flatbed with a forklift, and another dude to haul 'em one at a time to the scrapper. Scrap value minus $150 is a good starting point.
At least that's how it works in Georgia.
And yeah, just ask around. I've bought 2 cars for less than scrap from the repair shop down the street. People will bring stuff in for estimates/repairs, then not pick the car up, or they'll say "How much will you give me for it," and the guys will give 'em $50-$100. The folks who can't afford simple repairs are usually the folks who $50 means life or death for. Dig?
In reply to poopshovel:
Nice. Thanks for the tips. I will give these a shot.
In reply to poopshovel:
Thread Jack!!
look what I found on that Auction site:
cheating spouse got caught? 
DukeOfUndersteer wrote: In reply to poopshovel: Thread Jack!! look what I found on that Auction site:
might have a hard time getting the AIV under $500 for Chump.. but that rule's going away at the end of the year, so just build it and run it in EC next year... or swap an Iron Duke in it and put some 205/75/15 tires on it and see of they just waive it thru...
regarding where to get a car: sit out side of a junkyard and play a waiting game... when you see someone hauling in a car that looks promising, stop them and offer them $50 more than the yard will give them for scrap weight..
Buy a seat at a race if you haven't done it yet. You'll get a lot better idea of what works and what doesn't and leave with a shopping list. After that, it's a waiting game. Always have some cash around and be ready to go.
I just took the overnight Megabus to DC for $19, picked up an '02 RSX-S for $800 and drove it home. I knew the guy that owned the car, so it wasn't exactly an off-CL purchase. The AC is out and it has an SRS light on, so it can't get an inspection sticker. He was paying ~$200/mo in tickets and had gotten another car.
The communist states are the best place to find inspection specials. You live in PRC, so this should help you.
Keep in mind, Chump uses AIV not proof-of-purchase. If you can get your AIV down, you can spend whatever you can get away with on the car. That's why it has become Spec E36.
Klayfish and Tyler H all have it right.
Rent a seat. I can't stress this enough. The first time out is nuts. If you rent a seat then stress involved with maintenance of the car, towing, etc are all off your shoulders. You can then go and enjoy your outing without having to build a car for the event.
Now, after renting you'll have a better idea as to what's needed, what's competitive, and if you want to do it all over again.
Second best option? Buy a chumped car already.
As others have noted build vs bought - bought always wins unless you enjoy the build.
You can also sell down a car, so buy something for $1000 and sell of all the bits that don't make it a race car to get it down to $500 (certain items are exempt from being recovered in the budget so be sure to know the rules first)
If you want to build a car for chump, and if you were closer, I'd make you a deal on a SHO. berkeleyer has all maintence done(normally their achillis heel) and are quick in the crapcan series....Being in CA, you should be able to find one with bad catalyst for sub $300.....Around here, we delete catalyst thus making the car hold value better.
My backyard has an already caged Neon with no other prep, or an insurance auction B14 200SX SER...
How does one find a seat to rent? I'm assuming you would have to have all your own safety gear in order...
Xceler8x wrote: Klayfish and Tyler H all have it right. Rent a seat. I can't stress this enough. The first time out is nuts. If you rent a seat then stress involved with maintenance of the car, towing, etc are all off your shoulders. You can then go and enjoy your outing without having to build a car for the event. Now, after renting you'll have a better idea as to what's needed, what's competitive, and if you want to do it all over again. Second best option? Buy a chumped car already.
My brother has seats for rent at the next CMP event if you're interested.
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