So, here's my problem with shopping for a challenge car.
There are certain cars that get used a lot at the challenge for good reason. They are the cars that have a good market following and are easy to find cheap parts for. A couple of the most common cars I've liked for years but don't want to bring the same thing as everyone else.
I would like to bring a unique car to the challenge but that requires stepping into cars that don't have a very big market following which requires a lot more custom fab work and overall time.
The problem is that my wife and I have our second child on the way soon and I'm not sure I'm going to have the time for a unique build this coming year.
Anybody have suggestions on something in between the common cars and the unique cars?
Old cars. There are cars out there that are old and unique (for this venue) but still have relatively modern suspension architectures and either have a valid aftermarket or can accept modern parts with minimal fabrication. We're looking in the same direction you are.
Do you mind sharing what cars you guys are thinking for next year?
The most original concept ever... oh wait... nm... miata.
jwdmotorsports wrote:
Do you mind sharing what cars you guys are thinking for next year?
Eh, why not. We're looking at a Volvo 242, 280ZX, Datsun 1200/1600, a lot of things. We're really just fishing right now.
I'm not sharing what we're putting under the hood, though. That's going to stay a secret until registration night at the hotel. 
I've considered an old Volvo 245. Came across one for cheap. I think a wagon at the challenge would be cool.
jwdmotorsports wrote:
Do you mind sharing what cars you guys are thinking for next year?
And old Miata- Alfa Romeo Spider. If you have decent circle track swap meets near you, you can get one of those to handle really well on a stock suspension for <$100. For a good fabricator, pick up panhard rod parts, and make a set up. Figure another $100.
Where you are going to have problems is engine swap or turbo upgrades. Both are possible, both require considerable fab work. Both have been done.
To date, a single Alfa Spider has shown up at a challenge. 
Otherwise, I would make sure you ask yourself- what's the point of the build- to have fun working endless hours making something unique- or less hours depending on how many helpers you have. Which is a VERY good goal- but you mention a child.
So is the other goal to come, have fun, and build a cheap car.
Right now, my next, real, competetive idea involves a Miata. The next car, if we ever do one, will be an Alfa sedan.
Do you want to win, top 50%, top 10??? Working time, development time??? You HAVE to answer those questions to realistically shop.
Eric
alfadriver wrote:
So is the other goal to come, have fun, and build a cheap car.
Isn't that always the goal for the challenge?
I'm still trying to decide what next years goals are. This years goals were to bring a car to the challenge, compete in all events, and not finish last. I met all my goals for this year. At the very least I'd like to have a better overall finish than this year.
jwdmotorsports wrote:
alfadriver wrote:
So is the other goal to come, have fun, and build a cheap car.
Isn't that always the goal for the challenge?
I'm still trying to decide what next years goals are. This years goals were to bring a car to the challenge, compete in all events, and not finish last. I met all my goals for this year. At the very least I'd like to have a better overall finish than this year.
No, for many it's to build the most outrageous vehicle that will blow people's mind at all costs assuming the final $$ is <$200x.
If you really want to have fun, I'm still a HUGE fan of simplicity.
Look at this year's winner- Honda car, Honda motor, turbo. Nothing just out of this world- easy to exectute, and, better yet, easy to tune, detail, etc etc etc- all the little things that take a 10th place car and make it 1st. (oh, not that they are EASY, since it is HUGE labor to exectute all of those details. But you are not chopping and chanelling an entire car).
Actually- if I see your avetar correctly, you did a Rabbit/Golf, yes?
What's wrong with finishing it? Great car- still very competetive in FSP....
Here's a vote to keep current car, and do MORE to it.
More cowbell.
I'm a big fan of Civics and CRXs. Always have been. That may still be what I bring next year I just have to decide if I want to go with tried and true (for recent challenge winners) or build something different and interesting.
The big thing is that Hondas have a HUGE aftermarket following which makes it much easier to find performance parts for cheap.
alfadriver wrote:
Actually- if I see your avetar correctly, you did a Rabbit/Golf, yes?
What's wrong with finishing it? Great car- still very competetive in FSP....
Here's a vote to keep current car, and do MORE to it.
More cowbell.
Lesson #1 learned for $2009 Challenge (my first challenge): trailer the car. I sold the GTI to Spinout007 because I didn't want to fix the items that broke over the weekend and try to limp it back to AL.
lol, I very briefly thought about driving the truck 2000 miles with no heat, ac or insulation, not to mention exhaust volume.......we trailered it...
There's a reason Hondas do so well. And there's a reason we're not building another Honda for the 2010 Challenge.
We have a team of full-time students that put in 15+ hours a week (on top of work, class, etc) into our cars. Being engineers, every aspect of the build is thought out before we start buying parts, down to the last nut and bolt. We're coming in strong this year and are aiming for a top-3 spot or better with either one of our cars.
Technically, it's a TON of work, but for us it's a passion and it's not work at all.
unevolved wrote:
There's a reason Hondas do so well. And there's a reason we're not building another Honda for the 2010 Challenge.
We have a team of full-time students that put in 15+ hours a week (on top of work, class, etc) into our cars. Being engineers, every aspect of the build is thought out before we start buying parts, down to the last nut and bolt. We're coming in strong this year and are aiming for a top-3 spot or better with either one of our cars.
Technically, it's a TON of work, but for us it's a passion and it's not work at all.
And that is why I just started work on my first GRM car for 2010..... Sam.... stop posting such awesome pics! All that aside, Texas A&M did a fantastic job, and I look forward to seeing what our school team can put together and what everyone else is working on.
As far as our project.... at this point, maybe an AWD Shelby Daytona of sorts... powerplant is undercover at this point as well. We'll see what happens!
i'm curious to see a supercharged 3.8 in a swap. we thought about it for ours but didnt go that way in the end as we couldn't find anything in decent enough shape for our budget. i cant wait to see it at the race!
jwdmotorsports wrote:
alfadriver wrote:
Actually- if I see your avetar correctly, you did a Rabbit/Golf, yes?
What's wrong with finishing it? Great car- still very competetive in FSP....
Here's a vote to keep current car, and do MORE to it.
More cowbell.
Lesson #1 learned for $2009 Challenge (my first challenge): trailer the car. I sold the GTI to Spinout007 because I didn't want to fix the items that broke over the weekend and try to limp it back to AL.
You're not even going to recognize the GTi next year, lol, hoping to have it running and driving with the new paint job by Jan, that way we can try and get at least 1 autox a month till the challenge. Then after the GTi is done, it's time to finish my car, somewhere in the mix Mr.Joshua is going to get his mind made up so we can get started on his car.
C ya'll next year. 
jwdmotorsports wrote:
Anybody have suggestions on something in between the common cars and the unique cars?
Two words: Fox Body. The are all very similar underneath. If you can find a running 5.0 mustang parts car, you can graft most of the go fast goodies onto another, more pedestrian looking vehicle.
Ford: Fairmont, LTD (Midsize ones), 80-82 T-Bird, later model Granada.
Mercury: Zephyr, Marquis, 80-82 Cougar.
I know I'm missing several here, too. My personal favorite would be a Fairmont wagon, my parents had one as a kid.
If you want unusual, but still somewhat easy, its a matter of searching for something more popular on the same platform. Others that come to mind quickly:
1st gen Acura Integra -> 3rd Gen Civic, 1st gen CRX
Toyota Cressida -> Toyota Supra
Early 1st Gen Ford Probe GT -> Mazda MX-6 Turbo
spinout007: have you picked a color for the GTi?
eastside: Integra motor in a Civic is on the possibility list. The 5.0L mustang idea is also on the list but maybe not to build another Ford.
I'm still looking around online for ideas.
Keep turbo fords in mind they are an incredible pain to work on(engine wise) and stupid little E36 M3 causes problems but I had a hard time selling my nearly mint and rather fast 88 turbocoupe for $2000
Fox body was the first thing that came to mind for me... I vividly remember a friend's dad who had a Fairmont wagon with a V8 swapped in, doing a burnout down the road. I didn't yet know what a "sleeper" was, but I knew that it was special.
Coolness? Check.
Quirky? Check.
Fast? Fast enough.
Good time? Youbetcha.
http://albany.craigslist.org/cto/1407389007.html
jwdmotorsports wrote:
spinout007: have you picked a color for the GTi?
Yup, remember I bought it for my wife. She had the color picked out before hand, I just helped her modify it a bit. Paint is going to be prob the biggest part of the build, but if all comes out ok with it, the car should be a top 5 finisher. At least in the concourse portion of the event, still working on the rest. Corner grip is the next big part of the build.
jwdmotorsports wrote:
eastside: Integra motor in a Civic is on the possibility list. The 5.0L mustang idea is also on the list but maybe not to build another Ford.
I'm still looking around online for ideas.
Actually, I was thinking stick with the Integra if you want something a bit less common. It'll be a tad less competitive than a swapped civic, due to the weight penalty, but it will have the "different" factor. In the three challenges I've been to, I can count the number of Acura Integras I saw on one finger.
Another one I might add, is what I'm working on getting (the deal is back on, hopefully title in my name and car in the driveway tomorrow) is F-Body, 3rd or 4th Gen. The one I'm getting is a stripped down V8 3rd gen firebird. Again, in the three years I've been to the challenge, only saw one 3rd gen, and no 4th gens. Early in the summer, I had the oppurtunity to pick up a LS1 F-body with a blown engine for $1200 or so. Combined with a 6.0 junkyard long block, and some decent rubber, that would've been pretty competitve.
So, neither Integras or F-bodies are rare in the real world, but they sure haven't turned up much at the challenge.
914: I love those old Volvos
eastside: an Integra is definitely on the list. It would be easier to start with a running car. How much extra weight is it? I don't remember.
