1) Assorted classics
Buy another unusual car that is cheap because it has had it. Set it right and enjoy. Contenders: Datsun 510, Datsun 240, Lancia Fulvia, DeTomaso Pantera, Triumph TR3, 911, Esprit, E-type, etc. (BTW, if you are looking to get started with this hobby, this is the perfect way. Any of those cars listed here are awesome choices, but as I type this they are all becoming less affordable...)
+ This will probably give me the best financial return on investment
+ Goals 3 and 4 are met
+ I have a lot of confidence I can do this well (so goal 2 is less important)
-Doesn't help with Goal 1. I know I can remove a busted part and put a non busted one in its place.
-You spend your life babying things because something like a broken gearbox would be big trouble
2) MG13B
My friend Michael was trying to clean out some of the carnage left over from several seasons of passionate racing and development of his SCCA MGB race car. He had a this 1970 beauty that he gave me for free. My plan was to buy a JDM "front clip" which is pretty much a car that didn't pass inspection in Japan and they cut the car in half at the firewall and it gets imported and sold here cheap (no title). It is supposedly a good way to get a lot of suspension and engine parts, but beware, there are lots of horror stories about this. Pretty much expect to rebuild the engine straight off, and you may be pleasantly surprised. I was hoping to buy a 3rd gen rx7 this way, and a rear suspension / subframe from a miata.
+ One of a kind
+ Car was free
±Enter the realm of the rotary engine
-Resale on MGB's with wild engine swaps is miserable. I had my eye on a couple that were up forever even though they seemed impossibly cheap.
-There were more MGBs made than any other roadster until the Miata.
-Car was a lot less complete than I envisioned. I want to have the option to modify an already present system or part. There was no interior, floors are rotten. Starting from a shell +glass.
3) Monster Miata
Buy a Miata, put in an LS2, T56, ford 8 inch IRS. Handling is preserved, but now runs 11s and sounds respectable.
+Pretty much perfect car for the money
+This has been done a bunch, and there is a lot of info and parts out there (flyin miata, boss frog)
+Possible to break even on the project (build ~20k, sell ~20k)
-Look at it. The only other thing I have seen that looked like that came with the selling point that it "clumps strongly" and is "flushable". Tell me that you would feel more inspired to push to conclusion on that than on an E-type.
-LS motors fit in everything. So everyone wants them, and they are getting to be expensive. You also get to pay someone else to tune your ignition and fuel injection when you are done.
http://www.flyinmiata.com/V8/RonMSM/index.php?UID=
4) Caterham
Buy it drive it, continue refining the Europa.
+Who has time for car building?
+Try having more fun with a car for $20k
-Your face is at oil pan height on an F250. Best keep your head on a swivel.
-I already have a sub 1 ton car with a tiny engine.
-Say goodbye to goal #1 and #2
5) Project 818
New kit from Factory 5. Uses a Subaru Boxer engine as a mid engine power plant
+ fast, unusual, challenging. Hits all 4 goals
- >1 year wait for delivery currently
- Not very good looking
- Someone else designed this. Less than ideal for Goal #1.
https://www.factoryfive.com/galleries/project-818/sema-2013-818s/
6) Focus +4
302 in the focus switch to rear wheel drive using a solid axle ford 8 inch.
+Nails all 4 goals
+Have the Focus. Interior is in great shape. Personal attachment to it.
+Whole project may cost less than the engine, trans, harness, ECU for the miata project
+Parts for swap are available from Kugel components (expensive, but is a nice safety net if stuck.)
+I already built an engine. This project does everything else except build an engine.
-Very involved and not much help out there
-Unknowns may add up to more money than expected.
-Not that quick unless I do some work on the motor
-Takes a car that handles pretty good and makes it drive like a truck.
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