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I love strange cars....

2.3K views 24 replies 24 participants last post by  jaylins22  
#1 ·
I know that a lot of people in the world are okay with the standard definition of a "cool car". I'm not so easily impressed, and I'm sure there are others like me.

I constantly have ideas about something out of the ordinary I'd like to build and own that I'd consider a "performance" vehicle.

So... I figured it'd be cool to have a thread about the strange car you'd like to own or build:

1) Ford Cortina: Modifications would include a complete 2.3L Duratec drivetrain from a ranger, built to the hilt, combined with modern suspension, brakes, steering, and tires.

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2) Next idea: 1997+ Police Interceptor Vic... 03 Cobra motor, Bullitt Mustang wheels, suspension built for track, not drag. T56 conversion.

3) 1978 Omni with green paint and fake vinyl wood trim, green interior... Super 60 Turbo II conversion while retaining stock 165/80-13 tires. Stupid, but entertaining... should ignite the tires in third gear.

4) Renault R5 Turbo II... more or less stock, prefer black.

5) Old Lotus Esprit S1 or S2... Gutted, caged and built for the track.

6) BMW 318ti... The redheaded stepchild of the E36 line.. With an M3 transplant.... or a BMW touring 2000 tii with an E30 M3 transplant.

7) Honda City Turbo 2... stock is fine.. maybe up the boost.

Seriously... If I won the lottery, I'd build and buy some unique vehicles... Screw the normal stuff!

So, what are your ideas?
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#3 ·
we thought of the Cortina idea at Fab Fords, there were a couple there. like yours, with some kind of snotty built n/a 2.3 and a Quaife sequential, you know, cheap stuff
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and your Interceptor idea is the bomb--make mine like Sensei's with a Cobra drivetrain, T56, full suspension, and keep the black steelies for stealth (but have Stockton wheel stretch them to 8.5" in front and 10" in back)
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I still want an early 70s Buick/Pontiac/Olds (esp the ones with the 455/turbo 400). Factory puke-green please!!
 
#5 ·
32 ford wrc.... fenderless
66 nova... drifting
classic cars doing something new
 
#11 ·
I recently had some really tough project car ideas.

1) 2DR ZTS
Splice the doors of a ZX3 onto a ZTS
Rotate a 2.3l Duatec 90 degrees (and slant it onto its side a little)
Turbo it
and power the rear wheels.

2) New Beetle car - trunk - engine + widened body + slightly lengthened trunk + Porsche 911 engine.

3) Mazda 6
Renesis rotary engine, custom crank, create 2 new pieces for center, and add a 3rd rotor. And make it RWD ofcourse.
 
#13 ·
That Cortina idea rocks. I've always wanted a Vici with a stick!

My last car was a Yugo with a 1500CC Fiat engine, backed up to a Fiat X1/9 4spd.

Probably will be buying XR4ti in a couple of weeks.

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I want a Berkeley so bad, stuff a big bike engine up front
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How about a Pontiac Lemans, with a GM 3800 stuffed in the back, a la SHOgun?

My friend, and old Renault Sport racer, calls me orphan boy, because of my love of odd and orphaned cars.
 
#16 ·
Lotus super seven:

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I rode in one when I was 13, and have always had a desire to own one, the price for a decent one being into the 10's, I decided to build one, the car as it sits now. I molded the seat to fit my arse earlier this week and added in the steering column. I will be picking up the rear axle and front spindles later today or tommorrow, and I have the roll bar ready to go on now, tonight I have to finish bracing the steering column, and figure out the pedal box.

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#18 ·
I've recently gotten the hankering to try and "convert" a Geo Metro into a Peugeot 206 rally car replica. They seem to have similar enough shapes that it might work. Also, I'd kinda like an older Metro just to tinker with/bomb around in.
 
#19 ·
I have owned a few odd ball cars.

1962 Austin Healey Sprite Thomas Denner Special, RHD, with a late model 1275cc Sprite motor with webber carb

1986 Merkur XR4ti, with a rapido front mount intercooler, brimbo brakes, and a Cosworth grill panle.
 
#21 ·
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The Tri Magnum - In the 1970s, Robert Q Riley sold plans to build Tri-Magnums in magazines. It consisted of the parts from a motorcycle and the front suspension of a Volkswagen Beetle. Not sure which it should be classified as, though.

You can still buy the Tri-Magnum plans from Robert Q Riley's website, and there's also a gallery of people's vehicles. I'm seriously toying with the idea of building one when I have the time and space.
 
#22 ·
1) A 1975-77 AMC Pacer X with either a 3rd gen twin turbo rotary or a Renisis and do whatever it takes to make it handle.
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2) A Crosley Hot Shot or Super Sports also rotary powered.

3) An old Simca 1000 with air cooled Vdub power.

4) A GEO Metro convertable with Suzuki Swift GTi mechanicals.
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#23 ·
A VW Corrado, I've always loved these.
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A baja bug to abuse and also drive on the street
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Ford Puma w/Cosworth goodies- I love these cars
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Jeep CJ6 w/FI 5.9 swap - the stretch version of a CJ5, fairly rare. And I'd have a new Wrangler Unlimited to go with it
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#24 ·
"looks like a 510"

Not sure but I think it was the 510 that copied the styling.

I owned a 64 Cortina and it looked just like this one. I think the 510 came out a few years later.

It's been too many years but I think the Cortina had a 1100-1200cc engine. I found a progressive 2 barrel weber carb and a tri-Y header at a local junkyard and increased top speed to 90 mph. I don't remember how it handled but the Cortina's tortoise speeds probably didn't provide much of a challenge for our curve-less roads.

Strange cars! I also owned a "LeCar". Plainjane Renault R5.

Louie.
 
#25 ·
A VW Corrado, I've always loved these.
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A baja bug to abuse and also drive on the street
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Ford Puma w/Cosworth goodies- I love these cars
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Jeep CJ6 w/FI 5.9 swap - the stretch version of a CJ5, fairly rare. And I'd have a new Wrangler Unlimited to go with it
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All of those are sweet rides.
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. I would love that Jeep in red.
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+ I've also liked the 1988 Fiero turbo