Whats the best holden for a 'cheap' project car ?

[greenacc]

Would it be a Torana , a HR or what ? Something cheap to buy and get parts for, but will be worth good money when its finished..... if there is such a thing

[ImAHoon!]

VL

[Morton]

Cheapest for initial outlay and future parts would be a VN/VP or VR/VS

But nothing you screw with will be worth "good money" when finished, unless you're doing a restoration. And then, if you're doing a restoration, it's probably going to be done on a rare car, which is hard to find parts for, and consequently expensive.

[naf33n]

no car is cheap to purcahse, then easy to find parts for and make money off, otherwise everyone would of already done it.

[minux]

If you want fast, a VT Series 2 with an LS1 in it will blow everything else away. Can pick up high km ones to rebuild for 6-7k these days. Not only that they look better than many other holdens. Engine mods cheap as hell, parts for VT's cheap as hell.

[ImAHoon!]

If you want fast, a VT Series 2 with an LS1 in it will blow everything else away. Can pick up high km ones to rebuild for 6-7k these days. Not only that they look better than many other holdens. Engine mods cheap as hell, parts for VT's cheap as hell.

you could have a VL running 11's for the same price as your stock high KM VT.

[STEALTHY™]

you could have a VL running 11's for the same price as your stock high KM VT.

He never said you couldn't?????

[ImAHoon!]

He never said you couldn't?????

the question was, whats a cheap project car.

[STEALTHY™]

the question was, whats a cheap project car.

The question went out the window when he asked 'with good resale value'

You rarely make money back on cars. Unless you've had a XU1 in the garage from new or something.

[minux]

you could have a VL running 11's for the same price as your stock high KM VT.

Here we go again, there is always one in the crowd.

[Grennan]

You make a project car because you want to have something to achieve, you wont ever finish with a project car, sell it and get close to the outlayed value.

If you want a project car, get one because you want something to do. Dont even think about the resale.

Picking a project car? Depends what you want from the project, speed? Something showy?

Personally id love a Sandman, or just a simple HZ panno (so im not butchering a genuine Sandman). Slap a 304 in it and deck out the back with fold out lounge/bed and a TV.

[Philthy]

Resto an old HQ or something. There seem to be a few parts for them around and they look fantastic when done right

[fuzzy2308]

a hq would be cool or a tory thay r fun to drive, stuff geting a commodore get some thong with style that every one doesent have

[danja]

You'll never get back the money you put into it, so throw that idea out the window from day 1. VLs are cheap as ****, and because they run the RB engine parts are easy to come by from the rice market.

I'd side with minux (for once ) and say get the a VT V8. I'll be a nice car to drive, and quick and cheap. Plenty of parts still around too, because tons of parts are shared from the VT to the VZ.

[redcv6]

ive always had the idea to restore and rebuild a nice hq tonner with a 308. maybe not going to be the fastest thing, but something that intersts me.
cheers johnny

[STEALTHY™]

a hq would be cool or a tory thay r fun to drive, stuff geting a commodore get some thong with style that every one doesent have

Only me and 299 other people have my commodore Plenty of style

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

Haha Get a Charger mate
Forget resto work ect This 1 is 4 sale in the trader @ the moment for 24k with a 360 V8
although if you want to restore a Holden of some sort a nice HQ Kingswood can look good when done right

[andyman]

i plan on getting a hz tonner and dropping either a charged alloytec (to be different) or a ls3, an possibly squeeze an irs setup into the back of it (just to be different)

[maginoodle]

go something hq-wb. easy too chuck a ls1 into as they came out with a 350 so you dont need engineers certificates.

[STEALTHY™]

go something hq-wb. easy too chuck a ls1 into as they came out with a 350 so you dont need engineers certificates.

You will still need an engineers certificate. An LS1 is only a 346.

[fuzzy2308]

Only me and 299 other people have my commodore Plenty of style

mate your car has more style than a ummmmmm well it just has style

i mean like commos that arent special ones.

[maginoodle]

You will still need an engineers certificate. An LS1 is only a 346.

yeah it is a 346 but since that is less than what was factory optioned 350 it doesnt require engineering here in nsw. an example is i had a mate that put an ecotec into a zed tunna and it didnt require engineering.

[STEALTHY™]

yeah it is a 346 but since that is less than what was factory optioned 350 it doesnt require engineering here in nsw. an example is i had a mate that put an ecotec into a zed tunna and it didnt require engineering.

You might want to check that mate. It should be illegal for any size other than exact factory options for that model.

[Calaber]

You might want to check that mate. It should be illegal for any size other than exact factory options for that model.

Stealthy

He's right. NSW is quite different to some other states. Installing a non standard engine is ok provided the original maximum factory engine size is not exceeded. An exception provides for reconditioning, where the maximum engine size may be exceeded due to boring etc.

The only provision would be that the original braking and suspension systems are upgraded where necessary to match the brakes and suspensions offered by the manufacturer for the largest engine option.

In an early model, upgrading these systems is easy and these days, brakes and suspensions can be far better than the original factory specs.

As for a cheap project car, most Holdens qualify, but the older "classics" are no longer cheap to purchase. My avatar was a 350 GTS Monaro I restored during the late 80's. I got the shell for nix, but to put it on the road twenty years ago cost $8,000, doing most of the work myself. Unforttunately, classic car values were'nt all that great back then and I eventually sold it for $5,000. The job took over four years to complete.

Early Commodores up to VK, which all ran the old red/blue/black sixes and eights, are very cheap now and it is still possible to find one with a reasonably clean body. Perhaps the VK with fuel injection (a rare animal even when new) or a Turbo VL (just as rare, but probably thrashed) would do the job. Mechanical parts are still easy to come by, and the Holden engine bits are still cheap (know nothing about the Nissan motor so no comment). The interiors were cheap and nasty from new, so a total rebuild of the interior will be a certainty. Brakes lend themselves to easy upgrade to later model four wheel discs, suspensions are easily modified with excellent results for a live rear axle. The car would be suitable for daily use and, if the final result was as good as it could be, you would have a real head turner. Early Commies in top nick are getting pretty scarce now. An SLE or Calais would be the best starting point.

[minux]

^^^I believe it is the same for Victoria.