Hey, all -

I've been kicking around the idea of picking up a project vehicle, with an eye toward something that might actually go up in value over the years. As I was looking at various Ford (of course) alternatives, it occurred to me that...there might not be a SINGLE car from the mid '70s to the mid '80s. I had always known this was a really bad period for Ford (and the other domestics), but...shouldn't there be SOMETHING that's pleasantly memorable from that era?

Any ideas...?

 

not sure if it will go up in value,but I think the mustang 2 with a 302 in it from the factory would be a very cool car from that era.I believe they called them the king cobra or something like that

 

a 73 to 79 ford f 150 or 250 would be a good choice and parts available as well as good starting point trucks for sale

 

My friend's kid saw a "wierd" Mustang in the local 'yard the other day....had to somberly bring up that it was a Mustang 2 that was wasting away. Note: I was not somber about the car wasting away.

On a collectible note, I may be the owner of a 1980 MGB convertible. If I can toss that crappy factory carb and find MPFI for it, that project 2.3L/5-speed I was going to toss in my Ranger might be the new heart of that cruiser....decisions, decisions.

Actually, if you can find a car with that boat anchor known as the 4.2L (255ci) v8, that would be cool. :cymbals crash in background:

 

Ford: '73-'79 F-Series, and Broncos. Can't think of anything else, unless they had donor parts for the trucks.

GM- 'Vette's to '82, Trans Am's (especially '78-'79 Big Blocks), Buick Regal Grand National

Mopar: they made cars back then?

 

An International Scout II?
Its not a Ford, but seeing that they are an engine supplier for Ford now, its close.

 

What about a 72 Montego GT or 71-73 cougar XR7 not many around and they were cool cars. I had friends with them and drove them. Great cars and larger muscle car styleing.
Do not see them around anymore and to me they would be worth project.

 

Gremlins..or other "bubble" type cars! They are cheap and scarce.

 

There is no such thaing as a Pontiac big block or small block for that matter. Most engines, save afew odd *****(301, ect..) all share the same size block size.
There was an Olds 403 used in the 77-79 T/A's but that was a small bock Olds engine.

If I was looking for something to do from that era, I would go and get a mid seventies Pontiac Grand Am and build a crazy sleeper. 455 with a 4 speed tranny.

 

Some interesting suggestions there...but most weren't what I was talking about. I'm referring to vehicles that are:

1. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury
2. Of a model year from 1974 through 1986 (post muscle-car and pre-modern)
3. Collectible (in the sense of increasing value as an *original* vehicle)

I'm really starting to think that era was a black hole (or just an ugly figment of my memory)...

 

The torinos of that era are BAD cars....Starsky and Hutch Anyone???....i wouldnt mind having one of those in my garage

 

Ford Maverick/Mercury Comet. http://www.maverick.to/

Could make a real "sleeper" out of one of these if you get one with the 302. Check out the green "Grabber" on the above site.

 

"Dark Years"??-- The mid 70s-mid 80s were the best years for Ford pickups! The 73-79 pickups are definetly the best looking trucks ever made, closely followed by the 80-86 models. I would consider any one these classic pickups a collectors' item!

 

On the contrary there is a big block and small block Pontiac engine. Pontiac had their own engines up 79 I believe. As a matter pre 1980's GM cars all had their own engines it wasn't ill later and after some lawsuits that GM started making the motors under the same name. Unlike Ford and Chrysler whom always had just 1 line of engines.

 

You're absolutely correct Rollie. I should have been more specific on the T/A's- there were two big-blocks available in those years. The "slow" car had the Olds 403 hooked to an Automatic (the 403 was a short-stroke 455, not a small block), and the WS6 was a Pontiac 400 big block available only with a close-ratio 4-speed. That be the car!

The fun was over in '80, with a Turbo 301 offered as the "hot" engine (it wasn't), and by '82 they were all Chevy's. Someone forgot to tell Buick, though, when the Grand National slipped out a few years later.