15 year old looking for a project car
Discussion
I'm a 15 year old and i'm looking for a project car to help me get into a university to study mechanical engineering. I would love to work at a car company like Jaguar or Bmw or even work for a race team (f1).
I have had some ideas about the cars I should get but i'm not 100% certain about what is the best way to learn the skills that I want to get. I do not want to become a mechanic.
here are the cars I've been thinking about.
1. mk1 mx5. these car should be good but they are maybe a bit limiting in what parts I can change and mess around with but they are very cheap to buy.
2. a kit car. kit cars would be very good way to learn about putting a car together but they are bit expensive and possibly a bit rubbish to drive.
3. e30 bmw 325i. I really like these old Bmws and they seem to be very popular for modifying. they are maybe a bit limiting but a engine swap could be a great way to learn skills as well. They are rather expensive.
I have a budget of around £1000 - £2000 but the lower the price is the better.
Thanks, Andrew
I have had some ideas about the cars I should get but i'm not 100% certain about what is the best way to learn the skills that I want to get. I do not want to become a mechanic.
here are the cars I've been thinking about.
1. mk1 mx5. these car should be good but they are maybe a bit limiting in what parts I can change and mess around with but they are very cheap to buy.
2. a kit car. kit cars would be very good way to learn about putting a car together but they are bit expensive and possibly a bit rubbish to drive.
3. e30 bmw 325i. I really like these old Bmws and they seem to be very popular for modifying. they are maybe a bit limiting but a engine swap could be a great way to learn skills as well. They are rather expensive.
I have a budget of around £1000 - £2000 but the lower the price is the better.
Thanks, Andrew
Gruber said:
Assuming you want something you can run once you turn 17 and pass your test, I'd be looking for a car you can reasonably hope to insure. My guess is that all those options will be prohibitively expensive from an insurance perspective.
Maybe something like a Morris Minor or original Mini? Excellent parts availability, easy to work on, potentially insurable, etc.
Eta: not meaning to rain on your parade! I think this is a brilliant idea and wish you luck with it all!
insurance isn't a number one priority for me as my dad is funding the project so he will drive the car and when I have a liscence i could track day the car or wait until i can afford the insuranceMaybe something like a Morris Minor or original Mini? Excellent parts availability, easy to work on, potentially insurable, etc.
Eta: not meaning to rain on your parade! I think this is a brilliant idea and wish you luck with it all!
laam999 said:
I had a mk1 mr2 for my first project, always been a fan but I have you thought of something like an mg midget? They're fairly cheap, easy to get parts for, would look stunning polished up compared to your friends corsas at the time. Where about in the country are you?
I am in the east midlands area. I have thought about mr2s but not 100% sure about an mg midget.Al U said:
Hi there. I'm a mechanical design engineer with a degree in motorsport engineering, working in the automotive industry at a company similar to those you have listed.
Firstly, why do you think that working on a project car is going to get you into uni? Practical experience like that will only go in your hobbies and interests on your application so won't make much difference if you o it or not.
If you want to work in the automotive/motorsport industry, go on the uni websites and look at the course requirements. Getting the qualifications listed on those requirements should be your priority.
Also if you genuinely want to work in F1 or high end motorsport, you will have a much better chance if you are part of the uni's formula student team. This is something that F1 teams etc. will want to see on your CV and while Brunel have a good record in the competition in recent years, the university of hertfordshire have a considerably better one. If you have not heard of this competition look it up. Be aware that while there may be as many as 200 people on your course that only a select amount of maybe 20 students from each uni get to be part of the team.
Are you planning on doing A-levels or college when you finish?
I don't think getting a project car will get me into uni.Firstly, why do you think that working on a project car is going to get you into uni? Practical experience like that will only go in your hobbies and interests on your application so won't make much difference if you o it or not.
If you want to work in the automotive/motorsport industry, go on the uni websites and look at the course requirements. Getting the qualifications listed on those requirements should be your priority.
Also if you genuinely want to work in F1 or high end motorsport, you will have a much better chance if you are part of the uni's formula student team. This is something that F1 teams etc. will want to see on your CV and while Brunel have a good record in the competition in recent years, the university of hertfordshire have a considerably better one. If you have not heard of this competition look it up. Be aware that while there may be as many as 200 people on your course that only a select amount of maybe 20 students from each uni get to be part of the team.
Are you planning on doing A-levels or college when you finish?
I know that getting the grades at gcse are key to what I want and i am going for A grades in maths, science and electronics (and all the other subjects as well)
yes i am going to do A levels probably going to do maths and physics, i'm not to sure about the others.
I will need to look up the uni Motorsport competition but it sounds very interesting.
Al U said:
Interesting. You remind me of myself about 10 years ago. I did maths, physics, chemistry and english lit. After the first year of AS levels I dropped out as I found it too difficult and went to college to do an advanced diploma in engineering. That's what got me into uni.
Fair enough if you are aware that working on a project car won't get you into uni it's just from your first post you suggested that you think it will help. It won't, it will merely be seen as a hobby that is slightly relevant to what you are studying. You have said yourself that you don't want to be a mechanic but if you did a project car would be a good idea as that will give you hands on experience. Depending on what you mean by a project car, I suspect there will be very little engineering going on.
Fair enough if you are aware that working on a project car won't get you into uni it's just from your first post you suggested that you think it will help. It won't, it will merely be seen as a hobby that is slightly relevant to what you are studying. You have said yourself that you don't want to be a mechanic but if you did a project car would be a good idea as that will give you hands on experience. Depending on what you mean by a project car, I suspect there will be very little engineering going on.
The project would be me just tinkering with a car either buying a broken car and repairing it or modifying one.
maybe since you seem to suggest it won't help with uni I should try to get a car I will be able to drive at 17.
The ideas of an mg midget seem to be a good idea. with the kit cars it seems like it could be a good option, one of my neighbours has built kit cars himself and races his own ginnetta at the moment so I will talk to him as well.
what I may do is buy an mx5 and learn about servicing a car and possibly do some upgrades then look for a restoration project for a mgb or midget (does anybody know if the ugly rubber bumpers be replaced with chrome ones?)
or maybe get an MG like this
mg non runner
what I may do is buy an mx5 and learn about servicing a car and possibly do some upgrades then look for a restoration project for a mgb or midget (does anybody know if the ugly rubber bumpers be replaced with chrome ones?)
or maybe get an MG like this
mg non runner
Edited by caledoniacation on Sunday 21st September 21:14
Raize said:
I got a Porsche 924 non-runner at 16 and fixed it up. I'm now 20 and have been driving it for 2 years.
I hate it.
It's not a real Porsche. It's slow. It's old. It's undesirable. It's got no upgrade potential. It handles poorly compared to modern cars. It is unreliable. It gets poor MPG. It turns heads, but only to laugh at how s
t it is.
I would suggest getting something truly good. A Lotus Esprit, Porsche 911, Chevy Corvette C3, Triumph TR6, Jensen Interceptor, TVR S-Series... something like that. Resign yourself to the fact that you will be driving a 1 litre Corsa while your glorious project sits in the garage unused.
Otherwise you will end up bitter and twisted at the dream that became a nightmare. Trust me. I know.
none of these car are any where close to being in budget, triumph tr6 restoration project starts at over £5k not going to happen I hate it.
It's not a real Porsche. It's slow. It's old. It's undesirable. It's got no upgrade potential. It handles poorly compared to modern cars. It is unreliable. It gets poor MPG. It turns heads, but only to laugh at how s
t it is.I would suggest getting something truly good. A Lotus Esprit, Porsche 911, Chevy Corvette C3, Triumph TR6, Jensen Interceptor, TVR S-Series... something like that. Resign yourself to the fact that you will be driving a 1 litre Corsa while your glorious project sits in the garage unused.
Otherwise you will end up bitter and twisted at the dream that became a nightmare. Trust me. I know.
For all the people suggesting landies it is impossible for me to get one into my parents garage along with their GTI that is why I'm looking mainly at mx 5s and similar.
Would this be a good project?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Healey-Sprite-MG-...
Would this be a good project?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Healey-Sprite-MG-...
Edited by caledoniacation on Sunday 21st September 23:15
SuperHangOn said:
Don't do a project to get into college/uni. They won't care, or will even take it the wrong way and think teenager who spends evenings doing handbrake turns outside McD's (not that there's anything wrong with that IMO). Practical, hands-on knowledge just isn't appreciated any more.
Doing a project just because you want to is a better idea. I got a car when I was 14.
I do want to do this project not just to get into uni. I'm a completely mental petrol head so owning my own car before I can drive would be brilliant especially if I worked on it my self. Doing a project just because you want to is a better idea. I got a car when I was 14.
Honestly I wish I lived in America as there seems to be lots of cheap muscle cars with v8s and the insurance is super cheap there as well. Also you can drive at 16 too
laam999 said:
Don't buy a shell, buy a car. It doesn't matter if it will need new floors or a full engine rebuild it will still be easier than a shell and insanely cheaper. I may have missed this but where are you going to store and work on it?
Oh okay then. The car will be kept in a garage and worked on in their also. julian64 said:
Out of interest why are kit cars classed as 'a bit rubbish to drive'?
Seems like a strange thing for a chap to say who wants to learn. After all the difference between a mainstream car and a car that is a bit rubbish to drive is exactly what you're trying to learn isn't it?
i have no idea why I just think they don't seem to be very good and they seem to be way out of my price range as well. Seems like a strange thing for a chap to say who wants to learn. After all the difference between a mainstream car and a car that is a bit rubbish to drive is exactly what you're trying to learn isn't it?
Bradley1500 said:
Triumph Spitfire.
I bought one of these when I was 16 and restored it over the further year to use as my first car. Now 19 unfortunately the car has been sold on as it wasn’t practical enough for my college/work commute.
They’re cheap if you go for the MK4 style, either 1300 or 1500 engines. Parts are readily available with big companies such as Canley’s Classics or Rimmer Bros selling parts to build one from scratch! I was lucky that I had local to me a breaker of specifically British sports car so was able to get a lot of my spares second hand at miniscule prices.
They’re easy to work on and there are many owners clubs and forums available for help when needed. I joined a couple of clubs and had help from local members when tackling things like tuning twin carbs for the first time. Once you know how it’s easy but having a little guidance to begin with helps greatly.
Furthermore, if you’re planning on technical engineering as a career you could get creative modifying a Spitfire. A good example I’ve seen recently was someone who fuel injected their Spitfire with custom throttle bodies and Megasquirt ECU management. Showing how you planned, designed and created something along the lines of this will look great on a CV and should make you stand out from the rest at uni who’ve simply achieved the grades to get in.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do and if you do get a project car keep us updated with it!
That sounds like a good idea as well. I'll keep it in mindI bought one of these when I was 16 and restored it over the further year to use as my first car. Now 19 unfortunately the car has been sold on as it wasn’t practical enough for my college/work commute.
They’re cheap if you go for the MK4 style, either 1300 or 1500 engines. Parts are readily available with big companies such as Canley’s Classics or Rimmer Bros selling parts to build one from scratch! I was lucky that I had local to me a breaker of specifically British sports car so was able to get a lot of my spares second hand at miniscule prices.
They’re easy to work on and there are many owners clubs and forums available for help when needed. I joined a couple of clubs and had help from local members when tackling things like tuning twin carbs for the first time. Once you know how it’s easy but having a little guidance to begin with helps greatly.
Furthermore, if you’re planning on technical engineering as a career you could get creative modifying a Spitfire. A good example I’ve seen recently was someone who fuel injected their Spitfire with custom throttle bodies and Megasquirt ECU management. Showing how you planned, designed and created something along the lines of this will look great on a CV and should make you stand out from the rest at uni who’ve simply achieved the grades to get in.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do and if you do get a project car keep us updated with it!
GavinPearson said:
OP, I have been in the career you aspire to enter for over 25 years, and graduated from Imperial College London which is a pretty good University. Cars are great fun and all that, but thinking back to the first 10 years of my career everybody drove popular cars like Ford Escorts and Ford Capris.
I would recommend you buy a car that just failed it's MOT for something fixable yet time consuming like brake lines that are rusty. Once you fix it, MOT & sell it. Then do another.
A bit of practical knowledge is helpful, but a Mech Eng degree requires you spend time in a workshop learning to mill, drill etc, so by the time you graduate your experience would on paper seem to be the same as anybody else's. So you are learning a practical skill and getting your motoring cheap or for free, but you won't really have an edge on anybody.
What really counts is going to a good college and getting the best degree possible. Try to get summer work at an automotive supplier or OEM. Work your nuts off when you are there and do whatever you're asked to do and they'll be trying to hire you straight out of college.
The big employers you are looking to work for want the very best people and they can afford to be very choosy because they are so swamped with applications. If they can fill their vacancies ten times over with 2:1s and 1sts then they will ignore people with 2:2s and lower. That may not seem reasonable but it is just the way it is, so you need to focus mostly on books and minimally on car.
I'm not saying don't fix a car, it's good, but it's not a criteria that the guy or girl deciding whether you get interviewed or not is going to use.
Thanks for the advice. My parents would make sure that this project won't get in the way of school work (so will I ). It will be a weekend holiday project for me.I would recommend you buy a car that just failed it's MOT for something fixable yet time consuming like brake lines that are rusty. Once you fix it, MOT & sell it. Then do another.
A bit of practical knowledge is helpful, but a Mech Eng degree requires you spend time in a workshop learning to mill, drill etc, so by the time you graduate your experience would on paper seem to be the same as anybody else's. So you are learning a practical skill and getting your motoring cheap or for free, but you won't really have an edge on anybody.
What really counts is going to a good college and getting the best degree possible. Try to get summer work at an automotive supplier or OEM. Work your nuts off when you are there and do whatever you're asked to do and they'll be trying to hire you straight out of college.
The big employers you are looking to work for want the very best people and they can afford to be very choosy because they are so swamped with applications. If they can fill their vacancies ten times over with 2:1s and 1sts then they will ignore people with 2:2s and lower. That may not seem reasonable but it is just the way it is, so you need to focus mostly on books and minimally on car.
I'm not saying don't fix a car, it's good, but it's not a criteria that the guy or girl deciding whether you get interviewed or not is going to use.
I may be able to get some experience in engineering companies Over next summer after my GCSEs.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff