Where to buy a donor car without MOT?

[R1chardP]

Hi all,

Wanting to look into buying a track day project car after some mates got an E36 328i for that purpose (thanks Al and Brillo, this is going to be expensive...)

Does anyone know where would be a good place to look for sub £1k cars along the lines of a 325/328/MX-5? I'm keen to get something with a fair bit of poke given that I don't have to worry about insurance or tax (I'm not going for road legal). I would probably be after something without an MOT but that isn't a complete shed. I've tried Autotrader, Gumtree and eBay but am not having much luck.

Any tricks up the collective PH sleeve?

Ta, Rich.

[sniff diesel]

A mate of mine breaks E36 M3's for a living, if you were after just a decent shell to rebuild a tatty or rusty E36 into then I'm sure he can sort you out:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CR-M-Tech-BMW-E36-and-M3-...

[e-mail]

[R1chardP]

Thanks for that, it will be useful when I improve the car but I think I need to start with something that is a whole car otherwise it'll sit in the garage for a few years before I do anything with it...

[joe_90]

I got a full working e36 325 (inc mot and tax) for 500, so they are about.

Edited by joe_90 on Thursday 17th June 14:48

[A.Wang]

joe_90 said:

I got a full working e36 325 (inc mot and tax) for 500, so they are about.

Do you mind sharing your sources? I'd be interested in finding a cheap E30 320 as a donor...

[A911DOM]

To be honest chap, I'd have thought a grand would get you a half decent car which still probably has MOT (so you can drive it home and start the weight shedding process).

Although each car will be different, if you're buying a car from a scrapyard / breakers, I'd be worried about the reason it wound up there -

A) Engine
B) Structural

Neither of which you want to have to deal with from the word go with a track slag.

There are so many cars out there around the 1000 quid mark, just search for anything up to about 1300 quid and go and bargain hard for the one which takes your fancy!

Alternatively - search exclusively for track day cars (which ordinarily will have been stripped, suspension upgrade, maybe even a cage etc) but arent worth as much as they dont have MOT / Tax etc - job done.

[A911DOM]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1791499.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1418911.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1770408.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1693078.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1804058.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1721370.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1802213.htm

Heres a few just from a quick search of the classifieds here that might make interesting starter track toys - all of which could be driven home

[sniff diesel]

A911DOM said:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1693078.htm

You honestly think that a 1.6 automatic Rover coupe T bar would be a good base for a track car?

[joe_90]

A.Wang said:

joe_90 said:

I got a full working e36 325 (inc mot and tax) for 500, so they are about.

Do you mind sharing your sources? I'd be interested in finding a cheap E30 320 as a donor...

pistonheads classified !!.. Was up for a bit more, but said I can be there tmw with 500 cash...deal done

[kamilb1998]

I will soon be getting a Fiat 126 and making that into a track-day car but the original engine is going to go into the garage and a Rover V8 will take its place!

[A911DOM]

sniff diesel said:

A911DOM said:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1693078.htm

You honestly think that a 1.6 automatic Rover coupe T bar would be a good base for a track car?

For me, no thanks - But just trying to give a broad view on whats available for the budget set.

[R1chardP]

Thanks for the advice all. I've got to do some things before I can stump up the cash (I'm aiming to build a cheap transporter trailer from the remains of a caravan if anyone has experience of this I'm all ears...) I think the answer is just to wait with the cash in my back pocket for a bargain to come up. Pretty much settled on an E36 328i saloon, seems to be a good mix of price and power. Now for the hard part of finding out how to pay for it!

I will document the trailer build if anyone is interested?