What project car for a 6m x 3m garage?

[manmaths]

I plan to buy a house within the next 6 months. Top of my criteria list is that it must have a garage. In our budget range most of the garages seem to be on the smaller size of around 6m in length and 3m in width, although a couple of houses we have seen have bigger garages (one was 7x4 and another was 10x4).

I have made it clear to my wife and 2 small boys that this will be my personal space. They can keep all their stuff in a shed.

I would like to put a car in there to tinker at, however, the size of the garage would then become an issue.

I'm interested to hear if any of you have worked on a car in a garage of that size (6x3), and what car you have/had. I would be budgeting no more than 3k for a project car.

My 1st car was an '86 cooper. I know that would fit in, but not sure if I want to do the mini thing again.

Any suggestions?

[PositronicRay]

It needs to something older. Newer stuff is all too big to work on comfortably. How about a motorbike, midget, elan (depending on budget)

[grahamr88]

I'd recommend getting into bikes! My garage is probably smaller than that, and it comfortably fits three motorbikes and a big workbench.

The big benefit of being able to fit more than one project vehicle in there, is that when you get fed up with one, you can move onto another for a bit!

[kambites]

It's doable but it's a bit of of an arse working on a car in a garage that narrow because you have to tuck the car up against a wall so you can only get at once side at once.

As for what to pick - something narrow. Something like an MG Midget or Triumph Spitfire would work.

[manmaths]

PositronicRay said:

It needs to something older. Newer stuff is all too big to work on comfortably. How about a motorbike, midget, elan (depending on budget)

grahamr88 said:

I'd recommend getting into bikes! My garage is probably smaller than that, and it comfortably fits three motorbikes and a big workbench.

The big benefit of being able to fit more than one project vehicle in there, is that when you get fed up with one, you can move onto another for a bit!

I had thought about getting a bike at one stage - I even called past a learner center about 6 months ago and picked up some leaflets. I'd much rather stick with 4 wheels if I had to choose. Maybe at some point in the future I will consider doing my bike test. I did strip down and rebuild a motorbike in my parents garage - but it was a 50cc mini moto.

kambites said:

It's doable but it's a bit of of an arse working on a car in a garage that narrow because you have to tuck the car up against a wall so you can only get at once side at once.

As for what to pick - something narrow. Something like an MG Midget or Triumph Spitfire would work.

Yes that's what I thought. Even a classic mini at 1.4m wide will only leave 0.8m per side. I would have to (with any car) tuck it against a wall. However, that is doable although awkward.

Didn't even think about a midget but I do like them. I imagine they wouldn't be vastly different to work on than a classic mini.

I'll take a browse of the classifieds.

[kambites]

Well obviously a Midget is longitudinal engined RWD so the drive-train is quite different than a Mini.

Probably similar in terms of quantity of rust, though.

Thinking of more modern things, a mk1 MX5 might be an option?

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 3rd February 14:20

[Sensibleboy]

205 GTI? Get some dollies and the car can be pushed sideways to give plenty of space down one side to work on it.

[RobGT81]

Elan

[SuperVM]

I had a very small garage for my mk2 Golf. I did the 20vT engine conversion elsewhere, but changed the gearbox to an 02J unit with Peloquin diff in my tiny garage. Tight against one wall, there was just about enough space to open the door and get in. A mk1 Golf is smaller still, otherwise there are plenty of small kit cars.

[kambites]

RobGT81 said:

Elan

For £3k?

[soad]

Toyota MR2?

Honda Civic?

Lupo GTI?

[ImpossiblyDaft]

kambites said:

For £3k?

The fwd one maybe?

[Speedy11]

ImpossiblyDaft said:

kambites said:

For £3k?

The fwd one maybe?

or a plus 2 if you want lots of work.

[kambites]

Have you looked at the prices of Elan +2s recently? You'd be lucky to get change from £10k for a complete shed.

[PositronicRay]

manmaths said:

Didn't even think about a midget but I do like them.
I'll take a browse of the classifieds.

I loved mine

[Speedy11]

kambites said:

Have you looked at the prices of Elan +2s recently? You'd be lucky to get change from £10k for a complete shed.

No I haven't, and you're right however here is one that sold only missing an engine and box for 1.5k that only needs alittle work

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lotus-Elan-2-Rolling-She...

[andburg]

Suzuki Cappuccino, small so you can do donuts inside the garage, parts should cheap cheap and lots of options for upgrades, engine conversions etc

pretty sure fairly minor mods will see you over 100bhp and they weigh nothing

[kambites]

Speedy11 said:

No I haven't, and you're right however here is one missing an engine and box for 1.5k

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lotus-Elan-2-Rolling-She...

That would make a good project for someone willing to put the effort in. It would be quite a lot of effort though.

[manmaths]

kambites said:

Well obviously a Midget is longitudinal engined RWD so the drive-train is quite different than a Mini.

Probably similar in terms of quantity of rust, though.

Thinking of more modern things, a mk1 MX5 might be an option?

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 3rd February 14:20

I've always wanted to learn how to weld! Yes MX5 is a good shout. I have never driven them but I like the look of the MK1. Seem to be some cheap ones about.

Sensibleboy said:

205 GTI? Get some dollies and the car can be pushed sideways to give plenty of space down one side to work on it.

I don't know why but I have just never liked the 205! My brother in law restored one and took me a spin. I didn't really fancy it.
I'll get my coat...

Good suggestion on the dollies though. That will be a must.

SuperVM said:

I had a very small garage for my mk2 Golf. I did the 20vT engine conversion elsewhere, but changed the gearbox to an 02J unit with Peloquin diff in my tiny garage. Tight against one wall, there was just about enough space to open the door and get in. A mk1 Golf is smaller still, otherwise there are plenty of small kit cars.

I like the MK1. Back in '02 when me and my brother were looking for a car to "share" (he is a year older) we were offered a MK1 golf for £1k but went for a mini instead. Part of me wishes I'd have gone for the golf.

soad said:

Toyota MR2?

Honda Civic?

Lupo GTI?

No - something about them - have just never liked them. Never driven one mind.
Yes!
No - mate had one in Edinburgh and I wasn't really a fan.

I love the ek9 after driving one a good few years ago. Memories of that inspired me to buy my accord Type R (sold a few years ago). I would buy an ek9 over an ep3.

andburg said:

Suzuki Cappuccino, small so you can do donuts inside the garage, parts should cheap cheap and lots of options for upgrades, engine conversions etc

pretty sure fairly minor mods will see you over 100bhp and they weigh nothing

I would need to get over myself before I could drive one. I'm not sure my carefully honed image could cope.

Incidentally, I took a couple of mins on my little iPad app and mocked up a Midget sized car in a standard 6x3 garage. Not much room but doable!



I would need the workbenches at the back (I do a bit of woodworking) and would need a large shed but it could work.

The house with the 10x3 garage gives a bit more scope to get creative. I'm thinking a little office, decent sized work area and a small car. The man in the photo is just for proportions sake. Handy little app.

[kambites]

If you were to buy something with a separate chassis like a Spitfire or Elan, you'd probably want space for both body and chassis in the garage at once. Which would work with the longer garage but not if you fill it with furnature like that.