What V8 powered muscle car!

[300bhp/ton]

There are so many great cars out there that I'd like to sample and own. So I'm thinking of a total change in my current line up.

But I still want, ok need a V8 in my life. So my plan is to get into a position where one of these is viable.


I do suspect a poll on here might be one sided, as one car is probably far better known than the other. But here goes.....



Car 1:

A 1977-78 Pontiac Trans Am.

Now I'm rather picky, so ideally I'd like this to be a Black SE (just like Smoekey and the Bandit ), but I'd settle for red failing that.

And when I say I'm picky, I'm really picky.

I want a 4 speed manual. And it must be a proper 400ci Pontiac V8 "Poncho" and not the Oldsmobile powered 403ci variant.

I might consider a 1970.5-73 Trans Am in either white or blue. Or a 1979 Trans Am. But I don't like the front on the other years, or the latter ones (post 79) lack the Poncho V8.

Something that looks like this:



Pro's:

-Look great
-Sound great
-Go ok
-With some potential
-Good for shows and fun
-Has 4 seats and boot
-Value seem to be on the up

Con's:

-It's an old car
-So rust and maintenance will be bigger issues
-It's going to cost ££££££ to make it truly perform well
-Do I want another project, or something that works 90% out of the box?
-Finding one!
-Will drink like a fish on holiday in the Med




Car 2:

2003/4 Mustang Cobra "The Terminator"

These too are rather rare, although I've seen a couple in the past 12 months for sale. For those that don't know. The Cobra is a special limited run performance model of the Mustang built by Ford's Special Vehicle Tuning Department (SVT).

The 2003/4 Terminator was the last Cobra built on the sn95 Fox body derived platform. This is a very different car from a regular Mustang GT.

Main spec:

-4.6 DOHC V8
-Eaton Roots M112R supercharger @ 8.5psi
-IRS
-T56 6 speed manual
-Custom interior
-Tuned suspension
-Bigger brakes

Ford rated this car at 390bhp/390lb ft, although this tends to be proven to be more like 420hp in the real world (read up about the 1999 Cobra HP scandal if you want to know why they underrated it).

Reviews always rate the handling and performance of these models.

In short - they're quick!!

1/4 mile in the middish 12's @ 111mph+

But the thing that appeals is, it's very easy to get over 500hp from them. Which just makes them silly fast for very little outlay

I also personally think they look bad ass!!!



Pro's:

-Looks
-Sounds
-Speed
-Easy HP gains
-Handlnig
-Modern performance
-Modern car so no rust or huge maintenance issues
-Still show worthy
-Mustang's and Cobra's tend to hold their money quite well
-Far more usable
-Only available as a manual 6 speed, so no issues having to ignore auto variants



Con's:

-Still hard to find
-Not a classic (yet)
-Not quite as show worthy as the T/A
-Won't sound as good as an old school OHV motor
-No glass roof or T-Tops and the Convertible doesn't appeal at all



EDIT: Budget wise, £8-12k is what I'm thinking of as I've seen examples of both cars available for this. If under budget then additional money will be spent on performance parts.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 28th January 11:32

[edo]

Budget?

[Agoogy]

A Monaro?
Something by AMG perhaps??
no?

[Smike]

What about Harry's old '500' from EVO mag? Would it count?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-TVR-GRIFFITH-500-/25076...

[Chris71]

+1 on the TVR suggestion.

I just prefer them to the US offerings, and a de-catted RV8 sounds very Stateside indeed.

[edo]

Smike said:

What about Harry's old '500' from EVO mag? Would it count?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-TVR-GRIFFITH-500-/25076...

Ooh nice. Certainly a well sorted car. A Griff 500 would certainly be up there as one of my favourite cheap(ish) ways into V8 ownership..

[vixen1700]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C202113/

Mopar muscle in an Italian suit, made by Brummies.

[vit4]

If you want something American, it's got to be old skool.

A guy around the corner from me had a '71 Camaro and a Trans Am similar to the one pictured. The noise was glorious

[300bhp/ton]

edo said:

Budget?

Probably as much as I can scrape together. I'd have though £8-12k would be a usable budget as the two Cobra's I've seen last year for sale where up at £10,500.

Classic T/A's do seem to be gaining in value though.

I might consider finance, although on a classic and imported car it's not so easy, so will probably evaluate what I can get at this level.

And if I'm honest, even I looked at vehicles costing £25,000 I'm not sure there's anything I'd actually rather have.

[300bhp/ton]

Smike said:

What about Harry's old '500' from EVO mag? Would it count?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-TVR-GRIFFITH-500-/25076...

Nice, probably a bit over budget though. And if I'm honest if (when) I have a TVR it'll be a Cerbera V8.

[RacerMDR]

Might not be your thing but I've owned two.

griff500 and new M3

I love them both - equally for different reasons :-)

Just two V8 options for you to peruse :-)

[300bhp/ton]

Chris71 said:

+1 on the TVR suggestion.

I just prefer them to the US offerings, and a de-catted RV8 sounds very Stateside indeed.

lol. already have one though. Quite happy to try something else.

[Stu R]

Mustang Cobras are great fun to drive. 600bhp is easily obtained too.

but... scrape a bit more together and buy this instead, it's been tormenting me in the classifieds for a while now...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2316980.htm

If you're after importing drop me a line, can help out

[CampDavid]

:lol:

Seriously though, in that range the BMW 635CSI and Porsche 928 make a lot of sense, though the BM isn't a V8.

[wackojacko]

vixen1700 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C202113/

Mopar muscle in an Italian suit, made by Brummies.

Uber
what about a late 60's 'vette ?

[wackojacko]

vixen1700 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C202113/

Mopar muscle in an Italian suit, made by Brummies.

Uber
what about a late 60's 'vette ?

[300bhp/ton]

wackojacko said:

what about a late 60's 'vette ?

Suspect over budget. And Ideally if it's a classic Vette I'd want a 58 in red/cream and they are certainly way over budget.

[300bhp/ton]

Stu R said:

If you're after importing drop me a line, can help out

Cheers, I might well import if I can't find one.

[GravelBen]

Mustang for me out of those two - I'd prefer the 2000 Cobra R though, never even seen a real one but it was a fantastic thing in Forza!

[Prof Prolapse]

300bhp/ton said:

the latter ones (post 79) lack the Poncho V8.

Something that looks like this:

My old man had this very car, colour the works, when I was growing up.

He now has the 2004 Mustang, a pan-something special edition in the ludicrous orange.

The former was very special. The latter, appears to have been made principally from recycled plastic bags.

Not my area of automotive interest but, for me personally, the former will always be very special.

He did used have a great time trying to explain to people that he didn't drive a "transit van" though....