Every hot rodder has hung out with friends, talking about what cheap cars they saw online this week, and contemplating which ones they think would be cool to build. Invariably the discussion will end up with some kind of debate over which vehicle has the most merit, and what is the proper way to build each one. Someone is going to say LS swap, somebody else is going to bitch about everything not needing an LS Swap, and someone is going to throw some weird combo into the mix just to stir the pot. I know, I’ve seen me do it. All of it as a matter of fact.
So when I was doing my normal Craigslist hunting and saw this Pinto for $500 it got me thinking about what else you could get for $500 on Craigslist in my area this week. Well it turns out you can buy a lot, and many of them even run and drive, but I didn’t want just anything so I went for fun cars this time. Something you could build into a drag car, a pro touring machine, or just a fun cruiser. Your choice.
What I came up with was the aforementioned Pinto, a Mitsubishi Starion, and a Porsche 944. The Porsche and Starion could have easily been a Fox body Mustang, 3rd Gen, or 4th Gen Camaro, or any number of other little cars, but these spoke to me for today.
So which one would you choose?
The Pinto is a 1973 Model, and looks pretty straight except for the slightly smashed right rear quarter panel. That should be an easy fix, and because it is a 1973 there is no smog requirement no matter where you live. The other nice thing about the Pinto is that you can put anything under the hood of one. From Big Block Fords, Chevrolets, any small block, turbo versions of the factory 2.3, LS engines, and just about anything else you want will fit under the hood and has probably been installed already. So it isn’t a big challenge since you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. And anything goes with the Pinto. Make it a drag car, a pro touring machine, a road racer, or street bruiser and it is all good.
The Starion on the other hand is Mitsubishi’s greatest sports car and one that really turns my crank. We have seen them with all kinds of engine combos, but don’t short change the 4G63 that came in them. Turbocharged these engines regularly put out 700 horsepower plus! Again, any swap is possible with one and the suspension is good for all your handling activities. But if you want to drag race one we’re sure the guys at Chassisworks can get you setup with what you need for a cage, solid axle, and big or small tires out back. We love these cars and if it were ours it would be Pro Touring style all the way. What would you do with it?
The Porsche 944 is very similar in so many ways to the Starion, we know. But even though it was one of the cheaper Porsche’s in history, and had a questionable performance and durability reputation, it still looks cool and always did. If you were a teenager in the 1980s then you thought these were pretty cool. Until you drove one that is, because they were a pig. But the suspension was everything you expect from Porsche. So if you do the right swap, like an LS engine, these can be a really fun car to throw around the autocross and road course. With that said, we also think it would be fun to do some really wacky swap that would piss people off. Something like a 2JZ Turbo combo. That would piss of the Porsche guys AND the Toyota guys. We’re equal opportunity offenders.
We’re sure you can find many $500 rides online as well, so if you find a good pair or three that we should post for our readers then send them on over! Email them to me at [email protected].
So, which one of these $500 beauties are you going for?
Personally I would go for the porsche. There’s kits available to fit a rover/buick v8 in them but I would go for an audi turbo 5 cylinder from one of the large 90s audis. Not much of a weight difference from the stock engine but more power and cheaper tuning.
stock engine is 450lbs, at that weight an aluminum ls hardly changes the already 50/50 weight balance of this car. the only downside here is the transaxle, these cars run a torque tube and transaxle like a c5+ corvette, and the best version of it anymore than 450-500hp from a v8 is playing with fire. putting a trans on the back of the engine means losing the factory climate control and a lot of hacking of the floor and structure of the chassis, and transplanting a corvette t56 and torque tube is as much surgery. even still, 400hp in these cars makes a hell of a good road coarse or auto cross car
pinto …. and be different swap in a eco boost 4 out of a mustang
I remember when the Starion/Conquest came out in the mid-80’s. Didn’t have the scrstch to buy one but at $500, this is a no brainer.
I have seen some interesting results with putting VW 1.8 Turbo motors in 924s, but I think I’d go for the Startion – and put a small block Mopar in it. Or a PT Cruiser turbo mill, to really confuse everyone.
Porsche followed by the Starion. Ecotec turbo in the Porsche and stick with the 4g63 in the starion.
i actually have done exactly that swap (ecotec in the porsche 944). 2.2l ecotec with a borg warner 7670 efr turbo. at 8psi it made 350 whp, its soon going back on the rollers for some more boost. you can check out my album here
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPXeYI2nyO85zn9AYwN8eX0i8XmnWht7QThjq8hZNE1UU2CwfyrUX6ml0E41CnlYg?key=TlA0ZHhGak8tcmJKMURqTW1ZLUVhT0F2S3NDZXZB
Not really a fair question. The Porsche and the Starion are going to overall cost way more than the Pinto. They were both high-optioned cars from the factory, plenty of things to brake or no-longer function.
First hand knowledge, having sold my TSi in the mid-90’s.
The Porsche and put a turbocharged 928 V8 into it with 928 trans, brakes and running gear. The Pinto with a Cosworth YB motor in it – that’s if they are as common in the States as they are over here. As for the Starion follow your lead as that would be a great car..
There all going to get LS swaps!
Cosworth YB motors were never sold in the US – which would make the swap over here pretty jaw dropping.
Station/Conquests came with a G54B engine code. 2.6L intercooled turbo. Not the 4G63 you mentioned.
I\’m biased, I\’d take the Station and LSX swap it.
LS – Loser Subnormals
Ms Christina drives a 944.
Starion with a pissed off barely streetable turbo 13B Wankel for the win!
Man, tough choice! The Pinto would be the easiest to do. A turbo banger or 302, simple. I have fond memories of my 2.0 ’72 Pinto cleaning house at Lebanon Valley Dragway in the mid ’70’s brackets, while my dad struggled to get past the first round with our SS/D hemi four speed ’67 GTX. But the, I’ve always wanted a Starion! I think it is one of the coolest looking sports cars to come out of Japan. It’d be tougher to hot rod, but it would be more unique.
It’s too damned early in the morning to make such a difficult choice….