Five thousand dollars is the budget we use for the Rough Start budget. The goal is simple: to find a car that, using that total amount or less, will run and drive well enough to be useful, or to have enough potential as a project that it’s worth the cost. A clapped-out ‘Cuda with great metal and parts in boxes would qualify, as would a late-model Charger ex-cop car. Five grand can take you pretty far if you know what you’re doing. But there are those grey areas where sometimes, just sometimes, it’s worth it to drop a little extra coin for something worthwhile. Today, we’ve found one of those rare specimens.
A third-gen F-body is opportunity with a license plate. They handle, they are open to modifications, they’re comfortable drivers, they’re aerodynamically smooth, and when they’re cleaned up and maintained, they are lookers. This 1983 Trans Am is proof…still clinging a bit to the black-and-gold look that Pontiac ran with for a decade (inspired by the John Player Special colors in Formula 1 racing), the combination of what appear to be later WS6 basketweave wheels and no other visual modifications just works. Okay, so the nose got bumped a little bit. Don’t hold it against this car too hard.
That’s no wheezing 305 here, folks. That’s a 406ci small-block with the usual goodies, and it’s hooked to a 700R4 overdrive automatic. We’re a bit thin on details but what we aren’t lacking on is interest. For $5,500 dollars, that’s a lot of car to pick up. We’d look for rust in the footwells and other T-top car issues, but there’s a lot of promise here and the restraint on the modifications gives us hope. No steering wheel, no stickers, no cracks in the dashpad. This is a cared-for car that just needs it’s nose straightened out in our eyes!
Flip them fuel lines. same for starter. Put in a 69-70 350 bop.