1. I’ve got my car and I don’t need to go out hunting anymore (my wife has a cast-iron skillet with my name on it if I drag any more hopeless wrecks home).

2. What shouldn’t be a shock to anyone, is that the original premise of the Rough Start series ($5,000, ready to drive or with one hell of an excuse why not) has been trashed. Blame economic factors, blame sellers who only see dollar signs.

3. …what’s left to buy even if you found something?

A daunting task, but I figured “what the hell” and went for it. This time, my restrictions were simple: $1000-$8000 price range, older than 1996. That’s it. And even that didn’t seem like a big enough net to cast up until I saw this thing. No, I haven’t lost my senses. In fact, this tiny little wind-up toy makes me smile.

Because the only thing that Kia sold in the United States at the time were bicycles (I know, my first bike was a Kia), you know this car better as a Ford Festiva and not as a Kia Pride. Whatever…it was a three-door hatchback meant to play the role of subcompact and fuel economy champion in Ford’s lineup. The last role I saw it play was in the movie Idiocracy as the car Joe has to drive during his “rehabilitation”. (Don’t ask about the hood ornament.)

But I have a reason to dig this. Back in my youth I took the Festiva’s predecessor, an early-1980s Fiesta, and made the same pickup-truck conversion. Only I didn’t install a dump bed. That would’ve been handy. No matter…the Fiesta made for a tiny little truck that sipped fuel and moved more weight than Ford Europe ever would’ve believed. This Festiva has the same things going for it: Road legality (ahem), frugal powertrain, and tiny size helps. It’s cheaper than a UTV, too. Need a pit car for your drag team? Need to haul things across your farm? The answer to both is “Festiva”.

Who would’ve ever believed that sentence?

Facebook Marketplace link: 1990 Ford Festiva truck conversion

The post Rough Start: This Festiva Is A Cute Li’l Farm Truck! appeared first on BangShift.com.

Well…a 1969 Charger it ain’t, but this 1981 Imperial got its big break in the movie biz in the climatic chase scene of Fast and Furious, better known as “Fast 4”. Since there’s a bit of a love/hate relationship between the majority of BangShift readers and that franchise, I’ll sum it up: it’s the Mexico kingpin run, the movie that features Freiburger’s “F-Bomb” 1973 Camaro, and it’s arguably the high point of the franchise before a group of SoCal street racers with a criminal edge suddenly turn into the Avengers for the automotive-minded. The final chase scene, in particular, is badass because you have one of the greatest mixes of vehicles that the F&F series has thrown together. You have the hot-rodded import in Brian O’Conner’s pre-production Subaru WRX STI hatchbacks, the violence of Toretto’s supercharged Charger, the wicked green Ford Torino of Fenix, and a motley fleet of henchmen in pursuit in just about anything you can think of, from an early 1970s Cadillac to a trophy-truck Chevrolet. The Imperial comes in during the tunnel chase, where the driver of the gray J-body bump-drafts Dom’s Dodge before somehow managing to spin out and wind up wrapped around a support beam and bashed by a few other pursuit vehicles.

I know that the movie car echoes the old Raven Imperial. There was a bit of inspiration, as I’ve always thought that from the front they looked evil and that with a height adjustment and some power, they’d be killer. But if this is a legit movie car, as the seller claims, would you mess with it? The answer better be a resounding “HELL YES.” I know that a Gen III Hemi swap sounds sweet, but trust me, I’ve seen the attempts, it’s a major pain in the ass. I’d build a Magnum 360 into something psychotic, ditch the stock steel wheels for something equally sinister, and for the love of all that is holy, make that hoodscoop disappear. But that might not be a good idea…that scoop is movie canon, and think about the money you’d make in 20 years time at an auction!

Facebook Marketplace link: 1981 Imperial (claimed to be Fast and Furious movie car)

The post Investment Grade? Own The Fast 4 Imperial Today! appeared first on BangShift.com.

That’s why finding this 1974 Chevrolet El Camino was like finding an oasis in the desert right about the time the vultures started to appear in the sky. While many hate the 1970s A-bodies for the usual reasons (weak “muscle”, oversized bumpers, land barges, Brougham Epoch, etc.) you really need to drive one. The El Camino, specifically, should be on your list. Think of it as “Squarebody Light”: the engine bay is huge, the bed space is plentiful, and a good, snotty Chevelle-based machine is always a riot. A bit of bodywork on this Arizona-sourced example and a new re-shoot of black paint and we’d rock the hell out of this one, swivel buckets and all. You even get a floor shift in this car. Doll it up to be a proper 1970s street machine or rock the color-and-primer “My Name Is Earl” look if you so insist. But for $6,000, we’d let Maaco put a fresh coat over the ute, make sure that the 350 underhood isn’t bleeding fluids, and drive the Cragars off of this sucker.

Facebook Marketplace link: 1974 Chevrolet El Camino

The post Rough Start: This 1974 El Camino Just Needs Some Paint And Polishing appeared first on BangShift.com.

So, for this round of Rough Start, here’s the adjustment: the price search was between $750 and $7,500 and I hunted blocks of vehicles in five-year increments, starting in 1970. Basket-cases would be ignored. Instead, we wanted something that ran and drove immediately, with a high level of potential. And that search led us to a white 1976 Buick Skylark with a blue vinyl top.

Don’t everybody clap at once, now.

Ok, look…outside of the year and the $3,500 asking price, we know very little about the car other than what the two photos highlight. Whatever. This thing could have a 250ci straight-six, or it could be rocking a Buick 350. Don’t care. It’s an X-body. That means it is a kissing cousin to the F-body and that there are a lot of neat suspension parts that could make this Buick handle. 9C1 Novas were famous for surprising police forces with their Camaro-infused capabilities during patrol duties. So haul ass with a little class in a Buick! We’d hunt down some bumper fillers for the rear, put on any wheels other than the stockers that are on the car now, and keep whatever is under the hood very quiet.

Focus on the suspension first before you bite the bullet and LS swap it. You’ll be glad you did.

Facebook Marketplace Link: 1976 Buick Skylark 

The post Rough Start: Grandpa’s Buick Can Be Your Budget Gran Sport! appeared first on BangShift.com.

Seller’s Description: CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ORIGINAL AD

1978 Chevy Malibu Classic Station Wagon.
99 % Original.
Excellent Condition.
305 C.I., 145 Net H.P.
FACTORY 4-SPEED.
F40 Suspension.
KYB Shocks.
2:73 Limited Slip Differential.
RUST FREE EXAMPLE.
Recent Repaint in Factory Correct Saffron Red.
This was a Complete, Doors Off and Door Jams Repainted.
Original Plaid Cloth Interior.
New Headliner.
Valve Seals and Valve Cover Gaskets Replaced.
Bosch Tachometer Installed.
Full Window Tint.
Original Steering Wheel and a Few Other Bits Included.

This Body Style was Only Made 1978-1983.
Manual Transmissions Only Made for 3 Years, 1978-1980
and Only About 2,000 were Produced in 2 Door, 4 Door and Station Wagon Versions Totally in 1978.
These Figures are to the Best of my Knowledge with the Information on the Internet,
Feel Free to Correct Me if I’m Wrong, But do Your Research First.
1 of 27 Built in this Configuration.
Only 2 in the Country that I KNOW OF TO EXIST IN STOCK FORM.
If you Find Another One, PLEASE LET ME KNOW and That will Make it 3!!!

Cold A/C, Hot heat, all Gauges Work Except the Clock.
Front End is Tight, Drives Straight and True.
This is a Well Cared for and Well Sorted Machine.
Recent Work Done and Confirmed by Bulldog Rod and Custom in Exton, Pa.

This Car is in Turn Key Condition.
If You are Serious, Come See This Time Capsule and MAKE ME AN OFFER I can’t refuse.
Fly in and Drive Her Home.

The post For Sale: This ’78 Chevy Malibu Wagon Is A Factory 4 Speed And As Rare As They Come appeared first on BangShift.com.

Meet the 1970 Plymouth Sport Fury. The Fuselage-styled C-body was still looking mighty fine for 1970, with it’s expansive grille and rounded shape. It blended “aggressive” and “classy” into one cohesive shape. While a Sport Fury GT is the upper crust, this two-door sedan body looks great.

From the ad: Professional Frame off resto 18 months old. 4000 miles on engine. New everything! Basically a new 1970 Plymouth. 440 ci, 4- barrel. Original jack, manual, sales brochures.. Very nice car! Please no low ballers, Rare 2 Dr car. Take to Mopar Weekend in BG in Sept and get a trophy. $21,000 obo. PM for questions/appt. 

No joke, bring it out to Bowling Green for MoParty. Make me jealous.

Facebook Marketplace link: 1970 Plymouth Sport Fury 

The post Money No Object: 1970 Plymouth Sport Fury, Dressed In Black appeared first on BangShift.com.

In case you don’t know what the hell this is all about, blame Chrysler and Mitsubishi’s early tie-ups for what many consider an absolute abomination. When the fuel crisis hit, the top brass within Chrysler didn’t try to make a small car. Instead, they made deals with Mitsubishi and their European divisions to supply the demand. You saw vehicles like the Plymouth Cricket (Hillman Avenger), the Colt, the Plymouth Arrow Truck and Dodge D-50 pickups (Mitsubishi L-series), the Plymouth Arrow (Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste) and the like appearing at dealerships that were trying to move tanks like the Gran Fury, Royal Monaco and the New Yorker. The 1978-1983 Dodge Challenger is the Mitsubishi Galant Lambda and is the predecessor to the “StarQuest” line of sport coupes. As a funky Japanese coupe, it works.

But there’s an even more sinister take for me with this car. You notice that Dodge never brings up these cars, right? Nobody does. Imagine what the car-show crowd thinks of these things. That’s why I’d love it. Keep the original engine with it’s cool header, 4G63-swap it with a turbo, small-block swap it with a stroked 360, whatever turns your crank, and go park it at an all-Mopar show, right next to the dude with the one-of-three 1971 Challengers with the leather interior, the rare vinyl roof and the one-of-one shifter handle, and watch them go absolutely apeshit. Evil? You bet, and I’d love every last second of it.

“Look…plaid seats! Yours didn’t come with that!”

Facebook Marketplace link: 1978 Dodge Challenger

The post Rough Start: Trolling Just About Everyone With A 1978 Dodge Challenger appeared first on BangShift.com.

The subject of this experiment is a derelict 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX. Yeah, these don’t have much of a following past die-hards, do they? After the Thunderbird line abandoned just about all sporting pretense in the mid-1960s, it never really got the swagger of the original cars back. It is kind of hard to go from Corvette fighter to “sporting limo” to disco barge and not have a reputation issue. Ford tried like hell starting in 1983…the Aero Birds kicked ass in NASCAR, and the MN-12 platform cars did well. But on the streets? Meh. The 1989-1997 Thunderbird didn’t really resonate with many past your Aunt Judy, the one who wanted to be sporty but thought a Mustang was too juvenile and thought a BMW was too yuppie. Hot rodder fodder, these are not.

I disagree. The 1994-1997 cars used the two-valve 4.6 Modular V8…which means that the current Coyote engine shouldn’t present a problem whatsoever. That 205-horsepower lump of a 4.6 needs to go serve anchor duty on a small fishing vessel. A Boss 302-spec Coyote engine and six-speed manual transmission in a car as unassuming as a T-bird is only part of the equation. Add in performance suspension parts meant for a Terminator Cobra, re-shoot the paint on this sun-scorched example, hit up The Driveshaft Shop for axle shafts that will work with the Thunderbird’s wider stance, and you’ll end up with something that will take on a road course with ease before stretching out on the Interstate. And if there is one thing Aunt Judy did get right about choosing one of these, it’s that they are comfortable inside. Plenty of room to stretch out.

Starting with an unloved $2,000 car that could probably be talked down, imagine what you could get this MN-12 to do for the cost of a seven-year-old Mustang GT. If we had a Coyote engine sitting on standby, we wouldn’t be able to start this project fast enough.

Facebook Marketplace link: 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX

The post Rough Start: Making A Bird Of Prey Out Of A Thunderbird appeared first on BangShift.com.

It’s difficult to explain. Aspens and Volarés, to me, are like Dusters. A lot of people tend to like their overall shape…for the FMJ cars, they are the most desirable. An Aspen done up with a Kit Car-meets-R/T style look to it is pretty badass. But they were also the cheap cars. They were meant to replace the Dart and the Duster in one fell swoop, the replacement for the well-regarded Chrysler A-body that went over as well as a squawking fart in a church. There’s always been an X-factor I can’t quite quantify that has kept me from owning one of these cars.

This 1977 car, on the other hand…it’s a good thing I already bought the “final project”, because if the Charger hadn’t been found, this would’ve been it. The outside is great: a period-correct color that doesn’t suck with a Duster-inspired blackout treatment and the Volaré Road Runner’s rear spoiler. Steel wheels and dog dishes. The scoop on the hood works perfectly. Visually, if they had sold a model just like this with a smogger 360, it would’ve done well. But keep going…

A 440 punched .030 over with some goodies. An 8.75 axle out back with 3.91 gears. A 727 with a Gear Vendors. All you would need to do is get the GV unit rebuilt, which the seller is up-front about. Rust? After the 1976 recall, Chrysler got their ass in gear and managed to improve steel quality by leaps and bounds. Or they found a chemical for dipping that prevented, not started, the rusting process. It works here. And inside the gut? Stock Aspen fitments, except for the Slap Stik shifter, an oil pressure gauge, and a tach.

I’ve never owned a Mopar F-body. But I’d rock this beauty without hesitation. What about you?

Facebook Marketplace link: 1977 Plymouth Volaré

The post The Redemption: This 1977 Plymouth Volaré Corrects All Of The Sins appeared first on BangShift.com.

So I don’t know much about it except the little bit of info that is in the ad he sent a link to. It says it has a turbocharged diesel in it, which either means it has been swapped to a later Ford engine or an aftermarket turbo kit was used on the 6.9 that could have come in the van. Of course the dual rear wheels are not factory and that actually makes them better in our world because they look rad sticking out the side just a bit.

Here’s the seller’s description and a link to the original ad on Craigslist. CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ORIGINAL AD SO YOU CAN CONTACT BILLY

1985 FORD E250 TURBO DIESEL, DUALLY VAN WITH LESS THAN 90,000 MILES. CALL, TEXT OR EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION.

MICHELIN TIRES ALL AROUND, NEW BATTERIES, STRAIGHT BODY, CLEAR TITLE

I DO NOT NEED HELP SELLING, IF ITS STILL LISTED ITS AVAILABLE

CALL , TEXT OR EMAIL FOR PRICE

The post Online Oddball: This Turbo Diesel 1985 Ford Van Is A Dually And We LOVE It! appeared first on BangShift.com.