I'm an average size/weight middle-aged man, looking for a care to enjoy on weekends or as a hobby. With the prices on average muscle and classic cars rising exponentially, what would you suggest for me to look into? My biggest requirements are a reasonable price, front-engine/rear-wheel drive, easy and inexpensive to work on with a good availability of parts.
My biggest requirements are a reasonable price,
Not in this current car climate.
front-engine/rear-wheel drive,
Camaro, Firebird/Trans-Am, Mustang, Charger to name a few. There are others and you'll have to figure out what it is you want.
easy and inexpensive to work on with a good availability of parts.
Easy to work on; yes the older ones had more room to get most things.
Inexpensive with good availability of parts; yes as there are a lot in salvage yards, but no for any new replacement parts as everything is much more expensive than it needs to be thanks to "Brandon".
And forget about any foreign cars as the cost of replacement parts are even more astronomical and harder to get.
I would recommend a GM B-Body of really any sort. Every GM full size car was built on the same chassis in the late 1970s, so a lot of parts are interchangeable, and widely available. Oldsmobile Delta 88s, Chevy Impalas, the Caprice, Pontiac Bonneville/Catalinas, the Cadillac Deville... I'm probably forgetting others. Sedans and wagons fetch less than coupes. A buddy of mine has a '78 Impala 2-door he paid quite a bit more for than I did my Pontiac.
The Catalina wasn't a popular car in the late 70s, but the interchangeability of parts with cars that were popular, like the Caprice, means you can find them easily. I've replaced an alternator in my Catalina, found that in stock at an O'Reilly in a small town. I replaced the fuel pump, got that from AutoZone, they had one at the regional warehouse and got it the same day. They had a gasket for the rear end in stock, and I have the relatively rare 2.41:1 GM rear end. I even got a driver's side B-pillar that matches my interior from a local junkyard in the rust belt, of all things.
It helps to know someone wanting to get rid of a car. I picked my Catalina up from my girlfriend's parents for $750, they were wanting to get rid of it years ago and couldn't sell it. I was like you and wanted an old car to fix up. I drove it 100 miles in a day this week.
You need to check for rust. Pay attention to the frame- doors and panels can be replaced. Floor pans are annoying, but they can be done. My car is mostly rust-free in the critical areas. The frame has no rust, but the floor pan is rusting in the back seat on the right, and the front passenger seat from rain getting in the front somewhere. I cover it when it rains until I figure it out.
Adding @justin-shepherd who may want to comment on his experiences with his 1979 Pontiac Catalina.
You'll probably find the best prices on traditional 4-door American sedans from the 1970s and 1980s since 2-door, convertible, and even station wagon models have been commanding premium prices. The 1977+ "B" body GM full-size sedans would probably top the list of desirability, but pretty much any of them would make for a good hobby car.
S2000? Fits your specs, and is known for being a very well made car. And is an absolute blast to drive.
They had been appreciating, but I haven’t looked at prices recently. So might have to be patient to find one that is 1) in your price range and 2) in good shape.
