These are the best places to find a cheap project car – Jalopnik

The ultimate high for an acceleration head must build a project car. It is a very rewarding hobby, but can be quite time -consuming, and let’s not forget it, also outrageously expensive. A good way to start on a project car is to find the cheapest donor vehicle, a car that will be the basis for you to build a dream car/SUV. That way you start cheaply and in case you leave your project halfway, you don’t end up with a big hole in your pocket.

There are different ways in which you can search for the project car that matches your desires and your wallet. The simplest and cheapest way is to go online and search for digital market places. The other, more rewarding way is to search in a car cemetery, or even drive around in search of something special that peeping out of someone’s garage. I personally know someone in India who has restored a Daihatsu Wildcat, which he had left in a market. The third may be for you if you have deep pockets and do not want to spend much time turning a rust bucket into a shiny convertible. These are auctions that sometimes also have cheaper, less than mint condition cars and those who do not need much repair.

In short, a car is almost a new car that you can spend time adjusting before you are worried about the mechanical and structural state. Of course these are the first steps to get your project cars and to record many hidden variables. It is fair to say, there is a lot in a project car than you would suggest.

The best places to find a cheap project car are sites such as Craigslist, Ebay Motors and Facebook Marketplace. These sites are like a virtual car cemetery where you have access to a huge collection of cars and where you can refine your search for one specific car. Of course there are a lot of the dealer car websites that offer untouched used cars, but we are looking for the cheapest project cars without the dealer committee in between.

With websites such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, you have to deal with buyers directly, who often save time and money. Moreover, there is room for negotiation, so you can get your car for less than the price stated, depending on your negotiation skills. The great thing about these sites is that you can come across the most obscure cars where the seller has no idea of ​​their real value, a transaction that can become a fantastic bargain.

It can also go the other way. Sellers often quote sky -high prices for their junkers, so do your research. Check multiple sites to get a fair idea of ​​the actual value of your potential project car. Then buy around for the lowest price. The lowest is not always the best, because an abnormally cheap car can often hide a twisted chassis or a bloated engine. Due Diligence is of the utmost importance because you rarely get the chance to view the car well before you buy it online. You can close some great offers, because most sellers are simply looking for an abandoned project car from their driveway or sell their university wheels to free up the garage space.

The offline route usually consists of surfing the car graveyard. You usually visit car cemetery for stripped spare parts, but there are a few who sell you a car that is destined to be deleted. Searching for every centimeter of a car cemetery helps, because somewhere a classic, hidden under piles of junk. It is a time -consuming affair that often needs a sharp eye and a thorough knowledge of cars. However, if you win, you win big. Having a friendly car cemetery trader helps, because you may receive internal information about fresh arrivals, which can be a fantastic potential car for prices for scrap prices.

However, do not forget that these cars will be demolished for a reason. So be prepared to replace rusted floor tiles and blown engines. Zinkhof cars or storage title cars may be cheap, but they come with luggage in the form of extra man -hours and money needed to take them to an acceptable running condition. That does not count the time or the money needed to make them your dream car. Do not fall for the YouTube rage, your project car does not have to be a MAD Science project.

Swap meets are another great way to find a cheap project car. You can view different cars at the same time and take a closer look at what you are going on in terms of work. These are also places where you are in a better position to negotiate, because sellers are not looking for their cars at the end of the day. On that comment, here are a few cool future project cars.

We are not talking about Barrett-Jackson here. We are talking about military and policies. If you are looking for a donor vehicle for a 4×4 or an extreme off-road overland rig, what is a better alternative than a military vehicle? Military vehicles are difficult to survive extremely weather and extreme terrain. These are robust, reliable vehicles that are well taken care of during their military tenure and that can be purchased for a lower price than a new or even used civil vehicle, thanks to the high volume of these vehicles that are for sale.

You can buy military vehicles at certified auction houses, both online and offline. However, keep in mind that these vehicles have led hard lives, some are deployed in active combat zones and even depicted from cargo aircraft. Although they are reliable, some spare parts of military species can be difficult to find. These are heavy vehicles, so it can be quite expensive to send them throughout the country. Also contact the regulations of your state about registering a military vehicle for civil use.

If you are more inclined to cheap civil cars, view police and government auctions. These include cars that have been seized, confiscated or even taken from the police fleet. It is a gold mine for finding luxury cars that are seized in drug photos, or even a police cruiser. The catch is that most vehicles in these auctions are sold ‘as it is’, which means that you cannot check them. So if these vehicles have problems, the only way to find out after you have bought them is. It is a perfect example of the adage, the higher the risk, the higher the reward.

An important factor to consider while shopping for a project car is knowing how much you want to spend and where you want to spend it. You can spend a little more on getting a mechanical and structurally healthy project car, or saving money on getting a cheaper rust bucket, which you ultimately spend more time and money to bring it to working state.

It’s not about what you want to build, but what you can afford to build. A half -restored and deserted Ferrari from the 90s in your garage looks good, but do you know what looks even better? A fully restored BMW from the 90s. The bonus is that you can control the BMW, in contrast to the Ferrari, which you could not finish because you no longer had any money. After all, no car is as expensive as a cheap Ferrari project car. By planning your research and planning every step of the Build in advance, you save money, time and heartache.

It’s not always about money. There is a reason why JDM cars are popular project cars. It is not only because they are cheap to build, it is also because there is a huge inventory of aftermarket parts available. An Italian car is perhaps a cooler project, but forget the expensive part; The parts are scarce and more difficult to find. Your entire Italian car project may get stuck due to the need for a small, obscure part that is no longer made.