What would you suggest as a beginner's project?

[Del]

It's time to face the fact that I don't really know that much about cars. I know roughly how they work, and some idea about what to look for when they go wrong, but not much beyond that.
I have in the past changed a starter motor, wheel bearings and a head gasket (with help) but I think it's time to learn more.
So, when I move and actually get somewhere with a driveway or garage, I hope to get a small and simple car that I can strip and rebuild and learn along the way.
What would you recommend? I guess it needs to be something with good parts availability, so the obvious choice is a Mini. They're getting pricey now though (although there's one on eBay for £850).
Any other ideas? Fiat 126? Early Fiesta? 2CV?

Don't be offering me anything just yet, I don't have anywhere to put it

[BT]

I bought my first ever project car when I was 13, I bought it out of paper round money off of my old librarian and school, it was a 1982 mini city E with a grand total of 32k on it for the total of £200. Prices have changed some what between now and then.

Since growing up a fair few years and having played about with a lot of other cars, nothing has been simpler to understand or get my head around than the classic mini.

Another bonus is parts availability and price, although some sellers are incredibly ambitious with their prices for project cars the parts remain super affordable, repair panels are readily available and easily replaced. There are a lot of specialists out there and if you go to some shows its quite overwhelming how many companies are out there dedicated to something that was produced 56 years ago, or is it 57, I cant remember.

There are a lot of modification options out there, despite many purists turning their nose up its something I like to see. I think the most troublesome thing with the classic mini is reaming the rear radius arms, and that's because its hard work to get the correct size arm reamer. That said brand new rear arms are not that expensive at all. They require very few specialist tools, cone compressor is one of them which are easily made at home.

I would not say they are the best beginner car ever full stop end of topic, I am sure there are other excellent project cars out there, but my experience is directly related to the classic mini and I can confirm, they would make an excellent project car. If I was to buy another one now I would say go for a clubman estate, van or pick up, there are a few floating around on sales sites for £2000 or less.

[s1105117]

From what people have said to me, a morris minor is the easiest thing to work on, and parts availability is huge. Can look awesome with some mods too!

[theheap]

Consider the need to be able to weld

[duggers]

As a dyed in the wool VW man if you want small can I suggest an older POLO, although you are likely to need to be able to weld with many of them!
They are easy to work on and again parts supply is good.

[qwerty]

Apr 24, 2016 12:29:57 GMT duggers said:

As a dyed in the wool VW man if you want small can I suggest an older POLO, although you are likely to need to be able to weld with many of them!
They are easy to work on and again parts supply is good.

+1 to that comment.

Although I would say that you'll be surprised with what you can achieve. There is so many guides online for how to do pretty much any job to almost any car. The combination of a decent guide and not being pressured into having to have the job done for getting to work on Monday greatly increases the enjoyment of working on your own car.

[sweetmk1dub]

How much would a complete but project beetle cost nowadays?

[daslandroverman]

I suppose it's no real surprise I'd suggest an old Land Rover.
Pretty much everything for them is available new, and all the mechanicals are nice big chunky bits that are all pretty simple, if not a little weighty.

The only real downside is (as with Minis) the prices are going up now they're being recognised as classics.
What would have been a £150 project 6 or 7 years ago is often valued at 5 or 6 times that now.

If nothing else, once you've picked a car it's probably worth getting in with the local owners club and see what's available at a reasonable price from chaps who know about these things rather than going on ebay value and paying over the odds.

[BT]

Apr 24, 2016 13:11:41 GMT sweetmk1dub said:

How much would a complete but project beetle cost nowadays?

Good shout, these seem to be reasonable enough still. My dear old mother swapped an engine in one when she was a youngster, so that's got to say something about their simplicity.

Personally I want to get my rear end into a 924 or 944, they still seem to be at an affordable price at the moment, I cant imagine for long but I imagine that wouldn't be an good starter project, well it could be, depends how you want to look at it!

[pistonpopper]

Get anything that's cheap enough so you don't worry to much what you do to it while you're learning, I just picked up a 20 year old Fiat for just £200with then months MOT. It's quite scruffy, but it's solid, and is loads of fun to drive.

[pistonpopper]

Not the best picture but as you can see...Scruffy, but no rust, and runs very well!

[waveman1500]

Since everyone has basically chipped in with their first car, or what they learned on, I say to buy whatever you want!
If you have a passion for the car and are able to afford it, you will learn much faster.

I started by doing small jobs on my parents' U12 Nissan Pintara (Bluebird) and then bought myself a Beetle.
The humble VW Beetle is an excellent basic car to work on, particularly the post-1968 12 volt cars. However, you will get along just fine with anything from a 1950s American land-yacht to a '90s fuel injected car as well. Cars aren't rocket science, and most of them didn't really start getting too complicated until at least 2005-ish.

As others have hinted at, the most important thing is the condition of the bodywork. Rust repair is much more difficult than mechanical repairs!

[Barrass]

Apr 24, 2016 13:01:37 GMT qwerty said:

Apr 24, 2016 12:29:57 GMT duggers said:

As a dyed in the wool VW man if you want small can I suggest an older POLO, although you are likely to need to be able to weld with many of them!
They are easy to work on and again parts supply is good.

+1 to that comment.

Although I would say that you'll be surprised with what you can achieve. There is so many guides online for how to do pretty much any job to almost any car. The combination of a decent guide and not being pressured into having to have the job done for getting to work on Monday greatly increases the enjoyment of working on your own car.

+1 plenty available and really easy to work on

[taurus]

The OP's original thought of possibly an early Fiesta is a good idea. So long as you avoid a rotbox they are simple to work on and parts are cheap / plentiful.

Personally I don't like Ford's but that's only because I had too many of them back in the day. Quite a decent looking one on here at the moment for a good price.

[Del]

Thanks for the suggestions!
On reflection, I think 126 and 2CV are not a good idea, what with unusual suspension and strange engines, and the air-cooledness of a Beetle is a minus point. Only because I'm unlikely to come across many aircooled flat-fours unless that's what I specifically want.
And I think I'd like to learn about carburettors too, so probably won't go for something injected.
Something separately-chassised appeals too though. Spitfire maybe, although I realise that cars of that ilk are few and far between.
I've never really been keen on Minors. Polo is not a bad idea though, and one to consider.
Part of the learning will involve learning to weld, it's all part of the fun!

[Mercdan68]

Owned far too many cars in my lifetime, easiest to work on? Morris minor

[mk1fish]

go for a lotus 7 style kit car. still cheap ish for an unfinished project. loads of options simple as simple can be.

[BT]

There is currently advertised in the for sale section a £650 mk2 fiesta which looks in really good condition. Half tempted by it myself.

I know you said don't suggest anything yet, but there is nothing like a bit of motivation sat outside to look at!

EDIT

Just thought Id share a link, isn't a million miles away either!

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/188767/1989-fiesta-popular-months-staines

[steveg]

If you do look at kit cars make sure it's already registered properly or is something that is going to be straightforward getting through the SVA test. Some old unregistered kits aren't capable of passing without a huge amount of work.
Unless you are desperate to learn how to weld get anything that isn't rusty. How about a Volvo 340 or a Mk2 Astra.

[carledo]

Triumph Toledo/Dolomite 1300 is my recommendation. Simple to work on, fair parts availability, flourishing owners club, rugged, RWD, character, and prices starting from a couple of hundred quid.

Steve