Cheap track day car?

[holdennutta]

(Not sure if this is the right section...Motorsport seemed to be only concerned with pro series and this isnt really a technical discussion...so if you feel it's in the wrong place please move it to where it's more appropriate mods)

Hey,

I was talking with my dad the other night and he brought up the idea of getting somthing like a V8 VN commodore or somthing of that nature (read: cheap! and reasonably powerful) that I can do a little work on, soup up a little perhaps and use as a track only car. Unregistered for road use.

And take out to Warwick or Willowbank and have a bit of a fang once in a while on a propper track.

Just wondering if there is anyone here who has done somthing simmilar and wants to share experiences with what car they use or what kind of certification or whatever they need?

Or suggestions for a CHEAP car to buy and work on myself that will be a little fun for track use.

Ta.

BTW: Cheap because i'm 18, unemployed, and at uni. (job coming soon hopefully :rolleyes: )

[DJC-346]

back in the day i used to play around in a mk1 escort with an fj20 turbo in it, was awesome fun, i think it was put together with change out of 5k, but that said, the guy that built it was rather handy with welding etc etc.

[NinetySix]

do you want it purely to put down good lap times? or just drift and fun and stuff?


for lap times its hard to go past something small and 4 cylinder turbo for a track car, or better yet... rotary :D

pick up a series 1-3 RX7 and drop in a 13BT from a S4-S5 rx7, cost absolutely bugger all and would be very easy to make it handle well

maybe an old MR2 with a 3sgte dropped in?

[holdennutta]

Mainly just to have some safe petrol headed fun, while putting down as good lap times as possible for the car and myself :)

I've had a few suggestions of series 1-3 RX7s but I'd rather (for the time being) stick close to somthing where I know a 'little' bout the engines so I can work on it myself and with my dad. Unless I can find one really cheap and figure it out.

Somebody on another forum reckined i should wack a V8 in a Dihatsu Charade :P

[OLS108]

what about something like a VH with a 5litre :D

[BlueVZSS]

Have you considered building a kit car? Plenty to choose from and lots of scope for working with your father and building it up over time as you have the resources. It might make a good project for the two of you and have some value when it's finished.

[borry]

CA18DET silvia, imported with all the fruit. both good for laying down decent lap times, and drifing it around, and seeign as thought you wont be gettign it rego'd you wouldnt have to worry bout the few dings in the doors, the half cage, etc etc.

and dare i say it, 5-6 grand would buy a half decent silvia track car.

*adorns flame suit*

[Swordie]

What's your budget? Will it be driven on the road as well? What's your budget per year for part ect?

[Phido]

VL or R31 skyline with either a worked 3.0 N/A or bolt on the twin cam head and turbo or just drop the 2.5L (or even a 2.0L donk) in.. its like lego(except with lots of wiring). You can pick these up that are still in okay nick.. Parts are widely avalible..

VN V8's aren't that cheap yet.. older V8's are pretty cheap tho..

You could always build up your own 7 replica.. People have built them for about $150.. if you don't need to register them.. Basically strip a car down of trans, diff, engine, brakes, etc and weld up a frame to stick them all on.. Even with pedestrian 8 valve small 4 cylinders they are pretty quick due to the ~400-500kg kerb weight..

Might want to check which track you want to use it at. I belive many require cars to be rego'd on most public days.