Banger project

I'm thinking of buying a bit of a fix-it-up/keep-it-on-the-road car or little van for a project for next year. Not talking about a wreck, but something in good shape that I can work on.
I used to be a bit handy with basic maintenance and quite enjoyed it, didn't have much choice when I was a student so got a fair bit of practice with doing stuff beyond the maintenance checklist. The last car I worked on was a 1979 Mercury so I've been out of the loop for a good long while lol, but now a bit more time for learning new (old) stuff and thought this might be interesting.

I've always fancied having a little van (the small sort the shape of a Morris Traveller, can't think of anything more modern to illustrate what I mean), so that would be where I'd start to see how practical it would be.

Is there a cut off year roughly of when cars got so computerised and complicated they were not for your average home enthusiast to keep on the road? Or are there cars/vans whose innards and workings are more suitable for your home mechanic/enthusiast?

Thanks for any help.
GG

 

I think 2001. That's when the new EU emissions rules forced manufacturers to turn the basic internal combustion engine into the warp core from the USS Enterprise.

I think certain makes are going to be easer than others too. I had a 1999 Renault thing once that was just stupidly complicated, but my 1998 Volvo has what I call a cartoon engine, ie you pop the bonnet and you see an overly simplified engine where you can immediately recognise everything.

I don't know the small van thing you mentioned, but I'm guessing small van sort of equals estate car? If I'm on the right track with that, how about looking for an old 1.7TD Astra van/estate? They're about as simple as it gets really, and still sought after for their reliability and economy. Although with between 53bhp and 82bhp (depending on the year and engine variant) I can't imagine them being the most exciting car to drive.

 

Old Landrovers are very easy to work on. Tough as old boots, parts are not too expensive. Down side is lousy fuel consumption and prices tend to be on the high side.

 

Just a bit FC! Talking of which, somebody on the island is having a huge hangar built here to open a car museum, that could be interesting!

 

This reminds me, you can also buy after market ECU kits now. Or for the brave, you can even build your own ECU using readily available parts and software. If I won the lottery, I'd love to buy a really old car, of the kind build for looks and luxury but proper gas guzzler due to the primitive tech of the day, and convert the carburettor based intake to fuel injection, points and dizzy based ignition to electronic etc, to get better performance and economy. Maybe swap out the coil springs for those progressive ones you can get, where they are very soft for the first few millimetres of travel, but are much stiffer after that, so you apparently get a balance between comfort and better handling. And of course someone would have to come in and put me some beefier more modern brakes on too. I think that would be fab.

 

Yer actual Moggy 1000 van... easy to work on , and highly desirable. May be a little pricey nowadays.

 

Cracking car. You'll need to be a good welder for the older ones though.

When did anyone last see one of these? I loved mine - sadly so did the thieving scrote who nicked it and crashed it

Have you seen the price of good ones! Bad ones will cost even more though. Still a great car though.

Parts prices (even used) are TERRIFYING!! I know as we get an almost daily delivery from Jack Barclays.

What about a Citreon C15 van? Great as a van, mostly rot free and mechanically bombproof except for the rear axle beam.

Or how about a Mercedes 190E?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/...nearlynew,new/quicksearch/true/price-to/19000

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-ca...e-4dr-southwold-fpa-201411249208329?logcode=p

They are starting to go up in value. Simple and cheap to maintain. Avoid manuals though.

 

Oops sorry, my mistake. Saw the thread title and thought you'd decided to start making your own sausages. Carry on. :chrissy grin:

 

Thanks for the replies, something to get my teeth into over the next few weeks looking at suggestions though of course the OH has given me the look already and mutterings about clogging the driveway up with junk.

I like the idea of something practical so the Astra van and the Citroen C15 appeal. The Moggy is lovely as well for other reasons. Probably a fine balance between finding something that is not completely knacked and not vintage desirable. In the meantime, I've still got Fred to keep going (my ancient Corsa), who was it I read on here somewhere that cars are always female ????

@Trunky - Veggie bangers are not really worth it I assure you

@fat controller - your car barn would be full of fun that's for sure, where I grew up a Stag was always associated with a certain sort of chappy wearing a gold medallion and a cravat

Cheers
GG

 

Reminded me of this!!!

 

That was me GG, in conversation with Clueless about three Corvettes that have been given male names.

 

Sheal, you are a dark horse on the motor front. What did you name them Tom, Dick and Harry?

 

I suddenly had a thought - a Peugeot 305 van. Nice to drive and like the C15 they're mechanically strong. Got one result and judging by the price we may have missed the boat...............

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/car-advert/peugeot/305/1991/264979/

 

I have always fancied an Escort RS2000 mkII. OR, a nice Senator or Monza
I was very lucky in my late teens, and early 20's. I got to drive brand new cars for many years. My absolute faves were the BMW 635CSI and Range Rovers (the new ones look like something very heavy has just landed on top of them IMO).