[granthughes]

I was just curious if there is anyone out there who is specializing in buying $500 used cars in decent condition, adding the saftey mods, and then selling it to people who want a low cost of entry into rally. As opposed to the business that take Subarus, put 50k worth of stuff in them.
Maybe open light or G5?

We are doing just that with Impreza's. I have one that will be ready to deliver to customer end of this week. Now, it does NOT have anything other than a cage, but if you are doing Open Light, most of the rest of that is bolt in parts. You can get bolt in seat brackets. Harnesses are easy. Primitive makes skid plates that bolt on. Throw on some Porterfield R4 pads, JVAB struts, set of alloy Legacy 5 spokes and a used set of gravel rally tires and go rally.
Our builder car is a base 4 door 2.2L 5 speed. Nothing mechanical has been touched other than timing belt and oil pump reseal a few months back when I was daily driving the car. Addition of a roll cage and we had it listed at $4k and had quite a few people interested. Family member wants to pick it up so selling it to him for $3.5k. This allows you to build the car up to the spec you want over time at a minimal initial investment. If you want it ready to rally, plan on more of the 8-12k range.
We also have spec E36 Group 2 options. Builder 92 325i is sitting here acting as my daily driver for now. That one is going to be more like $11-12k ready to rally. That'll be more of a car than an Open Light car however with RWD, LSD, and 220 hp.

 

[Abington Rally]

Buy an abandoned project!....

Buy someone else's abandoned project!! It's the hybrid of build or buy. Buy this partially built and do the bolt on crap to finish it! I just scored this one and I'm selling it. Was in dudes garage for 2+ years after cage was done.

http://www.specialstage.com/classifieds/show-ad/?id=685

 

[jonny5]

Buy someone else's abandoned project!! It's the hybrid of build or buy. Buy this partially built and do the bolt on crap to finish it! I just scored this one and I'm selling it. Was in dudes garage for 2+ years after cage was done.

http://www.specialstage.com/classifieds/show-ad/?id=685

IS there any other sites where cars are sold? SS pretty much the only place to watch?

 

[Abington Rally]

IS there any other sites where cars are sold? SS pretty much the only place to watch?

Rally Anarchy, Dirty Impreza, NASIOC, RS25 some sites are better than others. Best thing, ask people that are into rally, many times are not 'for sale' and end up being sold because someone asked someone who knew someoone who had one.

 

[ugly]

I sold the legacy and the buyer has since sold it regretting getting rid of a sorted car. Now I'm nearly finished buidling the Mini I'm 50/50 on buy or build. If you don't have the skills/time I would say buy a used rally car.

 

[UP2MTNS]

Rally Anarchy, Dirty Impreza, NASIOC, RS25 some sites are better than others. Best thing, ask people that are into rally, many times are not 'for sale' and end up being sold because someone asked someone who knew someoone who had one.

dont forget this place....its awesome:

http://rallycarsforsale.net/clas/index.php?ct=fsrc

bring your checkbook

 

[AArallyteamUSA]

I know that it's probably been said many times over, but building your own car is easier said than done my friend.

Building your own spec car is fun, but could be dangerous all in its own when it comes time for Tech...not to mention the time and money it takes to build one.

Biggest advice I could give, CLEAN welds and a pro built cage. If you're looking for the experience, and have the dollars to spend, then I'd say go for it.
But in my personal opinion...I'd buy your first car. Then if you still want, do a build. That way you have something to fall back on!

The best of luck to you in your new passion my friend.

Cheers!

 

[MST Sean]

I sold the legacy and the buyer has since sold it regretting getting rid of a sorted car. Now I'm nearly finished buidling the Mini I'm 50/50 on buy or build. If you don't have the skills/time I would say buy a used rally car.

Ya selling your car was a big mistake. Now trying to get back into the market and the prices for prepped open light cars seem to have gone up alot. With the current price of used open light cars the economics of buying are getting closer to building. Something to consider.

 

[randyzimmer]

Just a gentle reminder, if you feel you have to build... buy my book.
It is for the GC Subaru but a lot is usable for anyone.

 

[jimmy]

You know - there might be a movie in there.

Oh, wait...

I know that it's probably been said many times over, but building your own car is easier said than done my friend.

Building your own spec car is fun, but could be dangerous all in its own when it comes time for Tech...not to mention the time and money it takes to build one.

Biggest advice I could give, CLEAN welds and a pro built cage. If you're looking for the experience, and have the dollars to spend, then I'd say go for it.
But in my personal opinion...I'd buy your first car. Then if you still want, do a build. That way you have something to fall back on!

The best of luck to you in your new passion my friend.

Cheers!

press on,

 

[Dlayfield18]

seems like there are less and less sorted cars coming up on here, almost pushing the pendulum back towards building your own car

 

[Clayto]

double post

 

[Clayto]

Well, while your waiting to build, buy that sweet little and ridiculously cheap 91 Escort GT from NYCJacob.
I drove it for just shy of 2 years and a great beginner platform to get things shaken down and skills honed.
http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?76770-1991-Ford-Escort-GT-Rally-car-3500

 

[John Vanlandingham]

Well, while your waiting to build, buy that sweet little and ridiculously cheap 91 Escort GT from NYCJacob.
I drove it for just shy of 2 years and a great beginner platform to get things shaken down and skills honed.
http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?76770-1991-Ford-Escort-GT-Rally-car-3500

Reports I've gotten from sources out there seem to indicate he now understands the shop telling him all this stuff was certain death and not legal was selling him a bill of goods--"Just leave it here and for $5000 we can install a cage and make some seat mounts, no problem..."
Sheesh. Shameless bastids

 

[Dlayfield18]

So, if he knows that now - he say if he's keepin the thing?

 

[Billy Elliot]

seems like there are less and less sorted cars coming up on here, almost pushing the pendulum back towards building your own car

Every rally car is for sale, you just have to offer enough money at the owner or ask them for them to part ways with it. If someone wants to pay me cash for my car at a price I think is fair, I'd sell it. But I'm not actively selling my car.

But as far as build vs buy, for a first car buying is still likely the best, even if it isn't what you expect to have in the end-all-be-all. Just get something, go run a few events with it, then sell it for practically the same price you paid for it when you have an idea of what you want to build if you can do it.

 

[A1337STI]

I think unless you , or a close friend / family member can make the roll cage. its better to buy a well caged car that is close to stock and modify it from there to your own liking.

Why spend X for a car Plus $5,000 when you can likely get a better deal on someone else who tried but didn't make it.

unless you are doing the work, you'll just pay a shop, which is basically buying a car isn't it ?

can you really say "I built this" when all you did was swipe your credit card? and to that. I didn't build my first car , I bought it. (Paid friends to make the cage/ paid friends (beer/pizza/steaks) to help build the car.

so if you're buying a car find the best deal.. right?

 

[John Vanlandingham]

Every rally car is for sale, you just have to offer enough money at the owner or ask them for them to part ways with it. If someone wants to pay me cash for my car at a price I think is fair, I'd sell it. But I'm not actively selling my car.

But as far as build vs buy, for a first car buying is still likely the best, even if it isn't what you expect to have in the end-all-be-all. Just get something, go run a few events with it, then sell it for practically the same price you paid for it unless of course the motor which was marginal and beat on blows up, or the gearbox which was run without oil shatters, or the electrical system and loom incinerates itself cause a "wire nut" fell off and the thing grounds on the un-fused side of the fuse box or as a noob your brain goes BOING and you go nuts and flip AND THEN hit a tree or the junk suspensions vomits up all its oil, and you poured money into all those things and now the car is still a POS but now you've spents 2 1/2 times the purchase price...and all those things and more is completely normal---when you have an idea of what you want to build if you can do it.

Well that's sort of an ideal ideal

 

[Billy Elliot]

Something I would suggest if someone buys a car, tear it down and practically build it back up. Check the wiring, change timing belt, hoses, seals, do a valve lash, etc on the car. Just open up the trans and look at the gears/synros.

It's practically like you're building the car at that point, you replace/repair/improve areas that suck and make it your own. It's what I did with my VW. Still turned a $2500 car into somewhere close to $7000, but it was in A LOT better shape than when I got it.

 

[John Vanlandingham]

Something I would suggest if someone buys a car, tear it down and practically build it back up. Check the wiring, change timing belt, hoses, seals, do a valve lash, etc on the car. Just open up the trans and look at the gears/synros.

It's practically like you're building the car at that point, you replace/repair/improve areas that suck and make it your own. It's what I did with my VW. Still turned a $2500 car into somewhere close to $7000, but it was in A LOT better shape than when I got it.

exactly....So you basically bought a cage and a cheap car...
That's been ther case with virtually every used car I've seen....

So what's the advantage? Possibly none.

Advantage of building a car is a) you choose the car
b) you know what you did---and what you didn't do...
c) you gain some familiarity with procedures and methods of working on your car BEFORE you're sitting in service in an event you paid $750 entry and you have 20 minutes to do a 10 minute job except you have never done it...so you get late penalties, ruin the days results.