Cobra Lite: Ford V8-Swapped 1966 Ghia Fiat 1500GT

For possibly less than the price of building a crappy replica of a Shelby Cobra 427S/C with no provenance and no weather protection or turning a Datsun Z-car into a Chevy V8-powered wannabe Ferrari 250GTO, you can have a real Italian exotic car with full weather protection, provision for effective air conditioning via bulkhead-mounted or "short pack"Vintage Air climate controls, American small-block V8 power and styling remarkably similar to that of a Cobra with a fastback (or the related AC Aceca), many parts available (stocked or special-order) from Bayless Fiat, C. Obert & Co. (Fiat Plus) and Re-Originals, and all the hard work has been done by the seller as far as the bodywork and conversion to a Ford 289 small-block, C4 automatic (can and should be swapped for a 4- or 5-speed manual) and 8-inch Ford rear axle go, but it needs some trim, all interior, all engine details, and general finishing work to finish.

Find it here in Denver, Colorado with no price listed.

German Jolly: 1957 Volkswagen Beetle Beach Cruiser

This 1957 Volkswagen Beetle is a custom job supposedly done "many years ago"; while the Fiat Jolly and Renault 4CV Jolly are not mentioned in the ad, they appear to be a definite inspiration for this car, and this would more than satisfy any desires for a fun oddball summer car among staff of this site.

It has no rust, a good top and interior, a desirable period aftermarket petrol gauge that replaces the stock fuel reserve, everything is functional, and the 40-horsepower flat-four (with later Karmann Ghia air cleaner) and the transmission shifts smoothly. If it is as described and built well, this car is a great deal at $4500, which would not even get you in the front door for a rusty or incomplete Jolly project, and unlike a Jolly, is not so rare and valuable that it couldn't be used regularly. The availability of VW parts and service also makes it a desirable Jolly alternative, and the rear seat space, full wheelbase and roadability make it a great alternative to a fiberglass street buggy.

Find it here for $4500 in Grants Pass, Oregon

One-Off With Shelby Connections: Dodge Viper Prototype Chassis

This prototype Dodge Viper RT-10 chassis was purchased at the official Carroll Shelby Garage Sale in 1994 by the seller and is totally original, right down to the original Goodyear tires and documentation included by the seller. Since it is a prototype and there is no frame number, it is perhaps best suited to a car museum, a Viper enthusiast with space for it, or a collection.

Find it here on eBay with a $5000 USD buy-it-now, 2 days left on auction at time of writing but will probably get relisted.

Beautiful Goodbye: 1989 Isuzu 4200R Concept

(c) sportscarsofthe1980s.wordpress.com

In the late 1980s, Isuzu Motors was selling cars in decent numbers worldwide, but had mainly front-wheel-drive sedans and hatchbacks along with perhaps its best-known product, the Giugiaro-designed Piazza (badged as Impulse in North America), and worked closely with British sports car maker/engineering firm Lotus. It was also making some very nice concept cars in the COA series (to be written up another time), but in 1989, Isuzu broke the mold with the 4200R.

The Isuzu 4200R was styled by Lotus employees working with Isuzu Europe Chief Designer Shiro Nakamura, was a sleekly styled 4-passenger grand tourer with discreet rear doors and a Lotus-engineered 4.2-liter 32-valve DOHC V8 mounted midship, Lotus-engineered active suspension, an LCD screen in the dashboard, extensive use of plastics and aluminum in its construction, and appeared to be a production-ready design.

However, Isuzu's parent company, General Motors, disapproved of the 4200R's technology and its very real threats to Corvette sales and Cadillac engineering, and just a few years after the all-new third-generation Gemini, second-generation Piazza and Yanase Ltd. exclusive PA Nero luxury coupe/wagon duo debuted with styling clearly derived from the 4200R, Isuzu car production was stopped (citing "aging designs and decreasing sales"), and Isuzu made do with badge-engineered Hondas for the Japanese domestic market and several other Asian markets until 2002. 

The 4200R was broken up and destroyed shortly after Isuzu car production ended, but in 2010, Shiro Nakamura worked with game designer Kazunori Yamaguchi of Polyphony Digital to recreate the 4200R for the video game Gran Turismo 5. 

Isuzu 4200R as seen in Gran Turismo 5. Picture (c) gran-turismo.com

This pic and all following pics (c) Isuzu and carstyling.ru

Random Street Spot: 2008 Hazen XP-HUMM-E

Here is an oddball EV built by Eugene, Oregon resident David Hazen, spotted in the wild on the streets of downtown Eugene. With a handmade wooden body, Kawasaki rear suspension, VW front suspension and a Saab 900 windshield, it is certainly an odd marriage of bits, and its open T-topped design is not too practical for Oregon's damp climate, but it is definitely remarkable. EVs are the future, and this is THE most unique EV I have ever seen.

Here is a video of the builder showing off his creation.

SCCA Rarity: 1981 Plymouth Horizon TC3 Race Car

This 1981 Plymouth TC3 was built in 1984 for the Sports Car Club of America's Improved Touring B (ITB) class and won numerous regional championships in Colorado and New Mexico into the 1990s, then was put into storage. Owner has done lots of work, has numerous parts, log books and documentation, has done lots of work, and even says the car could be returned to street-legal (which is a big deal considering the rising values of Malaise Era cars)

Find the car here in New Mexico for $3000, (or go here if ad disappears)

EV Rarity: 1980 Jet Industries Electravan (Subaru Sambar)

Meme face added to protect owner's privacy.

Compare size to a modern "minivan"


In the late 1970s, at the beginning of a second fuel crisis, a company in Austin, Texas saw an opportunity in importing engineless "glider" versions of the Subaru Sambar, a vehicle that had failed marvelously less than a decade before in an earlier iteration, then converting them to electric power. The finished product was a tiny 5-seater minivan with a short electrical power range and a diesel-fueled heater/defroster, that sold poorly and was withdrawn after a few years and not many made.

Here we have an updated, fully working, presentable 1980 Jet Electravan, for sale by an owner who seemingly knows his stuff, despite its short range and odd looks, it is still a great piece of EV history and a good alternative to a Zapcar, Kandi Coco or Zenn, since unlike those, the Electravan can go more than 25mph and is built well. However, there is no known tax credit for buying a classic EV. Replacing the existing bank of salvaged batteries will give a greater range and increase its reliability, but may be costly.

Find it here for $5000 in St. Paul, Minnesota (or go here if ad disappears)



Here is a video of an Electravan, showing us what it's all about. (not the vehicle on offer)

Second Junkyard Photo Feature

All photos by Chris Garza and Creative Commons Attribution licensed.
Prints will be made available on Chris' deviantART page.

Old walk-in vans, truck parts and a steel building.

1955 Pontiac station wagon and Fiat 850 Spider hardtop

1963 Dodge Dart

Malaise Era bustleback Cadillac Seville

Aluminum Intensive Vehicle: 1996 Panoz AIV Roadster Prototype Chassis #002

(all pictures from seller)

While the Panoz AIV lost quite a bit of its original beauty compared to its predecessor, the later AIV Roadster is still a very pure sports car and is as good or better a performer. 

The car featured here is the only Panoz ever painted Toreador Red, was custom-built for the parents of company founder Danny Panoz, was used in the factory promotional video "Drive and You Shall Fly" that was distributed to potential customers in 1996 and 1997, and was featured in the AIV debut at Chateau Elan Winery in September 1996, where the likes of Pete Brock, Adrian Reynard and Jack Roush drove it. It was then taken to Detroit to become the EPA certification car, then was parked in the back of a shop at the Panoz factory and rarely used. 

This car has 4,900 original miles, has Roush alloy wheels, is one of 4 prototype cars built in 1996, features a Panoz-designed 4-wheel independent suspension, a 305-horsepower, 4.2-liter, 32-valve aluminum-block Ford Mustang Cobra V8 and a Tremec T45 5-speed manual transmission, and is made of aluminum with fiberglass-composite fenders. 

Factory specifications follow:

   Panoz AIV Roadster specs:

• Transmission: 5-Speed Manual

• Engine 4600cc (Ford)DOHC V-8

• Power (bhp) 305 @ 5800 rpm

• Torque 300 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm

• Redline: 6800 rpm

• Miles Per Gallon: 17/23 mpg

• Curb Weight: 2570 lbs

• Performance (0-60mph) 4.3sec

• Performance (0-100mph) 11.7 sec

• Top Speed (mph) 140

• Braking, 0-60 mph: 119 ft 

• Place Of Manufacture: Braselton, Georgia (USA)

Find it here for $32,900 USD at WireWheel, and enjoy this video of a production Panoz AIV:

A True American Sports Car: 1993 Panoz Roadster #007

(all photos from seller, wirewheel.com)

While the Chevrolet Corvette may be regarded by many as "America's sports car", many people overlook the Panoz, a high-quality and exclusive sports car made in the state of Georgia. Panoz cars are arguably closer in nature to the likes of Porsche, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Lotus than the Corvette and Dodge/SRT Viper are, yet they are largely unknown outside of enthusiast circles.

With a high-output Ford 302 V8, 5-speed manual transmission, lightweight construction and engineering derived from racing experience, the Panoz Roadster was a great performer, and was no crude glorified kit car like the Consulier. Nor did it have the countless teething problems and excessive complication of the Vector.

This car was the 7th of 44 made before the design was refined into the AIV, has 35 actual miles, was part of a collection since day one, has the optional tonneau cover, original brochure and bill of sale, and may be the lowest-mileage Panoz car in existence.

A video of the Panoz Roadster being tested for drifting is seen here, I will leave it to the reader to make a judgment.

The text of the authenticity letter from the Panoz factory follows:

19^th day of July 2012

This document will authenticate the provenance by the Panoz factory of the Panoz Roadster VIN# 1P9PR2820PB213007 built and shipped to Mr Milan Puskar for his approval on 09/10/1993 and consequent purchase on 3rd November 1993. Mr Puskar was a long time friend and partner of Dr Donald Panoz and he placed this car into storage and full maintenance preservation as a collectable asset, the car was often used for display in various events around Morgantown, the car was never driven for more than a fraction of a mile on any occasion over the years and then only as a pert of its maintenance program as a drivable collectable. The car had been used for display in recent years at a friend of Mr Puskars exotic car dealership for display only.The roadster was returned to its birth place at Panoz Auto Development in Hoschton Georgia in the spring of 2012 and was completely checked out and serviced with new fluids and a full tune up. This was done by the very same staff that had built the car in 1992 and still work at the Panoz factory handling service, maintenance and repair of Panoz vehicles.

Sincerely, John A. Leverett

Director, Sales/marketing

Panoz Auto Development Company

Panoz Automotive Group

Find it here for $32,500 USD at WireWheel in Florida.