re: If you didn’t know much about fixing up cars…

Volkswagen original Beetle

What kind of budget are we talking about? The early Mustangs are still affordable and have tons of parts. Buy a 6 cyl and swap in a high performance crate motor.

As others have said, trucks are a great option.

Rust in body panels isn't the end of the world. Rust in the frame is a deal breaker.

67-70 Mercury Cougar, really the same car as a mustang. You can find them very reasonably priced and easy to find parts for.

Just happen to have one…….

I would do a Jeep or older GM parts are available for both.

I just bought a 68 GTO (numbers matching) for this exact purpose. My son and I are having a great time working on the car.

Here's some advice based on our experience.

1. Go to the local cars shows. Our car had been sitting under a carport since the 90s. The owner never got around to restoring it and it came up in casual conversation. There will be cars for sale there too and everyone was willing to share knowledge.
2. Get every car on a lift and check for rust. We found cars we liked but they were rust buckets. We looked at a 80s Firebird Formula and the frame rails were almost rusted through. They had been painted over.
3. Find someone to help who knows what they're doing. My BiL has restored cars and was extremely helpful in selecting a car and helping with the restoration. He has all the contacts for the work we're not going to do (i.e.rebuild the transmission, sand blasting, painting,etc)
4. Get a budget together. Based on the age, you'll want to modernize the car and replace things - disc brakes, electronic ignition, fuel pump,etc
5. Youtube and online forums have great information.

Pontiac has a Historical Society. For a fee they'll send you build information from the VIN Number. Here's the info from our GTO.

Color: (Q2) Verdoro Green w/Black Cordova Top
Trim: (223) Black Vinyl Bucket Seats
Engine: 400 cid – 4bbl Engine (code YS) w/ Turbo Hydra-Matic Transmission
The optional equipment on this vehicle is as follows:
351 – Turbo Hydra-Matic Transmission
382 – Pushbutton Radio & Manual Antenna
391 – Rear Seat Speaker
414 – Retractable Headlamp Covers
424 – Remote Control Outside Mirror
431 – Custom Seat Belts
453 – Rally II Wheels
472 – Console
474 – Electric Clock
501 – Power Steering
502 – Power Brakes
531 – Soft Ray Glass (all windows)
582 – Custom Air Conditioning
631 – Front Floor Mats
RD – G77x14 Whitewall Tires
Your 1968 GTO was built on 2/19/1968 at the Pontiac Michigan Assembly Plant and invoiced to:
Letsch Pontiac-Buick, Inc., Covington, Louisiana

The odometer shows 34,449.6 miles. We're pretty sure they're original as we know one of the owners was a GTO collector. Also, all the original options are still on the car. The big one being the AM radio, wiring and speaker.
That's one first things people replace.

Good Luck.

82. No- 305 with the three speed and granny. 3/4 axles and lockers . 12MPG!

Thanks so much guys, lots of great info! Nothing set in stone as far as budget but I was thinking $5k just to acquire something. I’m not really thinking much about the overall budget since it will be done piece by piece over the years.

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Kids nowadays are going to want an AC. Harder to find but it can still be done.

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They have kits for a lot of cars, by a company called Vintage Air. I have a 66 Chevelle, that naturally had AC, but I’m going to switch over to Vintage Air, because it’s relatively easy to install.

My neighbor has a vw bug in her garage..
I think it has an inspection sticker of 1980ish
I have lived here over 30 years and never seen it move… she just has a mild heart attack and broke her hip so the kids came and got her to move her out ( they have been trying for years)….

Guessing they will be rolling it out once they discover it in there under all the Christmas stuff piled on it…

Have not decided if I am going to approach them or not… looks clean from the outside but sure it will need to be taken apart and .. Derusted .. hand cranked and any seals etc…

Katy texas….