Karl Shepard wrote:
> I think I am going to look into Sunbeam Tiger or some other car that has
> parts readily available and can be built up less expensively. I really
> do want to race some car next year and historics look like a lot of fun.
Oh *Baby* you ain't seen nuthin yet. :-) Wait till you get the bill for
rebuilding a period correct vintage race legal Tiger. Cheap? Not even
close. And your regular maintenance on the thing will be factors
greater. Besides for a legal vintage race Tiger you are going to pay 2-5
times what you'll pay for a Roadster. There are only a few low cost
vintage race options. A Formula Ford or Formula V are the first that
come to mind, and they are a blast to drive. There is that open wheel
thing, and if you are frightened of it (and lots of folks are) take a
pass, but if not these are absolutely the most fun you can have with
your clothes on. A 2.5 Trans Am 510 would be next on my list. They are
cheap to build (relatively) and the racing is fun and oriented toward
real competition and fun rather than posing and talking a lot about the
special history of your car. They allow purpose built cars which most
vintage groups won't, and that saves a ton on initial purchase and on
parts/maintenance.
Since I am into Datsuns, and had a friend who got me a shell for free, I
am going the Trans Am 510 route. It will be a bit more expensive, even
with the free shell, than I could have gotten a FF or FV for, but only
because I am doing it my way instead of the cheap way. :-) I would have
preferred a FF, but this is what I ended up with.
Yes a 2000 Roadster is going to be expensive to build initially, but
they are so damn reliable, they will be dirt cheap in the long run
compared to most cars from that era. And a 1600 will be even cheaper to
build and run. If a Roadster scared you away, you may as well forget
almost all forms of vintage racing. Any vintage race car is going to
cost you $10k-$20k to buy and/or build. Then you add the maintenance on
top of that. Expect to blow and engine or two your first couple years.
Tires may or may not last a season, depends on you, your car, your
tires, and the racing gods. Ask anyone who has raced and they'll pretty
much all tell you the same thing. Racing is never cheap. Even when it's
cheap, it ain't cheap.
--
Marc Sayer
Journalist, Photographer, Dog Trainer (APDT member #062956)
Passions -
Great Danes, auto racing and fast cars, my wife
Dogs -
Gracie, Tank, Delilah, PJ, & the rescue dogs
Cars -
82 280ZX Turbo, 71 510 Trans Am vintage racer, 93 Ford E150 Tow/dog van
My Homepage - http://gracieland.org
Deaf Dane Rescue Homepge - http://gracieland.org/DaneRescue/
Any Dane at the races is a Great Dane!
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