Poll: Which project car would you pick?

[Envi XR8]

Hi All,

I am currently in the market for a project car. The car will be for car events, drag days, a Sunday cruise, etc. I want a toy that I can have some fun in, so I do not risk damaging my ute, and I am prepared to get my hands dirty to an extent to have it. There may be areas I can not do myself, and would rely on mates etc....

I am not a mechanic/panel beater/spray painter, but I have managed in the past to build a sound XB street car with lots of help from mates who are either tradesmen, or have been playing with cars since their younger years. It was no 'show' piece, it wasn't even a real 'go' piece, just something I could cruise in. I am very familiar with XA/B falcons, I have owned several, and so have quite a stash of parts to suit an XB.

I have some choices, and am finding it hard to decide, so thought I would consult the forum members for their opinions. These choices are based on my previous rides, an XA, an XB or an EF. I can source an XA and an XB. The EF only came to mind while trying to decide between the other two! talk about decisions..... I have access to a couple of would be contenders. The 2 I can get are not glamours, but to take a car that is given up for scrap, and being able to see potential is something that appeals to me. I would like to put one back ON the road, not take it off.

The contenders are
A) an XA ex-cop car, that is one of the cleaniest shells I have aver seen, but it is in such a state of disassembly that the guy who has it reckons it is too far gone. It is straight and honest, and because it is stripped, you can see all those areas that normally rust. This shell has no terminal rust in those.

B) an XB, that is relatively complete, seems to have minimal rust in a number of areas. Although it is complete, it needs 3 new doors and a guard due to bad dents. Fairly honest and very chaep at $300. I also have all of the body panels to replace on this car, so that is not really an issue.

C) an EF. This option came to mind due to the fact that you can still get an EF that has good paint, they come with all the mod/cons and safety features and they are ULP. You can source XR stuff to dress them up if so inclined, and rust is not really an issue from what I have seen. There are some examples that have been well looked after and one like this would make a good starting point. I do not have one of these sourced yet.

Due to the years I spent collecting XB stuff, I have heaps of spares and have performance parts that I have purchased, waiting to be used on "the project" car, when I finally got around to getting one. I have a tonne of clevo stuff inc a Boss 351, that has all the fruit and only needs a freshen up, a fully reco'd 3.9/1 LSD disc 9", big tail shafts etc. To have something I could use these parts on would be advantageous so as to clear some space. I don't really have a negative point on any of the above cars, and can not come up with any reason to discount any of them, although I am leaning toward an XB.

So now I am asking for your opinion. What would you do?

Thanks in advance for your feedback

regards Envi.

[TUF_302]

Why not look for an XB/XC coupe and put all your bits on that!!

[Envi XR8]

cause I like the 4 doors.

[Fairlane]

XA or B here, id probably lean towards the B.

[Bossxr8]

The easy way is to go for the EF as they are usually in pretty good shape. There would be plenty around that have near perfect paint and panels, so money could be spent on mods. The hard way would be a full rebuild on the XA/B. But starting from a shell you can choose what color you want etc, so the results would be more impressive in the end. Future resale value would be higher on the older cars too I guess.

[Melz]

Originally Posted by SVO_XR6

Why not look for an XB/XC coupe and put all your bits on that!!

Not everyone wants a coupe....

Go the XB, even though i'm a xb-purist(tm). If you have the parts there you may aswell use what you've got! Counting another smick XB on the road is always a good thing.

The XA sounds interesting though, would like to hear more about that.

[xbgs351]

Please not the EF. XA or XB are nice cars and it sound like you have the parts and knowledge for them.

[Tony xa]

I would go for the Xa as its already stripped you see what you get and like you said its a clean shell .
Being that its so far stripped may seem full on but they are a simple car and if worst comes to worst get a complete donar car with good running gear do the shell of the one you got pull stuff of donar reco it and put it on the other .

Next choice would be the Xb but both xa xb would be great .Why not get both do one now one later

[fiery]

Hey matey...

I know we chatted about this the other day (or was it week).. time is flying by lol.

Anyway.. I know I originally said yeah the EF but I really think your heart is with the XB...

Go the XB, no if buts or maybe's....
It is what you know, it is what you like and you are passionate about them...
And it is all about passion.

Whilst I am biased on EFs and I think that would be an awesome project car my opinion is definitely the XB for you...

Oh do you get the drift I am saying XB by any chance e

[Melz]

See listen to fiery she has taste... apparently, regardless of the pic in her avatar

And the fact that 2 women have said XB, you will be on a good thing

[MrFlibbles]

i think either the xa or the xb, love to see the old girls on the road! (and then you can use your stash of bits!)

[snypereb]

XB if it was a coupe but not 4 door! And where is EA-ED?

[Envi XR8]

Originally Posted by fiery

Hey matey...

I know we chatted about this the other day (or was it week).. time is flying by lol.

Anyway.. I know I originally said yeah the EF but I really think your heart is with the XB...

Go the XB, no if buts or maybe's....
It is what you know, it is what you like and you are passionate about them...
And it is all about passion.

Whilst I am biased on EFs and I think that would be an awesome project car my opinion is definitely the XB for you...

Oh do you get the drift I am saying XB by any chance e

OH yeah, I get the hint.... I know it took a lot for you to say that,
Thanks mate.... :voldar02:

[Envi XR8]

Originally Posted by snypereb

XB if it was a coupe but not 4 door! And where is EA-ED?

Sorry Snyper, I'm a fan of the coupes. I appreciate what other people have done with them, like the article on Recoil and Monty in the project pages, just not my thing... Much prefer the 4 doors.

I prefer the shape of the EF over the previous models, and I think the interior on the EFs are nicer, despite the fact 99% seem to be the same grey.

cheers

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by Melz

Not everyone wants a coupe....

........ Is there something else to be seen in????? :

I would go the XA, especially if you have a clean shell. Heaps more XB's on the road and the XA is starting to be appreciated bit more that they use to. With the simpler front I rekon they look the goods painted up, neat and clean!



| [/url] |

[Envi XR8]

Originally Posted by Melz

Not everyone wants a coupe....

Go the XB, even though i'm a xb-purist(tm). If you have the parts there you may aswell use what you've got! Counting another smick XB on the road is always a good thing.

The XA sounds interesting though, would like to hear more about that.

Here are,

some pics. if I have posted them right. The XB photo is crappy. The cars are parked close together.

As I said not oil paintings, but they are solid starting points. I reckon anyway.

thanks

[Envi XR8]

Originally Posted by Tony xa

I would go for the Xa as its already stripped you see what you get and like you said its a clean shell .
Being that its so far stripped may seem full on but they are a simple car and if worst comes to worst get a complete donar car with good running gear do the shell of the one you got pull stuff of donar reco it and put it on the other .

Next choice would be the Xb but both xa xb would be great .Why not get both do one now one later

that is a good idea Tony, and I can get a donor....even if it only donates the How-to! :

I wouldn't mind both, but no room for both. at the moment!

[rushing on acid]

go the xa. next best thing to an xy

[Envi XR8]

so far 48 voters

XA 17 votes
XB 17 votes
EF 14 votes

please feel free to post your reasons why. There have been some very good points made so far that I hadn't considered.

Thanks again

[normxb]

Originally Posted by auslandau

.

I would go the XA, especially if you have a clean shell. Heaps more XB's on the road and the XA is starting to be appreciated bit more that they use to.

Yep , thats what I heard , XA's weren't as good a car as the XB , and a lot ended up as "Coke Cans" so are a bit rarer and valuable than the XB , BUTTTT having said that , I think the XB looks "meaner"...also the XB is "Deep Aqua" , same colour as mine : just love the colour.
XA looks like "Kelly Green". I had a TC Cortina that colour.

Sorry , now I have completely confused you . Flip a coin , Heads XA , Tails XB.

[Qwikcorty]

http://www.classicgarage.com.au/images/WildVioletXA.jpg

i voted xa, xa gt's look awesome with tha black trim

[LTDHO]

My vote = XB

That was the latest project car I bought!!

[Envi XR8]

Originally Posted by normxb

Yep , thats what I heard , XA's weren't as good a car as the XB , and a lot ended up as "Coke Cans" so are a bit rarer and valuable than the XB , BUTTTT having said that , I think the XB looks "meaner"...also the XB is "Deep Aqua" , same colour as mine : just love the colour.
XA looks like "Kelly Green". I had a TC Cortina that colour.

Sorry , now I have completely confused you . Flip a coin , Heads XA , Tails XB.

Hi Norm,

the XA is the deep aqua, and the XB is the green one. I like the Green that the XB is, and it would be easy to match the Envi colour on my ute. Having said that, maybe something different is in order, and the blue would be nice too. Due to the work required, both require full paint jobs, so colour is to be determined.

I hear ya about tossing a coin......

cheers Chris

[MIKEVYII]

Im sort of looking for a project car at the moment. most likely will go a nice XT XW XY v8 ute. Do it up & keep it in the Garage & give it To My boy When He grows up

[Ryan]

XA or XB FTW!!!!.

I would love to eventually do up a old Ford or Holden, as a project car, one day.

[Kenaz]

Go the EF for sure.

My reasons behind this are as follows;

I think old cars are crap.

[Envi XR8]

Originally Posted by Kenaz

Go the EF for sure.

My reasons behind this are as follows;

I think old cars are crap.

Thanks for the feedback Kenaz, now do you want to us how you REALLY feel?

Cheers mate! lol

[Envi XR8]

Originally Posted by Ryan

XA or XB FTW!!!!.

I would love to eventually do up a old Ford or Holden, as a project car, one day.

Thanks for the feedback, but

FTW?? Sorry mate this is going straight over my mellon. I must be showing my age or something....

[Melz]

Originally Posted by Envi XR8

Thanks for the feedback Kenaz, now do you want to us how you REALLY feel?

Cheers mate! lol

Can't be the views of a one-eyed e-series fan....... :togo:

[BlueXr8]

XB they just look so tuff!!!!!