IIRC, the OP has Mustang(s)

Miatas are getting tough to find around here for a decent price. They're either ragged or mint [with the requisite $ tag]

I'd push my vote for a Midget or MGB/GT. Lots of parts availability & an active community on MGExp
https://www.mgexp.com/forum/

Yes to a father and son project.

No to the Fiat.

Find a Miata or Prelude to tinker on. It would likely be on the road much sooner and cheaper than the Fiat.

My brother and I began tearing apart a 1959 Impala convertible in high school, about 1986. With our dad's involvement and limited budget, we got it on the road in......2000.

Find a solid project car that's much closer to running.

Miata, FourRunner, Prelude, and older Vette.....It's much cheaper in the long run to find a car that needs a little TLC or customization than a car that needs massive restoration.

Fixing up an old - and scarce in this country - car as a project, a "labor of love" if you will? OK, I guess. Fixing it up to be a daily driver? No way in hell. At least get it up in the air to see if its frame is rusted out, which is quite likely.

His daily driver will be a Toyota Minivan. This would be more of a fun project to teach him how to fix things and enjoy the occasion car shows together.

I’m also considering an older BMW 2002 (if I can find one) or a Mustang since I already have a project 5.0 GT Convertible that was my car from high school. (That might be an even worse idea than the Alfa)

The only thing is that this car is the first one he has really gotten excited about. Truth be told I’m not super into the idea of maintaining an 80’s Alfa though like my son I do like how it looks quite a bit.

I wonder if an LS swap would fit in it?

I saw a few videos online of similar Alfa Romeo Spiders and dang they do have a unique and pretty good sounding exhaust note.

I suppose I have some homework to do regarding parts availability and potential issues to look out for. A quick internet search turned up three potential Alfa Romeo Spider project cars as well as a few clean turn key models that are even more tempting.

Get him a decent Toyota or Honda as a first car and find another parent child bonding experience.
I couldn’t imagine a worse car for this than an Alfa.

The engine bearing are all hand fitted.
They're a nightmare to rebuild.

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:
Get him a decent Toyota or Honda as a first car and find another parent child bonding experience.
I couldn’t imagine a worse car for this than an Alfa.

Per the post above yours. The kid'll have a Toyota DD.
I was pushed toward something more modern when looking at the Midget [and would've jumped on a NB Miata, if I could've found one for a reasonable price] & it's left me stranded twice. No regrets yet.

Father and son project sound great! For the era in American automotive, that Fiat was a sexy European compared to the stodgy econo-box garbage the US manufacturers were producing. I used to want one because my girlfriend wanted one. lol

I have been considering the awesomeness of a project of my own with my son. I'm soon to inherit a 1973 MGB. It's my Dad's project car that is in pristine condition but needs an engine. LS swap has entered the chat.

My problem is that I cannot leave things as they were. I have to "improve" them. Think Tim Allen. In the MGB I'd swap a 427 LS motor, a six speed trans, a rack steering unit, 5 lug hubs, side pipes, upgraded suspension and a velocity stack induction system.........plans so big they never happen.

So my advice is that if you do it, don't go too far. You'll fall off the end. lol

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:

What do you guys think? Is it a good potential project car or am I totally crazy to consider fixing one of these up with my son?

Is there a local Alfa club, if so contact them, they will be helpful in checking out the car, and letting you know what you'd be in for and what you can expect doing a refurb or maybe building a club racer, track car that you can drive to the track and home, that would be a fun time.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
Father and son project sound great! For the era in American automotive, that Fiat was a sexy European compared to the stodgy econo-box garbage the US manufacturers were producing. I used to want one because my girlfriend wanted one. lol

I have been considering the awesomeness of a project of my own with my son. I'm soon to inherit a 1973 MGB. It's my Dad's project car that is in pristine condition but needs an engine. LS swap has entered the chat.

My problem is that I cannot leave things as they were. I have to "improve" them. Think Tim Allen. In the MGB I'd swap a 427 LS motor, a six speed trans, a rack steering unit, 5 lug hubs, side pipes, upgraded suspension and a velocity stack induction system.........plans so big they never happen.

So my advice is that if you do it, don't go too far. You'll fall off the end. lol

LFX V6 might be a cheaper option & still a big power bump over the original 4cyl

If I did a V8 swap it would be a 302/5.0 into a Miata, making a mini cobra, or more like a Sunbeam Alpine.... maybe add a turbo..... vrooom vrooom, more Power!

[Tim Toolman Voice on}arrrrgh arrrrr arrrrgh![Tim Toolman Voice off]

There's a guy on the MG forum with a 302 swapped Midget, nicknamed Mini Cobra. I imagine it required a lot of chassis bracing.

Even in a Moata, I'd go LFX. 300hp stock & a couple grand cheaper than an LS swap.

Stick, if you want to go for a big project, there's a guy in W Houston with a couple titled Midget rollers for sale, maybe a B in there too. Looks like he has a room or 2 full of parts & a driveway full of MGs.

Interesting. It’s a bit of a drive there for me unfortunately. Between my hoarder father and uncle they have about 3.5 maybe 4 MGB cars that might be able to be pieced together into one functioning car. . (They would never part with one of them for a project)

They are part of the reason I have an affinity towards MGB’s, Midgets, Triumph Spitfires & TR-6’s and the Alfa Spider that looks similar.

I was considering a MGB GT locally because to me it’s almost a grail car I’ve always lusted for but thankfully it sold before I did something crazy.

I had a 1978 Fiat X/19 and a 70's Triumph Spitfire. The Fiat wasn't so bad, but the Triumph was classic British car engineering. I spent 90% of my time under the hood, fixing the 10% I spent in the driver's seat.
I have a friend that bought a Lotus Esprit. It was his James Bond dream car. He sold it after 6 months. He was rapidly approaching the cost of the car in repairs.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
Interesting. It’s a bit of a drive there for me unfortunately. Between my hoarder father and uncle they have about 3.5 maybe 4 MGB cars that might be able to be pieced together into one functioning car. . (They would never part with one of them for a project)

They are part of the reason I have an affinity towards MGB’s, Midgets, Triumph Spitfires & TR-6’s and the Alfa Spider that looks similar.

I was considering a MGB GT locally because to me it’s almost a grail car I’ve always lusted for but thankfully it sold before I did something crazy.

How much space do you have?
Could be fun cobbling a couple Bs into a single good car.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
Father and son project sound great! For the era in American automotive, that Fiat was a sexy European compared to the stodgy econo-box garbage the US manufacturers were producing. I used to want one because my girlfriend wanted one. lol

I have been considering the awesomeness of a project of my own with my son. I'm soon to inherit a 1973 MGB. It's my Dad's project car that is in pristine condition but needs an engine. LS swap has entered the chat.

My problem is that I cannot leave things as they were. I have to "improve" them. Think Tim Allen. In the MGB I'd swap a 427 LS motor, a six speed trans, a rack steering unit, 5 lug hubs, side pipes, upgraded suspension and a velocity stack induction system.........plans so big they never happen.

So my advice is that if you do it, don't go too far. You'll fall off the end. lol

LFX V6 might be a cheaper option & still a big power bump over the original 4cyl

But the sound of an LS 427........I'd have the chix fighting over me!

You want to find a vehicle that has some cache, has parts availability and can be worked on fairly easily. Any interest in a 4x4 or pickup? Toyota pickups retain value, are reliable and parts are available. "Cache" if they are or can be upgraded to some off road capability - Snorkel, etc. Depending on year, not unsafe. Similar comments (excluding reliability) for Jeeps, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
Father and son project sound great! For the era in American automotive, that Fiat was a sexy European compared to the stodgy econo-box garbage the US manufacturers were producing. I used to want one because my girlfriend wanted one. lol

I have been considering the awesomeness of a project of my own with my son. I'm soon to inherit a 1973 MGB. It's my Dad's project car that is in pristine condition but needs an engine. LS swap has entered the chat.

My problem is that I cannot leave things as they were. I have to "improve" them. Think Tim Allen. In the MGB I'd swap a 427 LS motor, a six speed trans, a rack steering unit, 5 lug hubs, side pipes, upgraded suspension and a velocity stack induction system.........plans so big they never happen.

So my advice is that if you do it, don't go too far. You'll fall off the end. lol

LFX V6 might be a cheaper option & still a big power bump over the original 4cyl

But the sound of an LS 427........I'd have the chix fighting over me!

power is lovely, but that car was not made for it,

I've read where folks are swapping in Toyota 4 cyls,

friend has a TR4 , original motor runs fine, and he swapped out the 4 spd for a Toyota 5 spd and the car runs and drives much much better,

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
I've read where folks are swapping in Toyota 4 cyls,

friend has a TR4 , original motor runs fine, and he swapped out the 4 spd for a Toyota 5 spd and the car runs and drives much much better,

4AG 20v with ITBs. Sounds amazing.
K20 swap would be a blast too.