Good morning! On today’s Shitbox Showdown, we’re venturing into the sometimes dangerous waters of project cars. But I’ve specifically chosen two cars that don’t need any mechanical attention, just cosmetic restoration. You can drive them as you fix them up, and let everyone at the local cruise night see your progress.
As was pointed out in the comments, yesterday’s matchup was at the same time fair, and very lopsided. On paper, the two cars look similar, but the devil, as always, is in the details. The Mitsubishi is cool but potentially ruined, and the Scion just seems like a good deal. It cruised to an absolute blowout win.
As for me, I want to prefer the Expo LRV, but that particular one just has too many question marks. If I were actually cross-shopping these, I’d have to look at the LRV, just to see what condition it’s really in, but I have a feeling I’d wind up with the Scion.
Now, as our fearless leader David once pointed out, the most important thing you can do to a project car is to get it running. This transforms it from a car-shaped to-do list into an actual car, and doing it right away is better for the car, and for your sanity.
Or you could shop for a car that already runs and drives well, like these two. You can enjoy it from day one, and when the time comes, you can drive it to the paint shop, or to an upholsterer to get the interior redone. Better make sure it runs really well if you want the famous “Tijuana” interior, though – it’s a long way to the shop if you want a tuck-and-roll. Let’s check them out.
1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 – $5,000
Engine/drivetrain: 394 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: San Clemente, CA
Odometer reading: 125,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
You hear a lot of talk these days about how big cars are getting. Ever-increasing safety regulations are pushing the exterior dimensions of cars outward, to make room for airbags and safety cages and crumple zones. And it’s a good thing, I suppose. I mean, cars used to be just as big as they are now – but without all that silly life-saving stuff. Feast your eyes on the behemoth that is the 1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 two-door hardtop.
The beating heart of this monster is a 394 cubic inch “Sky Rocket” V8, backed by a three-speed “Roto-Hydramatic” transmission. The engine was rebuilt several years ago, and runs like a top. It has a newer Edelbrock four-barrel carb and aluminum radiator, and the front end was redone at the same time as the engine overhaul. It has current tags, and it sounds like it’s ready to hit the road.
Inside, it’s all original, and not terrible, actually. The front seat needs reupholstery, and the dash has some cracks, but otherwise it’s not bad at all. One thing I don’t see are seat belts; they weren’t required by law until 1968, so this car may never have had them. But you’d be mad not to install some.
The exterior is where it needs the most work. It’s a California car, so it’s not rusted through, but the surface has been sandblasted and sun-scorched into oblivion. It looks like the trim is all there, and the chrome bumpers look all right. It looks kinda cool as is, actually, but a paint job would do wonders for it.
1964 Ford Fairlane 500 – $2,900
Engine/drivetrain: 260 cubic inch overhead valve V8, two-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Mesa, AZ
Odometer reading: 54,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The Fairlane started out as a trim level of the full-size Ford cars, but by 1964 it was its own model, smaller than the full-size Galaxie but considerably larger than the compact Falcon introduced a couple years earlier. The 500 was the fancy Fairlane; it basically had more chrome stuff on the sides.
The standard engine in the Fairlane was an inline six, but a couple of V8 engines were offered. This is the smaller 260 V8, with a two-speed “Ford-O-Matic” transmission. Yep – two speeds. It’s not high-performance, or efficient, but these old simple automatics are pretty durable. This car runs and drives well, the seller says, but they don’t elaborate. I do see a new carb, fuel lines, fuel pump, and water pump, and somebody painted the valve covers, probably after pulling them to replace the gaskets.
The inside is toast, unfortunately, but there’s something about it I find sort of charming. It looks like the car that a grizzled, down-on-his-luck private investigator drives in a movie, rolling along desert highways on his way to track down a witness somewhere, probably with Johnny Cash playing in the background. Strictly on the soundtrack, though; there’s no radio in this car.
Outside, it has what I guess you could call “patina.” The paint is essentially gone, but most of the trim is intact. One of the signature “bullet” taillights appears to be missing, which is a bummer. It also needs new tires, according to the seller, and personally I’d get rid of those ’70s Maverick hubcaps.
Neither of these cars is really “worth” restoring, if you’re in it for monetary gain. They’re both ordinary cars, just like hundreds of thousands of others of their kinds. But that’s also what makes them cool. Don’t fix them up for money; fix them up for the satisfaction of doing it. And you can drive them home, rather than having to rent a trailer or hire a tow truck. Which one moves you?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
That’s true for federal law but enough states had already based their own laws on the earlier Uniform Vehicle Code that, at a minimum, lap belts for the outer front positions were standard starting in 1965.
The Olds will win this because it’s a more desirable hardtop and looks to be in better shape. But I’m for the underdogs, and since no one saves classic 4-doors, give me the Fairlane.
I was raised on Fords, but will always be an Olds man at heart.
I’d take the Ford, splash the panels with a coat of matte clear to seal it, and drive as-is the kids to school like I’m Uncle Buck.
That Olds just makes me feel good.
Wow two days in a row in the minority for me. Yesterday the Scion was too cheap and that scared me off. Also how often do you see one of those Mitsus for sale…basically never.
Today a whole lot of people seem to want to pay 5 large for an Olds in that condition. No thanks! I can take the money I’ve saved and make the Fairlane much nicer.
I love the ridiculousness of huge 2-door sedans. The Olds being outside the usual (and therefore boring) vintage car pantheon makes it extra appealing to me. As a bonus, it looks like all the chrome is there. To further thumb my nose at the vintage car bros, I’d paint it pink.
Brilliant!!! TIL that Bon Scott actually played the bagpipes on that song.
As for the cars, I want to like that Ford, and I think it would make the better rat rod of the two, but almost 400 ci and a 2-door coupe push the Olds to the top. I’ll put the effort in to give it nice sinister gloss black paint. Just look at how much space there is around that 6.5L mill!
The Fairlane project would waste less space in the garage.
Olds all the way. TBH, I’d happily drive it as is for those Fallout vibes.
My first car was a 1962 Maroon Ford Fairlane. I would say the Ford, but I am biased. Thanks for the Showdown!
It’s not my usual aesthetic, but something about that Olds says “satin black and five-slot mags.” We’ll take Lansing’s finest.
Fairlane for me, but this should have been a “Both” day. My dad always told stories of the early ’60’s Olds 88 he drove in California and that apparently would be an amazing highway cruiser.
The Olds all the way, 2 doors and big V8 make it ieasier for me. though I am not sure I consider 5K for the car a good enough deal. but times definitely are changed on the used car market.
the real question is shine Juice on the Patina or maybe try Tractor Paint and a Harbor Freight paint gun? Certainly it would give you plenty of flat real estate to practice your paint skills on.
I like them both, but I like the Olds more. Unfortunately I think the “patina” has reached the point where it just looks like shit. With either car I’d have it resprayed in a simple matte color to give it a weathered but not abandoned in a field look. The big Olds would look great in robin’s egg blue IMO.
In the early nineties I had a bricklayer who worked for me as a freelancer. His daily driver was a ’74 Grand Ville convertible in robin’s-egg blue with a white top and interior. It was in OK condition, and maybe a little tatty in some spots.
This young guy wasn’t really a car enthusiast {I just like the way it looks} but that gorgeous color combo and the fact that this kid was so matter of fact about this dazzling ride: pulling his tools in and out of that huge trunk lending gravitas to the aesthetics somehow. Kind of like “Ginger” borrowing an outfit from “Marianne” (boomer analogy).
So, this is the long way of saying I’m with you on the blue.
I’ll take the comfy confines of an Oldsmobile please. It is the more complete car and wears it’s patina well. Love the massive two door style. Fix up the interior as you go and enjoy it for now.
What would be difficult for me to not consider would be lopping the top off of the olds and making it a roadster.
I think my problem would be knowing when to stop. This would not a concours restoration yet I would probably find myself falling deeper into the hole each time I worked on it.
I can’t believe Ford was still using generators in 1964.
It’s one of the differences between the early-production “1964.5” vs. later-production 1965 Mustangs, even though both are officially considered to be 1965 models.
The Olds has tailfins, so Oldsmobile no contest.
I’d normally be all about the Fairlane, but in this case the Olds is in better shape and is just uncommon enough, while also complete enough, to get my nod.
I’d seal the patina on that Olds with some linseed oil and throw on a set of Cragars and cruise. Fix up the interior little by little.
Tough choice; today is a “both” day for me. I could see buying either of them to drive as-is. I have a strange fascination with cars that are in good mechanical condition but look rough. Part of that is practical – cars like these are just as cool and fun as cars in good condition, but you can drive them without worrying about damaging them. Cars are meant to be driven, and these are cars I wouldn’t worry about driving or parking anywhere.
For the purposes of voting, I’m going with the Oldsmobile. I slightly prefer the styling of the Olds to that of the Ford. Other than that, I have a hard time making a strong argument for one over the other. The Olds appears to be in better condition, but the price of the Ford compensates for that.
I love the little Ford. I rode in many of its ilk in days past: that was a $75-200 car when I was in HS. And, that wasn’t patina: it was being too poor or proud to take it and your lawn-mowing money to Earl Scheib. Actually, you likely spent that money on a Radio Shack head unit & a couple Kraco 6x9s
Radio Shack? Look at you! It was K-Mart for me.
I know: swanky, right?
in reality, I’m thinking of a Realistic cassette tape player designed to be added onto a plain AM/FM stock unit that I put in a 79 Cutlass to replace the player/CB unit that was doa.
Old School trick. Replace the cassette door on the Alpine with Sparkomatic.
Nobody would trash your dash then to grab it
I remember spending THOUSANDS of 2024 dollars on car audio in the 1980s.
I recently ran across some of my car audio receipts from the 80’s – I spent thousands of 1980’s dollars on car audio.
And now you can pick up a killer head unit and speakers for a little over a hundred bucks. But oh, it might be a whole lot harder to install!
My dad spent thousands of dollars in 1980’s dollars on car audio stuff. I shudder to think what it would be in today’s dollars.
That Olds would look pretty nice repainted and with a new front bench. For $5K you really can’t go wrong.
Nothing really against the Ford, but give me the hardtop coupe over the sedan every time.
My uncle had a bright red Olds Dynamic for many, many years. I swear he washed it every damn day. Maybe a bit OCD. Anyway, I’ll take the Heil Hitler Olds for the nostalgia.
I’ll take the Fairlane.
Cheaper buy in, and I’m pretty sure I can get anything I need to make it a fun driver. Not so sure about that for the Olds.
Kinda what I was thinking. It’s low-key and it looks like all the trim is still there.