10 Best cars to modify for drag strip or circuit track

[baller760]

So, I was thinking about this today and I was curious what everyone's opinion is about the best cars to modify for either the drag strip or the road course. By this I mean what is the best platform. For example, we know our GN's were built for the strip as they are so easy to make fast and are already built to just do 1.5 or 1.6 60 fts on stock suspension. As for road cars a car like the M3 was bulit purposefully for that need and succeeds tremendously. Now, I am going to place a $50,000 limit on the price of the car and then you guys tell me what you think are the best from 1-10 in each category. I think this will be interesting so I hope there can be some really good discussion.

[fitz3820]

Road racing EVO - Buy a used one for 20k and throw another 30k into it and you can do whatever you want.

For drag racing- probably anything with a small block chevy in it - you can go fast for low $$.

[lyonsd]

For the dragstrip I'd have to say the '87 - '93 Fox body Mustang is one of the best.

[SS_Sean]

Any G-body is good. Full frames, light, already has provisions for v-8 (or 6, whatever your flavor), and has a factory four link stock suspension. Doesn't get any better.

[Tom Tom Turbo]

03-04 Cobra for drag racing....sure the IRS isn't the best, but damn...a pulley, chip, and exhaust will get you well into the 11's

[QuickBuick87]

That's real easy 86-87 TURBO BUICK for the strip, road course hands down a NEW Corvette.

Ken B.

[madhat]

Fox Body Mustangs are some of the cheapest to strip (although I dont like the look, the notchbacks offer more stiffness for racing)
For road racing, pick up an Rx7! Even for the FD's, the entry cost isnt any higher than our cars.
You CAN use the Rx7s(especially the SA-22's/FB's) for drag racing too, but I'm not a fan of the easy/cheap way to make them fast - swap out the rotary and drop in a V8.
Alot of people like the 70s Vegas, Novas, etc...as well

[saywin]

I can't believe someone would say a Ricer!

[madhat]

you tell me how a Rx7 is a ricer! Sequential turbo, best car of 1993, excellent track car, light, etc... Yes, one WAS riced out in Fast and Furious, but that has nothing to do w/ the car! And dont bring up the whole "its not built in America" thing either, because our "domestics" are more foriegn than the Toyotas, Nissans, etc... that are on the lots right now. Geez. And besides, what is GM/Ford offering us right now? Almost all of our performance sedans are coming from out of country anyway - alot of the members on the board are driving STi's etc...

Anyway, sorry for going of topic there.

[Lturbo6]

79-81 chevy malibu. Perfect for drag racing. 86-93 notchback perfect for drag racing.

[INEEDAGN]

You guys wanna have fun on no $$$? pick up a FWD turbo dodge or gen 1 DSM. Dirt cheap, already turbo, bolt on's exist, corner like it's on rails. Not quite the WOT straight line of the GN but they are screamin' little sh*tboxes. And cheap.

bob

[jdpolzin]

Originally Posted by INEEDAGN

You guys wanna have fun on no $$$? pick up a FWD turbo dodge or gen 1 DSM. Dirt cheap, already turbo, bolt on's exist, corner like it's on rails. Not quite the WOT straight line of the GN but they are screamin' little sh*tboxes. And cheap.

bob

I'd have to agree! I have been around DSM's for a long time now and they are so cheap for such an all around cool car!

[87we410877]

Originally Posted by jdpolzin

I'd have to agree! I have been around DSM's for a long time now and they are so cheap for such an all around cool car!

Front wheel drive has you limited. I think the best bang for the buck is a early 90's chevy s-10. Pick it up for 500 with no motor or tranny. Spend 5000 on a nice small block and another 3500 on a blower maybe 2'gs for a fuel system and your goin 9's all day. 10g's not bad.

[saywin]

Touchey Touchey, I don't care about all the cars you listed. Mine is American and that's all that matters!

[jdpolzin]

Originally Posted by 87we410877

Front wheel drive has you limited. I think the best bang for the buck is a early 90's chevy s-10. Pick it up for 500 with no motor or tranny. Spend 5000 on a nice small block and another 3500 on a blower maybe 2'gs for a fuel system and your goin 9's all day. 10g's not bad.

Yeah I dont care for the front wheel drive either, but the AWD DSM's are hard to beat. Light, AWD, Low, Cheap, Very Fast. A buddy of mine has a 1st Gen with 400 HP at all the wheels, sits roughly 4 in. off the ground, has a nice set of wheels etc, runs 10.02 and he has a ****ping total of $4200 into the car. Of course he bought the car stock for $500!

[jdpolzin]

Thats wierd, it wont let me spell w h o p p i n g??

[darkred87T]

Originally Posted by jdpolzin

Thats wierd, it wont let me spell w h o p p i n g??

Maybe it insinuates violence?

I'm surprised that no one yet mentioned anything with a big block in it. Am I getting old? I remeber not too long ago at the local drag strip seeing Pontiac Trans am 455s, GTOs, Big Block Camaro's ect. tearing up the track all day.

[a trail rider]

Maybe it's because it says **** in it? Heh, that's kinda funny.

I'd go for a used 02-05 ZO6 and call my search complete. They're quick, handle better than nearly anything and keep a good resale value for years on end.

[Pablo]

The way you phrase the question pretty much leaves only the cheapest cars to select because with 50 grand you can pretty much build a car to do brutally well in road racing or drag racing (not the same car)

I can pick up a thirdgen F body for 1500 dollars and turn it into an absolute terror in either form of motorsport for the other 48,500 dollars.

Do you only mean a 50k limit on the price of the car stock? Is there a limit on the modification price? Or do you mean the car can only be less than 50k stock with no limit on modifications? At a certain point all cars start to cost the same modification wise once you have deviated from the stock configuration to a certain degree.

I suggest you rephrase your question if you want to get any meaningful discussion.

[baller760]

I'm sorry I wasn't clear enough. I meant that the price of the car stock was up to $50,000 and then what is the easiest or cheapest car to make ridiculously fast one a strip or track after that. Say a $10,000 limit after the purchase of the car.