Welcome back! For day two of our search for a project car, we’re looking at two cars that both run and drive just fine, but aren’t what you’d call lookers. If body and interior work are your thing, these are the projects for you.
Yesterday’s choices both looked all right, but needed a tow home. I think we all agreed that the Crosley is adorable, and it would certainly take up less space in the garage, but once it’s up and running, I get the feeling it wouldn’t be much fun to actually drive. It’s so tiny, and so slow, that its usefulness, even as that word applies to classic cars, would be too limited. The Toyota could at least be used as a grocery-getter when the spirit moved you, and road trips aren’t out of the question.
Reader Autonerdery pointed out that the seller seems to have the year wrong, however. It has features like side-marker lights and headrests on the seats that weren’t required in 1965, and it’s unlikely someone would have added them after the fact, so this car is more likely a 1968-69 model. Those details should have tipped me off, but I didn’t notice the side-marker lights until after publication, and by then it was too late. Thanks for keeping me honest, and I’m sorry I didn’t catch it in time.
All right, let’s move on to today’s choices. Picking a project car that runs and drives can save you a lot of headaches getting it home, though it isn’t always a guarantee. My own MGB GT “ran and drove” when I bought it, but it blew the radiator six miles into an eighteen-mile trip home, and we had to call a tow truck. But I digress. These two both sound like they’re actually roadworthy and ready to go – straight to the body shop to get them looking better. Let’s check them out.
1964 Volvo PV544 – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8-liter overhead valve inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: Placerville, CA
Odometer reading: 85,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
It still floors me that something that looks like this was a brand-new car in 1964. Volvo was always about a decade behind styling trends, which ironically is about how far ahead it was in terms of safety engineering. Still, it would have taken a certain kind of car buyer to choose this nerdy, out-of-style machine over something like the new-for-’64 Chevy Malibu.
Volvo did update the 544’s mechanicals over the years, though. By 1964 it was powered by the same B18 engine as the P1800, and its electrical system had been upgraded to 12 volts. This 544’s engine was overhauled about 30,000 miles ago, and the seller says it runs well. It is equipped with a Weber downdraft carb, a common mod for both old Volvos and old British cars, if someone doesn’t feel like dealing with SUs. The original carbs, and a whole lot more, are included in a huge parts lot that comes with the car – including a whole other 544 parts car.
The inside is mostly gutted, and some much newer seats have been fitted. I don’t know what they’re from, but if anyone does, please feel free to enlighten me. The door cards and headliner are available from reproduction outfits, or you could find an upholstery shop to make custom ones for you.
The outside doesn’t look rusty, but it doesn’t look great either. Most of the trim is intact, at least, and the rest of it is probably in that pile of parts. But you’ll have to take it apart and do some bodywork if you want to make it all pretty and shiny again. Or you can embrace the patina and just leave it how it is.
1970 Ford Ranchero – $3,900
Engine/drivetrain: 351 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Odometer reading: 58,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives “excellent”
The idea of sticking a storage bed on the back of a car chassis dates way back to the beginning of the automobile. But how to accomplish it? Do you build a specific cab and removable/replaceable bed onto a chassis, or do you chop off the back end of a car’s bodywork to make an open area? That’s the fundamental difference between a pickup truck, which has always been more popular in America, and a coupe utility, or “ute,” which is how the Australians prefer to do it. But utes had their heyday in America as well, with models like this 1970 Ford Ranchero.
The Ranchero was based on a few different Ford platforms over the years. In 1970, it was based on the freshly-restyled mid-sized Torino. A bunch of different engines were available; this one has a 351 Cleveland V8 with a two-barrel carbuetor, and a three-speed automatic. The seller claims the 58,000 miles shown on the odometer are accurate, and that the car runs and drives great. But it’s being sold by a dealership, so take all that with a grain of salt.
It could definitely use some work inside. The seat upholstery is shot, the dash is cracked, and the door panels are coming apart. Restoration parts for this aren’t as easy to come by as some other classics, but there is always the modern bucket seats option, if you want.
Outside, it’s definitely got some rust to contend with, especially in the tailgate, but a couple of underside photos in the ad look encouraging. This isn’t the sort of rustbucket you’d find for sale in the Midwest. You could, of course, choose to leave this one how it is too – but if you chose to restore it and repaint it, you’d be required to keep the same color. It’s a law; all Fords of this era must be painted in this pea green.
There’s no reason a project car can’t be something you can drive while you work on it. And starting out with something that already runs well does make things easier. For either of these, however, you’ll have to either come to terms with how they look as-is, or be willing to dive into some bodywork. Which one are you willing to tackle?
(Image credits: sellers)
Id like a V8, but I’ll take the Volvo(s) since it’s not an ugly Fix Or Repair Daily, is manual, and comes w/ a parts car! I never liked the Rancheros…would rather have Project Cactus! Look at how basic that engine bay is…can we bring that back please?
Raunchero!
I can combine my project car and light-duty pickup needs into one package! A new bench seat and a 4-bbl for that 351 will be all that it needs from the get-go.
Nice enough to drive, but keep the ‘old survivor’ patina so that it can be used as a normal-ish vehicle.
I love the Torino front of these Rancheros, even if the design falls apart at that rear. Were it in better shape, I’d still go with it over the Volvo, but it isn’t, so Volvo.
I do love me a ute, but I prefer El Caminos and love old Volvos, so Volvo for me.
I hate the 544. It’s just a 444, updated a little, and that was already very old 40ies looking in the 50ies.. And the whole calling it something else, seems so fake.
I should also hate the Jaguar MK2 then, but I don’t. And the VW Super Beetle, of which I own a convertible myself, but I also don’t. Strange really.
I do hate the Morris Ital (really a Marina) and Austin Ambassador (really a Princess) though.
I tend to think in terms of “what’d it be like to be stuck with either one of these as daily drivers for six months” when voting.
Thus, I think the Volvo would be a little less of a headache to keep alive, running, and presentable.
The Rancho is oddly cool, it’d make a fun project. I dig the green over brown, too.
The Volvo is pretty cool, but I’m going with the Ranchero. There’s something about the ute look that I’ve loved since I was a little kid seeing my first El Camino. Since I’ve never owned one, I’d have to take this opportunity.
Man two days in a row for me in the minority. I found both the Crosley and Volvo far more interesting. I will say the project car battles are interesting because there are so many different ways to approach voting
Same here
The Volvo is definitely the more interesting car, if you’re an enthusiast. I like the Ranchero, though, and it gets my vote. I do wonder, have all the old ’60s/’70s cars been crushed out of the junkyards? Time was, you could get parts for the Ford pretty easily.
Tough call. The Volvo’ll be more fun to drive and the Ranchero more useful.
For yesterday, it is a facelift Corona but the early versions had side lights too (front only), side turn signal repeaters were required in Japan starting around that time and they were retained on export cars where not specifically forbidden. (Note also the chrome trim on the fender tips where the holes for the JDM fender mirrors are presumably stamped in).
I’m not sure how they were wired to function, as sidemarkers, signal repeaters or double duty, on pre-68 US-spec cars but they were there.
I’ll take the Swede. Mechanically fine but cosmetically imperfect is fine with me. I’d shine up the old paint and embrace the patina. Then do something about making the interior livable. There are plenty of Volvo enthusiasts around me so knowledge and parts would be doable.
I’ll take the Ranchero. I like all of the coupe utility vehicles that were sold in the US, but this generation Ranchero is my favorite American ute. The undercarriage alone makes me want to buy this thing. This vehicle looks solid, if tired. I would do some custom interior work (bucket seats, generally make it less brown, etc.) and I would paint it. I disagree these should be pea green. I don’t think I have ever even seen a pea green Ranchero. I know a guy who had a 1970 Ranchero that was bright red; it looked great. I would probably paint this red.
I could make an argument for the Volvo as well, but I’m slightly less enthused about that car. I like that it looks solid and apparently runs & drives. I love the styling of classic Volvos. To me they look like modernized versions of prewar American cars. They are unique and very cool.
If I were to do fix ’em up and drive it around, I would have to go with the Ranchero.
If a “My wife is going to hate me again” restomod project ensued, I would have to be in the 544 camp. A nice little V8 infused with a suspension upgrade would be a ton of fun.
The Volvo is fine, but a running driving not completely rusted out V8 ute for $4 grand? New foam, cheap seat cover, some rattle cans, load bikes of choice and coolers, hit the road. Just try and wipe the smile off of my face.
I don’t think finding a late 60s, early 70s Ranchero is that hard to come by under 5K in that condition, though the dash is nice, the AV cables by the emergency brake has me scratching my head though.
I really do love Volvo PVs and Amazons…but I’d rather spend extra money and find a nicer one for around 10K, and thats not hard. That being said…
That Volvo WOULD make a sweet rallycross beater/trainer. Get some AT tires find a dirt field and scandi-flick to your hearts content. They were popular rally cars in the day, and still popular for vintage rally events.