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Ex-police cars: Any of the "big three" would serve as a good candidate, and this is now a growing trend in this area, since the classic musclecar is being sought after by restorationists and reaching the glass ceiling.  The PCOOA (Police Car Owners of America) club is a growing field, and these cars are often used as dirt-cheap transportation, if it is not abused.  Good examples would include Pentastars with the A38 police option, late 80s Ford Crown Vics and Mustangs with the 5.0 EFI motor, and late model Caprices or Camaros (the poor man's Impala SS or Z28). The only drawback is 4-doors (see the Wagons/4-door section below), but a dirt cheap alternative.

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Mopar squads

Ex-drag cars: not worth a resto, but make good street machines.  Mostly below $4000, but might require street car components (e.g. regular differential).

VWs: There are over 40 million aircooled VWs on the road or in wrecking yards, and anyone can build a good project. There are four Types (I - IV), and what you choose yields a perfect candidate. The VW flat-4 can be built and modified like a Small-Block Chevrolet, and speed parts are available.  Don't think of going to Mexico or Brasil to buy a Bug or Bus for a souvenir, since the DOT will seize these cars at the border, because of bumper, emission, and safety regulations! (From Hot VWs, 12/97: only a few dealers import the Mexican Beetle today, like Volkspares, Bug City (310) 659-8099, Beetle Mex, Mexibeetle {remanufactured Bugs from Mexico, based on U.S. Specification Beetles, 430 Willoughby Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701; (502) 441-2880}, Volks Import (Spain), or The People's Car Company, since the classic Bug now has EFI, and a few modernised options. Also, the Bay Window Bus is also powered with a Rabbit motor, and watercooled like the 1983-91 Vanagon.)  Note that the importers of the Mexican Beetle are restorers, since the Bugs used are current model year Beetles, but they retain the original ID #s of the model year of manufacture.

Vehicles with basic powertrains:  From a point of view, these vehicles have low resale value, in which a 4 cylinder, 6, or V6 was offered as the base powerplant (e.g. Camaros/Chevy IIs/A-cars with straight sixes/V6s, or a 4 cylinder Mustang).  A V8 swap can be done, but locate the needed parts for a swap.  This might not be a good idea, but viable if the needed parts are available and/or being produced.  One drawback is that when choosing a project car, get one that already has a powertrain (e.g. a factory optioned V8) that is desirable, unless you are a mechanic or specialize in parting out vehicles.

Pickups/SUVs: These are a dime-a -dozen to locate, and avoid worn-out work trucks (those with roughed-up bodies and bent frames). Avoid the full-size pickups or SUVs, since these are not too popular with street machine projects.  Go for the compact pickup or SUV (e.g. Dakota, S-10, S-series Blazer/Jimmy, or Ranger/Bronco II), since these have been known for smog-legal V8 conversions.

Station Wagons and 4-door sedans: an alternative to the modern SUV, since these can be found at bargain basement prices, as well as 4-door cars. This includes variants of the same model (a 4-door Nova or Chevelle) that had a 2-door hardtop as one of the bodystyles optioned.

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*VW Beetle image courtesy of Don Seributra (a.k.a. H5O/The Emissary), 1999.
*1968 Chevelle images courtesy of Don Seributra, 2000.