Project Cars for Sale

Great Picks for Your Next Project Car

Are you looking to pick up a project car? Carsforsale.com has plenty of great project cars for sale whether it’s your first one or another addition to your collection. We’ve got everything from modern tuners all the way back to some hard-hitting classics listed for sale on our site, so we’ve got a ride waiting for you whatever your car taste may be.

Now, not all of these cars are going to driving straight from the lot, it is a project after all. However, most of these choices are here because we found that they’re great starting points for a project car, are a bargain, have a lot of potential, have some form of notoriety, or all of the above. Be sure to check back monthly as we continually update our Project Cars for Sale list with additional great finds!

1955 Chrysler Imperial Newport

This 1955 Chrysler Imperial is waiting to be put back together and sent down the road. it is the shorter wheelbase C-69 Newport that was only available as a 2-door hardtop. Given its age, the original green and white accenting paint has held up well. Some of its chrome pieces have been pilfered, otherwise the body itself looks like a nice starting point for a restoration project.

The seats and door cards are a mess inside, but the dash looks to only need a bit of a cleanup and I’ve seen headliners in worse condition before. Under the hood you’ll find its original 331 CID Hemi V8 in need of some serious TLC. Rip it out for a more modern Hemi alternative or salvage what you can and bring this old block back to its former glory.

1958 Dodge Coronet D-500

This Dodge Coronet is special because of its D-500 designation. Before it was used on their pickup truck line, D-500 stood for a performance option package on the manufacturer’s passenger cars. This package replaced the standard straight-six for a four-barrel 361 CID V8 engine as well as heavier duty suspension and better brakes. This example for sale not only still has that engine under its hood but has kept its original D-500 badging. There is plenty of rust unfortunately, but bringing this performance Coronet back can be well worth the effort.

1958 Buick Special

All the pieces are here for this ‘50s icon – you’ll just need to get it back together. The 1958 Buick Special was the final iteration of the Series 40 model. While this example for sale has let itself go a bit, the most important part of this car is still there – the chrome. Nearly all the original chrome on this ‘58 is intact, aside from a couple nameplate letters across the trunk lid.

Missing letters isn’t the end of the world, they’re often the easiest to recreate and replace. But having all the original chrome trim and bumpers is much harder to come by and can add to the car’s value after a good restoration. The seller also mentions that the original Fireball V8 and Dynaflow automatic transmission are there, just not installed. No mention of which V8 was associated with this Buick Special, but the V8s regardless of CID fetch a higher price over the straight-8 models.

1961 Ford F-600

This old Ford truck has already had some modifications to create a backyard restomod, but it’s a cool idea you can build upon to perfection. The ‘61 F-600 started out red as evidenced by its bed and interior, but its new owners have given it a blue camouflage rattle can paintjob. Love it or hate it, this is just spray paint at the end of the day so getting that original paint out from underneath isn’t impossible.

Other modifications to this classic heavy-duty truck include a fuel injected 5.4L V8 engine swapped under the hood and an air bagged suspension has been added to give it a nice, low look when parked. Outside of looks, this thing has some noted issues. It’ll need new brakes, brake lines, and it’ll need the suspension looked at further as it apparently bounces around if you go over 35 mph.

1965 Plymouth Fury

This ‘65 Fury was parked some years back and hasn’t moved from its spot since. It’s the fourth generation that debuted in 1965 and one of the better-looking iterations of the Fury. This particular example is a Fury III, the highest trim level available for the model. Under the hood is a running 2-barrell 383 CID Commando V8. All you’d really need is to tune up the engine a bit and get some air in the tires to get it moving. Then all that’s left with this project is cleaning it up a bit and enjoying the ride.

1968 Chevrolet Chevy Van

If you’re looking to put together a classic van, this ‘68 Chevy Van is a great deal. It’s already partway through the restoration process and it just needs you to finish the job. Sitting next to the single front seat is the 350 CID 4-bolt V8 mated to a Slap Shifter Turbo 400 transmission. The previous owner looks to have added an MSD ignition box and there is also an Edelbrock carburetor box sitting on the passenger side. This thing could be built, but regardless it’s noted as running and driving. The seller notes that this Chevy Van comes with all of its trim pieces but will need new gaskets and a fresh coat of paint. Regardless, this open canvas of a classic van is a great project option.

1968 Cadillac DeVille

A classic Caddy will always be a looker, so why not pick this one up! This burgundy 1968 Cadillac DeVille convertible is a running, driving example that honestly doesn’t need too much to get looking great. The exterior needs a bit of buffing and detailing but is otherwise well kept. The most glaring issue is the seating upholstery that shows some serious wear. Swap out that bench seat or try and breathe life back into that leather. After that and a little maintenance, you’ve got a tailfinned convertible packed with classic style and driven via a 472 CID V8 under the hood.

1969 Plymouth GTX

Looking for a great muscle car to work on as your next project? Then check out this ‘69 Plymouth GTX for sale! There’s a lot left to be done on this American classic, but it’s already been given four-wheel disc brakes, new wheels, and new quarters. There’s missing glass, missing interior bits, missing trim, missing headlamps, and the 440 power plant looks to be gone too. While that’s a bummer, this GTX can be retromodded to your heart’s content to make a sweet ride. Plus, maybe it could carry a more potent engine than the old 440 – like dropping in a modern Hellcrate before they go out of style maybe?

1978 Ford Fairmont

Dad’s old Ford Fairmont may not seem like an exciting project until you realize it’s the most unassuming sleeper contender. Keep the exterior dings and then rip out that old straight six for the Coyote out of the Fox Body Mustang. Should be pretty plug and play since they’re on the same Ford Fox platform. Gut out that gross interior, tack on some new floor pans, and replace the old seating with something new – perhaps even a roll bar and a racing seat with a five-point harness. Then you’re pretty much set to go after another once around to fix some trouble rust spots and maybe tossing on some new wheels and tires.

1991 Volvo 240 Wagon

There’s 200,000 miles on the 2.3L inline four-cylinder under the hood of this ‘91 Volvo 240 wagon, but it has plenty left to go. The seller notes that this thing is still running and driving, had a full tune up, has had all its fluids checked, and has brand new pads and rotors. It also notes some interesting modifications. Front bumper mounted Hella, OMP aftermarket steering wheel, Sickspeed front bucket seats, and a katana shaped emergency brake. Someone has clearly already had some fun with this Volvo, but it can be made even more fun with an engine swap. LS engines are a favorite for swapping into these older Volvos and with these aftermarket bits already in place, this could be a fun little drifter for your local circuit.

1968 Chrysler New Yorker

This late ‘60s classic isn’t a muscle car but can still make for a fun project car. This 1968 Chrysler New Yorker for sale wears its original paint and it runs and drives, meaning this project is all about touch ups and maintenance. The 440 CID V8 under the hood will need some service to keep it going and the air conditioning will need some work. There are a couple spots where the original paint has patinaed, some rust to address, and the roof vinyl is starting to come apart. Inside is actually decently maintained, it’s all in good shape and the vinyl seating just needs a good cleaning. New Yorkers aren’t the most sought-after models of that era, but this one is a good option for a first project car.

1953 Mercedes-Benz 300B Adenauer

This is an interesting vehicle that was reportedly only recently rediscovered. For less than $8,000 you can take this 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300B Adenauer home and get to work on what could be a big project. The rust may have gotten to this post-war luxury model and it’ll need some new bits and pieces all around, but these ‘50’s era sedans can fetch a good price when they’re well put together. This old Mercedes in particular is going to need new headlamps, rear lighting, replacement chrome trim pieces, a new grille, new hubcaps, an engine, and (aside from the steering wheel and gauge cluster) the entire interior needs to be redone. Once you get all those odds and ends installed, then the exterior will need to be refinished with some new paint. This is no beginner project car, but it could be the perfect canvas for your next build if you’ve got the know-how.

1953 Packard Clipper

Finish up this Packard Clipper and get it shined up to perfection. This 1953 model’s maroon exterior is heavily scratched, but it looks to have already received some work. The red wheels look fresh, the vinyl top looks practically brand new, the interior upholstery looks newly installed, and it’s still able to run and drive with that straight-8 under the hood. All this old Clipper really needs is a new coat of paint, a couple replacement trim pieces, and some proactive rust deterrent. After that, you’ve got a slick looking ‘50s ride!