That music is positively Buckaroo Banzai-ish!

@HurtsSoGood: How about my 100K mile '94 Escort that I bought six months ago for a grand? That the previous owner spent almost nothing on for it's entire life? That passed safety and emissions inspections (OK, it needed a ball joint), and with the exception of a timing belt/water pump in the next 10K miles or so,…

I thought we'd have more sex.

@Murilee Martin: All of the best stories in racing, or life in general, begin with "What could possibly go wrong?"

I think they're using the 'Busa transmission, not the metro transmission. They're just using the metro diff and axles.

Yoink!

My wife had one of those. She's a woman of mesmerizing pulchritude, and dramatic curves. She called hers the Busty Justy. Usually "Beej" for short. Oh the double-entendres...

@Pete Gaines: Oh, I see, I didn't get what you were referencing. I did restate that argument later by saying "many of us," sorry if I assumed something there that wasn't true. You didn't/don't like the Valiant. Noted.

@Unregular: Mostly the Kia, but my argument could go for the Sebring, the Equinox, pretty much any car that someone's buying because they need it rather than they want it. That's my whole thing.

@Pete Gaines: I'm sorry, I don't see where I was suggesting that you said something you didn't. I was just asking a question.

@BanditoGT: Right, like the suburban Dad in 1969 that bought the Valiant with bench seat and radio delete that many of us would give a left one to own now. Or a Beetle. He could have afforded that Galaxie wagon with a 390, screw the college fund, so he's a douche.

@Pete Gaines: But if they bought a new Valiant in 1969 with am radio delete they're just frugal? We sure do love that car now, don't we?

You know, I usually like snark. I never thought I'd get tired of snark. But this post seems like snark for snark's sake.

Ambulance doors FTW!

Murilee, that first picture literally made me sit up straight in my chair. That's the perfect Dart right there, I don't care who you are. Thanks.

That cargo area (way-back in station-wagon-riding-kid parlance) is huuuge. Dead hookers stacked like cordwood huge. As big as any current shortbed pickup. That's my big knock against modern station wagons, the cargo area is too damn small.

I'm shocked to see so few people go with the silver Dart GT. I thought the leaning T-O-P was the official Jalopnik engine!?!

@Mad_Science: go to the Wikipedia page for Chevy Big-Block. It's the 1st generation big block, 348-409 motor.

4-banger (not Cosworth) Vega vs. 4-banger Pinto

427 natch