We’ve reached the end of another week, and while I usually would either do a shootout between the week’s winners, or blow the price cap and look at something more expensive, I kinda feel like we went a little over-budget this week. And the winners don’t really lend themselves to comparison. So instead, I’m going the other way with the price – with two unusual cars that only cost a grand each.
I think the best way to describe yesterday’s results is with the phrase “silent majority.” Looking at the comments before checking the poll results, as I always do, I assumed that this was another complete blowout in favor of the modified Firebird. But I was completely wrong; the GTI took home nearly sixty percent of the votes.
A couple of you wanted to know why the VW voters voted the way they did. I can’t speak for anyone else, but the reason the VW would be my choice is that it’s stock. I can refer to a repair manual to fix things, and the parts under the hood will look like the parts in the book. Don’t get me wrong; I like a good hot rod as much as the next guy, but I’m getting too old to sort out someone else’s repairs and modifications. If I’m going to drive a modified car, it’s going to be me who modified it.
What constitutes a “cheap” car is different for everyone, and it can depend a lot on circumstance. Five grand for an ordinary Chevy Malibu or something may seem like too much, while $40,000 for a Porsche 911 in the right condition might be an absolute bargain. But I think we can all agree that a grand or less is pretty cheap these days, no matter who you are. For that price, though, you’re going to have to do some work, so you might as well choose something interesting. Like these, for instance.
1974 Jeep DJ-5C Dispatcher – $999
Engine/drivetrain: 2.5-liter overhead valve inline 4, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Silverdale, WA
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: Engine and transmission are out
The Grumman LLV mail van has been around for so long now that it’s hard to imagine a time when it wasn’t ubiquitous. We’re all accustomed to the sound of that poor little Iron Duke four-cylinder growling its way up the street, letting us know it’s time to go out and check the mailbox. But before the LLV, another boxy little vehicle carried the mail: the Jeep DJ-5. While it looks an awful lot like a normal Jeep, it’s not – it’s two-wheel-drive, with a lighter-duty frame and a simple steel box with sliding doors for a body. Despite not really being a “real Jeep,” we all know that one madman tried to take on Moab in one.
This DJ-5 would have originally completed its appointed rounds with a 232 cubic inch AMC inline six under the hood, but that engine is long gone. The seller bought an AMC 2.5 liter four-cylinder to replace it from a Jeep custom shop, no doubt yanked out in running condition from an early XJ or something. The DJ was equipped with this engine during its last few years, so it’s a perfectly suitable replacement. The transmission is likely a Chrysler Torqueflite, and it probably works fine too. Of course, you’ll have to install it in the Jeep and try to start it up to find out for sure.
“Spartan” is a good word to describe the interior of a postal Jeep, but I think even those legendary warriors might look at this and ask, “That’s it?” A seat, a steering wheel, a shift lever, and two pedals – everything you need, and nothing else. It’s right-hand-drive, of course, so the postal carrier can easily reach mailboxes. The seat looks like it’s in decent condition, and it looks like those wires are all labeled with blue tape, so you have a chance at getting them all connected again.
To anyone who remembers David’s rusty hulk of a postal Jeep, this DJ-5 is going to look absolutely pristine. That’s the magic of western cars; they just don’t rust like cars in other places do. The white paint looks like primer, so it may have had some rust repair done, but I doubt it’s much. This one would have originally been blue with a white top and a red stripe between the colors; that was the standard livery in 1974. If it were me, I’d paint it back that way.
1987 Renault Alliance DL Convertible – $1,000
Engine/drivetrain: 1.7-liter overhead cam inline 4, three-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Barryton, MI
Odometer reading: 85,000 miles
Operational status: Starts and runs, but has no brakes
Jeeps of all kinds kept American Motors afloat through the 70s, but its passenger cars weren’t doing so well. A partnership with Renault promised to help its fortunes and resulted in this little car: the Renault Alliance. It was designed in a joint venture between AMC and Renault, and powered by Renault engines, but it was built in AMC’s factory in Wisconsin. Well, mostly; this convertible model was finished, as so many “factory” convertibles were in the 80s, by ASC, probably in California.
The Alliance debuted with a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the same old Cléon-Fonte engine that had powered Renaults for decades, but in 1985, a new 1.7-liter overhead cam engine became available, and that’s what this one has. Interestingly, the Alliance was always fuel-injected, a good selling point in an era when most other economy cars still wheezed along with feedback carburetors. The seller says the engine starts and runs, and the three-speed automatic goes into gear, but the car isn’t drivable because it has no brakes. They suspect the master cylinder is shot.
I never expect much from the interiors of cars in this price range, but here I’m pleasantly surprised. This thing is actually really nice inside. The upholstery looks good, the dash isn’t cracked or trashed, and even the carpet looks all right. The interior of the Alliance is the American part, and if you’ve never sat in one before, prepare to be impressed; it’s comfy.
It’s a little banged-up outside and suffers from some really unfortunate aftermarket wheel covers, but it isn’t really rusty – certainly not by Michigan standards. You could probably just clean it up and ignore what little rust there is. This non-metallic beige paint would have been a really boring choice in the 80s, but now it’s almost a nice change of pace from all the grayscale cars on the road.
I’m actually impressed that I found two viable, worthwhile projects for this price. You’ve got a lot of headroom in the budget for parts if you’re only spending a grand (plus towing) to get the car. They’ll both be slow when you’re done, and not up to carving corners either, but they’re different – and different is good. Which one speaks to you?
Voted for the Jeep. Pretty straightforward and it will always get looks.
I went with the Jeep, even though I don’t want it because of the RHD. But I remember the Alliance when it was new and other than the super comfy seats there is nothing else to them that makes them desirable – especially not a convertible one.
I own one broken AMC already, might as well add two more!
I already have a convertible but I don’t have a mail truck…
I had a fleet of Renaults from that era. Most of them given to me by people that just wanted them out of their yards. The 1.4 engines were pretty much indestructible and the fuel injection dead simple. All mine had the 1.4 and manual transmissions, so I can’t attest to how good the 1.7 with the auto holds up, but I think one of mine had more than 250,000 miles. They were simple, honest transportation and surprisingly comfortable and nice to drive for the era. I can smell that wet-dog interior from the photos though. I don’t want that.
Have to admit, I voted for the Alliance thinking everyone would vote Jeep due to better parts availability, greater interest in Jeeps vs Renaults, and the DT influence.
But the Alliance is just a much, much, much nicer interior to sit your butt in.
Think a MINI drivetrain would squeeze into the engine bay? Maybe an Abarth 500? Hell, even a std Fiat 500 engine would be a huge step up in power.
There’s someone in the Renault owners club that did a Honda K swap in their track day Alliance. So I wouldn’t be surprised if the small turbo 4s you’ve listed out fit.
I wouldn’t actually buy either of these cars–both are too much of a lift for me to restore–but I’m a sucker for a convertible, and so voted Renault.
My best friend’s first car was an ’85 Alliance coupe in this color. He was the oldest of our friend group, so the first to get a license and a car. We drove that tin can all over hell and back. If this was a hard top, I’d harangue him into buying it.
For me, I picked the Jeep.
Going with the model kit postal Jeep. The Alliance is more of a viable vehicle, and would be interesting to restore to some degree, but I fear that doing that would be almost impossible. I haven’t really checked, but even something like the master cylinder that it needs might be hard to find. I’m also seeing a hole in the backup light lens that would make it fail inspection around here – I’m pretty sure a part like that would be akin to unobtanium.
I’ll take the Renault, because Tracy probably already has the DJ on a trailer and headed home.
That DJ is in waaay too nice a shape for DT.
OTOH, I could see him buy it and stuff it into storage until little Delmar is old enough to hand him wrenches as a father-son project. Plus, by that time, it should have a sufficient amount of rust to keep David’s attention.
I picked the Alliance mainly because I’ve never been to Barrington.
Damn, that Alliance has a nice interior for a nearly 40 year old cheap car. It reminds of the good old days when you could get econoboxes like the Alliance or GM’s J body as a convertible just to sprinkle in a bit of mirth. I don’t think that trend will ever come back, sadly.
Miata
I just started learning French, so the Renault is the one technically “speaking” to me this morning.
I just switched my Duolingo from Spanish to Klingon. Maybe Monday’s showdown will have an old Bird of Prey for me to vote for!
“Cloaked when parked.”
Just be sure to reprogram the replicators, otherwise you might be in for a “wee bout”.
A few years ago on a trip back to my home town, I stopped into a local hobby shop and bought a 1:24-scale model kit of a ’65 Pontiac GTO. My plan was to build it out to look like one I saw at Barrett-Jackson in 2018; bone stock with steelies and the one-year-only color of Iris Mist.
That kit is still sitting in a box in our back room, uncompleted. Un-started, even.
So no, I will NOT be buying the 1:1-scale Jeep DJ model kit. Instead, we’ll take the Alliance, lose the wheel covers, get the brakes fixed, and spend the summer over-pronouncing the French “R.”
Haha, I used to do the same thing. I’d pick up model kits with the intent of building them in some custom way or even bashing two kits together. The majority of those kits have been sitting unopened in a large tote for over a decade.
That Jeep looks like someone’s basket case project. Pass.
Although Alliances were garbage off the assembly line, I’m fairly confident it’s closer to being roadworthy with a master cylinder and brake bleed (hopefully).
This is a rare instance where the best decision might be to just hoof it.
I’m going with the Jeep. This seems like it would be a relatively easy project even for an inept yahoo like myself. I am usually not interested in partially disassembled project cars, but I will make an exception since the postal Jeep has so few moving parts. How hard can it be?
I don’t see much appeal to the Renault. I appreciate some French cars, but this one lacks the appealing quirkiness that makes those vehicles interesting. To me, this is a slightly French ’80s Ford Escort. It may be rare, but it isn’t interesting. I’ll pass.
I would buy the Renault, maybe fix the brakes, and hoon the crap outta it until I got my thousand bucks worth of fun out of it. I’m sure it would probably collapse into the ground at some point, but it would be a hoot.
You want something that you can at least sell the parts easily when you abandon the hopes and dreams of fixing someone else’s project.
The Jeep is less rusty (yay California!) and might even be desirable if you do get it together into a running form.
The Renault Alliance is no Rebel Alliance. Instead of a plucky group railing against the evil Empire, you’ll be fighting non-existent parts availability, support, and Michigan rust.
Even if you get it roadworthy, instead of a glorious New Republic, you’ll just have a somewhat crud-like assembly of Franco-American 1980s hacksawed convertible, just like it came out of the factory.
Blood, toil, tears and sweat, and the Empire still wins in the end. It’s a trap!
Save the dollar, buy the Jeep.
Can relate.
The Alliance is truly a land cruiser from the backwoods of tatawan
If you’re gonna go weird, go French. I’m a sucker for weird French cars, and while this Renault isn’t as weird as a Citroen or a Peugeot, I’d still go for it over the RHD Jeep. Plus, for the price, that interior is just too nice to pass up.
not even soooo French… 🙂
On the French-weird scale, Renaults are pretty normal, followed by Peugeot. Citroens are just plain odd.
I’ve wanted a DJ since I was a kid. I was a little disappointed when I learned they aren’t 4WD but still wanted one. This one is in sweet shape. Would be tempted to do a manual swap while that engine is out…
Has David bought the Jeep yet?
I like the Postal Jeep more than I should, so that’s how I voted.
I think, by the time you’re done, the Jeep would be more special/fun – and also has better parts support in the now.
This like a post-apocalypse choice. Crap or crappier? I suppose if it’s only $999 I could find someone dumb enough (I have friends) to get the Jeep running. Plus it’s RHD, JDM style yo!
“No.”
-E(nhrn)
“But honey, It’s rust-free! And I could have that 4-banger installed in a matter of months!”