The bittersweet experience of my first motorcycle keeps me eyeing new deals on Craigslist fairly often.  The carburettors were never properly tuned, the front brake never attached, and I never had a key for it, but I did take it for a spin and still remember the sheer thrill of riding this monster.  It’s a raw and brutal experience that takes awhile to recover from.  Even the fastest cars I’ve driven don’t compare to the pure adrenaline a powerful sportbike can offer any time it’s needed.  Wear a helmet, hold on tight, and make sure your brakes are attached.

I’d buy another in a heartbeat if I had no other projects in the works.

My 1991 Honda CRX Si was the first meaningful project car I ever owned.  In many ways, it was my initiation into automotive culture and my first wobbling steps into engineering.  I learned a lot, and did as many things wrong as I did right.

When I finally sold it to a very excited girl named Natalie (or was it Natasha?), I had replaced most of the major systems in it:  Engine, transmission, wheels/tires, brakes, exhaust (headers all the way back), and repaired most of the rust (there was more that I wasn’t aware of lurking in the rocker panels).

I briefly owned a 1976 RA29 Toyota Celica Fastback, and it was a superb little machine.  I picked it up barely running, with a flat tire and coolant flushing out upon the alternator.  Once I sorted out the minor issues (in about an hour), it became my daily driver until selling it to purchase my s30 project.  I’d suggest purchasing one to anybody who wants an enjoyable, easy-to-maintain car that’s a bit gutless in general.

My 240z with a 283ci small-block Chevrolet v8 massaged into the engine bay.  With a welded r200 rear differential and a sometimes-funky turbo400 slap-shift-controlled transmission, this car was always exciting to be behind the wheel of.  It was very skittish on its chunky, balding tires and was one of the loudest cars I’ve ever heard, but it was a blast to own.  I eventually sold it when it spun a rod and I was in need of a daily driver.

Before selling, I rebuilt a badly damaged 327 in hopes of putting it in.  I kept the 64cc chamber fuelie heads which MAY go onto a block for my new s30 project.  It may receive a twin-turbo Chevy lm7 v8 instead, though.

For those who want more, here is the video that prompted me to purchase it:

And the video I made when I first started having issues:

And finally the video in which the engine died:

I ended up selling it, and there’s a 350ci Chevy v8 sitting in the engine bay now. Perhaps it’ll see the road again sometime soon.

Update

It runs again!   You can follow the progress of this project on the project-anger tag.

My second CRX I owned, the original plan was to stuff a 13b rotary engine into this and make it RWD.  Unfortunately, smog regulations in California and vertical engine bay space limitations kept me from finishing this, and I ended up selling it after painting the interior and installing a DOHC ZC motor into it.