Some "Rodney Dangerfields" that could make wicked fast "Rat Rods" for low bucks.....

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield always joked about getting no respect. There's cars out there that people treat the same way, but have great potential to be a hot rod if you can overlook their un-sexy exterior. Here's a few that I think have great potential. # 1. 1975-79 GM "X" body. This includes Novas, Pontiac Venturas, Olds Omegas, and Buick Apollos.  Everyone wants the 1968-74 models-especially the '68-72 Novas but these are actually a better deal. They-have power front disc brakes standard, and any suspension upgrades that fit a Camaro / Firebird fit these cars-so you could build an evil drag racer-or a corner carver that could torture 'Vettes and Porsches. This is the era when GM was playing musical engines-so a lot of them will have small-block Chevy engines which is if anything a plus factor. And with the right motor mounts the engine bays will accept just about any GM engine-so you could build a 455 Pontiac Ventura or a 403 or 455 Olds Omega or a 455 Buick Apollo. And like I said a small or big block Chevy would fit in any of them as well. Major Bang for low bucks. # 2. 1971-77 AMC Hornet / Gremlin. Don't laugh. With their short wheelbase and a curb weight of about 2,700 lbs these cars make dynamite drag racers. Forget the 6 cylinder models; find a 304 version. The 304 V8s can be made to run-but the real beauty of these cars is like Pontiacs-AMC V8s are all externally identical. That means a 360 or 401 is a bolt-in swap. 401s are a little scarce, but 360s were used in Jeep Grand Waggoneers until 1992 so there's tons of them in junkyards, and thers' good speed equipment available Edelbrock offers aluminum heads and intakes, cams etc. A buddy of mine built a 401 Gremlin in high school and he stunned a lot of supposedly "faster" cars-Camaros, Mustangs, Road Runners etc. # 3. 1970-76 Plymouth Duster / Dodge Dart. 340 versions are getting pretty high priced, but 318 versions are still cheap. These can really rock with the right equipment, or a 360 is a bolt-in swap. Mopar Performance even offers a crossmember and motor mounts to install the "B / RB" engines-i.e.-383 / 440s. I know a guy that has a Duster with a 505 stroker that runs 10s.  # 4. 1975-79 Ford Granada / Mercury Monarch. A lot of these cars have 9 inch Ford rear ends and 4-wheel disc brakes. Most have 302 V8 power, but a few have 351Ws from the factory. 2bbl carburation and salt-flats gearing made them slow in stock trim, but the possibilitys are endless. There's a ton of speed equipment for small-block Fords-you could build a 347 stroker with a blower if you wanted, or you could make a 427 out of a 351W. Their not sexy, but they have great potential and can be bought dirt-cheap. If you want a low-budget sleeper one of these might be the way to go. Mastermind