Conversions - the good, the bad, the ugly

Argh, a Yaris 1.5L engine!  What was he thinking? What a way to kill a classic cars value. I could see a V8 or 3.8L V6 or even an EcoTech 4 but why an econobox unloved Yaris engine.  An old straight 6 Toyota Supra engine would have been perfect.

The wheels are what disturb me the most. It's like looking at your matronly grandmother wearing CFM stilleto heels!

Merced? Isn't that close to where Troy Sloan hangs?

True the wheels are deeply disturbing-- but for me, the dash is at least as bad. Wow. Just.... wow.

Pimp my ride

I missed something in the ad that explains a lot...

Seller says his 190SL had a complete CONVERSATION with a Toyota back in 2010.  I guess the talks did not go well for the SL.

Yep, me too Stan.  As the kids say…that dash is sick!!  (that's a bad thing..right?)

Then there's this one...

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4253226592.html

Kind of on the fence on this.  it has a dash/instruments similar to the SL above.  Not sure 

I like the idea of a "tribute" car that uses a completely different drive train.  Still, if it was done properly this car must be pretty quick.

What scares me on these conversions that use modern power plants is that haven't a clue on the electronics needed nor how to set it up.  They just seem so complicated to me.

Having owned a '72 914, I cringe at transplants of V8's into the 914.  I can accept the Subbie transplant for some reason.  The Porsche 924/944 is crying for a transplant of a V8 or V6.  Look on Craiglist and you can buy straight 924/944 all day long for a grand a piece.  The V8 "fit" right in - like a foot in a tight shoe! A 928 is probably and even better candidate due to its original super car status and exorbitant cost to maintain.

http://944transformations.com/...;id=68&Itemid=53

Wolfgang, have you driven one? Might change your mind!ive owned a couple 914's and they are not the rocket ships the v8's are. WOW!

i agree Subie would be fantastic tho!