eBay Sleeper: 1979 Chevrolet Malibu with Pontiac GTO 5.7-liter LS1 V8

Now that Pontiac is officially gone, one way of keeping the heritage alive is to salvage whatever parts you can find. We don’t know if that’s what the owner of this 1979 Chevrolet Malibu thought, but, nevertheless, he did swap the original engine with a modern 5.7-liter LS1 V8, sourced from a wrecked GTO, while keeping the styling of the car pretty much stock.

Engine aside, the old-school Malibu has been fitted with a 9-inch Ford locking differential, a Tremec T-56 six-speed manual, various Corvette drive accessories and Edelbrock rear shock absorbers.

The seller claims it's in good condition without any rust, and that it is accompanied by the original engine and transmission, purchase order and receipts for every new part installed.

As far as we can tell from the photographs, the interior is also in good shape, fitted with hard-to-find factory original bucket seats and floor console (according to the owner).

The mileage is listed at 47,656, but it could be what the new engine has clocked up and not the car. In any case, the Malibu seems to have aged well and the bevy of new parts installed should put any reliability-related worries to rest. It should be pretty fast, too.

*The car was listed for sale on eBay for $11,000, but the reserve was not met.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: eBay , Via: Ridelust

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1985 BMW 557i with Corvette V8 Heart Transplant

Owning a mint condition E28 BMW 5 Series would be a dream come true for most bimmer fans. However, the owner of this Euro-spec 1985 528i was probably not impressed by the stock 2.8-liter powerplant’s 184-ponies, so he performed an engine swap.

If it was up to me and money wasn't an object, I would've probably tried to fit a V12, but the 1999 Chevy LS1 V8 isn’t a bad fit either - that is, if you really feel the need to hear an American V8 burbling under the hood of a vintage German sedan.

The seller of the car claims that the new engine has clocked up only 6,600 miles since the open-hood surgery was performed and that he has invested more than $35,000 in the vehicle over the years.

According to the description, the spiced up Bimmer features a set of 750iL-sourced front and 540i rear brakes, custom headers and exhaust, modified suspension (with Bilstein shock absorbers and H&E springs) and wheels from a 540i.

There are interior appointments as well, such as power sport seats, XM radio and improved soundproofing. Judging by the photos, it’s looks like the car was taken care of. The body looks OK, the engine bay is neat and the seats have just the right amount of wear and tear, which gives the leather character.

Furthermore, the car’s papers seem to be in order, too, so it could make someone very happy in the future. For now the seller’s reserve was not met, as the bidding stopped at $11,400.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: eBay , Via: Jalopnik

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Video: Dacia Logan with Volkswagen 2.8-liter VR6 Engine!

I don’t know if the word Dacia gives James May that fizzing sensation he often talks about, but the Top Gear host seems pretty fond of the Romanian brand. Same goes for low-budget European buyers who see the Renault-era Dacias as well priced models with affordable maintenance costs. One of the Romanian firm's latest cars, the Duster was even nominated for the 2011 COTY award.

However, the brand's models aren't exactly exciting, even more so when it comes to sheer performance with their mundane, small displacement petrol and diesel engines. But as always, for every problem there's a fix. This man's answer was to ditch the Logan sedan's four-cylinder and throw in a 2.8-liter VR6 Volkswagen engine.

Details surrounding the build are pretty scarce right now, as it’s an ongoing project. The owner says that the powerplant churns out 174 hp (most likely stock) and it’s coupled to a VW transmission. Other upgrades include the suspension and brake system.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: 4Tuning , Thanks for the tip Valentin M.!

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Honda S2000-Powered 1977 Toyota Celica GT Coupe

If you opened the hood of a 1977 Celica GT, you'd normally find a Toyota four-banger, but not on this one. This first-generation Celica packs a modern-day Honda S2000 engine complete with a 6-speed gearbox. The seller of the vehicle claims that the high-revving S2000 engine has been upgraded and now develops around 268-horsepower which should be more than enough output for such a lightweight coupe.

The owner of the car took the build a step further adding a Honda S2000 digital instrument panel, a pair of 2005 Celica GT sports seats and a four-point roll cage, just to mention a few of the mods.

If you're interested, the 1977 Celica GT with the Honda heart is up for sale over at Hemmings for a "negotiable $18,000".

Link: Hemmings - Kudos to Greg for the tip!

Nissan GT-R R35 Station Wagon Conversion

To be completely frank, what you see pictured above is a R35 GT-R faced Nissan Stagea M35, a Japanese-market model produced from 2001 to 2007 which is commonly referred to as the Skyline Station Wagon as it is based on the Skyline/Infiniti G35 V35 platform. On show at the Nagoya Auto Trend show, this canny conversion from Japanese speciality tuner "Kids Heart", combines the front end of the almighty GT-R with the practical body of the Stagea.

Unfortunately, we don't have any information concerning the GT-R Wagon's hardware, but we reckon that you'd agree with us when we say that it would be a letdown if it isn't equipped with the GT-R's twin-turbo V6 engine.

Source: Northwestern Nissans , Via: Jalopnik

Anteros Coupe & Roadster: 2009 Corvette-Based Sportscar on Sale from $149,500

California based custom coachbuilder 'n2a Motors' has announced today that it is taking orders for its latest model, the Anteros that was first displayed at the 2008 Los Angeles International Auto Show. Available in both coupe and roadster body styles, the Anteros is built on the 2009 Corvette and features a body styling reminiscent of Italian, British and American designs. The turnkey Anteros Coupe and Roadster models with the 430 hp /424 lb.-ft. torque LS3 V8 start at $149,500 and $154,500 respectively while the Coupe built on the Corvette Z06 start at $176,500.

Buyers can also opt for various performance packages ranging from 525-1000+ horsepower. For example, the silver coupe seen in these photos is based on a 2009 Corvette Z06 and is modified with Lingenfelter's 630 horsepower performance package. As you would expect from a $150k+ car, Chevy's 100,000 mile powertrain warranty remains completely intact and the Anteros can be serviced at any GM dealership.

Once the order is given, it takes 'n2a Motors' approximately 12 weeks to build a complete model off a Corvette donor car. Aside from the composite body panels and the new alloys, the coachbuilder also upgrades the Vette's interior with re-contoured leather seats, leather dash, Italian carpeting, and leather-wrapped interior panels.