Although I'm a big Honda guy, I have been into a lot of different stuff over the years. These are some of the cars I have always wanted to build, mostly because they are ignored by "enthusiasts", and thus cheap and fun.
Keep in mind I have a personal preference for small FWD cars, so try not to hate on some of my choices. ;)
This is the successor to the Ford Festiva. Like the Festiva, the Aspire was built by KIA in South Korea from Mazda-designed components, and marketed by Ford dealers. The stock engine is the 1.3 liter B3, which is similar to other Mazda "B" engines like the Miata's B6/B8 and the 323 GT/GTX's B6T. Not super popular when new (and even less so now), Aspires are cheap, light, and unassuming. And cheap.
How I would build one: An early '94 or '95 (pre-OBD2) model would be my pick, with a B6 Turbo swap from a 91-94 Mercury Capri XR2. Suspension would be lowered and stiffened (not sure what is available/adaptable for these cars), and it would roll on a set of 15" Escort GT wheels (4x100 and hubcentric to these cars). Upgrade the intercooler and turbo, and turn up the boost!
Toyota sold a ton of these in the late 80's and early 90's. They are reliable, roomy, and...well, boring. Perfect sleeper material. The reason I chose this generation is because from '88 until '91, Toyota even offered an AWD (All-Trac) version of this Camry. Drop in an imported 3S-GTE (bolt in affair), and you got yourself a sneaky EVO/STi killer.
How I would build one: A 3S-GTE swap would be a must. Although an All-Trac model would be my choice, the 3S-GTE swap will work just as well with a regular FWD model. Tokico still even sells dampers for this generation. Mine would have to look stock, so I would roll on a set of OE V6-model alloys. Aside from the usual turbo engine upgrades, that would pretty much do it for mine.
Being a GM vehicle, you can build a real hot one with some parts bin engineering. Small-block Chevy V8s are a popular and relatively easy swap, and there are lots aftermarket body and suspension bits to build one any way you want. Although many of these fell victim to Cash For Clunkers, there is still a good supply of decent examples left.
How I would build one: I would choose a 2-door 4x4 model. Swap in a torquey 383 stroker engine breathing through a stock-looking TBI setup. Beef up the stock 700-R4 accordingly (probably the hardest part). Convert it to AWD with a Bravada/Astro van Borg-Warner 4472 transfer case, and lower it a little, a-la-Typhoon. Slap on a set of 16" Camaro Z28 "salad shooter" wheels. Done. Those E63 AMGs will never know what hit them.
Two words: Lil EVO.
How I would build one: See above.
This one is kind of an oddball, but I have a soft spot for them because I owned one as a teen. These actually have a good amount of potential, since they formed the basis of the later Mazda 323s and even the 91-94 Mercury Carpi (which runs Mazda mechanicals). Pretty much anything from those cars swaps right into these (B6 DOHC engines, larger disc brakes, etc.). Tokico still markets dampers for these models. Cusco makes front-upper strut tower bars. Autopower makes a roll bar that should bolt in. In Japan, the BD-chassis Familia (as it is known there) was even offered with all-wheel-drive and turbo power.
How I would build one: Front-wheel-drive GLCs are pretty much all the same, except that certain later models have cool green-faced instrument clusters with tachometers and nicer interior trim. Mine would be a hatchback version, with either a DOHC B6T or an old-school imported E5T, just for coolness' sake. Since I love the look of OEM alloys, I would choose a set of either 86-87 626 Turbo 15" wheels or 88-89 323 GT/GTX alloys. Of course, I would be looking at a carb-to-EFI conversion, but an 86-89 Mazda 323 should have most everything needed.
I remember these were pretty gangsta' when I was a kid in the early 90's. Virtually nobody builds these cars, but I always thought one of these would make a good project car. Being an 80's-vintage Nissan, they should have pretty good parts-bin potential.
How I would build one: I don't know anything about these. The only thing I know is that I would prefer a 5-speed SE model, and that I would like to try and swap in a VG30DE from a 92-94 Maxima SE, which should drop right in.
Here in L.A., there are still tons of these rolling around every day. Since they came stock with 4A engines, pretty much any "A" series engine will drop right in (4AG, 4AGZE, 20V engines). Chevy even sold their own version from '85-'88, called the Nova, which had an optional DOHC 4AG factory-installed. Suspension upgrades are pretty easy to find, and rear disc conversions can be sourced from FX16 or AE92 GTS models.
How I would build one: I would do either an '87 LE model with a 4AGZE swap, or an AE92 sedan with a silvertop swap. Suspension would consist of Koni dampers and lowering springs, and I'd finish it off with a set of polished AW11 MR2 Supercharged wheels.
The Hyundai Scoupe was a sporty coupe based off the first-gen Hyundai Excel. Like the Excel, its mechanicals were Mitsubishi-based designs that Hyundai built under license. The DSM 4G61/4G63 engines drop right into these with the correct mounts. After the '92 model year, Hyundai stated using engines of their own design, called "Alpha". Even those should have some potential, especially the turbo versions.
How I would build one: An early Mitsubishi-based version would be cool (like the one above), with a cheap 1.6 liter 4G61T swap. I would probably run Megasquirt, as the stock Mitsu ECUs have a reputation for self-destructing. Keep it looking stock. Crank up the boost, et cetera...
Another car that was real popular in L.A. (and elsewhere) back in the day, especially with the Lowrider and "Euro" crowd. While not anything for a modern-day enthusiast to get excited about in stock form, there is actually lots of hidden potential in these. Model years 87-88 can take the somewhat-rare E15T turbo engines, while 89-90 models accept later GA16DE twin-cam engines. The CA16/CA18DE engines from similar-year Pulsar SEs will drop into these as well. If you have fab skills, even SR20 engines can be retrofitted.
How I would build one: My Sentra would be a 2-door model, done up 80's style. Xenon body kit, monochrome paint, 15" MOMO wheels, limo tint all around, and a bangin' sound system based around an Alpine tape deck. Motivation would come from a twin-cam CA18DE engine swap, complimented by a custom turbo setup.
