1st Gen Neon Rally Car [SOLD]

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Click to see the full Purple Plymouth Playlist on YouTube.
Our 1998 Purple Plymouth Neon Project is up for sale!
This is our rally rescue project, where we grabbed an old rally car from the desert and saved it. This Neon Rally Car was built using our original championship winning production car as a template. On the outside it needs some paint, clear coat, and some fresh vinyl. We didn’t paint it, but we have a COMPLETE set of headlights, taillights, and turn signals brand new in the box ready for when it is painted. On the inside it’s got a NASA Rally Sport log-booked rollcage that has been updated to the latest rules. This car competed in the Gorman Ridge Rally, and Desert Storm. The engine is a complete stock SOHC 2.0L replacement that can be CA Smog checked with stock ECU, Catalytic converter, and muffler. The transmission is also stock with a fresh clutch. It’s in really great shape and runs strong. The fuel system was cleaned out and the gas tank and sender were replaced: Fuel system video. You can see when we first started it after it had been sitting for 6+ years: First start video.

At its core, this car is going to make a great first rally car. The rally suspension consists of a super reliable set of custom inverted coilovers with 36mm Bilstein Motorsport inserts. These are re-buildable and have been tuned with a shock dyno using championship winning settings. All the seals and bearings in these are brand new. It’s got a 3/16″ aluminum skid plate, but will need fresh HDPE on the rest. Various extras including a rally computer, Peltor intercom, extra set of steel wheels, some used rally tires, and a few boxes of spare parts.

Asking $3900 –
Car is located near Irvine in Southern California.
Update: We have a buyer, and the car is sold. Thanks everyone who took a look. – Kris

Pictures: Rear Rollcage; Main Hoop; Engine Bay; Exterior; Rear Suspension; Front Suspension

What’s in the Rally Car Tool Kit? Building a common tool-set.

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[youtube=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjpLGObBZZ0″]

Here is my common tool set. This represents the tools I use 90% of the time. Put one together for yourself and stop 15 trips to 3 places to finish a project. I on-purpose didn’t put links, because I don’t want to update them, and I don’t monetize this site. Take that as an honest recommendation.

  • Sharpies (regular / fine)
  • Leatherman Style PS
  • AA Tweezers (and small tools)
  • Wera Kraftform Kompakt (screw driver with bits)
  • CRKT Drifter (folding knife)
  • EXTECH EX330 Multi-meter (with box of extras)
  • 1lb Brass Hammer
  • Wiha precision screwdrivers
  • AA LED Flashlight
  • Klein Tools Scissors
  • Wire strippers
  • Flush cutters
  • KNIPEX Cobra self locking pliers

12V Anderson Powerpole(s)

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Everything I own that requires 12 volts, I have converted to powerpoles. From tire pumps to solar chargers, rally cars to even an internet router or two – if it takes 12V, it’s got these connectors. They are fantastic, universal, genderless (technically hermaphroditic), and if you know anyone involved in Amateur Radio, they have a truck full of things that power or get powered by them.

From Wikipedia: The Powerpole connector has been adopted by some segments of the Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) community as their standard 12-volt DC power connector for everything from radios to accessories. Two notable groups are Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). It is more expensive than the older de facto standards of the two-wire trailer plug and the Molex connector, but provides a more reliable electrical connection (both mechanically and electrically), and is easier to adapt to a wider range of wire gauges. [link]

What this means is, in an emergency with emergency personnel, some of those people will be using powerpoles. At performance rallies, most of your ham radio operators will be using powerpoles. I highly recommend their use and a good set of crimpers if you’re going to switch a lot of stuff over to them.

Once you do, you’ll realize you have a lot more configuration options. Now that solar charger can be adapted to charge any of the cars you drive. Your mobile radio can grab power from it or that big battery in the truck. I connect my rally car to a trickle charger with the same connection I use to power its mobile radio, and also the same connection I grab power for my tire pump.