This ‘shop’ popped up on my Facebook Timeline last week and I really like it, so started thinking about if you could you actually do something like this for real on the cheap.
So like you do I went Aztek shopping... And found barely any at all, here’s one on FB for $500 CAD, no year, no mileage, in what looks like a backyard junk yard in described as sorta running condition.
For $700 CAD this one comes with the tent! They couldn’t be bothered to get out the car to take pics...
http://www.autotrader.ca/go/19-11418832
I’ve only seen a handful of Azteks in the wild, the last one was ahead of me in a McDonald’s drive thru and I had to admire the double glass tailgate and general unusualness of it all.
They’ve always kind of struck me because despite failing pretty hard it was at least interesting.
In the past I’ve wondered what it would take to “fix” an Aztek so it lived up to its concept car promise, y’know; big off road tires, lift kit, prerunner type offroad bits etc.
But that sounds expensive and foolish, clearly slamming it, adding big rims and a widebody is the better way.
There’s something terribly freeing about the idea of customizing a worthless car, you haven’t destroyed any value because there was none to start with.
Plus you’re free to take every shortcut out there. With that in mind do you think it could be done with cheapo scrap parts off GM platform mates?
#1 - Engine, I have to believe at least the FWD 3800 supercharged motor from the regal GS etc would fit this (those take boooost right?) I wonder if the subframe with the transverse LS motor from the impala SS would go? Seems like the 3.6 V6 with 300hp that went into base Camaros etc was used in its Buick rendezvous equivalent at one point which opens up a lot of options. Worst case leave it stock, we’re building a cruiser anyway.
#2 suspension: airbags would be best but that’s gonna cost more than the car, there apparently was a 2003 “Rally” edition (OMFG) that had lowered suspension so there’s already some stuff out there. Since there’s so little ground clearance already I’d always assumed these were built on the common GM sedan platform but turns out the lambda platform was only shared with the Montana minivans etc. I feel there must be some Chinese coilovers out there for this.
#3 Body - cut the wheel arches, 3d print some custom flares. LED light bulbs or projectors plus RGB underglow, silver exhaust tips and a big wing off Aliexpress. Plasti-dip, cheapo wrap or MAACO paint the thing then add a ton of clear coat layers and a heavy tint.
#4 Rimz - surprisingly large selection of 20" wheels on FB for less than $500, not all are hideous either, just most of them.
#5 interior - dear god it’s exactly the same as a 90s Sunfire in there but a flatscreen double DIN radio, some better knobs and Toni’s trick of wrapping the door cards in graphic faux suede and might liven things up. At least the seats look comfy.
What do you reckon Oppo? How would you configure your $500 Aztec (aside from with a gas can and match, that’s lazy)