Upgrading from the previous years 4.7L v8, the 928S’s DOHC 5.0L V8 is good for 288hp, which is 88hp more than the 911 of the same year. With it’s more-favorable weight balance, the 928S could have laid the ground work for a new era of Porsche. The water-cooled, front-engine V8 coupe was just a little too extreme for Porsche purists in the mid-80s and it was a format porsche never explored again.
The Bosch Jetronic fuel injection and five speed manual raises the fun factor on this unique German sports car. As with the other water-cooled Porsches of this era, typical 928’s embody the saying about nothing being more expensive than a cheap Porsche. Thankfully at $18,150 and only 63,000 original miles it’s not cheap, and likely babied enough to have years of use ahead of it.
Similar to our previous 93 Notch LX, this 1992 Z/28 is the final model year for the angular third generation f-body platform. Since the Corvette had gone to the new LT1 motor, many left over L98 parts found their way on to the 1992 Camaros in the factory, this one being no exception judging by the rough cast TPI runners.
The 5.7L V8 under the hood carried a noteworthy 245hp rating, but thanks to the similarly beefy torque rating it was only available with the automatic transmission. It makes up for the lack of gear-rowing potential with a stiff RPO-code G92 3.23:1 rear axle ratio. With only 5,319 miles this car is practically brand new and went for $44,000 in auction.
Only 55 of the automatic-equipped convertible pace cars were produced for this millennium-era F-body. The exterior was not the only part of the vehicle to receive special treatment, as the LS1 under the hood received some bolt-on SLP fun that bumped the rating up to 320hp. Nice examples of any late model fourth-generation Camaro is becoming difficult, and with the additional race pedigree an auction price of $11,550 makes it quite the deal.
While most of the world’s mass-produced automobiles have the engine in the front, many high-performance sports cars have the engine in the middle of the car. The advantage of this design (engine behind the driver) is better weight distribution and handling. For anyone looking to purchase a mid-engine sports car, there are many different options to choose from across a wide variety of price points, ranging from $200,000 and up to less than $25,000.
$200,000 and up – Most Ferrari models, most Lamborghini models, Porsche 918, McLaren, etc.
$100,000 to $200,000 – Ford GT, Acura NSX, Audi R8
$50,000 to $100,000 – Chevrolet Corvette C8, Factory Five GTM, Grullon GT8, Lotus Exige, Alfa Romeo 4C
$25,000 to $50,000 – Lotus Elise, DeLorean DMC12, Porsche 914
$25,000 and Under – Pontiac Fiero, Toyota MR2, Fiat X1/9
The cars in this last group – the Pontiac Fiero, Toyota MR2, and Fiat X1/9 (or even a very ratty Porsche 914) are the most accessible to car enthusiasts. There are many examples of these cars available to buy under $25,000 – which sounds like a lot for a project car, but is actually quite affordable in the world of mid-engine cars. Indeed, Fieros are commonly available for $10,000 or less.
But now, there is a new contender in the mid-engine car market. Meet the DF Goblin from Red Oak, Texas (a suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area). The Goblin is a kit car – you assemble it yourself using parts from a donor car.
While other donor cars use parts from high performance cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette or Ford Mustang, the Goblin is based around the 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt/Pontiac G5. Yes, the cheap commuter car that replaced the Cavalier. THAT Cobalt.
The philosophy behind the Goblin can be summed up in three words: low, light, and quick. While the base model Cobalt had a 2.2L Ecotec engine that produced 155 horsepower, the manufacturer states that 155 horsepower feels incredibly quick in a car that weighs just 1500 lbs (680 kg).
The car is designed to be affordable and easy for a DIY mechanic to build in their home garage. The kit is $6,800 and a donor car can be purchased for $500-1000 in many cases. The Goblin kit includes a fully welded mild steel chassis with no welding or fabrication skills required. A person with regular tools can swap over the engine and transmission, wiring harness, suspension, brakes, steering and fuel system from the donor car to the Goblin chassis.
Owners looking for more power can scout for a Cobalt SS (which was supercharged in 2005-2007 and turbocharged from 2008-2010). However, the company emphasizes building a base model Cobalt to start with and that bolt ons can be added later as needed.
I saw one of these kits completed at a local Cars and Coffee event in Scottsdale. I have to say that it sounds very appealing, given the abundance of cheap Chevrolet Cobalts out there.
While it’s easy to dismiss the car as a knockoff of the Ariel Atom, keep in mind that the Ariel Atom 4 starts at $74,750 – nearly 10 times the cost of the Goblin kit. The Goblin, very similar in appearance, can be built for a fraction of the price.
To be fair, the Ariel Atom makes 320 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0L Honda engine, compared to the Goblin’s 155 HP (or 260 HP with Cobalt SS donor car). The Atom 4 will do 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, whereas the Goblin does 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Both are significantly faster than say, a 2019 Toyota 86, which does 0-60 in 6.4 seconds.
For the price, I would say that the Goblin is in a whole new class of its own: Mid-Engine Sports Cars for Well Under $25,000. It seems like an incredible value for the money. I would love to take a spin in one and see how much fun they are!
For the off-road enthusiasts, be sure to check out the Goblin A/T, an off-road version which is a modern interpretation of the VW-based rail buggy cars.
From the beginning of the 80’s to the early 90’s if you found yourself lined up at a red light next to notch back 5.0L you might second guess your green light intentions. This 1993 model was the last hurrah for the long-lived fox body Mustang, soon to be replaced with the more “refined” SN95 platform.
The 5-speed manual, flawless white paint and 205hp 5.0L Windsor High-Output motor combines to check all the boxes for a wish list level notch. The 23,461 miles are just icing on the cake and likely the reason why this car from the 1990’s was able to fetch $24,200 on the block.
The 112hp 4A-GE naturally aspirated four-cylinder in this car does not strike fear on metrics alone. However, even in this automatic transmission model can potentially complete a high 16 second 1/4 mile, which would be competitive with a 5.0L Thunderbird of the same year.
The reliability of the Toyota motor with it’s Yamaha-designed DOHC head helped make 96 cubic inches more than the sum of it’s parts. Inside this sport package-equipped model, expect lively handling in spite of this being the first year the car did not come with a rear anti-roll bar. The scant 32,000 miles coupled with a single owner and impeccable condition helped bring this mid-engine classic to $13,750 at auction.
Only 55 of the automatic-equipped convertible pace cars were produced for this millennium-era F-body. The exterior was not the only part of the vehicle to receive special treatment, as the LS1 under the hood received some bolt-on SLP fun that bumped the rating up to 320hp. Nice examples of any late model fourth-generation Camaro is becoming difficult, and with the additional race pedigree an auction price of $11,550 makes it quite the deal.
