[Alan Roehrich]

Try to pick a car that will either have decent resale value, or room to grow, or both. Buying a slower car to start is a good idea. Being able to either sell it and get most of your money back, or maybe move it up to a faster combination and/or class, is an even better idea.

There are at least 4-5 mid eighties to early nineties F body cars for sale in your price range right now. Some of them can be run with several combinations, 305 or 350, stick or automatic, carbureted or fuel injected, in various classes. Those cars will probably always bring about what they're selling for.

Consider buying a nice solid slick car that doesn't have the fastest pieces on it, at a good price. Maybe a car that has an older engine that can be freshened and updated for a reasonable cost. Maybe a car with a TH350 transmission that would be faster with a Metric 200. Give yourself room to grow, learn, and go faster.