With oil prices as high as they are, cars with smaller engines and modern technology to give them power are essential. The big V8 engines of the past are quickly becoming replaced by smaller 6-cylinder engines that are more efficient, but not necessarily less powerful. If you want a classic with modern customizations, here are some of the best V6 cars from the '80s to use for your project:

1. Monte Carlo with 4.3-Liter V6

The Monte Carlo was one of the luxury coupes of Chevrolet and had many variations that span 6 generations. The earliest Monte Carlos were all V8 powered beasts, but starting in 1978, a V6 package was available. In the '80s, the GM 4.3-liter V6 was installed in many of these cars. With a little improvement to the engine, these cars can easily push 200hp or more.

2. Camaro With Turbo Charge 2.8-liter V6

The Camaro is no exception to the 2-door sports cars of the '80s that had V6 packages available. These cars came with variations of the V6 packages that included the 2.8 liter V6, which was one of the smaller motors put in domestic sports cars. There are some benefits to having a 2.8-liter V6 customization, such as running at higher RPM and getting better gas mileage out of your ride. If you want to get more power, you may want to consider swapping the motor for one of GM's larger V6 engines, such as the 4.3-liter in Monte Carlos, which will easily bolt on to the Chevy drivetrain.

3. Buick Regal/Grand National with Supercharged V6

The Buick Regal was the GM luxury coupe that was built on the same platform as the Monte Carlo. The Grand National package was an exceptional version of this car with a V6 turbo engine that made it one of the fastest domestic sports cars of its day. There were also limited-edition Buick Regals with sports packages and a turbo charged V6 that came with it. If you are looking for an interesting restoration project, these Buick 2-door sports cars are a great choice, but they are also becoming more difficult to find.

These are some of the best cars from the '80s to do a custom V6 sports car restoration. If you need help with getting your car ready, contact a classic brake parts service like Brake & Equipment Warehouse to get brake shoes relined and other parts you need for your restoration.    

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