A Body Road Trip Car

SpeedThrills said
Sometimes I ponder building an A body for long trips (and daily use).

It would be a 2 door, 318 (gotta be a V8). I wouldn't mind a 273, if parts are still available. It would only be modified to increase mpg. It would be either a 4 spd w/ OD, or an auto w/OD. I'd prefer a stick shift, I guess it would get better mileage than an auto O/D. (Stick shifts are theft deterrents these days!)

Other mandatory items: A/C (I guess aftermarket would be better as far a when repair is needed?), Cruise control. (Are there aftermarket versions?) A factory radio or low end aftermarket radio, is all we would need. My wife and I get music from our phones and bluetooth it to a portable speaker. Good enough for us, and a cheap radio is less likely to be stolen.

Power steering not wanted. It would take from the mpg, and also be something else to maintain. Power brakes, not wanted. More repairs needed. Also, without PS and PB, the under hood would be less cluttered and easier to get to items that need repair. My wife drives a stick, and would be okay with no P/S on the highway.

I like the safety of newer cars, but I hate the idea of repairing one. We have had an '07 Accord since '09, and it's been great. Part of our retirement is traveling. I'd like to be that gray haired guy in the old car.

Anyone else done this or thought about it? What would you do, or have you done?

Quick question- are you intending to tow anything with it? A small camper (teardrops are cool) or "supply trailer"?
And as far as a 2 door goes, I'd seriously consider trying to find an early A wagon for a road tripper. The "cool factor" is definitely still there.
273 built with the later timing cover and aluminum water pump (easy to get if you're on the road, not a 2 day wait to get an iron one shipped in), 302 heads, 360 2bbl. cam and intake manifold. OD 833 for a stick, or a 32RH (A999) for an automatic (it has a lockup convertor, but not OD; so you don't have to butcher your floorpan or trans tunnel to make it fit). The OD 833 and 32RH both have pretty deep first gears, so you can run a set of 2.xx gears in the rear and some tall rear tires without it being a total dog from a stop. Cruise control off of an F/M/J body (easier to find). For AC hunt down some later factory AC brackets (and all the underhood stuff, for that matter) from a Dippy or a truck that has the factory rotary compressor- less engine drag than the early units, and easily adaptable to a Sanden if you so desire. Then just hang an aftermarket knee-knocker evaporator and controls under the dash.
Make sure your parking brakes work and work well, and use them religiously (especially if you have a stick)- it may be the only thing that keeps it from getting dragged up onto a rollback when you're not looking. And put an Airtag or something similar in it.