Best "mechanical" car?

None. Nada. Cannot exist under our present EPA and D.O.T. mandates.

Besides, electronic fuel injection really is much more reliable, and the systems allow the engine to run much cleaner extending its longevity, than those ol’ carbs did. And the airbag systems, steel door beams, unibody construction with energy absorbing “crush zones” built in, add weight but save lives. If your Morris Minor or your Midget got in a crash with any modern car guess who’d win?

The best you can do today for a basic mechanical platform is probably something like a stripped down Toyota Tacoma. There’re no “bells and whistles”, just a basic RWD platform with as basic a 4-banger as is available today. I was looking at the brochure yesterday evening and the basic truck doesn’t even have the AC automatically turned on with the defroster.