Oi Yanks!

"djmt1" (djmt1) 05/08/2016 at 18:56 • Filed to: None

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Possibly the loudest idling car, I’ve ever heard.

How hard is it to own a classic Yank Tank? This question was born from seeing an old Chevy pickup while I was leaving the London Motorshow where I should point out that by far and away the most popular cars there were the big American trucks.

Never have I heard so many people bitch about a lack of RHD before, until now. Big cars are popular in The Big Smoke.

Also when I was a bit bored I had a gander on CarThrottle where I was blinded by a million barely literate people banging on about “importing some JDM lyfe into their life” and while I wouldn’t be against some of that (in particular a JZX100 Toyota Chaser Tourer V) I am certainly against the bullshit involved with importing.

JDM lyfe in your life. I spelt life in two different ways because that’s cool.

Now here in Blighty we don’t have any of that 25 years bollocks. We do however have a sprinkling of bollocks here and there. In this case the bloody cost of importing. To keep it short you have to pay a lot of taxes and do a lot of paperwork which can turn a £5,000 bargain into a £10,000 knob ache. Except that is, if the car is over 50 years old, then it’s more like a quick bollock flick.

The arse to help identifying but going by past experience it won’t be needed.

So are examples of 60s Americana, just like any other classic cars or does the huge size, massive weight and big arse engines make it a whole other level of challenge. I ask this knowing that it probably won’t happen in my life but who knows? I might find a bag full of money tomorrow and need to launder it with an appreciating asset or something.

OPPOsaurus WRX > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:09

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It’s all about the rust. Other than that they have like 5 parts

BorkBorkBjork > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:11

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American Trucks are, typically, bulletproof-reliable, easy to work on, and have a plethora of parts available (at least in the US).

djmt1 > OPPOsaurus WRX 05/08/2016 at 19:12

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So buy cars from the south?

Your boy, BJR > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:14

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This is the britishest thing I've ever read.

djmt1 > Your boy, BJR 05/08/2016 at 19:16

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I concede I might have said bollocks a bit too much but it’s such a great word.

DKerstan > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:18

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California vehicles are usually a safe bet as well

djmt1 > BorkBorkBjork 05/08/2016 at 19:18

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Parts would be a pain due to the aforementioned import bollocks. I hope for that guy’s sake nothing breaks.

deprecated account > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:19

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Yeah, they're underrated and California cars are overpriced. Arizona also seems to have a decent amount of nice rust free old cars.

djmt1 > DKerstan 05/08/2016 at 19:19

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Probably the best bet due to chronic lack of hurricanes and copious amounts of droughts.

Birddog > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:20

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Massive weight doesn’t really apply to many older US cars until you hit the mid 1970s. That C10 you pictured only weighs in at 3400 lbs. A 1970 Monte Carlo was only in the 3500lb range.

Sure, they’re heavy when compared to something like a 1970 Cortina but they are also meant for a totally different culture with different rules and different roads.

Are they easy to deal with? It all depends on condition and intended use.

Nick Has an Exocet > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:21

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An engine block would be probably be a problem (but the shipping cost would kill you already). Other than that, I think everything else should be relatively fine.

Alfalfa > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:24

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Rust is about the only thing that kills them. So find a clean example, and take care to insure that it stays dry from the typical British wetness. Parts won’t be as cheap and plentiful as in the states, but there are still plenty of online retailers that you could get what you need from.

djmt1 > Nick Has an Exocet 05/08/2016 at 19:27

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Not sure what you would do at that point. Kind of makes me wonder if anyone has done a Jag V8 swap because despite reliability problems 300 HP for £500 would certainly look attractive.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:27

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No. Because then they’re hacked up, lifted, running on maybe 5 cylinders and covered with confederate flags and Trump stickers.

DKerstan > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:29

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As a SoCal resident I can confirm this to be true. Only downside is shipping costs will be higher, and possibly faded paint.

Berang > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:29

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If you have not driven one, I would find one to drive. You probably won’t like it.

Old American cars on the other hand, can be kind of fun. Lots of torque means lots of flexibility when driving, even if you have a manual, you rarely have to shift once the car is moving. But be prepared to get horrendous gas mileage. Some of the smaller American cars like Studebakers, Ramblers, Ford Falcon etc. can be pretty efficient (for their size and age) without sacrificing any of the old American car experience or style.

djmt1 > Alfalfa 05/08/2016 at 19:30

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I would kill for some British Wetness right now, it’s too hot for May. Also weather protection would be a bitch to deal with since British garages aren’t meant for cars let alone American cars.

Berang > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:31

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Think arizona, nevada, new mexico, even colorado. Avoid the south east, because the salt air and humidity can be nearly as bad as the snow and salted roads of the north after enough years.

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:35

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Yes. Rust is nonexistent down here. I'm not kidding

Alfalfa > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:36

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Yeah that could be an issue. But a lot of 50's-60's trucks take up about as much space as a late model car. It wasn’t until the 70's that they started making the real behemoths.

djmt1 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 05/08/2016 at 19:37

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That would be a great way to stand out when you have to go up against stuff like this.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:38

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What a stereotypes have you heard about the southern US?

Chasaboo > DKerstan 05/08/2016 at 19:40

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Living here in SoCal, I’ll agree with that. Everyday I’ll see old cars and be like, damn, how are they keeping that thing running?

djmt1 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 05/08/2016 at 19:40

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Well in fairness I have been to the south, Florida in fact and it was bloody lovely. Incredibly nice people but then again I live among the rudest people on the planet so my judgement may be off a wee bit.

djmt1 > Berang 05/08/2016 at 19:45

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If you mean classic cars I have but under very limited circumstances. A Defender over a wet hill and parallel parking an MGB GT. The lesson learned, gearboxes have come a LONG way.

Svend > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:46

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U.S. vehicle parts aren’t all that much more than sourcing genuine parts from a car dealership for a regular car. First port of call for parts would be the U.K., Germany and Holland. There is quite a large U.S. car following in the U.K. but from what I’ve seen, more so in Holland, Germany and indeed Poland (you also won’t (shouldn’t) pat tax on parts from the E.U. as the tax is paid in the sellers country.

djmt1 > Birddog 05/08/2016 at 19:46

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I was thinking from a braking perspective. That said if I do end up with a classic, I’m modernising the brakes regardless of what it is.

OPPOsaurus WRX > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:47

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Yes the south west specifically. The north east eats cars for breakfast with all the salt and shit

djmt1 > Svend 05/08/2016 at 19:50

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Thanks to the Cold War and LHD no doubt.

Berang > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:52

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I meant big old trucks. Because if you haven’t yet, you will probably hate driving them. I can’t think of a more annoying vehicle to drive compared to a modern car. Not even an old beetle or trabant. So if you seriously want one, find somebody who has one first and see if you can even live with it (and see if they modded it to make it more live-withable).

djmt1 > Berang 05/08/2016 at 19:56

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Yeah I’m not really into trucks and a Road Runner convertible would be my choice so I’m good.

Birddog > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 19:58

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Ah! Disc brakes are a must. Even the tiny 11" discs most older cars had were a huge improvement.

I once had the displeasure of driving a friend’s 68 Camaro. It had a 307 with a Powerglide and 4 wheel manual drum brakes. 0-60 and 60-0 took about the same amount of time and distance. It was horrifying.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 20:33

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like their car siblings these were very mechanically simple. driving is boring, cruising around town, awesome. brakes are a good upgrade.

ranwhenparked > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 20:34

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In the United States, they’re about the easiest vehicles to own, period.

Across an ocean, in a country they were never sold in new, with pretty much zero parts support, I’d imagine they’d be a bit more of a challenge. But, then, we’re still talking an old Chevy pickup here, not exactly a Bugatti.

NinetyQ > Birddog 05/08/2016 at 21:06

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You should try out our ‘52 Buick. No power assist 4-wheel drum brakes, trying to stop a 2-ton full-size sedan on pillow-soft springs. It’s... an experience, to say the least.

I drove it earlier today and my legs (yes, both legs in many cases) got a workout just trying to stop the thing. The brakes work alright and will lock the wheels up if needed, but it requires a Herculean amount of effort.

Frenchlicker > djmt1 05/08/2016 at 21:56

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Luckily the kits are super easy to come by. You order them online like we would over here I assume.

pImpOfThePerverse > djmt1 05/09/2016 at 02:37

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morepower!!andalsosmebrAkes has just put a crown Victoria front suspension on his vintage f100. Ask him how hard it was.

Cé hé sin > djmt1 05/09/2016 at 04:45

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Why is the Ka wearing a brown paper bag?

Cé hé sin > djmt1 05/09/2016 at 06:40

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Having somewhere dry to keep it is the big issue with classic vehicles. I understand most people have garages in America and often multiple occupancy ones at that but on this side of the Atlantic it’s only the wealthy or those living on farms that have that luxury. You’ll be needing somewhere to rent (not in London unless you become a gazillionaire) unless your boat comes so far in that you can afford a rural mansion.

Dru > djmt1 05/09/2016 at 09:33

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What’s a bollocks, and, what’s a knob ache?

Also, as stated below, cars from the Southeast US are kind of a crap shoot on rust. They're usually either perfectly clean, or complete garbage. It all depends on how they were cared for. We have very wet climate, even if we have an occasional drought and lack of salt on roads.

ly2v8-Brian > Cé hé sin 05/09/2016 at 10:05

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Embarrassment.

djmt1 > Dru 05/09/2016 at 10:06

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Bollocks = Testicles

Knob = Head of the Penis

Ache = A dull pain (You probably knew this one)

Us Brits have a habit of using genitalia slang as swear words.

Dru > djmt1 05/09/2016 at 10:46

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I LOL'd