Huge Yank shite bought!

[sutty2006]

ooooooooooooofff. Full size mercury. yummy

 

Ive got a 1989 Grand Marquis..... 5 litres of pure V8ness. Purrs like a tiger, moves like a Sloth. Comfortuble, relaxing, easy to drive and boy does it go sidesways!!

 

id post a picture, but photo bucket doesnt work.

[eddyramrod]

If you look up the phrase "insanely jealous" in the dictionary, there'll be a photo of me.  That Mercury looks so cool Bryan Ferry has just gone into hiding for the rest of his life.

 

Curiously, among all the American cars I've had, there's never been a Ford product.  I would like to fix that one day and a Mercury like yours would fit the bill nicely.  If I could ever afford it, which is as likely as Gordon Brown voting BNP.

 

I wish you many happy miles with it.

[Junkman]

Curiously, among all the American cars I've had, there's never been a Ford product.

 

Funnily enough, it took me almost 25 years and about 50 yanks from my first yank to my first FoMoCo.

Which is a shame really, because they sound the best of the lot.

[brickwall]

That's so cool. You are now a mob boss as well

[Cheggers]

Go on, tempt me...roughly how much does it cost to import a big ol' lump of pig iron from the States?

[uk-corvair]

who are you using for shipping mate ?? hills shipping, my dad imported his corvair over nearly 3 years ago just like you never shipped anything before, he went with hills shipping and they were very help full. think it cost about £1500 all in to ship.

 

also a friend of my dads is in the process now of shipping the corvair van over from the states should start crossing the pond on thursday 

 

hope every thing goes well for you mate 

[tooSavvy]

Christ this is grim.

 

What happened to yank iron in the 70's? More ugly than a fight at a gypsy wedding. Seriously, loving the mercury.

 

I hope the motor is the full fat version and not the smog equipped effort than puts out about 170 hp.

 

 

 

jack lord.jpg

 

 

 

 

Did you know that Jack Lord's character in Hawaii five - O used a mercury marquis in the series?

 

You can drive round and bore the arse of your passengers by repeating "Book em Danno."

 

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_88377-Mercury-Marquis-Brougham-53K-1974.html

 

...cool

 

tooSavvy

[Lankytim]

EVERYTHING goes through Felixtowe! Hey Trig, I'n my most recent job, I deliver containers that have been bought up from Felixtowe to Stoke, next one that goes back down I may write" HI TRIG LOL"on it or something.

 

I was looking long and hard at importing chod a couple of years ago. I'm sure there has to be money in it, but I didn't have the balls to follow it through unfortunately.

[rml2345]

That's utterly horrorsome and is therefore one of the best things of ever. 

Colour me jealous...

The black Caddy is also fit as. 

[fordperv]

ooooooooooooofff. Full size mercury. yummy

 

Ive got a 1989 Grand Marquis..... 5 litres of pure V8ness. Purrs like a tiger, moves like a Sloth. Comfortuble, relaxing, easy to drive and boy does it go sidesways!!

 

id post a picture, but photo bucket doesnt work.

 

as if by magic a grand marquis appears an old picture but the only one i could find

 

[flat4alfa]

Excellent.  This thread needs to built into barge-size to match.  Never owned a Yank but have wanted to since I was in shorts.  I am also as green as that puffy seat.

 

All the best bringing it over, I also have a mate who's bringing in US motors so PM me if you want some over the phone advice

 

Last I drove was a turn of the eighties Caddy Eldorado Biarritz complete with that alloy bock, iron heads V8.  Excellent understeer went into the deal which caught me out well - darn silly Limey.

 

[Brent_Crude]

To quote any early 90's kids' TV presenter, that is WICKED. My recent time spent driving some new German thing (which has mercifully now gone back), has made me appreciate how great interiors used to be in the old days and this is the real deal. Superb. I could live in that

[Alexg]

Dan that thing is incredible. It's quite handsome (as far as 70s Yanks go) and the interior is just to die for. I bet it's going to be a royal pain in the arse to navigate the huge lump about UK roads and financially crippling to keep it pezzed up, so you must be well excited!

[UmBongo]

I widdled in my pants at the thought of gassing up that Pimp Mobile...

[sutty2006]

 

as if by magic a grand marquis appears an old picture but the only one i could find

 

 

YAY someones image hosting website is working! Its parked at work while im on call, because after a week of driving a vauxhall vivaro van that wouldnt pull the skin off a rice pudding, it'll be so NICE to drive home in this.

 

[fordperv]

The image hosting site in question (photobucket) is probably the slowest, worst one to use but in the spirit of shiteness I won't get rid of it for a new one lol

[sutty2006]

Mine just doesnt work at all.......

[D-Dubya]

doesn't uncle buck have one if these?

[oman5]

doesn't uncle buck have one if these?

I wondered about that. I *think* Buck's was a Ford LTD,

[sutty2006]

Yes, a 2 door one with a built in shotgun in the exhaust! lol

[Lukas]

 

I want to drive this before the roads get too shitty!

 

That´s going to get tricky!

[danthecapriman]

Thanks guys, lots of yank love here then!

 

Uncle Buck, classic film! The car used in the film was a 1975 Grand Marquis 2 door. I wonder if it survived?

 

The 73 model ive bought was about the last of the traditional, over sized gas guzzling barges before the emissions laws started to really ruin them and choke the power output! Not that they got much better for fuel economy or power afterwards but...

 

The shipping,

Ive decided having looked at several options to pay a bit more of a premium to get an all in one service. So one phone call and one bill at the end will secure me: transport over land 900 odd miles from the sellers place to New York docks, all handling fees at both docks, shipping, insurance (at every stage of the journey), all tax, vat, uk registration and number plate, Mods to lighting to comply with uk law/IVA test, IVA test, MOT test, 1 yrs road tax, and I dont have to fill in any paperwork or deal with the dvla! All I have to do then is pick it up from them and drive it home. Simple!

The cost of all this will vary from car to car, and where it needs to be collected from in the US.

There are also upgrades to this service (which I chose not to take due to cost), covered transport from seller to docks, your own container (mine will be in a big container with another car but both secured seperatly to avoid damage) and even air transport but this was mega bucks to use!

 

As you can imagine this irrational stupid idea is going to cost a lot, easily way more than ive ever spent on a car before. BUT, it is one mother of a car and is still cheaper than buying a new euro blob piece of modern eco shit let alone a modern car of equivelent specs! Even a car of similar age, specs and condition (Rolls Royce?) will probably be at least of very similar or higher cost in this country.

 

And yes, im well excited about it landing here. I honestly dont know what im going to do until it arrives, sit in front of the calender crossing the days off I suppose!

[eddyramrod]

I bet it's going to be a royal pain in the arse to navigate the huge lump about UK roads

Surprisingly not!  Don't forget Detroit is very very good at stuff like superlight power steering, and chocolate-smooth automatic transmission, so once you get used to sitting on the left, it really is terribly easy.  It probably does depend on where you are, but I do know people up here in the Lakes with such things.  If you can drive one round here, you can drive it anywhere!

As for the fuel cost... well we gaily talk of old Jags here, and V8 Mercs, it's all the same territory.  If you can run one, you can run any of the others, and at least a 73 Mercury is made of simple engineering.  Simple, but heavy.

http://michaelgraham.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/elwood-blues-waits.jpg

"It's the model made before catalytic converters so it runs good on regular gas"

[hauserplenty]

Please, do factor this into the co$t of ownership, as it could save you lots of wallet-ache down the road:

You might need to run lead substitute in it.

The mileage and original condition suggest to me that the head gaskets are original. It may not have hardened valve seats. If so, you'll know if the valves are burning up soon enough...you may wish to ask the seller about this. I  remember we still had leaded gasoline for cars like these up until the early 80's. GR8 color though.  Mr. Clarkson has likely got an armoire that handles better though...

[garethj]

Should be ok on unleaded, but you might need to tweak the timing because the octane rating of fuel these days isn't as good as they had in the early '70s.

 

Stuff like that is trivial though, get out and enjoy it as soon as it arrives.

 

Well played, sir!

[sutty2006]

Wasnt gasoline over there like goats piss? 85 ron equivelant? I remember some weird bloke on a Shell forecourt trying to sell me V-POWAH when I filled my 89 Mercury up.....

 

My reply was, "this old turd will run on anything pal, V-powah wont make ANY difference!"

 

 

He was extrodinarily bemused at my excuse!

[danthecapriman]

Ive just asked the guy about the petrol hes been using. Im sure there wont be an issue though.

 

To be honest the size, weight and handling dont bother me at all. Ive never had a car that 'handles' so its nothing new. If anything the worse things are all adds to the awsome experiance and fun! Just like the fuel economy. I really couldnt give a shit what mpg it gets, there simply is no better way of burning fuel imho. And im sure I can really wind up the smug twats in their prius's with this too and thats always good fun!

 

Everythings going well so far. Collection and shipping is all arranged and paid. With any luck it should be getting picked up within the next week or so.

 

I dont think it will arrive and be road ready for some time yet though but at least the longer it takes the less winter weather will be left! I intend to use the hell out of it once spring arrives!

 

This is who im using for the transport and shiping, http://www.shipmycar.co.uk They can do as much or as little as you want and seem a proffesional outfit.

 

Interestingly, the same guy im buying this off has a 1 owner 1974 Caprice to sell aswell, in the same condition as my Mercury......... Should anyone be tempted!

 

[r.welfare]

I reckon a '73 will be fine for unleaded. The US manufacturers started dropping the compressions and fitting hardened valve seats the previous year, I believe. Sensible call to check though as catalytic converters didn't hit the scene until '75.

[danthecapriman]

Its been some time since ive updated this!

 

So, there were problems!

Everything went well and very quickly getting the car collected from Illinois and transported to New York, the car was booked in with the shipping company ok. Then the shit happened!

 

This car was originally sold in Georgia, this state doesnt usually issue title certificates (similar to the V5 'logbook' here in the UK) on vehicles of this age so naturally my car doesnt have one. I knew about this when I bought it, but all information I could gather from various sources pointed towards this not being a problem. Instead, you just need a few other forms of paperwork to prove its not stolen and all above board.

This was all supplied but was deemed by the port to be insufficient! So the car couldnt be loaded.

Apparantly the only documentation they will allow is an original certificate of title (which never existed for this car!).

In the end I was fortunate enough to be able to rely on the help of the guy I bought the car from, who had to go to the DMV (department of motor vehicles - like our DVLA) and argue the case to get a new title issued for the car. Apparantly its not the sort of situation that comes up that often so the DMV were reluctant to do this! In the end though they relented and issued the title. The really annoying thing is that in order to get one stupid piece of paper I had to wait months, and pay a fee! To add insult to injury when the DMV finally said 'yes' they also said that all this wasnt necessary and the car by law can be exported using the paperwork originally supplied! To say I was pissed off would be an understatment!

 

But, now everything should be sorted and it should all go without any more problems. Hopefully it wont be too much longer before its on the boat.

 

It just goes to show that there are more annoying places and organisations than the DVLA and all the stupid red tape and beaurocracy isnt just a UK thing!

Also, if anyone is considering doing something similar, then I would definatly advise doing it with a car that does have a title to start with. Doing it without, although do-able is a ball ache.

 

Anyway have a pic!

 

 

 

 

[eddyramrod]

Trouser tent erected!