Knowledge Dump - Todays topic: Yanks.

[Jim Bell]

It was also the last rwd before the modern Prowler.

[eddyramrod]

*cough Viper cough*

[Jim Bell]

Objection!!

That was badged as a Dodge, not a Plymouth.

[darkfour]

The Chrysler slant 6 engine is pretty much bullet proof and given that it was in production for 40 years, parts are readily available. I've got one in my 67 Dodge Dart convertible, and a common issue is exhaust manifolds can crack easily under the 3rd cylinder port if the correct hardware and torque specs aren't used during installation.

 

This car should have hydraulic lifters so no adjustment necessary, mine has old school mechanical ones that I have to adjust the tappets with the engine running.

 

There's a ton of information over on on http://slantsix.org/forum/index.php

[Six-cylinder]

We have a 1994 Cadillac Eldorado touring Coupe and I brought it out to play for the Autoshite Wales weekend this year.

 

The issues:

 

I have managed to insure it as a limited mileage classic car for a very reasonable amount.

LHD just in certain situations is a handicap.

I have not imported any parts yet but my friend who has a couple of yanks says the cheap parts you buy in the USA are about double the price when they arrive in the UK with import duty, shipping and sometimes there are handling charges for collecting the import duty from the carrier.  

Sub 20mpg is only OK because we only do a couple of thousand miles a year with it.

 

[Jim Bell]

I'm convinced.

Now all I need is a way to move it, somewhere to put it and someone to fix it.

[sheffcortinacentre]

sold my 94 3.8 V6 mustang earlier this year couldn't fault it  had an F350 (82) & a firebird (76) in the past & would echo the general theme above .

had lpg on the truck it was 5.0 S6 3spd auto 2300KG empty & would do low 20's on lpg at 50-60 (70 flat out). never lost a game of chicken with a minicab.

specialist for insurance & rock auto's, sumit racing for parts usually quicker than uk parts suppliers on normal parts.

[danthecapriman]

I would say do it!

I always wanted one but never actually had to balls to go for it. Some of you may recall my thread about the 73 Mercury I bought and imported to set things straight, and, even though I (still!) don't actually have it in my possession yet I don't regret anything about getting it. And that is in spite of having the trouble I had getting it here.

There a few other benefits to getting one now as well, namely the favourable exchange rate at the moment. It means if you get one from the states it's possible to get some awesome cars for not much money!

If you do though make sure the car has a title before you buy! This is where I had problems and it slowed things down a lot!

 

Here's my Mercury! Nothing else comes close to yank iron!

[Barry Cade]

I've owned a few, and not a day goes by when I don't contemplate having another in my life. Nothing less than 8 cylinders though.. probably with an 8 foot bed., athough my little Fiero 4 banger was a decent daily driver. never paid more than 150 quid for fully comp agreed value insurance on any of my yanks and parts were always cheap and easy to get. I used Cas-Am and Real Steel for my bits and bobs.

[Junkman]

Don't dismiss those 1986 onwards GM 3.8 litre H-body FWD jobs.

They look funny, but they are darn good cars, have a quite manageable size, and still provide the typical American way of drive, but with superb fuel economy and usually no rust.

Despite being of 1980s vintage, the interiors and dashboards are still gleefully disco-age, and that's what you really look at when driving them, complete with strip speedo, chromed column shift, and acres of plastic wood. My Olds Ninety-Eight even had a padded half vinyl roof and opera lights. Yes, opera lights.

On a 1988 car!

Plus, the ones in Oldsmobile flavour for some odd reason go like shit.

 

Must look for one now...

[Six-cylinder]

I have been very lucky to experience my friends Yanks starting with his 1964 390 cu Galaxie coupe, he was between homes in Feb 2011 when he bought it  and said he could only buy it if I could look after it for him, in return it was mind to use as I pleased. That lasted a year before he found more permanent storage for it. Currently it has blow a head gasket which is half way though repair but I can still borrow it. I love the Galaxie but not sure I would use it enough to justify spending so much money on one car.

 

He also bought a beautiful condition 1989 Fox body mustang 5.0 Manual which I collected for him and driven it a couple of times since but nothing special really.

 

Last year he bought a 1971 Corvette T top from Hertfordshire while living in Devon. The car was MOTed and taxed, the deal included free local delivery, which did not include Devon. So it came to my house and he knew what that meant, yes yet again I got 1^st go on his new toy as it took him 4 days before he could collect it from me. Well at least he knew it was in good running order for his trip to Devon.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dave_Q]

How is this tax exempt?

 

 

SELLING A1993  BUICK SKYLARD

TAX FEB 2015 (EXCEMPT)

 

 

 

 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Assuming that Buick isn't electric powered,a lawn mower or some sort of agricultural vehicle,it must have been used by someone on the higher rate disability allowance. ie what used to say Class: Disabled on the disc is now just Nil Licence. As soon as the disabled person sells it the taxation class must be changed.

[UmBongo]

Christine Cagney had an old yellow Corvette and she had endless problems with it.

[Asimo]

Do these have enough Yank-ness to be considered, when depreciation has done enough?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chrysler-300C-5-7-V8-Hemi-auto-4-DOOR-SALOON-F-S-H-LONG-M-O-T-NICE-CAR-/111374519678?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item19ee704d7e

 

[rawy]

Nothing too scary to Yanks, love my Camaro, but as I've bought a new car its surplus to requirements

 

 

 

Cheap Reliable Yank if anyone is looking for one...

 

Under £200 to insure, not too scary on fuel due to Over Drive, and you can't beat the noise!

 

Rawy

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Do these have enough Yank-ness to be considered, when depreciation has done enough?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chrysler-300C-5-7-V8-Hemi-auto-4-DOOR-SALOON-F-S-H-LONG-M-O-T-NICE-CAR-/111374519678?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item19ee704d7e

 

Yes, if it's a Hemi, no if it's a dirty Merc dizzler or worse the gutless,torqueless V6 pez.

I've had my diesel estate for 2 .5 years and love it, but it doesn't feel American at all, not surprising when you realise it's an e-class platform with pretty much all Merc mechanicals and put together by Steyr in Austria.

 

I keep watching Hemi prices and over the last couple of years they're going the wrong way, they're pretty rare in the UK and now people just want cheap flash and don't intend to do many miles, everybody wants the V8.

[Jim Bell]

Nothing too scary to Yanks, love my Camaro, but as I've bought a new car its surplus to requirements

 

 

Cheap Reliable Yank if anyone is looking for one...

 

Under £200 to insure, not too scary on fuel due to Over Drive, and you can't beat the noise!

 

Rawy

I'm all for buying this, but cannot afford the ask.

If EVERYONE on AS lends me £20, I'll buy it tomorrow though.

That's the Shitpeas garuntee.

[rml2345]

I'm all for buying this, but cannot afford the ask.

If EVERYONE on AS lends me £20, I'll buy it tomorrow though.

That's the Shitpeas garuntee.

As investments go that one is hard to beat. It'll give a much better return than the bank in entertainment alone.

[eddyramrod]

I'm all for buying this, but cannot afford the ask.

If EVERYONE on AS lends me £20, I'll buy it tomorrow though.

That's the Shitpeas garuntee.

I wish I'd thought of that.... too late now, I bought a sedan!

[oman5]

I've been doing some online research as I have convinced myself I need a ford crown vic at some time. These beasties seem to be the yank equivalent of an old rwd Volvo, old gaffer image and not particularly exciting but they do what they do for a very long time and are built pretty tough and reliable hence the taxi and cop use.

From a 4.6 v8 you get anywhere between 175-260 hp depending on year and spec, not brilliant but as with anything hp is not the whole story. Full size so it will seat 6, on our slightly bigger gallon 30 mpg is achievable and it will do up to 130 mph if you are brave/ stupid enough.

I don't want a cop car replica as I think that's a bit passé. Hmmm. We'll see what comes up.

[brickwall]

Much of the running gear will be familiar on yanks up to early 90s. GM sold parts and units to just about anybody.

[cort1977]

I have a 74 Pontiac Grand Ville convertible, 455ci and I love it.   Only driven it here in the states so can't comment on LHD issues. 

 

Parts are dirt cheap here ($28 for a brake master cylinder for example) so even if UK prices work out double still fairly cheap.  

 

MPG - mine recently did 19 UK MPG on a run, lots less in the city.

 

Cats - my 74 has no cats now, may have had in 74.   I know 75 models definitely had them.   Possibly California cars had them earlier.   Even with a smog model it doesn't take much to de cat and tune them up a good bit.

 

As others have said there is just a great feeling to driving one, front bench like a sofa, one finger steering, lots of toys, column shift - it's just great.

 

Had a Crown Vic hire car recently, I liked it a lot and it felt similar to the Pontiac just 40 years of slight improvement but still the same formula.   The Crown Vic is fairly basic but the Mercury and Lincoln equivalents get more fancy.   I see a few slightly lowered with twin pipes that look fairly mean, factory Mercury Marauder is cool but rare now.   But the best cop car Yank is the mid nineties Caprice with the 9C1* package, cop springs etc, detuned Corvette engine, real prescence.

 

Had a 300 hire car this year, didn't realise there was so much Merc stuff on them.   Went well with the V8 but didn't feel that special.

 

 

[jonathan_dyane]

I'd love a crown Vic or Caprice. Will own one one day!

[gtd2000]

I've had my diesel estate for 2 .5 years and love it, but it doesn't feel American at all, not surprising when you realise it's an e-class platform with pretty much all Merc mechanicals and put together by Steyr in Austria.

 

As the lone fish against the tide, that must be why I quite like them then - not a fan of American cars, other than the looks if I'm being honest.

[hauserplenty]

Uhh...does anyone here fancy buying a Cadillac?

[Jim Bell]

Uhh...does anyone here fancy buying a Cadillac?

There will be a queue I should have thought.

 

Do details and pictures for the best results.

[hauserplenty]

Right. Stay tuned. We now resume normal service...

[Herts van Rental]

It needs to be a real one.

 

 

[hauserplenty]

They don't make 'em like that anymore, squire! /obviousness