sierraman Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 My god! They sold the Marina in the US? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holbeck Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 There's a great book about Yugo's US adventure. The importer was Malcolm Bricklin who was a sort of Delorean lite sort of character. Craig the Princess, Banger Kenny and danthecapriman 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HillmanImp Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 He also drove one in Moonlighting, was he being sponsored? http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_309854-Yugo-GV-102-1986.html I posted this in the Youtube thread a couple of months back: Bruce Willis dislikes Yugos: Bruce Willis likes Yugos martc and danthecapriman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HillmanImp Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 The importer was Malcolm Bricklin who was a sort of Delorean lite sort of character. I fucking LOVE the Bricklin SV-1, its a dream car to import if I ever become a rich man. Please tell me something that there is not to like about this car: Gullwing doors - CheckV8 engines - CheckHideous colour schemes as standard - CheckOverheating problems - Check Shep Shepherd and Craig the Princess 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlabamaShrimp Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 ^^^that looks like it's got bits of deloren on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 You could get Ford Prefects and Squires in the US sold under the 'English Ford' banner... http://www.enfostuff.com/history/A_Brief_History_of_English_Fords_in_North_America.html AnthonyG 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren t claim Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 image.jpgLove the RHD wiper set up on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I fucking LOVE the Bricklin SV-1, its a dream car to import if I ever become a rich man. Please tell me something that there is not to like about this car: It doesn't have an ashtray. mercrocker and Lord Sterling 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthonyG Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 This topic reminded me of a guy I used to work with who worked for ARG marketing in the 1980s. When I expressed interest in this, he bought in some of his souvenirs, which included a Montego brochure for the Middle Eastern market! Models offered were the posher 1.6 and 2.0 ones, basically Vdp spec but without that badging. I remember they all had standard A/C. Can you imagine how gutless an R series 1.6 would be with the A/C running? The dashboard material would have a lifespan of a couple of months in that sun, and who would dare drive one into the desert without a Toyota as backup? The brochure may have been a mock-up, don't know if they actually tried to sell them over there. Potential customers would be measured in low double figures at best... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercrocker Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Thanks to Richard for posting the Graffiti Minor still.....I have been banging on about that since the 70s. It also appears parked by the curb, too. Also, one of the main characters (Curt played by Richard Dreyfuss) drove a 2CV in the film! In fact, Morris Minors were big in the States, so much so that the whole thing was frontally re-designed for their benefit. Austin had a huge presence over there as well, probably why the Marina ended up with Austin tags. I remember train-loads of BL Minis running through Southampton Docks in the 70s/80s - these had to be fitted Stateside with nerf bars to bring bumper contact height up to a uniform level. Vauxhalls were sold, often badged as Envoy and Epic, by Buick dealers alongside Opels while US Ford dealers had Mk2 Cortina GTs on offer as "Model C" English Fords. Canada was a huge British car market (it was a dominion until 1967) and a lot of that stuff probably filtered south of the border over time, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 You could get Ford Prefects and Squires in the US sold under the 'English Ford' banner... Read this - http://jalopnik.com/for-2-800-is-this-english-ford-xr-able-1579006619- and scream... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthonyG Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 In the US Vauxhall's were sold by Pontiac dealers, whilst Buick dealers had Opels. Vauxhalls were quite popular in Canada, the last sold over there was the HC Viva, badged as a Pontiac by this time. Vauxhalls were also sold as Envoys in Canada, depending on which main US GM brand the dealer was representing. Amusingly, Vivas were called the 'Epic'!http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/02/curbside-classic-canadian-visitor-edition-1966-vauxhall-envoy-epic/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asimo Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I went to a Fairport Convention gig in Sant Monica, California about twenty years ago. I knew I'd found the venue when I saw the parked Morris Traveller. Also saw a Minor van running around, written up for some garage business in L.A. I saw several "prestige" type cars that still wore only UK number plates, although they were obviously residents, rather than tourist cars.Last time I saw a Peugeot 604 was California. It was absolutely perfect in dark brown metallic and it was a Diesel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martc Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Canada was a huge British car market (it was a dominion until 1967) and a lot of that stuff probably filtered south of the border over time, too. Saw a Hillman Imp on the Canadian side of the Niagra Falls, near Victoria Park, at the zebra crossing where people actually stopped for you. And people say the Empire was a bad thing... AlabamaShrimp 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Knock yourselves out... http://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/topic/english-classic-cars-usa-47737 brickwall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madman Of The People Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 The MK1 Capri was available in the States as an Americanised model IIRC. Are you sure it wasn't the Honda Civic saloon the 213 was based on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 As seen in san francisco a few days ago. Alexg, Shep Shepherd, brickwall and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort1977 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 As seen in san francisco a few days ago. That was an actual Merkur? Wow, super rare although the damn communists in California do seem to be more interested in chod that the rednecks down here on the 'third coast'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madman Of The People Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Vauxhall Firenzas were sold through Pontiac dealers in Canada. The cars clearly weren't designed for harsh Canadian winters. They were prone to overheating and many Firenzas, true to their name, actually caught on fire! A group of unhappy Firenza owners initiated Canada's first-ever class action lawsuit. http://www.autofocus.ca/news-events/features/the-firenza-fiasco-is-the-canadian-nader-corvair-affair-you-never-heard-about chaseracer and Richard 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martybabes Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Didn't Columbo drive a Peugeot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarvinsMom Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 yes colombo's car was indeed a peugeot. when in new york in 2002 we saw a couple of rover sterlings running about, and a few mark 1 focus saloons too. i think the yanks still prefer saloons over a hatch back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
406V6 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 When I lived on the East Coast of the USA in the mid-late 80s I saw very little UK shite apart from MG and Triumph sports cars and Sterling 800s, even on trips to other states. The few I saw were:- Marina (sold as an Austin I believe)- Avenger (sold as a Plymouth Cricket)- Austin 1300 (Sold as Austin America)- Rover 3500 SD1 Ford Capris and Mark 1 Fiestas were common but these would not have been UK-built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Vauxhall Firenzas were sold through Pontiac dealers in Canada. The cars clearly weren't designed for harsh Canadian winters. They were prone to overheating and many Firenzas, true to their name, actually caught on fire! A group of unhappy Firenza owners initiated Canada's first-ever class action lawsuit. http://www.autofocus.ca/news-events/features/the-firenza-fiasco-is-the-canadian-nader-corvair-affair-you-never-heard-about I knew this story.What always leaves me puzzled is that the Firenza made such headlines in Canada, while the really through and through lethal piece of shit in all automotive history,the VW Beetle, went unscathed, sold better than all other imports combined and became a cult object attracting not inconsiderable scene tax.I mean, come on, one Canadian Winter with a Beetle must leave even the thoughest lumberjack a broken man, if he survived. saucedoctor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Didn't Columbo drive a Peugeot? 403 convertible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oman5 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Vauxhall Firenzas were sold through Pontiac dealers in Canada. The cars clearly weren't designed for harsh Canadian winters. They were prone to overheating and many Firenzas, true to their name, actually caught on fire! A group of unhappy Firenza owners initiated Canada's first-ever class action lawsuit. http://www.autofocus.ca/news-events/features/the-firenza-fiasco-is-the-canadian-nader-corvair-affair-you-never-heard-aboutWhat was so different about Canadian market Firenzas? I don't remember these, magnums or vivas being a particularly bad car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shep Shepherd Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 In autumn 2012, I spotted a G-registration Land Rover Series IIA complete with GB sticker in the driveway of a house on the outskirts of Ogunquit, Maine. Pleased me no end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthonyG Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 a few mark 1 focus saloons too. i think the yanks still prefer saloons over a hatch back.The Focus was built and sold in the States from the start, although they never got the second generation one, Ford US just restyled the first version and sold it until the launch of the third in 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Someone just bought me the excellent photo book 'Uncommon Places' by Stephen Shore. It contains quite a bit of 'Import shite'... This is a perfect example. Beverly Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, 22nd June 1975 Another....Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. 13th August 1974. NorfolkNWeigh and danthecapriman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 That was an actual Merkur? Wow, super rare although the damn communists in California do seem to be more interested in chod that the rednecks down here on the 'third coast'. Yip it was a Merkur Scorpio. Looked identical though other than the badges.There was tons of old unexpected chod out there only slow wit and poor photo skills stopped me getting more pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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