American cars a love/hate thing.

[MarvinsMom]

that dodge above.... have you SEEEEEN how bloody big the horns (the beep beep type) are on it?

 

christ i would not like to get a blast off of them.

 

they look like they really belong on a locomotive (or the Queen Mary)

[Christine]

Horns might be standard.  Interior's awful though... unless the car was re painted pastel blue 

 

[Junkman]

Whoever owned a yank is lost for the European market forever.

 

PHAKT.

[eddyramrod]

It's true.  My Rover and Saab are both nice cars, but compared to my Buick, they're pale attempts.  And the Buick was built in 1980.  Not 1989 or 2001 like the current fleet.

 

Buy American, and buy old.  BUT!  Don't  even think about it until I have another one, because if the prices keep going the way they are, I never will.  And that's too awful to think about.

[Junkman]

You have to buy them abroad.

The asking prices in the UK are just daft and most of them have been made into irreversible Punch and Judy theatres anyway.

[Lukas]

 

Whoever owned a yank is lost for the European market forever.

 

PHAKT.

 

Says the Peugeot 405 addict with the Rover, the Granada and the Mercedes-Benz W108. 

[eddyramrod]

And agreed-with by the Volvo addict with a Saab, Rover and Chevy Daewoo!

[Junkman]

Says the Peugeot 405 addict with the Rover, the Granada and the Mercedes-Benz W108, who is seriously looking for a good Caprice. 

 

EFA.

[mercrocker]

With Eddy and JM on this, too....Might have 2 Morrises, a leaky VW camper and equally leaky 190E but still miss my Pontiac Grand Prix.   Whenever anybody refers to their Euro-Jap "luxobarge" I think "yeah, OK" and remind myself I found out what luxo-barging was really like.   I have never cared what anybody thinks of my motors (or me, for that matter) but there is something special about a Yank.   Especially a RWD V8.

[Junkman]

Might have 2 Morrises, a leaky VW camper and equally leaky 190E but still miss my even more leaky Pontiac Grand Prix.

 

EFA

[Bobthebeard]

Would love a RWD V8 American car... A 1990's Crown Victoria for example.

Am a total convert to American cars since getting the Mercury. They are just so me really.

[Lukas]

As you all know, the Park Avenue is my first american car. I never had one, I never drove one before.

It´s a complete new world for me. And I own it for one month now, so not very long, except for pandamonium. 

 

Am I a convert already? Hm...

 

When I´d look at the Park Avenue like a german motor-journalist, my verdict would be almost disastrous. Cheap materials

inside, the car rattles and squeaks over bad roads, the lights are very poor, the brakes are not inspiring confidence at all

and there seems to be cost pressure visible behind the tinsel all around. 

 

But...!!!

 

It´s just cool! It´s nice to drive around town. Because everyone is watching. Pedestrians turn their heads to take a look at it,

teenagers are taking pictures of it with their mobile-phones, people are asking me about it at the filling-station, at the parking lot,

almost everywhere. I really like that and I really enjoy that. 

 

Because unlike my two old Pajeros, the Buick is a rolling statement. People see at first glance that there is someone coming 

who does not care about the usual, sensible, accepted VWs or Opels or Audis or Renaults. That´s what I really love. Because

everywhere I go in it, I stand out of the crowd, no matter where or when. 

 

And I like the gadgets it has. The electric seats that tilt and slide almost everywhere. The interieur-lights everywhere. The electic

antenna. The hood-ornament. 

 

It´s got no V8 and it´s FWD. But I love it. Because of it´s looks, because it is so different, to all the cars on the road here. 

 

I will always love old japanese cars. But the Buick is the ticket to a different automotive world. And I really like that world. 

[eddyramrod]

Am a total convert to American cars since getting the Mercury. .

It's done its job then!

 

Well I could see that.... even before getting it back on the road you'd gone out and bought another one.  Well done that man.

[hauserplenty]

I've driven American cars all my life, so I guess I took them for granted.

Now that I got me (sic) one o' them funny yer-o-pean cars I long for the days of $25 master cylinders and $50 fuel pumps.

 

Oh well, you get what you pay for...

[Urko]

It´s just cool! It´s nice to drive around town. Because everyone is watching. Pedestrians turn their heads to take a look at it,

teenagers are taking pictures of it with their mobile-phones, people are asking me about it at the filling-station, at the parking lot,

almost everywhere. I really like that and I really enjoy that. 

 

One of my best moments ever was passing some teenage girls in my AMC, one of whom shouted "Oi mate, your car's shit!"

 

That in itself made me laugh, but not as much as the fact that at that point there was a car coming the other way, so I had to stop.  She must've thought I was stopping to have words with her, as she ran off at great speed - happy days.

 

My ex's window cleaner, who drives an old (but not that old) Saab took great pleasure in telling me what an ugly old thing it is, just as I was paying him.

 

On the other hand, the bloke at the filling station the other day wanted to buy it.

 

This is me taking my niece, who is a fan of the AMC, to the Winter ball at her school with some pals -

 

[Urko]

You have to buy them abroad.

The asking prices in the UK are just daft and most of them have been made into irreversible Punch and Judy theatres anyway.

 

I wonder who pays the daft prices - only footballers and rock stars etc I guess - and I do see a lot of the same cars for sale for ages.....

[dome]

You have to buy them abroad.

The asking prices in the UK are just daft and most of them have been made into irreversible Punch and Judy theatres anyway.

The man of junk, he speaketh the truth. There is a lot of rusty tat in this country.

Where would one venture on the continent for something septic? 70s or 80s, needs to be a rwd V8 and preferably not massive. Sporty* would be good. Oh and under £3k...

[Junkman]

A useable sub 3k Corvette then?

That's going to be tough no matter where you look for it.

 

However, let's all watch where this is going, just out of interest.

 

http://www.ebay.de/itm/1983-Buick-Le-Sabre-V8-Coupe-5l-V8-/321983746905

 

 

 

This would typically be listed for £5,000 in the UK.

[Barry Cade]

Prices have gone mental here, My 6.6 Dodge pickup was £450, 72 Challenger £4250 and my Caprice was £800. I stuck the Caprice on Ebay and an American car dealer won the auction for 500 notes. Came up in a big fancy truck, kicked the tyres and told me it was just a rusty old car, didn't want it and chucked me a 20 quid note!

 

 

Now I'm after an Iroc Camaro or a late 70's early 80's GMC or Chevy pickup I can't afford anything. Certainly not another Challenger...

 

 

Or even a Fiero.. Bonus addition of my Range Rover- the rustiest one I've ever seen. Buick V8 tho...

 

[hauserplenty]

That LeSlobbre would likely bring $1500-2000 here. With a 99% chance of it being lowridered. Apparently the fact it has no inspection papers hurts its value in Germany. For 107 euros, that's a steal...for now anyway.

[eddyramrod]

A useable sub 3k Corvette then?

That's going to be tough no matter where you look for it.

 

However, let's all watch where this is going, just out of interest.

 

http://www.ebay.de/itm/1983-Buick-Le-Sabre-V8-Coupe-5l-V8-/321983746905

 

 

 

This would typically be listed for £5,000 in the UK.

Herr Junk, that thing is so interesting I'm going to have to ask you a flava: would you translate the description for me please?

 

It's so far beyond interesting it's lush!

[Lukas]

 

 

Zum Verkauf kommt ein schöner 1983 Buick Le Sabre Coupe mit 5l V8 Motor und Automatikgetriebe. Das Fahrzeug war jahrelang eingemottet und ist entsprechend original im Inneraum und gut erhalten. Die Karosserie ist gerade und hat keine Anzeichen eines Unfalls. Die Felgen sind in einem sehr schönen Zustand. Der Motor dreht  und läuft auch , braucht aber auf Grund der langen Standzeit einen großen Service! Alles in allem ein schönes originales und unverbasteltes Coupe mit einigen Mängeln zum Wiederaufbau. Zu den Mängeln gehören unter anderem eine defekte Auspuffanlage, ein defektes Fahrertürschloss, diverse kleinere Roststellen und Durchrsostungen sowie weitere optische und sicher auch einige technische Mängel, die nach der Standzeit zu erwarten sind  . Der Wagen ist voll verzollt und hat natürlich alle Papiere dabei. Deutschen TÃœV oder deutsche Papiere hat er nicht! 

Ich behalte mir das Recht vor die Auktion vorzeitig zu beenden, da ich ihn noch anderweitig inseriert habe. Bei Fragen einfach anrufen 01741636505. Verkauf ausdrücklich als Teilespender ohne Zusicherung von Eigenschaften. Abholung und Bezahlung binnen 7 Tagen nach Auktionsende. Danach werde ich 100€ pro angefangenem Monat Standgebühr berechnen.

 

 

Let me help you there as Herr Junk is collecting a car. 

 

For sale is a beautiful 1983 Buick LeSabre Coupe with 5l V8 engine and automatic transmission. The car was in storage a few years and is very original inside and out. The body is straight with no signs of accident. The wheels are in beautiful condition. The engine turns and runs too, but needs a complete service after the long stand-still. All in all a very original and un-messed-with Coupe with some faults for restauration. The faults are a knackered exhaust, a knackered door-lock at the drivers door, a few rust patches and rust-holes and a few cosmetic and mechanical faults due to the long stand-still. 

The car has no german papers or german TÃœV, but all customs have been paid. The auction could be stopped before it runs out because its advertised somewhere else too. Is there are questions, call me on ****. It is being sold as it is without any warranty. It must be collected and paid 7 days after the auction ends. After that, every month will cost you 100€. 

[eddyramrod]

Danke mein Herr!  Most kind of you!

[dugong]

Let me help you there as Herr Junk is collecting a car. 

 

For sale is a beautiful 1983 Buick LeSabre Coupe with 5l V8 engine and automatic transmission. The car was in storage a few years and is very original inside and out. The body is straight with no signs of accident. The wheels are in beautiful condition. The engine turns and runs too, but needs a complete service after the long stand-still. All in all a very original and un-messed-with Coupe with some faults for restauration. The faults are a knackered exhaust, a knackered door-lock at the drivers door, a few rust patches and rust-holes and a few cosmetic and mechanical faults due to the long stand-still. 

The car has no german papers or german TÜV, but all customs have been paid. The auction could be stopped before it runs out because its advertised somewhere else too. Is there are questions, call me on ****. It is being sold as it is without any warranty. It must be collected and paid 7 days after the auction ends. After that, every month will cost you 100€.

I got some of that without the translation - then again, it's been a long time since AS-level German.

[cort16]

I'm finding it hard to resist that crown vic police car for sale in Fife for 2 grand. I'd de-patrol car it and make it an interceptor look though.

[ian&mary]

Heres ours - '56 Cadillac. Not really practical, takes up 4 parking spaces in Tesco and waiting for the ferry when we went to France the width blocked the next lane too. But love it, had it since 2004 and no plans to sell it. Needs a few parts fixing (suspension bushes, fuel pump/pipes) and hope to be back on the road this year

Sorry, rubbish pix

[danthecapriman]

Herr Junk, that thing is so interesting I'm going to have to ask you a flava: would you translate the description for me please?

 

It's so far beyond interesting it's lush!

Do it!

I'd rather have that than a Corvette too.

 

Why are yanks here so expensive though?

Is it just because there aren't that many around anymore so sellers jack up the price? I just don't get it.

It's probably just as much if not cheaper to get one from the states and import it than what you'd pay here, plus you get almost limitless choice in the US, you can get what you want not just what's around at the time.

Or is it like buying into a 'scene' of dressing like a cowboy and enjoying line dancing? You can't do any of that shit without an appropriate car of course! And no, I'm not into any of that, I just like the cars!

When I buy another one (and I will) I'm going to do it the same way I did my Mercury. Buy from the US and import. It's a bit scary the first time you try it but now I've done it once there's no big deal with it.

 

I'm probably not the best example myself, as I've just spent a shitload on my yank, but then again I'm not planning on selling it. Mines never going to be worth what I've spent on it but that isn't stopping me doing it!

 

 

ian&mary, your Caddy is gorgeous! I'd love to see more pics of it.

[eddyramrod]

Suggestion, Dan: next time, include in the budget the cost of a fly-drive in an area you like the look of.  Have the details of your chosen shipping agent to hand, and by the magic of the internet, make a shortlist of cars that suit your taste/budget, with addresses and directions.

 

Or just do what I did and look over the fence when making a random overnight stop!  That 78 Cougar positively ambushed me! 

 

PS, Ian&Mary, more pics please!!!!!!

[Luckythirteen]

I'd think the relatively high prices are due to the relatively small pool of buyers, most of whom want a weekend toy or something to show, and are prepared to spend for a longish term. Much like many niche markets. Factor in a bit of fear of importing, or importing a money pit, and the common perception that more expensive equals betterer...and there's a recipe for chancers to jack prices. It would be informative to work out how many of those eye watering eBay prices actually go through.

 

Dunno why, but I'm really gravitating towards 80s pickups now. Especially ones with truck diesels. No smoke, no poke (anyway)!

[danthecapriman]

I've seriously thought about just getting myself a couple of containers sorted and space on a ship, then going over and buying enough cars to fill them. Then bring them back and figure out something to do with them! I'm sure I could do it, have some fun, and at least break even by selling them on over here.

Regards to taste, anything American goes, 50's fins n chrome, 60's muscle, 70's land yachts, down to even weird stuff like Pinto's or Gremlins! I'm not too fussy.