USA Autoshite

[62 Austin]

You had to be a determined shite-ist to get a Pinto or Vega into the UK.   However, I am afraid to say we built the Omni here, known as Chrysler/Talbot Horizon.  Far from being a bad car in my view but I have never driven a captive import one in the US.   You can't blame Fiat for that one either and its best to leave Daimler out of any discussion involving the US Motor Industry with anybody in the UK - we have no recognition of the Daimler element of latter-day Mercedes Benz operation, certainly not the bit that involved Chrysler.   

 

Surprised nobody has nominated the K-Car yet, although I used to drive my Dad's Reliant and found it a comfortable, inoffensive thing.  

 

 

Yes, I know Daimler is a distinguished name in the U.K., with not much to do with Mercedes-Benz, and builds cars for the Royal Family. I was just referring to Chrysler's ambivalence to having one name, or multiple partners, if you will. When Chrysler became Daimler-Chrysler for a number of months (years?), one motoring wag was asked how to pronounce it and he wrote "The 'Chrysler' is silent". 

 

I agree that the Horizon/Omni was a better car than the Vega or Pinto. One reason I think of them together is that a car dealer near here had one of each FS for $300 each in 2012, all next to each other in a row, and it made me think of how many were made and how few remain. The lemon-yellow Vega estate is still there, I think.

[Six-cylinder]

Pretty much all of them from about 1978 to 2004.

 

The prosecution calls it's first witness.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/chrysler-new-yorker-/262111828477?hash=item3d071519fd:g:CX4AAOSwgQ9V0dz2

Where does that put me, I have been to see this very car and made an offer, it has not been accepted but there is still time!

[Junkman]

You haven't really lived unless you drove a 1988-1993 Pontiac LeMans.

 

 

I have done my deed, having ended up with several of them as hire cars.

Not before nor since have I so desperately tried to break a hire car in the shortest possible time. I feel sorry for the people they were assigned to after I had them.

[Tetleysmooth]

Anything without that fibreglass transverse leaf spring, eh PBK?

[Junkman]

Also high on my list of yanks I'd love to forget own is the late 80s Pontiac 6000.

 

 

Especially recommended in fewl injecterised Iron Duke flavour (I kid you not).

 

Note quality door card:

 

Mr. Conelrad would be delighted drive into a tree:

[danthecapriman]

With the exception of the 69 camaro ss all yank cars look shite, with absolutely no exceptions all yank cars drive shite. My brother lives near Boston and bought a viper (compensation for going bald, how I laughed) it was shite. They all are,and the interiors are made by the people who do the plastics for chocolate boxes.

This always makes me laugh!

How exactly are Jap or Euro cars of the time any better? Most are as 'bad' or worse. The French couldn't build anything that worked properly or lasted any length of time, the japs might of been reliable but they rusted like hell, Italians were both rust prone and unreliable, Brits had all manor of quality issues most of which were so bad the company's concerned haven't existed for decades because of it, the Germans were building cars made of cardboard!

I'm not slating or hating any of them, in fact I like all old cars from anywhere but there's no way anyone can suggest the Americans were any worse than anyone else. In many ways they were miles ahead of us in Europe.

 

As the owner of a 70's yank I can't say I've got any complaints. It's easily as good if not better than the euro cars I own of similar age.

[Tamworthbay]

What about the '68 Camaro ss?

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have you seen it? Are you blind?

[Tamworthbay]

This always makes me laugh!

How exactly are Jap or Euro cars of the time any better? Most are as 'bad' or worse. The French couldn't build anything that worked properly or lasted any length of time, the japs might of been reliable but they rusted like hell, Italians were both rust prone and unreliable, Brits had all manor of quality issues most of which were so bad the company's concerned haven't existed for decades because of it, the Germans were building cars made of cardboard!

I'm not slating or hating any of them, in fact I like all old cars from anywhere but there's no way anyone can suggest the Americans were any worse than anyone else. In many ways they were miles ahead of us in Europe.

As the owner of a 70's yank I can't say I've got any complaints. It's easily as good if not better than the euro cars I own of similar age.

a lot comes down to opinon I suppose, but I have driven a lot of yank cars during my yearly visits to see my brother and they are all awful, mainly it's the design I hate with one single exception. Build quality is appalling and is nowhere near German standards, that bit of yours made me laugh I have to admit. No one who is vaguely a 'gearhead' likes driving the yank stuff.

 

You own one so presumably see some merit in it, but in cold hard performance or build quality terms, they are all shite and well worthy of a place on here.

[danthecapriman]

A lot is down to opinion, some people don't and won't ever like them no matter what.

I've been a car obsessed 'gearhead' if you want to call it that my whole life, and to me american cars represent the ultimate cars! To me nothing else comes close. Ferraris, Lambo's, Astons - keep em, they suck! I'll have a 70's yank with a huge inefficient engine, auto gearbox and shit loads of chrome. It's just what I like.

 

But, back in the 60's, 70's whenever you could argue just about all cars were shite or shit. I can't think of any that were without faults in quality.

 

God, I really am sad!

[brickwall]

Cutlass supreme....in DIESEL!!!!

 

[eddyramrod]

We as a forum have pretty-much agreed in the past that a Shite car, ie one that qualifies for mention or preferably ownership here, is going to be a largely-forgotten and unloved car from anywhere, to any spec, that can be picked up for not very much money and used.  And if you get something within that spec that's a bit of a luxury barge, you're doing well.

In the UK almost any American car fills that brief.  I know, I've owned a bunch of them and will have more, all from the bottom of the price list.  In fact I find myself extremely attracted to that Thunderbird posted above...

[Junkman]

However, I am afraid to say we built the Omni here, known as Chrysler/Talbot Horizon.

 

The Plymouth Horizon/Dodge Omni and the Simca Horizon are technically unrelated and no parts are interchangeable between those cars, despite they look so similar.

Whereas the Simcas have torsion bar suspension, the yank issues utilise Mc Pherson struts, resulting in an entirely different monocoque structure, feel, handling and road behaviour. Add US frontal, side impact and rollover protection regulations and you will notice, that the outer panels are different as well, the US versions look 'heavier'. This becomes even more obvious when you see them side by side, or when you try to repair a US Horizon with European Horizon body panels (now you know why I know all this).

The differences extend to the drivetrain, there was not a single engine/gearbox combo available on both sides of the Atlantic. Even the only Simca-based engine that ever was available in Omni/Horizons (for a very short period) wasn't available in the French Horizons.

[rml2345]

Oldsmobile Tornado? A bad idea executed badly but rather handsome all the same.

[Six-cylinder]

We as a forum have pretty-much agreed in the past that a Shite car, ie one that qualifies for mention or preferably ownership here, is going to be a largely-forgotten and unloved car from anywhere, to any spec, that can be picked up for not very much money and used.  And if you get something within that spec that's a bit of a luxury barge, you're doing well.

In the UK almost any American car fills that brief.  I know, I've owned a bunch of them and will have more, all from the bottom of the price list.  In fact I find myself extremely attracted to that Thunderbird posted above...

I like that shape of Thunderbird but to me a US car needs a V8 if available!

[eddyramrod]

I'll concede that, V8 is indisputably the best engine configuration you can get, but when the budget is as tight as mine, 6 is often as good as it gets.  I've therefore owned American cars with straight 6, V6 and V8 at various times. 

The Thunderbird is a bit young for me, I'd rather have something a decade (or more) older.  But again: budget.

[brickwall]

Oldsmobile Tornado? A bad idea executed badly but rather handsome all the same.

 

 

Ah, the Toronado. One of my mums favourite cars; even though she complained about everything in it.

[danthecapriman]

I'll concede that, V8 is indisputably the best engine configuration you can get, but when the budget is as tight as mine, 6 is often as good as it gets. I've therefore owned American cars with straight 6, V6 and V8 at various times.

The Thunderbird is a bit young for me, I'd rather have something a decade (or more) older. But again: budget.

This is the best Thunderbird variant. The biggest, heaviest and biggest engines!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Thunderbird-2-door-coupe-/201455529202?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ee7af6cf2:g:iXIAAOSw5VFWI~Yg&item=201455529202

 

Shortly followed by this type.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Thunderbird-Base-Hardtop-2-Door-/331691330028?

 

 

Lovely cars.

[Six-cylinder]

I'll concede that, V8 is indisputably the best engine configuration you can get, but when the budget is as tight as mine, 6 is often as good as it gets.  I've therefore owned American cars with straight 6, V6 and V8 at various times. 

The Thunderbird is a bit young for me, I'd rather have something a decade (or more) older.  But again: budget.

I like 90s stuff because it is so cheap. I went to see V8 T,bird 100 miles from home but the battery was flat and a tyre so the seller told us where we could get it fixed. This was advertised as a good running car,if he had got it ready I would have bought it. Those who went to Shitefest 2114 will remember Mrs cyl has a 1994 Cadillac Eldorodo Touring coupe so I need a yank of my own.

[Tamworthbay]

Did Homer Simpson design ALL American cars?

[martc]

AMC Pacer is so shite its great , cant think of any other car with odd sized doors - i want one 

 

The Mini Countryman thing has some sort of vertical letter box for a rear door. Sorry a bit off topic as it's not a Yank.

[Junkman]

Oddly, when I think yank shite, predominantly late 80s - early 90s chod comes to mind.

Have the cream of the crop, the "Standard Of The World", i.e. the 1986 - 1991 Cadillac Eldorado:

 

 

This is the line topping "Biarritz" version, which means pikey spec in British English.

[Clanger]

This is the best Thunderbird variant. The biggest, heaviest and biggest engines!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Thunderbird-2-door-coupe-/201455529202?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ee7af6cf2:g:iXIAAOSw5VFWI~Yg&item=201455529202

 

 

Lovely cars.

I had a yellow one of these when I was 19.  Driving around Norf Lahndhan was a blast with that big old 460 and straight through cherry bombs.  Only had it for about three weeks though as it was a little expensive to run... shame...  

[danthecapriman]

I had a yellow one of these when I was 19.  Driving around Norf Lahndhan was a blast with that big old 460 and straight through cherry bombs.  Only had it for about three weeks though as it was a little expensive to run... shame...

 

Any pics? I bet it sounded fantastic.

I'd love one. Don't think I could get rid even if I couldn't afford it.

[chaseracer]

We as a forum have pretty-much agreed in the past that a Shite car, ie one that qualifies for mention or preferably ownership here, is going to be a largely-forgotten and unloved car from anywhere, to any spec, that can be picked up for not very much money and used.  And if you get something within that spec that's a bit of a luxury barge, you're doing well.

 

Exactly.

 

"Shite is as shite does; furthermore, shite is in the eye of the key holder."

 

Here endeth the lesson, brethren.

 

[Clanger]

Any pics? I bet it sounded fantastic.

I'd love one. Don't think I could get rid even if I couldn't afford it.

I wish I did Dan, it was a beast and it was a bit of a culture shock to go back to a Cortina 2.0 GL.  I have looked without much luck on the bay of evil, but the ones that do come up are silly money/too far away/fucked or all three.

[chaseracer]

Those who went to Shitefest 2114...

 

It's going to be a good one!

[eddyramrod]

I keep going back to that Gumtree ad for the 89 T-bird.  Someone buy it before I have chance to go viewing!

[D Spares & Tyres]

Not actually an American car but I saw a LHD Mitsubishi on California plates at the weekend.was only A couple of years old I reckon why on earth would you go to the expense of importing that?

[Taff]

have you seen it? Are you blind?

Whoosh....

 

 

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[harvestman]

I feel that this is worth contributing.

 

No comment by Harvestman Man, on Flickr

No comment by Harvestman Man, on Flickr

 

It's maybe the worst thing I've ever seen with a license plate. And that's saying a lot.