I'm so conflicted (car stuff)

[juansolo]

I have an itch I haven't scratched. I'm rather fond of V8s. More specifically, American V8's with their burbly idles and pitiful power to litre ratios. Yep, I love muscle cars. Utterly impractical in the UK as they're useless at corners (which our roads are made entirely of), too wide, too soft, and not so clever in the rain, which it does 90% of the year. On the latter point, a 1960's muscle car stored outside all year round is gonna be a bad idea as I'd expect it to start rusting almost immediately.

Which is why I don't have one. That and the cost of running a 5.0+ V8 in the UK is eye watering. At last look, fuel was £1.30 a litre. Which is... *grabs calculator* $8.25 in USD a US gallon. MPG, maybe 20 on a good day... You get the idea.

So, as you can see, this is why we don't do muscle cars here, and why I'm in a quandary. As you can imagine good Mustangs in the UK are few and far between. Doing my usual idle browsing of Pistonheads, I came across this...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/ford/mustang/beautiful-in-blue-1965-mustang-convertible/1541626

The only thing I can level against it is that it's not an Aussie sourced RHD car. Otherwise it's my perfect 'Stang... Modern bits to make it usable. Not overly blinged up (I'll let the wheels slide to get around the brakes). I'm just filled with want.

I'd have to p/ex the Cayman, which is part of the issue. A car that is perfect in every way, especially for here. But still, the want is there...

Sometimes it's just better not to look. 

[gjcamann]

She's beautiful. Something from the early to mid 60's would almost be practical because the car's were sort of small then. The cars got enormous and wide in the late 60's to 70's and would probably take up both lanes in town.

Hexham Horseless Carriages - you British crack me up 

[sturgeo]

How often do you use the Cayman? If its only when the suns out and its dry for me its an obvious decision.

I'm quite impressed with the new 302 with its fancy cam so you get the classic muscle car lumpy idle.

[RobA]

My grandfather had a red hardtop version of the '65. Sweet cars. They're almost small enough to be a practical car -- still, they're totally useless if they aren't on a road in western America that doesn't have a turn on it for a thousand miles. I can't imagine trying to drive one on a B-road through a village. You'd end up knocking down someone's house!

[juansolo]

How often do you use the Cayman? If its only when the suns out and its dry for me its an obvious decision.

All the time I'm about 60/40 with the 190E/Cayman in terms of usage.

[Leevibe]

If I had to choose between a Cayman and a '65 Mustang my head might explode. I think the Cayman might get the nod. The roads where I live, SW Washington state, are all curvy too. And Mustangs aren't exactly rare here. And there's a reason people call them Rustangs. Make sure to check the fender wells.

[sturgeo]

Ahhh, now i understand the severity of your problem 

As much as i love classic cars, using one as a daily driver for me isn't a great idea from past experience.
Its always nice to have something modern and reliable that you can guarantee isn't going to need a heap of work to pass its MOT.

[pryde]

I will be the devil on your shoulder and say GET IT 

289 is a nice and strong little V8. A good friend of mine had a similar '65 convertible and it was a joy to drive.

Give in to the American way of the excess, completely impractical pursuit of happiness     

[juansolo]

What would be far more sensible for me to do is keep the Cayman and p/ex the 190E for this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mercedes-benz/sl/low-miles-owners-immaculate-380sl/2224043

It's just not the same... BUT it'd actually be usable here and I could keep it outside (with the hard top on for 90% of the year).

I really should just step away from Pistonheads classifieds sometimes.

[flanagan0718]

Being a bit of a gear head myself (worked in a shop since 14 yo) here is my opinion. Get the mustang! I'm quite fond of muscle cars myself. For me it's not the look its the feeling. When you dive them you feel untouchable and free. You being over the pond, this is an even better deal. To find an actual 60's Mustang in that good a shape...damn take it. Ditch the Porsche (sorry but I never cared for them) and buy that piece of American history. I say American history because that's a time when F.O.R.D. meant First On Race Day, not F%*ked Over Repaired Dodge, or F%*ker Only Runs Downhill. This is a time period when we actually took pride in our product. Porsche (even though I'm not a fan) has always engineered their product perfectly, how many Mustang owners (years 94-14) can say the same...I would absolutely check for rust and rot, especially on the rocker panels and rear frame supports, but it looks like this guy took his time restoring it. Congrats if you end up buying the car!.
Any one here remember the Ford Escort EXP? or as i called it... THE MUSCORT

[juansolo]

Ahhh, now i understand the severity of your problem 

As much as i love classic cars, using one as a daily driver for me isn't a great idea from past experience.
Its always nice to have something modern and reliable that you can guarantee isn't going to need a heap of work to pass its MOT.

My 190E is 21 years old and I've used it as my daily for the last 5 years or so. But I have had to maintain it accordingly (it's had new paint for a start) so I'm not averse to it. But a 50yo car might be a whole other proposition. The SL is 32, but back from when they were built like tanks (like my 190). So if you start with a rust free one and look after it properly, there's no reason it can't be a daily. Hmmm, I seem to be talking myself into going to have a look at that.

[juansolo]

Any one here remember the Ford Escort EXP? or as i called it... THE MUSCORT

Wow, never seen that before. They really did mate a Mustang and Escort!

I know I shouldn't... But I quite like that.

Yeah, I'm a certifiable Petrolhead (as they are known here). Classics, sports, race.., you name it.

[flanagan0718]

Any one here remember the Ford Escort EXP? or as i called it... THE MUSCORT

Wow, never seen that before. They really did mate a Mustang and Escort!

I know I shouldn't... But I quite like that.

Yeah, I'm a certifiable Petrolhead (as they are known here). Classics, sports, race.., you name it.

Yes they did! My sister had one. She bought it from the owner of the shop I worked for when I was in high school. They still had a 4 banger but they looked the part at least. I think they only made them for 3 years or so, and sales were low so there are very few around now-a-days so i make it a point to...well...point and laugh, and yet admire at the same time.
I still wish I had my muscle car from time to time. specs
1985 Monte Carlo SS
-350 Stroker Boared over
-Posie rear end
-Holly high performance carburetor with 2 inch riser
-custom mandrel bent exhaust and custom made headers
-modified with turbo 500 manual transmission
-Fiberglass hood, trunk, fenders
-not to mention all the other smaller stuff
- Most importantly T-TOPS!!!

*not mine just what it kind of looked like**

[juansolo]

T-Tops FTW. Smokey and the Bandit was responsible for my unreasonable need for a 6.6 Pontiac Firebird with a T-Top.

FWIW the car I still to this day regret selling is this Westfield. Couldn't be further from a muscle car. 535kgs, 165hp 2.0 Ford Zetec on throttle bodies. I was an idiot to ever sell it. Cleggy still kicks himself for not buying it also (I used to store it in his garage after all!).



Motors are my other passion, as you might have gathered, there is indeed a Motas page on the same site as the Stompage if you want to read me wibbling on about cars http://juansolo.demon.co.uk/motas/index.html

[flanagan0718]

T-Tops FTW. Smokey and the Bandit was responsible for my unreasonable need for a 6.6 Pontiac Firebird with a T-Top.

FWIW the car I still to this day regret selling is this Westfield. Couldn't be further from a muscle car. 535kgs, 165hp 2.0 Ford Zetec on throttle bodies. I was an idiot to ever sell it. Cleggy still kicks himself for not buying it also (I used to store it in his garage after all!).



Motors are my other passion, as you might have gathered, there is indeed a Motas page on the same site as the Stompage if you want to read me wibbling on about cars http://juansolo.demon.co.uk/motas/index.html

I'll be sure to stop by and check it out. Glad to see there are still gear heads out there!