time to get serious about buying a used Can Am
Discussion
ANYBODY CONSIDERING SELLING A CAN AM?...
Well it was an interesting summer. I spoke with a number of fine Ultima people (thank you all for your help) and viewed a couple of Can Am cars.
The first car I tried I now believe was set up for a tall driver and it really turned me off. Years ago I recall the passenger experience in the factory Can Am and I sat rather too low in that car as well! It really does help if you can actually see the road and I jumped to the conclusion that I would not feel comfortable driving any Can Am on the road...
I got as far as 'definitely' deciding I'd go for a Ferrari 348ts instead.
Meanwhile I had a holiday to Italy and while there I took the chance to view an ex-British RHD Can Am. The seat set up was entirely different, I could see! The Can Am was viable and suddenly I had a dilemma. I had a half done deal on a F348, from a chap in the Owners' Club and a viable Can Am in Italy!
Long story short... I set up a test drive on the F348, but the mechanism on the driver seat jammed and the test drive was delayed a week. Following Saturday I had a long test drive in the 348ts and it did not impress me. The front end was very twitchy and it was barely quicker than my temporary TR7v8 stop gap, which followed me around the test route easily. The 348 was a beautiful car and sounded fantastic, but it needed an unknown amount of chassis alignment to make it into a nice driving experience.
DECISION REVERSED - previously I'd had a Ferrari 308GTS instead of the Can Am (and enjoyed the whole Ferrari experience), now I was looking at a 348 instead of the Can Am... no this time it has to be the Can Am.
I emailed Italy to buy the Can Am, which they'd had in stock for more than a year... only to find somebody had nipped in and got it 3 days earlier! I would like to congratulate whoever bought it for being more decisive than I and I hope you enjoy it... (through gritted teeth).
And so the search is on. I have a limited budget, but am definitely in the market for a used, but not abused Can Am road car. I am not looking for a show car, nor does it have to be >500Bhp! Just a largely 'factory spec' Cam Am, Chevrolet / LS series rather than Ford, AP brakes, preferably with a roof, right hand gear shift and thoughtfully screwed together.
I might consider a near complete project or re-commission (such as the car that was sold w/out engine a couple of years ago), but realistically if I had the free-time to build one myself that would have been my first choice anyhow.
I might also consider a Spyder, however I do much prefer the Can Am's square rear styling and the lack of windscreen / weather equipment is a issue to me. This summer has been exceptional, but normally it rains in northern Engand and the ability to limp home in a downpour, with at least a basic roof or windscreen to hide behind, is a major advantage.
So if anybody knows of such a car I'd love to have a chance of look before the traders grab it to make profit.
Yours,
David
Well it was an interesting summer. I spoke with a number of fine Ultima people (thank you all for your help) and viewed a couple of Can Am cars.
The first car I tried I now believe was set up for a tall driver and it really turned me off. Years ago I recall the passenger experience in the factory Can Am and I sat rather too low in that car as well! It really does help if you can actually see the road and I jumped to the conclusion that I would not feel comfortable driving any Can Am on the road...
I got as far as 'definitely' deciding I'd go for a Ferrari 348ts instead.
Meanwhile I had a holiday to Italy and while there I took the chance to view an ex-British RHD Can Am. The seat set up was entirely different, I could see! The Can Am was viable and suddenly I had a dilemma. I had a half done deal on a F348, from a chap in the Owners' Club and a viable Can Am in Italy!
Long story short... I set up a test drive on the F348, but the mechanism on the driver seat jammed and the test drive was delayed a week. Following Saturday I had a long test drive in the 348ts and it did not impress me. The front end was very twitchy and it was barely quicker than my temporary TR7v8 stop gap, which followed me around the test route easily. The 348 was a beautiful car and sounded fantastic, but it needed an unknown amount of chassis alignment to make it into a nice driving experience.
DECISION REVERSED - previously I'd had a Ferrari 308GTS instead of the Can Am (and enjoyed the whole Ferrari experience), now I was looking at a 348 instead of the Can Am... no this time it has to be the Can Am.
I emailed Italy to buy the Can Am, which they'd had in stock for more than a year... only to find somebody had nipped in and got it 3 days earlier! I would like to congratulate whoever bought it for being more decisive than I and I hope you enjoy it... (through gritted teeth).
And so the search is on. I have a limited budget, but am definitely in the market for a used, but not abused Can Am road car. I am not looking for a show car, nor does it have to be >500Bhp! Just a largely 'factory spec' Cam Am, Chevrolet / LS series rather than Ford, AP brakes, preferably with a roof, right hand gear shift and thoughtfully screwed together.
I might consider a near complete project or re-commission (such as the car that was sold w/out engine a couple of years ago), but realistically if I had the free-time to build one myself that would have been my first choice anyhow.
I might also consider a Spyder, however I do much prefer the Can Am's square rear styling and the lack of windscreen / weather equipment is a issue to me. This summer has been exceptional, but normally it rains in northern Engand and the ability to limp home in a downpour, with at least a basic roof or windscreen to hide behind, is a major advantage.
So if anybody knows of such a car I'd love to have a chance of look before the traders grab it to make profit.
Yours,
David
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