Oddest 'what car' ever? What V8 to drive from UK to Vietnam?

[MX7]

fivetenben said:

MX7 said:

Sounds interesting. What route are you taking?

Not finalized 100% yet, but the general plan is down to Turkey, then through Georgia into Azerbaijan. Then ferry from Baku to Turkmenistan, and up to Uzbekistan. Then through either Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan into China, and from there down to Hanoi.

Obviously, thanks to politics and suchlike, this may change. The only part of it which has to be absolutely set in concrete before we leave is our route through China, which we need to begin working to get clearance for at least 3 months before we leave.

[fivetenben]

v8250 said:

Ben, have you planned your route yet? Obtained the necessary visa's for this kind of drive? Even a simple Google Maps of London to Vietman takes you through Iran, Afganistan, Pakistan + Northern India which is serious bandit country, and Burma. The Iranian Motor Club are a good hospitable bunch and may be able to arrange military escort for you.

Also suggest you have a chat with these folk www.taciran.com and the British High Commission in London notifying them of your planned route, dates, et al.

For good guidance you may like to contact Philip Young at The Endurance Rally Association on 01235.831221 http://www.endurorally.com/ He has more experience than most in knowing what permits & visas would be required. Good luck on your amazing adventure!

PS the V8250 is the one to go for - very robust, a simple design, and a doddle to repair by any Bangladeshi roadside blacksmith.

Cheers for the contacts - and don't worry, we're planning to travel somewhat north of Google's suggested itinerary! The rough route plan is a few posts up, and I've driven around Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc) before, so I know the paperwork and travel conditions reasonably well. Rest assured, despite how people coming online to ask questions such as mine can appear, I'm not completely green to this sort of undertaking.

[Chris71]

I like the Rover P6 suggestion on the previous page.

If you really have to attempt a zillion mile road trip in a £4,000 V8 TVR you'd probably be looking at a Wedge than a Chimaera. Don't get me wrong, the Chimaera is in most respects a better car, but you're going to have a far more realistic choice of 350is at that price.

To be honest, I'd probably suggest a BMW 530i or something like that in the real world. It would be a pretty epic trip whatever you did it in, and something that would actually make it to Vietnam - preferably with working air con etc. at the other end - would be the first priority.

Oh, taking the usability a step further, what about a mk1 Range Rover? Comfy, reasonably tough, four-wheel drive and it should run on anything the locals care to pass off as petrol.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4154335.htm

[J4C]

Audi A8/S8.

Lots of VAG coverage in China, and of course all through Europe.


Or, for the full local experience, a Hongqi CA72/770.

[v8250]

fivetenben said:

Cheers for the contacts - and don't worry, we're planning to travel somewhat north of Google's suggested itinerary! The rough route plan is a few posts up, and I've driven around Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc) before, so I know the paperwork and travel conditions reasonably well. Rest assured, despite how people coming online to ask questions such as mine can appear, I'm not completely green to this sort of undertaking.

Good-o. Have taken a look at your profile...you'll be fine as definitely no green ears. IMHO go for a car that's not ran with electronics/ECU, has cart springs at rear, and carbs that can be tweaked where only low octane, and/or, water contaminated fuel is the norm'.

Have just read a little of your blog. Highly applaud the Oxford comma, and, may be able to help you with keeping SU carbs' cool when needed at 35-40degsC. Feel free to PM me.

[vixen1700]

Whatever you choose Ben, by the looks of your previous trips, you'll have a belter. Good luck with it all.

[SuperHangOn]

How about an aussie ford?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Fairlane-AU-5-0L-V8...

Made for outback dirt roads and looks like the sort of car which might make it. Engine looks reassuringly neaderthal too.

[DaveH23]

vixen1700 said:

Whatever you choose Ben, by the looks of your previous trips, you'll have a belter. Good luck with it all.

This.

Your website looks fantastic.

[HD Adam]

Johnboy Mac said:

W126 500SE.

I know somebody who wants shot of one of these. Was looking for £500.

[lazyitus]

As mentioned above - a TVR 350i, if not a Chimaera. Dead simple and just the job for such a nutty adventure. Good luck - I'm envious!

[RobCrezz]

LS400 has to be a good bet, very tough and reliable. Also comfortable for the very long journey.

[The Tea Boy]

May i suggest you speak to JSG on here! He has done pleanty of mental trips in that kind of direction

Matt

[chris123321]

i salute you sir, I plan a similar trip to Cambodia one day on a bike albeit..

May I suggest a V8 soarer? built like tanks and go well too, although does have some fancy electronics on it to go wrong.

[bobbo89]

This would be a brave choice!

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

[crispyshark]

surely a triumph stag?! fits the criteria!

[CapriV6S]

Rover P5b Coupe or P6 3500. Can just imagine the photos.

[kwak]

What about an mg zt v8? Maybe a bit above budget, but as unlikely as you will find, and still british.

[r129sl]

I remember a Mercedes-Benz sponsored run between Paris and Beijing. they used E-Classes. Some info here: http://www.worldcarfans.com/10610205922/mercedes-e...

The route looks sensible enough.

[markCSC]

Some silly suggestions

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Really silly suggestion
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Good luck!!

[fivetenben]

Chris71 said:

I like the Rover P6 suggestion on the previous page.

If you really have to attempt a zillion mile road trip in a £4,000 V8 TVR you'd probably be looking at a Wedge than a Chimaera. Don't get me wrong, the Chimaera is in most respects a better car, but you're going to have a far more realistic choice of 350is at that price.

Hi,

I've given wedges a lot of thought and thoroughly perused their classifieds section on here - the two things which put me off are the fact they don't appear to have much luggage space, and (sorry for being shallow!) the looks - the profile just doesn't scream 'classic British sports car' like the Chimp does.

I completely agree that a slightly tatty £4-5k Chimp probably won't be ready to set off across Asia, but I get the impression that many of the chimps that end up at this price point are there as much because of tired interiors/paintwork and higher (daily driver) mileages as for mechanical neglect? If so, I'd hope I should be able to find one which works okay for the money (and I have facilities to do outriggers if needed). The other beauty of a Chimp would be that I already have one, which I'd be parking in the garage for 3 months while the trip is underway - so many spare parts needed for the trip could be 'borrowed' from it, rather than purchased. And I have to say, I kinda like 'em

Having said that, one thing that puts me off a fair bit is the heavy clutch - I imagine it would be absolutely exhausting negotiating somewhere like Istanbul in one - a '944 was bad enough... Which makes the 'Vette, Mustang and Merc coupes' auto boxes rather appealing. Hmmm...