The "66 El Camino that I finally own" Thread
Discussion
TommoAE86 said:
99t, what an amazing story, you're right the before does make up a wonderful chapter. I can empathize with how you're feeling having gone through almost the same when I imported my Skyline from Japan. That wait is excruciating! I found the bit in the UK the worst as I knew the car was only a train ride away... Echo the previous posters, we definitely need pics 
Jim, do you get many ro-ro's coming out of the USA to Europe? I'm quite interested in the reason not to use them as the importers of my car from Japan never uses containers due to the costs involved compared to the ro-ro's.
Although I can understand if it's security, when I find the munchkin in Soton who robbed my gearknob *shakes fist*
Just home from the 'shop now, will e-mail pics to Mark shortly....Jim, do you get many ro-ro's coming out of the USA to Europe? I'm quite interested in the reason not to use them as the importers of my car from Japan never uses containers due to the costs involved compared to the ro-ro's.
Although I can understand if it's security, when I find the munchkin in Soton who robbed my gearknob *shakes fist*
Okay, the ro-ro leaves L.A. and arrives in Southampton, 500 miles from me. The other ro-ro leaves from New York and Baltimore and arrives in Liverpool, 250 miles from me BUT it is the other side of the States from where my agent/storage/shippers are in San Fransisco area. Also, I bring in some non running non driving project trucks and they can't go on the ro-ro. In a container I get 3 or 4 vehicles and I have them a total of half a mile from my 'shop. You also cannot put parts in a ro-ro car, and I often bring in parts for my customers to help them with their restorations.
I have used ro-ro in the past when I bought one vehicle at a time and could be sure they were runners, but on one occasion, a truck broke down and ended up in a solo 20ft container which cost me a fortune, but I did get it to Grangemouth. The culprit, the battery earth cable came out of the crimp which was bolted to the bulkhead!! Doubled the original shipping quote.....
Well the Elk looked easy to get out at least! Ooh she's turned wheels on British soil, that's a hell of a good start. If only the Ms. would be ok with the child-seat going in the front, I could have one, and she could sit in her wheelchair in the bed like in the Beverly Hillbillies...
threadlock said:
That photo makes it look like the chassis is hogging quite a bit. Hope it's OK!
dead straight buddy, remember these have a separate chassis to which the cab and body are independently mounted so we're looking at body lines on a 51 year old work truck, and that particular body would be made by an outside company, so not a factory fitment, and may even have sagging rubber mounts. I'm gonna get a good look round this one today as it seems a lot better than I was anticipating. It would make a great mobile plant fitter/mechanic truck, though, in this modern age, probably better with a diesel transplant.
Hooli said:
99t said:
Less than an hour from Grangemouth now, quick toilet stop and a surprisingly tasty and satisfying couple of slices of toast from the Harry Ramsden's franchise! 99p bargain!!
so...........hope all is going well, as i'm sure it is!
Koosh-m said:
Hooli said:
99t said:
Less than an hour from Grangemouth now, quick toilet stop and a surprisingly tasty and satisfying couple of slices of toast from the Harry Ramsden's franchise! 99p bargain!!
so...........hope all is going well, as i'm sure it is!
Lots there I'm sure, but anything you'd WANT to do?
Hooli said:
Koosh-m said:
Hooli said:
99t said:
Less than an hour from Grangemouth now, quick toilet stop and a surprisingly tasty and satisfying couple of slices of toast from the Harry Ramsden's franchise! 99p bargain!!
so...........hope all is going well, as i'm sure it is!
Lots there I'm sure, but anything you'd WANT to do?
Hooli said:
so...........
Well it's been a long day, I had hospital visiting duties to perform once I'd got the Elk safely home, and the transporter returned, and time was getting rather tight...So my apologies for the late update, but it couldn't have really gone any better today
Jim, absolute pleasure to meet you today, you're a gent and I can't fault your description of the car or your hospitality. Really rather jealous of the setup you have up there, and wish I'd had more time to have a really good poke around your stock-list / collection!
Really looking forward to getting stuck in to the work on the Elk. The more I look around it the more new parts I see, someone was definitely spending some money on it in the US.
Not many pics from today unfortunately, just didn't have the time, so just a few for now...
Welcome to Britain!!
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