Oddest 'what car' ever? What V8 to drive from UK to Vietnam?
Discussion
This one will probably take a little explaining - bear with me!
Combining my two interests of cars and travel by undertaking long road trips in unlikely vehicles has been a hobby of mine for quite a while now. Many moons ago, late one Friday night while discussing potential trips, and a friend of mine put down his pint glass and came up with an idea so simple it just stuck and refused to go away - V8Nam.
Get a car with a V8. Drive it to Vietnam.
Against our better judgement, the idea lingered and is now set in stone, with a departure date of April 2013. And this raises the question - what car to take on a 3 month, 12,000 mile road trip across 20-odd countries, several deserts and the odd mountain range?
Firstly, 4x4s are out - thanks to my love of the preposterous, it has to be something random; something which wouldn't immediately be thought of as a suitable choice for overlanding. To give an idea, my last big trip was across Africa in a Porsche 944 - that's the level of unlikeliness I'm looking for. Also, it has to be something reasonably easy to bodge if something goes wrong, which counts against more modern, computerised stuff (shame, as I'd love an excuse to get a BMW 840!)
So that's the basic spec - I'm after a reasonably simple, very cool V8, 2 or 4 seats, preferably under £4-5k. Also, must be reasonably 'iconic' (hate that word!) to help sell articles & a book about the trip. Here are my thoughts so far:
TVR Chimaera
Early, slightly tatty one is in budget.
Pros- I already have one, so know 'em fairly well.
Comfy, plenty of storage space inside, cheapish parts, decent MPG, probably fairly straightforward to increase the ground clearance slightly. Likely to generate plenty of niggling problems, but should be fairly straightforward to keep one moving...
Cons - Wind noise with the roof up (have any owners managed to solve this?!), safety and security in general.
Chevvy Corvette
Seen a few for around £4k recently, but know very little about them. I'm guessing they're rather tougher and more reliable than a TVR, similar economy-wise, added bonus of LHD & hardtop, but with a bit less space inside and an annoying auto box? V8 Camaro or Pontiac could also be an option, but again, I'm no expert on these...
Rolls/Bentley
My travelling companions are set on taking a Rolls, so an all aristocratic convoy could be an option. Bottom end seems to be around £4k, and generally they look reasonably simple and unstressed mechanically (?), and won't have been thrashed. However MPG is surely terrible, and part of me is gravitating towards something sportier...
Finally, a leftfield idea: AC Cobra replica!
This is an idea I had recently, but I've no idea how viable it is - approaching a kit car company about supplying a kit, in return for publicity. I've a solid track record of success on trips such as this, and my previous trips have appeared in the national press and have had books written about them, so potentially, I could guarantee a decent amount of mainstream media exposure showing the company's product in an easy to build, reliable and adventurous light. Probably a pipe-dream, but I'm guessing some folk on the racing side of PH have experience of similar dealings with low-volume manufacturers?
Right, enough of my random musings, and thanks for reading. Any comments, criticisms or further suggestions of interesting V8s which would look good when given a rally makeover and parked on the Tibetian Plateau would be greatly appreciated...
Ben.
Combining my two interests of cars and travel by undertaking long road trips in unlikely vehicles has been a hobby of mine for quite a while now. Many moons ago, late one Friday night while discussing potential trips, and a friend of mine put down his pint glass and came up with an idea so simple it just stuck and refused to go away - V8Nam.
Get a car with a V8. Drive it to Vietnam.
Against our better judgement, the idea lingered and is now set in stone, with a departure date of April 2013. And this raises the question - what car to take on a 3 month, 12,000 mile road trip across 20-odd countries, several deserts and the odd mountain range?
Firstly, 4x4s are out - thanks to my love of the preposterous, it has to be something random; something which wouldn't immediately be thought of as a suitable choice for overlanding. To give an idea, my last big trip was across Africa in a Porsche 944 - that's the level of unlikeliness I'm looking for. Also, it has to be something reasonably easy to bodge if something goes wrong, which counts against more modern, computerised stuff (shame, as I'd love an excuse to get a BMW 840!)
So that's the basic spec - I'm after a reasonably simple, very cool V8, 2 or 4 seats, preferably under £4-5k. Also, must be reasonably 'iconic' (hate that word!) to help sell articles & a book about the trip. Here are my thoughts so far:
TVR Chimaera
Early, slightly tatty one is in budget.
Pros- I already have one, so know 'em fairly well.
Comfy, plenty of storage space inside, cheapish parts, decent MPG, probably fairly straightforward to increase the ground clearance slightly. Likely to generate plenty of niggling problems, but should be fairly straightforward to keep one moving...Cons - Wind noise with the roof up (have any owners managed to solve this?!), safety and security in general.
Chevvy Corvette
Seen a few for around £4k recently, but know very little about them. I'm guessing they're rather tougher and more reliable than a TVR, similar economy-wise, added bonus of LHD & hardtop, but with a bit less space inside and an annoying auto box? V8 Camaro or Pontiac could also be an option, but again, I'm no expert on these...
Rolls/Bentley
My travelling companions are set on taking a Rolls, so an all aristocratic convoy could be an option.
Bottom end seems to be around £4k, and generally they look reasonably simple and unstressed mechanically (?), and won't have been thrashed. However MPG is surely terrible, and part of me is gravitating towards something sportier...Finally, a leftfield idea: AC Cobra replica!
This is an idea I had recently, but I've no idea how viable it is - approaching a kit car company about supplying a kit, in return for publicity. I've a solid track record of success on trips such as this, and my previous trips have appeared in the national press and have had books written about them, so potentially, I could guarantee a decent amount of mainstream media exposure showing the company's product in an easy to build, reliable and adventurous light. Probably a pipe-dream, but I'm guessing some folk on the racing side of PH have experience of similar dealings with low-volume manufacturers?
Right, enough of my random musings, and thanks for reading. Any comments, criticisms or further suggestions of interesting V8s which would look good when given a rally makeover and parked on the Tibetian Plateau would be greatly appreciated...
Ben.
You do know where Vietnam is don't you? ... And how potential hostile the terrain and locals are at certain points along the way there?
I don't have a suggestion but as for a comment I'm fairly confident a notoriously unreliable, low strung, British built convertible is not the way forward. Amusing though.
In fact I would touch it with anything but a tough as hell 4x4.
I don't have a suggestion but as for a comment I'm fairly confident a notoriously unreliable, low strung, British built convertible is not the way forward. Amusing though.
In fact I would touch it with anything but a tough as hell 4x4.
Edited by Prof Prolapse on Thursday 6th September 15:02
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C263304
Comes in at budget and is pretty iconic (well the shape anyway) as being British.
E39, 540i or an E38 740i.
Get it, replace the entire cooling systems, give them a proper, PROPER overhaul, and find the smallest wheel size that will fit over them (16's?) get a high profile 'all season' tyre on, and source plenty of spares to take.
V8 - Check.
Iconic - Sort of check...
Reliable - Check.
Comfort and waftability. - Check!
Get it, replace the entire cooling systems, give them a proper, PROPER overhaul, and find the smallest wheel size that will fit over them (16's?) get a high profile 'all season' tyre on, and source plenty of spares to take.
V8 - Check.
Iconic - Sort of check...
Reliable - Check.
Comfort and waftability. - Check!
Prof Prolapse said:
You do know where Vietnam is don't you? ... And how potential hostile the terrain and locals are at certain points along the way there?
I son't have a suggestion but as for a comment I'm fairly confident a notoriously unreliable, low strung, British built convertible is not the way forward. Amusing though.
In fact I would touch it with anything but a tough as hell 4x4.
My thoughts too.I son't have a suggestion but as for a comment I'm fairly confident a notoriously unreliable, low strung, British built convertible is not the way forward. Amusing though.
In fact I would touch it with anything but a tough as hell 4x4.
following with interest
OP: you will have one hell of a trip report to do whatever you choose to do it in.
Enjoy.
vixen1700 said:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C263304
Comes in at budget and is pretty iconic (well the shape anyway) as being British.
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