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

[FourWheelDrift]

Rover P6 3500 V8 - http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C299206 for a wing and a prayer motoring

Or a Lexus GS/LS for reliability and aircon.

[Prof Prolapse]

FourWheelDrift said:

Or a Lexus GS/LS for reliability and aircon.

That's a good shout...

[KrazyIvan]

P38 Range Rover Vogue 4.6 V8. That way when you break down, you only likely to be a few miles from home, and on the off chance you make it as far as France, you can sit in comfort while you wait for Jean and his AA van to collect you .

[fivetenben]

Hi folks, thanks for the replies!

Granted, on paper this may seem like a daft idea, but in reality the road conditions between the UK & Vietnam aren't actually 'that' bad. The whole journey can actually be done on reasonable tarmac, and security-wise most of Asia isn't as bad as the media would have you believe - as a tourist passing through, anyway.

I do like the Rover SD1 suggestion, and it would fit the bill perfectly - simple, distinctive, spacious and British. I like. P5 would be a good call too, but my last ill-advised trip was in a P6, so it's maybe a bit too similar...

'90s Mustang - hadn't thought of that for some reason! I'll take a look later, but sounds like a good possibility...

The big Merc is probably technically the 'best' suggestion, as it's pretty much the perfect vehicle for this sort of trip (spares available everywhere, tough as anything, they basically tick every box). However I'm looking for something more random; something you wouldn't expect to see on this sort of trip. Whereas rationally it would be the best suggestion, that very fact, combined with my masochistic streak, means it's not for me. Having said that, I might look into an old SL though...

[J4C]

There’s a reason people do these trips in Landcruisers. You will break down, and you will get stuck in a village where the blacksmith is the auto mechanic. It needs to be something that can be made to go with duct tape and a hammer. So yes, a big Merc, old enough to have a minimum of ECUs.

[ajf]

Porsche 928 might be a bit thirsty

[fivetenben]

FourWheelDrift said:

Rover P6 3500 V8 - http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C299206 for a wing and a prayer motoring

Or a Lexus GS/LS for reliability and aircon.

Last time a similar question came up, I went for the P6, and a fine steed it was too:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Good suggestion - as are all the Rover options - but time for something different this time, me thinks...

[Johnboy Mac]

W126 500SE.

[MX7]

Sounds interesting. What route are you taking?

[matt3001]

GuyWMD said:

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!

This.

[joema]

What are you doing to carry things? If a convertible is an option I assume you have someway to carry spares like wheels?

[Pickled]

vixen1700 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C263304

Comes in at budget and is pretty iconic (well the shape anyway) as being British.

Braver man than me!

My neighbour was working on one of these (jag restorer) and fired it up sans exhaust, sounded like an american muscle car, he did say it was like a mini hemi in design.

Got to be a late 70s early 80s S class Merc, solid, spares availability good globally, make some random pennants for the front wings and locals will think your a visiting dictator.

[fivetenben]

vixen1700 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C263304

Comes in at budget and is pretty iconic (well the shape anyway) as being British.

I like this suggestion a lot. Somehow just as interesting and unusual as the TVR/Vette option, but in a completely different way...

[y2blade]

ajf said:

Porsche 928 might be a bit thirsty

Please correct me if I'm wrong, I was under the impression these were HORRIBLY unreliable!

I love the look of them though, always have done...ever since watching Risky Business back in the day


The Porsche 928 that Tom Cruise drove in “Risky Business” sold for $49200 at a recent auction of Hollywood memorabilia.

[Harry Flashman]

I like the Daimler 250 too. No electronics whatsoever, and pretty simple to bodge and keep going if necessary?

[fivetenben]

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.

[SuperHangOn]

KrazyIvan said:

P38 Range Rover Vogue 4.6 V8. That way when you break down, you only likely to be a few miles from home, and on the off chance you make it as far as France, you can sit in comfort while you wait for Jean and his AA van to collect you .

That reminds me of when Victor Meldrews Rover was stolen and ended up in Finland

"Finland...? That car wouldn't make it to Finchley!"

[Strawman]

fivetenben said:

Having said that, I might look into an old SL though...

The SLC is musch stronger, Mercedes used them for the Paris-Dakar race, back when they were new.

e.g.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C329127

[v8250]

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.

[fivetenben]

y2blade said:

Please correct me if I'm wrong, I was under the impression these were HORRIBLY unreliable!

I love the look of them though, always have done...ever since watching Risky Business back in the day


The Porsche 928 that Tom Cruise drove in “Risky Business” sold for $49200 at a recent auction of Hollywood memorabilia.

Despite the electrical scariness, the '928 would be right up near the top of my list, if it weren't for the fact that my last big trip was also in a Porsche. Time for a different marque, variety being the spice of life and all that...