Monday 13th June 2011

You Know You Want To... 2012 Le Mans chariots

Yup. Those who fail to plan ahead, plan to fail...

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Girl band not included. Bring your own.

The 2012 Le Mans 24hrs may be a while off (erm... well about 12 months off by our reckoning), but it's never too soon to be planning for the important issue of transportation. Here are a couple of vehicles for your consideration, although you might consider one to be just a tad more 'do-able' than the other.

First-up is this Kia Sedona six-wheeler we found on eBay which would be ideal for the Le Mans pilgrimage. It was built for a touring 'girl band' and as such has loads of storage, a drop-down TV, a power-inverter for hair straighteners (that's PS2/3 for us), and roof-mounted mirrors. (Although we have no idea what use roof-mounted mirrors could be in a vehicle designed to sleep an entire girl band...)

'All aboard the PH Le Mans special..?'

Our second suggestion, and you might argue perhaps the slightly less-realistic of the two, is this amphibious vehicle. It would be ideal for those who think that the ferry fares are a bit steep and who also don't mind the marginally-increased possibility of drowning on the way.

Of course, if you do make it to the other side of the channel you still have to deal with the fact that it is almost 46 feet long, over 11 feet wide, and with hydro-static drive will probably struggle to do 40mph at full-chat... But on the plus side you can carry 40 of your heartiest sea-dog PHers with you to help pay for the crippling fuel bill (even with a modern diesel motor, surely this thing won't ever do better than 10mpg - and that's on dry land), and can you imagine the looks on the local's faces if you rolled-up at Le Sarthe in it with a Union Jack proudly fluttering off the stern? Come to think of it, we'll even chip in for a boarding pass ourselves.

Anyone got any better ideas?

[lawdevice]

Crikey, that Sedona looks like it was done on a real budget. Love the fact they couldn't stretch to 6 alloys, so just found some matching hubcaps.

[tps23]

i've always wanted to get one of these...

http://www.gunbus.co.uk/trm-2000-gun-bus-c17.html

i reckon you could turn it into LeMan spec and never get stuck in a car park again (if it rains)

[Ramses]

We did it many years ago in an old Bentley. 4 of us, £500 each to buy the car, another £100 each for fuel & consumables. Knackered old thing, factored in just leaving it there, or en route if it failed. Ended up being faultless and we sold it on for a £600 profit once back.

[mybrainhurts]

I like the idea of invading France in that amphibious thing...

About time they broke out the white flags again...

[Alicatt1]

tps23 said:

i've always wanted to get one of these...

http://www.gunbus.co.uk/trm-2000-gun-bus-c17.html

i reckon you could turn it into LeMan spec and never get stuck in a car park again (if it rains)

If you want one, there are loads parked up at the local scrappy here along with some DAF, Bedford RL/RM, and Iveco ex army waggons.
They are from all over Europe, some British, some Dutch and a few Belgian.
http://www.carlovanlingen.be/index.php?language=nl

[SimonSaid]

That amphibious bus looks a fair bit like the Duck Tours buses that work the River Thames. Amazing tour that I've done and would do again!

http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/about

[Big Rod]

Hmm, that Sedona gives me an idea!

I have a snotty old VR6 Sharan. Now where's my angle grinder?!?!?

[chunkymonkey71]

All I can think of is how st that girl band must be...

[oagent]

There must have been a heffer spice in that girl band to need an additional axel!
Love the Valient, thats how to do the LM trip in style. Load it up with gin and cigars and paint it in Gulf colours

[Castrol Craig]

oagent said:

There must have been a heffer spice in that girl band to need an additional axel!
Love the Valient, thats how to do the LM trip in style. Load it up with gin and cigars and paint it in Gulf colours

im prepared to forsake all my pay per post privelidges for the next year as long as haymarket media buy us that!

[ellisd82]

This would be good for the trip. We used it to tour Europe. Great Vehicle

[soad]

Boat-thing looks a laugh

[Otispunkmeyer]

what girl band owned that? It looks ropey as fook!

[Thejimreaper]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2797246.htm

Your dreams answered!

[_rubinho_]

So, who on here was responsible for the Manbulance? That was cracking! Had PH stickers on the side...

[morgrp]

Sbarro Windhawk anyone? - Massive Merc V8, 6 wheels and a gun rack - sounds pretty awesome to me

[LouiseGT4]

Me and the other half are gonna get a herse for next year... Put a mattress in the bak, job's a gooden!

Lou

[cookie1600]

Well if I can get it on the ferry.....

[Huwowen]

Or how about this:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C232857#

[mxspyder]

This is available for £36k, but you would need to budget for a orangutan to drive:




As I don't like monkey's or apes I would go for this - complete with Ghostbusters paint job!