British cars in the US

[jb70]

I was wondering if there's a scene in the USA for regular British cars, not high end marques.

[saxxeblt]

MG's, Jag's, Triumph's, Healey's, Austin's etc.
Hope this helps.
SAXX

[adsvx220]

I saw an Astra G in Florida last year. I think they are known as saturns over there rather than vauxhall. On the same day I also saw a orange Lotus Exige.

Adam

[davepoth]

US rules mean that anything not type approved for the US (which is effectively everything) that's less than 25 years old can't be imported.

So you can find examples of British cars made before 1987, as well as the few things that were type approved (Jags and Range Rovers mainly, although also the Rover 800 as the Rover Sterling).

Ford, GM and to a lesser extent Chrysler did send some euro models over in the late 70s/early 80s during the fuel crisis. You can find Mk1 Fiestas, Vauxhall Chevettes, Mk2 Astras, XR4i Sierras, Talbot Horizons, and probably a couple of other things.

But the big scene is in Triumphs, MGs and Healeys, of which 3/4 or more of the total production of some models was exported.

-edit-

I forgot, they got the Morris Marina too. The poor bds.

[JayTee94]

Saturn had a couple of rebadged Vauxhalls when I lived in Florida.

VX Astra = Saturn Astra.
VX Antara = Saturn Vue .
VX Vectra = Saturn Aura.

There were more, but I am tired and forgot them...

[carlove]

The Buick Regal is a Vauxhall Insignia.

[dvs_dave]

Yes, there's a few as already mentioned. But a few more to add to the list.

Vauxhall VXR8/Pontiac G8
Vauxhall Monaro/Pontiac GTO
(not strictly "British" but the same cars none the less)

Ford Focus
Ford Fusion/Mondeo

All petrol MINI's

All JLR products, but with the 5.0 V8 being the base spec engine.

All Morgans

[slipstream 1985]

rossion q1 is a noble m12

[davepoth]

Ariel Atom, although that's licensed for production in the USA I believe.

[jbi]

Defenders have a big following over there as well... the early ones are starting to roll in now that the 25 years limit has been reached

[redtwin]

The Omega was sold as a Cadillac Catera, and was universally slated by owners.



I used to see a fair few Minis knocking about, don't think they were officially sold there.

[IROC-Z]

The OP said British cars, both the Omega and Insignia were/are produced by Opel.

[jbi]

redtwin said:

The Omega was sold as a Cadillac Catera, and was universally slated by owners.

Too small for Cadillacs core consumers who expect something big and weighty with a meaty V8 engine

The Catera/Omega was too small and underpowered for the Cadillac name

Here is an interesting appraisal from the USA

http://www.cadillacforums.com/cadillac-models/cadi...

Edited by jbi on Monday 19th March 07:56

[redtwin]

It was a vast improvement on their previous compact offering, the woeful Cimarron.



I think the owners of these were constantly laughed at.

[300bhp/ton]

adsvx220 said:

I saw an Astra G in Florida last year. I think they are known as saturns over there rather than vauxhall. On the same day I also saw a orange Lotus Exige.

Adam

When you say you saw an Astra, do you mean you actually saw an American car likely badged under an American car maker as indeed it is American?

N.B. Vuaxhall has been American and owned by GM since 1925!!

All Vauxhalls since then are infact American and many of them sold in the USA.

This is not a Vauxhall, it's a Pontiac LeMans


Although across the globe you'd likely find it badged as an Opel, Holden and indeed Vauxhall. But it's no more British than Ford is!

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 19th March 10:59

[300bhp/ton]

jb70 said:

I was wondering if there's a scene in the USA for regular British cars, not high end marques.

When you say scene, what do you mean exactly? The US is V A S T, even the smaller States are similar in area to England.

If every car Jaguar has ever made in all it history was currently in the US they still wouldn't be common compared to other marques out there.

The point I'm making? Well it's that there will be British car enthusiasts in the US, but the country is so big and so vast, that any motoring scene is only likely to be local to the immediate area. And in any immediate area in the US you'll not find all that many British cars.

MG's, Triumphs, some Rover's and Jags all sold well in the US in past times. But bar Jag this was a long time ago and they are all now classics.

Lotus doesn't build many cars a year in total, so despite the USA being a lucrative market, the remain toys for the rich mostly and any scene side of ownership will be limited.

Land Rover's are probably the biggest success story in terms of a scene, continually sold in the US since the mid 80's they have quite a following, especially in some Western parts where off roading and wheeling is very popular.

[300bhp/ton]

JayTee94 said:

Saturn had a couple of rebadged Vauxhalls when I lived in Florida.

VX Astra = Saturn Astra.
VX Antara = Saturn Vue .
VX Vectra = Saturn Aura.

There were more, but I am tired and forgot them...

[300bhp/ton]

carlove said:

The Buick Regal is a Vauxhall Insignia.

Or is it the otherway round?

[300bhp/ton]

dvs_dave said:

Ford Focus
Ford Fusion/Mondeo

How are these British!!!!!!!!! :despair:

Do you not know where Ford MoCo comes from??

[Turbodiesel1690]

Was in New England last Autumn, its choc full of Range Rovers