Old pickup as a daily driver
Discussion
So after owning a 68 Mustang for over a year now I am fully in love with American cars!
So I've now developed this idea of replacing my daily driver(Audi S4) with an old pickup, something around 75-85 probably Chevy or Dodge similar to below link.
This is very early days but I guess I just wanted to find out what these are like to live with in the UK?
I do about 30ish miles a day to work and back on rural B roads but we use the wife’s car on the weekends for kids etc. So mileage won’t be massive.
Would it survive daily use over the winter as it would be parked in a public car park during the day?
Would it be a good idea to get a cheap winter car as well?
This is the sort of thing I'm thinking of:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1985-Dodge-Ram-D250-Cust...
Thought are most welcome!
So I've now developed this idea of replacing my daily driver(Audi S4) with an old pickup, something around 75-85 probably Chevy or Dodge similar to below link.
This is very early days but I guess I just wanted to find out what these are like to live with in the UK?
I do about 30ish miles a day to work and back on rural B roads but we use the wife’s car on the weekends for kids etc. So mileage won’t be massive.
Would it survive daily use over the winter as it would be parked in a public car park during the day?
Would it be a good idea to get a cheap winter car as well?
This is the sort of thing I'm thinking of:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1985-Dodge-Ram-D250-Cust...
Thought are most welcome!
I run a 1992 Ford F150 Flareside as my daily-drive. Mine is a selectable 4x4, with a 302 Windsor EFi motor.
It is a little gas-hungry, but absolutely everything on it still works and I will never part with it. It's old and sun-baked enough for me to not be too precious about - and it is definitely used as a work truck when I'm doing home projects, towing stuff, moving furniture etc.
I've lost count of the number of offers I've had to buy it - it lives out on my driveway and I get a knock on the door every month or two, from someone who wants to buy it.
I'm not sure I could stomach 10mpg if I was in UK and using it every day, but here in the US, it's very much the norm.
It is a little gas-hungry, but absolutely everything on it still works and I will never part with it. It's old and sun-baked enough for me to not be too precious about - and it is definitely used as a work truck when I'm doing home projects, towing stuff, moving furniture etc.
I've lost count of the number of offers I've had to buy it - it lives out on my driveway and I get a knock on the door every month or two, from someone who wants to buy it.
I'm not sure I could stomach 10mpg if I was in UK and using it every day, but here in the US, it's very much the norm.
Thanks for that and I love your truck! Bit newer than I have been considering but still cool.
Fuel doesn't massively bother me although it is a consideration.
I guess some of my concerns are the size of it as it will be parked in a public car park all day, rust I understand some of these older trucks are prone to it, I don't think it much chance of getting sun baked like yours! haha
I've not had chance to look at any yet as I'm still working on the Mrs but I think that's got to be the first step.
Fuel doesn't massively bother me although it is a consideration.
I guess some of my concerns are the size of it as it will be parked in a public car park all day, rust I understand some of these older trucks are prone to it, I don't think it much chance of getting sun baked like yours! haha
I've not had chance to look at any yet as I'm still working on the Mrs but I think that's got to be the first step.
Size shouldn't be too bad. Most short bed trucks will have a similar footprint to a Range Rover/Discovery or be a similar size to a Defender 110, just a little wider.
But does depend on the exact truck in question. The reg can short beds should have a wheelbase around 113-115".
If you end up with a long bed, quad can dually in the 3/4 ton class. Then they are lot bigger. Some have a wheelbase around the 155"+ range.
Something C10 or F100 size will be perfect for the UK.
But does depend on the exact truck in question. The reg can short beds should have a wheelbase around 113-115".
If you end up with a long bed, quad can dually in the 3/4 ton class. Then they are lot bigger. Some have a wheelbase around the 155"+ range.
Something C10 or F100 size will be perfect for the UK.
Ok that sounds good a C10 is the front runner at the moment but need to go and see one.
My main problem is I can't help but want something "hot roded". While very cool and fun not sure it would be so good as a daily driver. Might need to work a bit harder on the Mrs and get a daily shed and a truck! haha
My main problem is I can't help but want something "hot roded". While very cool and fun not sure it would be so good as a daily driver. Might need to work a bit harder on the Mrs and get a daily shed and a truck! haha
Our daily is a '96 extended cab, 5 seat, auto 2.2i Chevrolet S10 in radar blue all the way from San Antonio. Mega reliable, mega useful for all kinds of reasons, comfy, warm, spacious cab, easy to work on, easy to park, £150 insurance, 35mpg. Not fast but it cruises fine and can cope with heavy loads.
When you own a pickup, you wonder how you managed all these years without one! Don't have a pic to hand but it looks like this..
When you own a pickup, you wonder how you managed all these years without one! Don't have a pic to hand but it looks like this..
If going with an older carb engine is your intention, possibly factor in the option of going throttle body EFi. A decent conversion will probably set you back about £1500 but Holley and Fitech both make stand alone units which just need a 56psi fuel line / return line and an O2 sensor welded or clamped into the exhaust to run.
The advantages are much easier and dependable cold / hot starts, much better fuel economy and if you get the timing sync'd as well there should be some very good performance gains over the lost art of tuning a carb.
Holley unit is called a Sniper.
The advantages are much easier and dependable cold / hot starts, much better fuel economy and if you get the timing sync'd as well there should be some very good performance gains over the lost art of tuning a carb.
Holley unit is called a Sniper.
Thought I would update you as i have done it and got myself a truck!
Sold my S4 daily and bought a Fiesta for the daily grind until I get the truck. The small change in my plan was I have bought one form the states so I'm in the Fiesta for a little longer than i was planning! Never mind I think I've got a hell of a truck so it'll be worth the wait.
1982 Chevy C10
New crate 350 with turbo 400 transmission
New 650 Demon Carb
Fresh black paint
Posi rear end
and the list goes on and on!
Sold my S4 daily and bought a Fiesta for the daily grind until I get the truck. The small change in my plan was I have bought one form the states so I'm in the Fiesta for a little longer than i was planning! Never mind I think I've got a hell of a truck so it'll be worth the wait.
1982 Chevy C10
New crate 350 with turbo 400 transmission
New 650 Demon Carb
Fresh black paint
Posi rear end
and the list goes on and on!
Geo22 said:
That's looking fresh! I am a big Ford fan but I just love the shape of the square bodied C10's so had to go for it over the F100.
I think i might get some stick from some of my mates who are all about the Fords but I don't care!
I'm with you there.I think i might get some stick from some of my mates who are all about the Fords but I don't care!
I'm a Ford man through & through but would happily have a C10.
I just bought a 1966 C20 pickup. I have a fresh 283 to drop in and will look at changing the diff for a taller ratio down the track.
I'll be using it as a semi daily. I say semi as I commute with a bike and drive when the weather is too s
t. The current hack is a 1969 Commer Van and it can't even pull itself up hills let alone tow.
I'll be using it as a semi daily. I say semi as I commute with a bike and drive when the weather is too s
t. The current hack is a 1969 Commer Van and it can't even pull itself up hills let alone tow. dmulally said:
I just bought a 1966 C20 pickup. I have a fresh 283 to drop in and will look at changing the diff for a taller ratio down the track.
I'll be using it as a semi daily. I say semi as I commute with a bike and drive when the weather is too st. The current hack is a 1969 Commer Van and it can't even pull itself up hills let alone tow.
Sounds cool love to see a few picks. I'll be using it as a semi daily. I say semi as I commute with a bike and drive when the weather is too s
t. The current hack is a 1969 Commer Van and it can't even pull itself up hills let alone tow. Just been sent this. My truck is off to the docks so hopefully be on a boat soon. Sooner the better!!!
Well it hasn't landed in the UK yet but its close.
My shipping was massively delayed in the US due to the US military taking all the shipping space. Apparently they take priory over pretty much everything, so it got pushed back about a month. From what I'm told/read its pretty normal to see delays with the shipping.
Anyway the truck will shortly arrive in Antwerp where it will be put on another ship to come to the UK. Hopefully all being well should land in the UK on the 24th of April.. So not long.
I am very excited!
My shipping was massively delayed in the US due to the US military taking all the shipping space. Apparently they take priory over pretty much everything, so it got pushed back about a month. From what I'm told/read its pretty normal to see delays with the shipping.
Anyway the truck will shortly arrive in Antwerp where it will be put on another ship to come to the UK. Hopefully all being well should land in the UK on the 24th of April.. So not long.
I am very excited!
I'm enjoying this thread chaps, thanks 
and please keep the pictures coming. My truck unfortunately is a Chevy S10 stadium racer in 1:8 scale r/c but I love it as much as the real thing. 2018 S550 Mustang is an itch I need to scratch and I've long had a calling for a 55 Chevy in primer grey with a 454 and 4-speed (but that isn't going to happen, I suspect).
On the subject of fuel costs I've run a 2009 Focus RS from new as a daily and currently have 131,000 miles on it. Quick calc says I've spent over £30,000 in fuel in that time. Appreciate that 12mpg or whatever the trucks consume would double that but, what the hell, it'd be worth it, once you get used to it!
and please keep the pictures coming. My truck unfortunately is a Chevy S10 stadium racer in 1:8 scale r/c but I love it as much as the real thing. 2018 S550 Mustang is an itch I need to scratch and I've long had a calling for a 55 Chevy in primer grey with a 454 and 4-speed (but that isn't going to happen, I suspect).On the subject of fuel costs I've run a 2009 Focus RS from new as a daily and currently have 131,000 miles on it. Quick calc says I've spent over £30,000 in fuel in that time. Appreciate that 12mpg or whatever the trucks consume would double that but, what the hell, it'd be worth it, once you get used to it!
Matt Harper said:
It's old and sun-baked enough for me to not be too precious about - and it is definitely used as a work truck when I'm doing home projects, towing stuff, moving furniture etc.
I've lost count of the number of offers I've had to buy it - it lives out on my driveway and I get a knock on the door every month or two, from someone who wants to buy it.
Yes and Yes. I've lost count of the number of offers I've had to buy it - it lives out on my driveway and I get a knock on the door every month or two, from someone who wants to buy it.
The Crown Vic P71 I am driving is also way less than perfect with rust and lots of little damages on the car - so it is perfect as daily driver without being nervous about it.
However, since I am living in Hungary, people driving all sorts of expensive cars stare at it, it is a proper rarity over here.
It is a keeper and I hope I will able to drive it as long as I can!
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