Buying late 60s muscle
Discussion
To put it in its simplest terms, in a couple of months I'll have around £12k burning a hole in my pocket and I want a late 60s muscle car.
What are my options?
Buying a car already in the UK, easiest option but I'm guessing I will pay for the privilege.
Going through a UK importer, also quite easy and I'm guessing they could help source a car for me, any suggestions as to who to use?
Going through a UK importer for a car I source myself. I think this would be a good option at the moment with the US Dollar as it is, but again, who to use. And where to start looking for a car? Is ebay.com my best bet?
Sourcing a car myself and organising everything. Too much for my tiny brain to work out I think!
That's the easy part sorted out, now the hard part, what car can I get? I don't know much about US cars, but i'm eager to learn. Ideally I'm after a Dodge Charger, Plymouth Roadrunner or Pontiac GTO, or something similar.
Teach me, my yank owning chums!
What are my options?
Buying a car already in the UK, easiest option but I'm guessing I will pay for the privilege.
Going through a UK importer, also quite easy and I'm guessing they could help source a car for me, any suggestions as to who to use?
Going through a UK importer for a car I source myself. I think this would be a good option at the moment with the US Dollar as it is, but again, who to use. And where to start looking for a car? Is ebay.com my best bet?
Sourcing a car myself and organising everything. Too much for my tiny brain to work out I think!
That's the easy part sorted out, now the hard part, what car can I get? I don't know much about US cars, but i'm eager to learn. Ideally I'm after a Dodge Charger, Plymouth Roadrunner or Pontiac GTO, or something similar.
Teach me, my yank owning chums!
trooperiziz said:
To put it in its simplest terms, in a couple of months I'll have around £12k burning a hole in my pocket and I want a late 60s muscle car.
What are my options?
Buying a car already in the UK, easiest option but I'm guessing I will pay for the privilege.
Going through a UK importer, also quite easy and I'm guessing they could help source a car for me, any suggestions as to who to use?
Going through a UK importer for a car I source myself. I think this would be a good option at the moment with the US Dollar as it is, but again, who to use. And where to start looking for a car? Is ebay.com my best bet?
Sourcing a car myself and organising everything. Too much for my tiny brain to work out I think!
That's the easy part sorted out, now the hard part, what car can I get? I don't know much about US cars, but i'm eager to learn. Ideally I'm after a Dodge Charger, Plymouth Roadrunner or Pontiac GTO, or something similar.
Teach me, my yank owning chums!
Well, 12k ain't gonna get you much in the way of late 60's muscle, well certainly not the desirable end of the market.What are my options?
Buying a car already in the UK, easiest option but I'm guessing I will pay for the privilege.
Going through a UK importer, also quite easy and I'm guessing they could help source a car for me, any suggestions as to who to use?
Going through a UK importer for a car I source myself. I think this would be a good option at the moment with the US Dollar as it is, but again, who to use. And where to start looking for a car? Is ebay.com my best bet?
Sourcing a car myself and organising everything. Too much for my tiny brain to work out I think!
That's the easy part sorted out, now the hard part, what car can I get? I don't know much about US cars, but i'm eager to learn. Ideally I'm after a Dodge Charger, Plymouth Roadrunner or Pontiac GTO, or something similar.
Teach me, my yank owning chums!
For stuff for sale here in the Uk check the ads in the back of Classic American mag.
For prices over in the US, have a browse around the on-line ads in Hemmings or Collectortrader websites to see how far you 12k (say UD$20k to allow for shipping plus import duty ontop of your purchase price)
http://www.hemmings.com/
http://ww2.collectorcartraderonline.com/adbrowse.php
Having in the past bought from a UK dealer and also sourced and imported from the US there are pros and cons to both.
As already mentioned you won't get much Charger, Road runner or GTO for 12k, but if your prepared to think outside the box there are plenty of suitable late 60's Pony/Muscle cars for your money.
If your going to source from the US yourself ideally go for a West coast rust free car, though coming out of Cali does not guarantee rust free, it could have spent 25years in the rust belt first, if something has Cali black number plates (late 60's)chances are it's been in Ca. all it's life.
If you don't want to chance sending your money to a complete stranger there are several importers/dealers who offer good value for money cars that fall inside your budget, there are a few bargains in the classifieds of Classic American & American Car World, the latest Classic American has a 69 Cougar hardtop fitted with a 429 for under £10k !
As already mentioned you won't get much Charger, Road runner or GTO for 12k, but if your prepared to think outside the box there are plenty of suitable late 60's Pony/Muscle cars for your money.
If your going to source from the US yourself ideally go for a West coast rust free car, though coming out of Cali does not guarantee rust free, it could have spent 25years in the rust belt first, if something has Cali black number plates (late 60's)chances are it's been in Ca. all it's life.
If you don't want to chance sending your money to a complete stranger there are several importers/dealers who offer good value for money cars that fall inside your budget, there are a few bargains in the classifieds of Classic American & American Car World, the latest Classic American has a 69 Cougar hardtop fitted with a 429 for under £10k !
Edited by Hybrids on Tuesday 21st August 22:11
Another thing to consider is late 60's muscle cars are going thru a HUGE revival in the states and are probably more expensive there than here, you even hear stiries of certain cars being sourced from Europe and being shipped back to the states.
£12k should find you a nice solid car, might be good to look slightly outside of Charger/GTO territory..
There's quite a few other pontiacs and plymouth/chryslers that are same engine/bodys as what you want but probably better price, or you'll get a very nice early 70's Camaro Z28 or maybe Mustang Mach 1 for that..
£12k should find you a nice solid car, might be good to look slightly outside of Charger/GTO territory..
There's quite a few other pontiacs and plymouth/chryslers that are same engine/bodys as what you want but probably better price, or you'll get a very nice early 70's Camaro Z28 or maybe Mustang Mach 1 for that..
Edited by chevy-stu on Wednesday 22 August 17:08
Stepping outside of the obvious, this looks very nice...
http://www.hurricaneimports.com/65-olds-delta-88.h...
http://www.hurricaneimports.com/65-olds-delta-88.h...
trooperiziz said:
Stepping outside of the obvious, this looks very nice...
http://www.hurricaneimports.com/65-olds-delta-88.h...
Well, that stepping way outside the box...........http://www.hurricaneimports.com/65-olds-delta-88.h...
I'd be tempted to look for something on the edge of the box, that will still have some desirability should you need to sell in the future, and something with a proper engine..those OLd's lumps by that era arn't exactly......well......?
A 5 min trawl of stateside ads threw these two up.....
Big block Chevy.....
A 396 engined Impala SS
http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/1/3/88605613.htm
Or a wonderful torque-monster Buick 'nailhead' big block...
Dual-quad equipped nailhead powered GS......
http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/0/5/89552705.htm
aeropilot said:
trooperiziz said:
Stepping outside of the obvious, this looks very nice...
http://www.hurricaneimports.com/65-olds-delta-88.h...
Well, that stepping way outside the box...........http://www.hurricaneimports.com/65-olds-delta-88.h...
I'd be tempted to look for something on the edge of the box, that will still have some desirability should you need to sell in the future, and something with a proper engine..those OLd's lumps by that era arn't exactly......well......?
A 5 min trawl of stateside ads threw these two up.....
Big block Chevy.....
A 396 engined Impala SS
http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/1/3/88605613.htm
Or a wonderful torque-monster Buick 'nailhead' big block...
Dual-quad equipped nailhead powered GS......
http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/0/5/89552705.htm
http://ww2.collectorcartraderonline.com/details.ph...
This is nice too, but a how weedy is the 289 engine?
http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/1/9...
or this
http://ww2.collectorcartraderonline.com/details.ph...
Edited by trooperiziz on Friday 24th August 14:35
trooperiziz said:
I quite like the look of this, but a few more details in the advert would be handy!
http://ww2.collectorcartraderonline.com/details.ph...
This is nice too, but a how weedy is the 289 engine?
http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/1/9...
or this
http://ww2.collectorcartraderonline.com/details.ph...
The Charger looks good for that price, even though it's only a 383, I wonder what's wrong with it.....http://ww2.collectorcartraderonline.com/details.ph...
This is nice too, but a how weedy is the 289 engine?
http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/1/9...
or this
http://ww2.collectorcartraderonline.com/details.ph...
Edited by trooperiziz on Friday 24th August 14:35
First 'stang looks better than the 2nd one, but yes a 2bbl 289 isn't going to set the world on fire........however, it wouldn't take or cost much to add some horses to a 289. After all, it powered the Cobra, GT350's and most GT40's....
What's wrong with a 383? Mighty nice motor.
A bit of fiddling gives 400 bhp . . .
12K could
those Smokey and the Bandit Camaro's / Firebirds aren't that expensive and 350s are easy to tune . . . and reliable.
Teaser:
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
A bit of fiddling gives 400 bhp . . .
12K could
those Smokey and the Bandit Camaro's / Firebirds aren't that expensive and 350s are easy to tune . . . and reliable.Teaser:
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
Don't rule out 1st Gen Chargers (66/67), I ran one as daily for three years, great car and VERY rare on the road in the UK. You get alot more for your money. I bought mine (383) for £6500 and sold it for £9500 (after doing some work on it).
Edited by nick_bbb on Saturday 8th December 10:01
Hi there I have the follow car for sale
£10k firm
heres the wording from else where:
1970 AMC JAVELIN SST "Mark Donahue signature edition"
This very rare car came with the following spec from the factory - 360-ci hi-po motor @ 290 hp, 4 speed close ratio transmission with Hurst shifter, 3.91 Twin-Grip Diff. Also equipped with the very desirable "Go package" incl power 4-pot disc brakes, handling package (HD sway bar, springs, shocks) HD cooling system, high ratio steering box and a fully functional Ram-Air induction system and duel exhaust. A new set of 15" Magnum 500s with new BF Goodrich tyres have been fitted (O.E. 14" A very nice black interior with correct high back contoured bucket seats which has not been modified or spoilt over the years. After being in storage for many years the car has had new steering, suspension, exhaust, brakes, battery etc. and is now fully road worthy and ready to go again. Motor Trend, December 1969 recorded a 0-60 time of 6.5 sec, 1/4 mile time of 14.5 sec @ 109 mph. This is a quick car, even by today's standards. Finished in beautiful Lime Gold with black Go Stripes (older paint, still very presentable but not perfect,paint is bubbling up in a couple of places)
Being one of only 2501 produced and only one of two in the U.K. this is an extremely rare car making it one of "the" muscle car investments and totally user friendly on a daily basis. The car is officially registered and recognised with the AMCOC, USA. Compare the prices of the cars this car completed against in the 1970 transam serices ie Boss 302, Challenger T/A, Camero Z28, all £20k +
phnoe me andy on 07773767481 & can email you pics ( dont know how to put them on here )
£10k firm
heres the wording from else where:
1970 AMC JAVELIN SST "Mark Donahue signature edition"
This very rare car came with the following spec from the factory - 360-ci hi-po motor @ 290 hp, 4 speed close ratio transmission with Hurst shifter, 3.91 Twin-Grip Diff. Also equipped with the very desirable "Go package" incl power 4-pot disc brakes, handling package (HD sway bar, springs, shocks) HD cooling system, high ratio steering box and a fully functional Ram-Air induction system and duel exhaust. A new set of 15" Magnum 500s with new BF Goodrich tyres have been fitted (O.E. 14"
A very nice black interior with correct high back contoured bucket seats which has not been modified or spoilt over the years. After being in storage for many years the car has had new steering, suspension, exhaust, brakes, battery etc. and is now fully road worthy and ready to go again. Motor Trend, December 1969 recorded a 0-60 time of 6.5 sec, 1/4 mile time of 14.5 sec @ 109 mph. This is a quick car, even by today's standards. Finished in beautiful Lime Gold with black Go Stripes (older paint, still very presentable but not perfect,paint is bubbling up in a couple of places)Being one of only 2501 produced and only one of two in the U.K. this is an extremely rare car making it one of "the" muscle car investments and totally user friendly on a daily basis. The car is officially registered and recognised with the AMCOC, USA. Compare the prices of the cars this car completed against in the 1970 transam serices ie Boss 302, Challenger T/A, Camero Z28, all £20k +
phnoe me andy on 07773767481 & can email you pics ( dont know how to put them on here )
Another one to keep an eye out for is the Buick Skylark GSX. Your purist will always dis it, it's a Buick. Buick don't make muscle cars they say. However, they're wrong. The Skylark evolved to the beastly GSX which not only went, but handled, and had comfort toys too.
I recall watching a program on American Muscle cars on the Speed channel while over in the US on hols two years back, and they showed the Skylark against it's competition over a drag race, and a slalom course, and guess what - it p'd all over the Mustang, GTO, and anything that Mopar could produce.
It's second-hand values were the lowest because "Buick don't make muscle cars".
I've seen a few up for sale, the 1970 GSX (stage 1) was the most powerful production muscle car of the era. Don't forget, horsepower ain't everything - while the Olds 442 may have had more gg's, the 455ci GSX Stage 1 had much more torque - 510lb/ft to be more precise. Only Caddy's 472 and 510ci units produced more!
Factory horsepower figures were mostly lies. The 360bhp of the 455 Stage 1 was a total understatement, it was reported to be close to 500bhp, but there was a board level agreement that they wouldn't produce engines of much more than 300hp, the engineers worked out ways of "cheating" the system (SAE Hp was one of them!)
Strangely enough, the '69 Stage1 GS400 (a smallblock) was quicker to 60, and was one of the most powerful/grunty smallblocks produced by anyone. The '70 Stage 1 GSX455 was faster down the 1/4mile by 1/2 second @ 13.8sec/101mph.
Compare that the the fastest Mustangs - the '65 GT350 was the quickest 1/4mile at 14.7 - and the '67 GT500 took 15.5secs!
The fastest of the other competition in 1970 was the GTO Judge, and that was a 15second quarter. Still not bad for a two ton car!
Long winded reply, sorry, but you now have the facts!
I recall watching a program on American Muscle cars on the Speed channel while over in the US on hols two years back, and they showed the Skylark against it's competition over a drag race, and a slalom course, and guess what - it p'd all over the Mustang, GTO, and anything that Mopar could produce.
It's second-hand values were the lowest because "Buick don't make muscle cars".
I've seen a few up for sale, the 1970 GSX (stage 1) was the most powerful production muscle car of the era. Don't forget, horsepower ain't everything - while the Olds 442 may have had more gg's, the 455ci GSX Stage 1 had much more torque - 510lb/ft to be more precise. Only Caddy's 472 and 510ci units produced more!
Factory horsepower figures were mostly lies. The 360bhp of the 455 Stage 1 was a total understatement, it was reported to be close to 500bhp, but there was a board level agreement that they wouldn't produce engines of much more than 300hp, the engineers worked out ways of "cheating" the system (SAE Hp was one of them!)
Strangely enough, the '69 Stage1 GS400 (a smallblock) was quicker to 60, and was one of the most powerful/grunty smallblocks produced by anyone. The '70 Stage 1 GSX455 was faster down the 1/4mile by 1/2 second @ 13.8sec/101mph.
Compare that the the fastest Mustangs - the '65 GT350 was the quickest 1/4mile at 14.7 - and the '67 GT500 took 15.5secs!
The fastest of the other competition in 1970 was the GTO Judge, and that was a 15second quarter. Still not bad for a two ton car!
Long winded reply, sorry, but you now have the facts!
R988 said:
Muscle Car shootout Part 1
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/3abce212-a00f-4...
Muscle Car shootout Part 2
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/0dcb9791-1f1b-4...
Muscle Car shootout Part 3
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/af200720-6362-4...
Charger Burnout
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/6c9e45d6-f617-4...
Torana Burnout
http://videos.streetfire.net/hottestvideos/1/c8608...
Nice Mustang
http://videos.streetfire.net/hottestvideos/2/05cb6...
. . .
From the Beefy Carvids topic . . .http://videos.streetfire.net/video/3abce212-a00f-4...
Muscle Car shootout Part 2
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/0dcb9791-1f1b-4...
Muscle Car shootout Part 3
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/af200720-6362-4...
Charger Burnout
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/6c9e45d6-f617-4...
Torana Burnout
http://videos.streetfire.net/hottestvideos/1/c8608...
Nice Mustang
http://videos.streetfire.net/hottestvideos/2/05cb6...
. . .
Get yourself down to Smith's and grab a copy of Classic American magazine, loads of classifieds there. And obviously ebay etc.
My advice is not to go for the popular models, 68 Charger, 69 Camaro etc as they are big bucks. There are plenty of Yanks about and 12k will certainly get you a really great example of whatever you choose.
Mine's a 72 Dart with a 318, modified to 328 V8. Getting more desirable thanks to the high prices of Chargers and the like.
Good luck with your search
My advice is not to go for the popular models, 68 Charger, 69 Camaro etc as they are big bucks. There are plenty of Yanks about and 12k will certainly get you a really great example of whatever you choose.
Mine's a 72 Dart with a 318, modified to 328 V8. Getting more desirable thanks to the high prices of Chargers and the like.
Good luck with your search
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