Find me american sheds....

[Tallbut Buxomly]

Right this evening my mates and i had a discussion which revolved around doing a road trip.
Since i have considered moving to the states i thought a trip across the states would be better than one across europe.

There will be three of us at this stage if it goes ahead.
We need an old american shed preferably convertible.
I need some ideas on what it would cost to buy a shed that would be able to take a bit of abuse and be driven a longish distance to find out how feasible this all would be.. Waftyness would also be good.


Suggestions and examples please if you would all be so kind.

Thanks

[anonymous-user]

Sounds like a good plan..


I spend quite bit looking at American meat on ebay, maybe look to start las vegas, somewhere with a big population.

First car I have seen for the job is this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1984-Cadillac-Devil...

[Tallbut Buxomly]

Not bad saw that but would prefer a convertible.

Right idea though.

[Twin Turbo]

Sounds like fun. Can't help with the hunt for a car, but here's a good read/watch before you go

Dave bought a Ford Torino station wagon. The twist was he wanted to do the trip, coast to coast, without buying from "the man"....so, only independent motels, cafes, gas stations. I wouldn't suggest you do that though!

http://www.davegorman.com/projects_america_unchain...

[LuS1fer]

As Clarkson et al found, cheap cars are not that plentiful like they are here.

[Big Rod]

Look on Craiglist, (Craigslist?). It seems to be very popular for sourcing 'beaters'. I think it's the US equivalent of Gumtree.

Alternatively look at the staples2naples forum. There's a yank section on there for their BABE, (Big Apple to Big Easy), rally and the forum members in the States have been very helpful at sourcing tin on that side of the puddle.

This is on my to do list! Good luck!

[Z28fan]

is this sheddy enough for you??

http://www.murrayco.com/ford_mustang_gt_convertibl...

[Willy Nilly]

I worked in the US in the 1990's. In 98 me and a mate drove from the east coast of Florida to San Francisco to Kansas (back to work) in a couple of weeks. 7500 miles ish in a 1984 Pontiac Parisenne 5.0 V8, no power, huge thirst, very wafty, happy days. We paid $0.89/us gallon in Louisiana.

Loved every minute of it and would do it again tomorrow

[anonymous-user]

How about...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1971-Eldorado-Conve...

And just because of it shear hugeness
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1990-CHEVY-SUBURBAN...

[philoldsmobile]

any of the GM G body cars would be hood, especially with a V8, although avoid the pontiac 4.9, its terrible. also avoid any cadillac with the 4.1 in it, another very weak engine.

82 - 89 RWD cutlass would be ideal, with the 307 V8, or a chev monte carlo (you wont get an SS for that money though, so will be V6) good G bodies drive very nicely.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Oldsmobile-Cutlass-...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Oldsmobile-Cutlass-...

perfect!

Edited by philoldsmobile on Wednesday 29th December 12:47

[anonymous-user]

Z28fan said:

is this sheddy enough for you??

http://www.murrayco.com/ford_mustang_gt_convertibl...

That is the same one as in the vanilla ice ice baby video..

super coolio

[Tallbut Buxomly]

Z28fan said:

is this sheddy enough for you??

http://www.murrayco.com/ford_mustang_gt_convertibl...

Sadly no.

2 Problems

First its just not sheddy enough i like the really crappy old cars.
Second no way are 3 6 foot plus guys going to be able to spend 1-2 weeks bombing around america in something with back seats that are that small hence point 1 as the old cars were well like supertankers in length.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

champ54321 said:

How about...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1971-Eldorado-Conve...


Oooooohhhh now thats a shed i could fall in love with....

Right track well done.

And just because of it shear hugeness
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1990-CHEVY-SUBURBAN...

Nahhh i am not a redneck.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

philoldsmobile said:

any of the GM G body cars would be hood, especially with a V8, although avoid the pontiac 4.9, its terrible. also avoid any cadillac with the 4.1 in it, another very weak engine.

82 - 89 RWD cutlass would be ideal, with the 307 V8, or a chev monte carlo (you wont get an SS for that money though, so will be V6) good G bodies drive very nicely.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Oldsmobile-Cutlass-...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Oldsmobile-Cutlass-...

perfect!

Edited by philoldsmobile on Wednesday 29th December 12:47

Nope too small. Waaay too small and certainly not americana enough for my tastes.

[EK993]

Not that I want to p*ss on your bonfire, however.... you will find it difficult to buy and register a car over here without being a resident and having a driving license in the State where you want to buy the car. It's not like the UK where you turn up with a load of moolah and can drive off the parking lot. The car has to be registered in your name at the local DMV, to do this you need a US driving license.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

EK993 said:

Not that I want to p*ss on your bonfire, however.... you will find it difficult to buy and register a car over here without being a resident and having a driving license in the State where you want to buy the car. It's not like the UK where you turn up with a load of moolah and can drive off the parking lot. The car has to be registered in your name at the local DMV, to do this you need a US driving license.

So what you are saying is i would need a friend in the states to buy, reg and possibly insure the car for me???

How frikkin irritating.

[Motorrad]

Used ex-police P71 crown vic is the way to go

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-Ford-Crown-Vic...

Room for 5 fat men and 3 bodies in the 'trunk'. 4.6ltr modular V8 that's unbreakable and if you can stretch to $5K US you will have a more modern looking one that will clear the outside lane of the freeway and strike fear into the hearts of drunk drivers/undocumented aliens and other fine upstanding members of society.

Loved mine.

edit to add: in Texas at least you can drive off the lot with just proof of insurance, no need to have a us licence. However you may have trouble obtaining that insurance with no US address/bank account and it will cost you a hell of a lot more.

Edited by Motorrad on Wednesday 29th December 16:55

[EK993]

Tallbut Buxomly said:

EK993 said:

Not that I want to p*ss on your bonfire, however.... you will find it difficult to buy and register a car over here without being a resident and having a driving license in the State where you want to buy the car. It's not like the UK where you turn up with a load of moolah and can drive off the parking lot. The car has to be registered in your name at the local DMV, to do this you need a US driving license.

So what you are saying is i would need a friend in the states to buy, reg and possibly insure the car for me???

How frikkin irritating.

Yes that would work if they are willing to buy and register a car, and have you added as a driver.

It is very annoying. I moved here in March and had to get a hire car until I passed my US driving test. Problem was the State I live in don't let you take the test in a rental. And I couldn't buy a car as I didn't have a US driving license... it was catch 22.

[tyranical]

Just a question.

Have you looked at renting a car for that period instead? You can get some lovely cars for not alot of money, pick up in vegas, drop off in miami or whatever. Surely alot easier and you would hope more reliable than buying an ancient american car and hoping it lasts the trip? I wouldn't think breaking down in the middle of nowhere would be much fun and what if the jeepers creepers monster gets you?

You can rent something like a new Dodge Charger for a month for around £1200 which between you all is nothing really.

[EK993]

tyranical said:

Just a question.

Have you looked at renting a car for that period instead? You can get some lovely cars for not alot of money, pick up in vegas, drop off in miami or whatever. Surely alot easier and you would hope more reliable than buying an ancient american car and hoping it lasts the trip? I wouldn't think breaking down in the middle of nowhere would be much fun and what if the jeepers creepers monster gets you?

You can rent something like a new Dodge Charger for a month for around £1200 which between you all is nothing really.

OP, this isn't a bad idea. Hertz have a "Fun Collection". See here:

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/byr/index.jsp?targe...