AMERICAN PARTS FOR SALE
| CHEVROLET ASTRO RH DOOR MIRROR - 1985 1987
£69.95 
Time Left: 22m | |
| G-FORCE Racing WM2 - Window Net Mounting Kits
£24.99
Time Left: 22m | |
| chevy 350 v8 TWINTURDO EXHAUAST MANIFOLDS
£72.00 (2 Bids) Time Left: 22m | |
| OLD AMERICAN CAR OILBATH AIR FILTER
£40.00 (0 Bids) Time Left: 23m | |
| small block chevy timing tab 6 3 4 inch &7 inch 141-200
£10.99
Time Left: 26m | |
| G-FORCE Racing WM5 - Window Net Mounting Kits
£7.99
Time Left: 30m | |
| HP Books HP758 - Camaro Restoration Handbook
£19.99
Time Left: 42m | |
| CHEVROLET CORVETTE REAR EXHAUST MUFFLER SILENCER BOXES
£25.00
Time Left: 45m | |
| ORIGINAL CADILLAC INLET MANIFOLD - 1963
£99.95
Time Left: 48m |
Buying an Amercian Classic Car
'I bet that uses a lot of petrol.' Regardless of which model you buy, this is one comment you'd better get used to because, in most people's minds, any American car is a 'gas-guzzler'.
Once you get over that first barrier - either by discovering that it isn't necessarily so, or simply deciding that you just don't care, you can enjoy some of the most eye-catching, enjoyable cars on the road.
Why buy an American Classic Car ?
Well, they can be excellent value for money, offering equipment and performance that would cost 10 times as much on a European or Japanese car. It's not unusual to find power steering, power windows and power seats as standard on American cars, not to mention cruise control, air-conditioning and a whole host of other convenience features.
Most cars from the '50s to the '70s have V8 engines, but from the '70s onwards, V6s became more and more common. While '50s models, with their fins and chrome, are the stereotype, it's cars from the '60s - the so-called 'muscle cars' - that attract most attention today. It's not unusual for a simple runaround from this era to have a 200 bhp engine.
American cars tend to be very 'over-engineered' as Americans are notoriously lazy when it comes to servicing and maintenance - some newer models have major service intervals of 100,000 miles.
As a result, they are generally very reliable. Certainly the drivetrains on V8 cars lead very unstressed, easy lives, and it's not unusual for such engines to reach the 200,000-mile mark without the need for any major mechanical overhaul.
What about spares and insurance?
Spare parts and service items (filters, spark plugs etc) for American cars are often cheaper than their European or Japanese equivalents, even after being shipped to the UK.
There are several major suppliers who hold large inventories of parts and offer a national mail-order service - some even offer next-day delivery.
Look in the Classic Car Parts section of our store to see the large range of Classic American Car Parts that are available.
There are also specialist insurance companies dealing with American cars, who offer surprisingly competitive quotes.
Both spares suppliers and insurers advertise extensively in Classic American magazine.
Where do I buy one?
The main factor to take into account when buying a second-hand American car is the condition of the bodywork, as rust can be a serious problem. The mid-west and north-eastern states have particularly bad winters and use a lot of salt, so there are few decent cars from that part of the US.
There are plenty of cars coming into the UK from 'dry states' such as California, Arizona and New Mexico, however, and these are the ones would-be buyers should look out for.
The good news is that there's a thriving American car scene in the UK, so buyers have a massive variety to choose from right here on our website.
There are dozens of garages and dealers specialising in everything from brand-new cars to classics from the '50s and '60s, plus hundreds of private sellers, all of whom can be found on this site.
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The main issue is choosing the car that's right for you - after all, if you live in central London, an 18 ft Cadillac may not seem such a good idea when it comes to parking and storage !
Classic Lots is part of The Brook Group in the United Kingdom. We aim to offer you the best selection of Classic Cars as well as Classic American Car Parts and Accessories. We have sections of our store devoted to Classic Car Manuals and Literature as well as gifts and Automobilia.
You will also find hundreds of workshop tools and items of garage equipment to help with your restoration project.
We are now acknowleged as being the Largest Online Classic Car Store and thank all our valued customers for putting us in the top position once again