Ultimate vehicle choice for the apocalypse?

[Badgersmilk]

What Road Warrior SHOULD have been driving:

Seem's to me qualifications for the ultimate post apocalypse transportation would include:

An older vehicle with a carborator.  (EFI & EMP dont mix.  Ignition systems without computers are easier to keep spares for, and "sheild")

Excellent fuel mileage (Road Warrior Supercharged V8 - disqualified!)  Probably looking at a 4 cylinder, no bigger than 6 for sure.

4wd???  I'm in SC, no snow here, roads are long, smooth, and reasonably straight.  So 2wd will likely be a better choice for mileage.  I look for gas to be $4.00 a gallon within two years anyway.

Parts availability (new and used).

Aftermarket support (while its still available).  

Fun to drive! (read: fast, takes a turn like a slot car)

I'm thinking mileage may be the biggest priority of all.  

Idea's?

[PegLeg45]

Time to resurrect the Haz-Mobile....... 

[TAB]

my boat towing rig...  84 ford bronco  4wd. 351w, 4.10 front and rear... 37 gallon tank.  all steal, 2.5 tons empty.  I can't tell you how many people I've pulled out of the mud at the lake with it.  they made basicly the same truck for 15 years.( same as the f150 for 95% of the parts)  other then a few small igntion parts, just about every thing bolts right up,  while its not fast, it is a kick to drive.  people get the Hell out of the way, more so then they do when I'm in my f350. unless you go some place really narrow, or get high centered, 4 low will take you anywhere you want to go in it.  


only prob with it,  10 mpg.

[Hazcat]

Finding a vehicle with out some computer control is not gonna be easy.  I would also like at least limited off road ability.  My choice if I could find and afford it would be an old willies jeep, or Ford jeep/truck (can't remember the name right now).  Some thing like that.

[PegLeg45]

my boat towing rig...  84 ford bronco  4wd. 351w, 4.10 front and rear... 37 gallon tank.  all steal, 2.5 tons empty.  I can't tell you how many people I've pulled out of the mud at the lake with it.  they made basicly the same truck for 15 years.( same as the f150 for 95% of the parts)  other then a few small igntion parts, just about every thing bolts right up,  while its not fast, it is a kick to drive.  people get the Hell out of the way, more so then they do when I'm in my f350. unless you go some place really narrow, or get high centered, 4 low will take you anywhere you want to go in it.  


only prob with it,  10 mpg.

Finding a vehicle with out some computer control is not gonna be easy.  I would also like at least limited off road ability.  My choice if I could find and afford it would be an old willies jeep, or Ford jeep/truck (can't remember the name right now).  Some thing like that.

+1

Something like an old Jeep, 60's Bronco's, or Land Rover.......anything without computers and smog control crap.....you can run 'em on home-made fuel (moonshine....er, um..I mean ethanol).

[Sponsor]

[Hazcat]

SCOUT!  I believe that is the name, Ford Scout.

[TAB]

the only prob with something from the 60s is, you have to litterly go thru all the suspention and drive train.  The rubber litterly rots off.

[Big Frank]

SCOUT!  I believe that is the name, Ford Scout.

International made Scouts. Ford made Broncos.

I think a post-apocolyptic vehicle should have a multi-fuel engine like army surplus trucks. You have diesel - fill it up with that. You have gas - fill it up with that. Untortunately you'll probably end up with a big cargo truck.

[tombogan03884]

 The M 151 Mutt was the Vietnam era version of the Jeep They had a 4 cylinder MULTI FUEL engine, and 4 wheel drive. As for fast as well, I think you will be disappointed, also on the 2 wheel drive remember that there may be limited or no road maintenance, bridges may be down, or where you need to go may not be on an improved road but off a tote road in the boonies.
The M 151's should still be available as surplus, the National Guard used them into the 90's so parts should not be much of an issue, the ones the post office used were only 2 wheel drive but everything else should be interchangeable. Also, if you have the manuals and a set of tools they are really basic to work on. They were uni body construction so everything unbolts from one body onto another, In the Marines ( I was Motor T ) another guy and I could make the switch in about 16 hours, and I suck as a mechanic so it can't be that hard  

[MikeBjerum]

The IH Scout is like the old Blazers and Broncos, but tougher.  Pick one of them up, and swap out the IH engine for a surplus Continental multi fuel unit.  It has been almost 30 years since using one of these engines, so I'm not up on everything with them.  However, the are sealed so tight that you can drive them submerged and the ignition doesn't short out, and you don't get water in anything.