In a Mad Max World, What Car Would Survive Longest?

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Ever wonder what kind of car would still be going after the collapse of civilization? What would you choose to drive for survival in a post-apocalyptic reality where you fight for survival-and fuel? More importantly, what will run the longest on the least amount of maintenance? I present to you my list of nominees for robustness in the face of anarchy:

Mercedes Benz W123 Diesel cars. Made from 1976-1985, these have the distinction of being the most likely to hit one million miles. Even 24 years after they were last built, they are still plentiful.

Toyota Hi-Lux Pickup. Beloved of warlords and revolutionaries everywhere for their simplicity and robustness. Even dropping one with an imploding building or drowning it in salt water for 6 hours won't kill it, as Top Gear proved. Extra points for a diesel.

Nissan Pickups. If they can survive pizza delivery for hundreds of thousands of miles, they can survive anything!

Anything with a slant six.

I know my list is lacking, so please. Add to it!

 

[Blake442]

Chances are the only things left rolling will be old cars from the '50s thru the '70s that still have points ignition. The electronics in newer cars will more than likely be fried by the electromagnetic pulse from a nuclear blast.

I've been meaning to snag an old points distributor for my sbc in my cutlass wagon just in case. I also need to get one of those hand crank pumps to pump gas out of fuel tanks. We had a nice one on wheels out at school for pumping the fuel out of the donated vehicles. It would fit perfectly in the back of the wagon.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

But in the Rock, Paper, Scissors contest of EMP survival, old mechanical injection diesels trump spark ignition engines. No electronics needed, it's all mechanical with ignition provided by cylinder pressure.

I do agree about getting a points distributor though, I just keep forgetting to grab one when I go out to the junkyard. I do predict that we will need the old technology sooner than we realize as the world is becoming a much more dangerous place due to the proliferation of nuclear technology among unstable nations.

 

[joe_padavano]

But in the Rock, Paper, Scissors contest of EMP survival, old mechanical injection diesels trump spark ignition engines. No electronics needed, it's all mechanical with ignition provided by cylinder pressure.

You are absolutely correct. My first reaction was also the indestructible Slant Six, but when I think about the simplicity of my JD tractor, old school diesel wins hands down. Not to mention that it will run on anything.

 

[jrm81bu]

A ragged, black , supercharged version of an Australian Torino, of course! 8) :lol:

 

[midwestls]

I say a Ford Excursion with a Power Stroke

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

A ragged, black , supercharged version of an Australian Torino, of course! 8) :lol:

The XB Falcon coupe?

 

[yourownself]

YUGO!!!
or an old school VW. they seem to last in mexico, and that's about as post-apocalyptic as i ever hope to see!

 

[78mali350]

there was an episode of futurama that they used an old VW van in like the year 3000 or whenever it takes place ha they ran it on whale oil funny stuff

 

[jrm81bu]

A ragged, black , supercharged version of an Australian Torino, of course! 8) :lol:

The XB Falcon coupe?

That sounds about right. That's what was in the movie correct?