Why The Lack Of 'Murican Muscle Cars In The UK Makes Me Sad

Other than the soon-to-arrive Ford Mustang, we don't 'officially' get muscle cars in the UK. A shame, I think

17 Mar 2015

Why The Lack Of 'Murican Muscle Cars In The UK Makes Me Sad

This Autumn in the UK, something rather special will be happening: the first ever right-hand drive Ford Mustangs will arrive on our shores. I can’t wait to drive one and see just how well the car embodiment of the ‘Murican dream can work in cold, dreary Britain (very well, I’m hoping), but it’s just not enough to satisfy my muscle car lust. I want to have the option of rocking up to a Chevrolet dealership and coming away with a Camaro. I’d love to try the new Corvette, preferably in Z06 flavour, and while I’m at it the Cadillac CTS-V. And the 697bhp Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. But I can’t.

Sure, it is possible to import these cars into our beloved United Kingdom yourself or through a specialist, but by the time it arrives, the price will be massively inflated from the affordable hero status it will have enjoyed in the US. And the steering wheel will be on the wrong side.

Unsurprisingly, few have decided to import these V8 brutes over the years, so getting hold of an older one isn’t a great solution either: supply is limited, and the cars that are available aren’t that cheap.

Swap Manhattan for London, and it still looks right, don't you think?

All of this is a bit of a shame. Cars like the Camaro Z28 and the more recent Corvettes have been smashing the ‘muscle cars can’t corner’ stereotypes, and I’d love to see those machines coming over here and giving their European rivals some what-for.

If anything though, it’s the ones which aren’t so focused on handling (I’m looking at you, Dodge Hellcat) which really appeal. I like the idea of cruising around at sunset, window down, arm resting on the door, and the V8 rumbling away up front. Every so often, maybe I’d give it the beans and experience the joys of a big displacement eight-cylinder engine.

It’s a world away from the usual ‘for the sake of it’ driving I usually do, which normally involves a spirited drive down a curvy bit of road. And it’s the fact that it’s such a different way of enjoying driving that makes it appeal so much.

When Autumn comes around and I drive one of the new right-hand drive Mustangs for the first time, I really hope it lives up to my expectations. But if it does, I won’t be able to shake off the disappointment that other manufacturers probably won’t be following Ford’s lead and bringing their muscle car wares to the UK.