The Ultimate Tow Vehicle?

IndianaJones · Post by **IndianaJones** » Sat 04 Apr 2015, 12:24

Performance 3000
3L Essex V6 conversion for VW Microbus

These days, a Lexus conversion will double the power again.

jlebenon · Post by **jlebenon** » Sat 04 Apr 2015, 20:12

Lexus is crap ...eats more petrol than anything , only about 160wkw and a proper conversion cost you 50 grand , and gross torque I think is 350nm .... 2jz and 2uz different story ...

RASSIE · Post by **RASSIE** » Sun 05 Apr 2015, 04:56

A 40 year old legend. This 351C, 4V can fit in many car body's even if all the GT's are gone!
Standard auto. Fairmont GT was the top tow car! New only R.5000.

223.8 kW (300bhp) SAE
515.3 Nm torque at 3400 rpm
Now ad a 5-speed manual box and see the consumption!
Now ad a mild street torque cam, roller rockers, electronic distributor and a 750 cfm Holley and you will never feel any hill!

I am a Ford man!!

My 1979 F100 is proof, as it is 2 ton without the canopy! (1970) 351W, T5, 272 cam, Edelbrock performer intake and a 750 cfm Holley towing a 4 ton load. Pure V8 power!!

Rassie.

IndianaJones · Post by **IndianaJones** » Sun 05 Apr 2015, 13:25

The thought that went through my mind, upon seeing the ad was, how times have changed, very much more extreme in a number of ways, but not necessarily for the better. In some ways these 3L Essex converted vehicles, that now seem stupid/irrelevant/a bad idea/etc etc, is actually a trip down memory lane, a time capsule, it represents a brief time in history, the South African way of life. It was a good idea, at an affordable price. It was well built, at least for the time. It was simple, but effective. It is a South African classic.

Do you guys remember your own experiences during the time in which these 3L Kombi's existed and even before that?
Times when cars were South African designed, or at least tested and/or adapted, and built. Times when caravanning were big. Dune buggies were big. Where you didn't need to stay in a 3 star B&B with Dstv for holiday, you didn't need a brand new Land Rover Disco 4, didn't need to eat at the Spur, didn't need a clothes shopping card, a simpler time. A time when cars could be fixed with "bloudraad en 'n tang", and men could actually do it, change a tyre, jumpstart a car, and people actually stopped to try and help if ever you got stuck next to the road. You didn't have a cellphone to call a breakdown, and it wasn't necessary.
People went to the same holiday spot year after year, you had the same friends from the year before. Your dad drove a 10 year old car, you stayed in a caravan, but boys learned to get bait and fish, you learned to shoot, you learned to drive at a young age. If you were lucky you had a 50cc two stroke dirtbike. You went to church on Sunday. It was safe for children to walk down the beach, any beach and get a "draai roomys".

Maybe this happens today too, I just somehow feel it's different, somehow feel my boy won't have the same experiences, I can't afford it and it makes me sad. Never mind inflation, did life get more expensive? Or does the "need"/availability/quantity of shinier worldly possessions, make is poorer in extracting the marrow from life?

Any others feel like this? Or am I being a dumbass?

Post by **ters** » Sun 05 Apr 2015, 15:24

I share your sentiments Indie.... My father had one of the Essex conversion Kombi's, from Performance 3000. We would do a yearly trek down to Cape Province, for 3 or 4 weeks at a time. Leave home early, sleepover in Colesberg. Rekindling the memories I can still taste/smell the pieces of wors...taste the sarmies and boiled eggs we had for padkos!

I still remember the petrol curfew of the 80's....06:00 to 18:00 or no fuel. Remember picking up Soldiers going on their pass at the "Army hitch hiker" signs? As a kid you could go down to the beach the whole day, without parents having to worry about "Gert van Rooyen" luring you away with ice-cream! Life savers were actually visibly on duty too!

Camping in a 5 berth caravan was laid back, relaxing....no worries about someone nicking the fishing rods after you eventually went to sleep. My sons are taught more "survival", safety, observation skills I ever had to endure during basic training in SAP! Not sure who to blame for all this?

Sadly, I'm sure our children and their children will never experience the memories we made.....

Ters.

HughMuller · Post by **HughMuller** » Sun 05 Apr 2015, 16:46

Actually Guys
I was lucky enough to win this on Ebay
So I will be bringing her in fairly soon
As soon as I have a few of my other collections together
So i will build my own tow/ hauler

There is gonna be loads if work but I am gonna have so much fun
She will only be built after the 56f100

: ImageUploadedByTapatalk1428245256.777306.jpg (82.28 KiB) Viewed 7748 times

: ImageUploadedByTapatalk1428245231.210871.jpg (79.68 KiB) Viewed 7748 times

jlebenon · Post by **jlebenon** » Mon 06 Apr 2015, 11:28

" Gert van rooyen" ..... Ters that's funny boet

First V8 · Post by **First V8** » Mon 06 Apr 2015, 13:14

Indiana and Ters i lived in those years of 3Lt Kombi and a Sprite Major caravan as our home for 2 or 3 weeks at a time . Caravan parks had no fences and security guards to protect your stuff while you were at the beach with kids for the day . I hate saying it ' those were the good old days "

Post by **ters** » Mon 06 Apr 2015, 15:39

jlebenon wrote: " Gert van rooyen" ..... Ters that's funny boet

True story J!

First V8 wrote:Indiana and Ters i lived in those years of 3Lt Kombi and a Sprite Major caravan as our home for 2 or 3 weeks at a time . Caravan parks had no fences and security guards to protect your stuff while you were at the beach with kids for the day . I hate saying it ' those were the good old days "

I was still a wee laddie...but remember well!

You could wander off in a shopping centre, be united with your parents no harm done. Keep windows open at intersections or driving in town... Miss the carefree days!!

Ters.

Burnthosetyres · Post by **Burnthosetyres** » Mon 06 Apr 2015, 17:07

Hugh, I don't know of any decent COE trucks in SA, will be awesome.

Ters I remember all those, Durban to JHB was a 2 day drive with a overnight in Harrismith or on Van Renen.

Today I think the best tow vehicle is the Discovery 4, SDV6 the torque is unbelievable....

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