I ran across this list of best cars for the apocalypse. It may be the single most poorly written article I've ever read - but I wondered what list people who really know cars would come up with.
https://studyfinds.org/best-doomsday-vehicles/
For me, I'd start the list with a simple 4 X 4 truck powered by the original low performance 6BT Cummins. So maybe a '92 to '97 Dodge. Reason is because it's so dirt simple and can probably run on a wide variety of oils - maybe even waste oil.
What say ye?
The cars listed aren't *bad* choices but any modern gas/diesel production car is going to greatly limit your fuel availability. I'd agree that a simple 4x4 that can run on a wide variety of fuels would be a good choice, also you'd want something with commonly available parts. Either that, or go toward the other end of the technology spectrum and get something electric, because it's relatively easy to rig up a renewable energy source, plus you can run an EV on any type of fuel with the right generator.
GameboyRMH said:
The cars listed aren't *bad* choices but any modern gas/diesel production car is going to greatly limit your fuel availability. I'd agree that a simple 4x4 that can run on a wide variety of fuels would be a good choice, also you'd want something with commonly available parts. Either that, or go toward the other end of the technology spectrum and get something electric, because it's relatively easy to rig up a renewable energy source, plus you can run an EV on any type of fuel with the right generator.
For me, there would be no EV's on the list simply because I can't fix them if they fail. Jeep XJ might make my list but it doesn't have the range of fuels that the Cummins could potentially use.
In reply to A 401 CJ :
Depends on the EV, you'd probably want to stay away from Teslas if you aren't a hardcore Tesla hacker but most aren't any more locked-down than an ICE vehicle of the same age. Of course you'll need at least a code reader and likely a computer to work on anything recent while the Cummins doesn't need any computerized service equipment at all.
It's gotta have zero computer chips. If that's a points ignition and SU carb running on home brew in a 1978 Volvo 245, well, berkeley the zombies.
In reply to A 401 CJ :
Sounds like it was written by someone who doesn't go offroad very much.
I'm surprised LMTV wasn’t mentioned. Cheaper than some of the other choices on there too.
stuart in mn said:
Model T Ford.
Good answer but...not enough of them left to score parts from. Also, tires are a specialty item.
Duke
MegaDork
10/22/23 4:20 p.m.
A John Deere tractor from 1945-1965 or so is about as simple as it gets, mechanically, and will run forever. No electronics. It will handle gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, or propane with a flick of the ignition selector.
It will climb anything in low range and will cruise at 30-35 mph in high range.
It will be short on seating space and cabs were rare in that vintage, but you could tow a trailer and weld up some kind of weather / zed protection for the driver.
Duke said:
A John Deere tractor from 1945-1965 or so is about as simple as it gets, mechanically, and will run forever. No electronics. It will handle gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, or propane with a flick of the ignition selector.
It will climb anything in low range and will cruise at 30-35 mph in high range.
It will be short on seating space and cabs were rare in that vintage, but you could tow a trailer and weld up some kind of weather / zed protection for the driver.
Had a '56 and a '57. Both 420's. 12 mph top speed.
Duke said:
A John Deere tractor from 1945-1965 or so is about as simple as it gets, mechanically, and will run forever. No electronics. It will handle gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, or propane with a flick of the ignition selector.
Depending on where you are in the world when the apocalypse occurs, there are probably plenty of Soviet tractors that would fit that bill too.
A 401 CJ said:
Duke said:
A John Deere tra6ctor from 1945-1965 or so is about as simple as it gets, mechanically, and will run forever. No electronics. It will handle gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, or propane with a flick of the ignition selector.
It will climb anything in low range and will cruise at 30-35 mph in high range.
It will be short on seating space and cabs were rare in that vintage, but you could tow a trailer and weld up some kind of weather / zed protection for the driver.
Had a '56 and a '57. Both 420's. 12 mph top speed.
When I was a kid, we had a Massey Fergusson 90, which was an English design, Perkins diesel and everything. It had a 26mph road gear, and it was near terrifying. Tractors are not handlers at high speed.
Only one vehicle and I want Patrick Swayze driving. Wolverine's.
Baja bug, obviously.
Make sure it has a points ignition, no radiator or water to worry about, lots of traction, and you could easily carry enough spares to rebuild the engine in a small box if you wanted to.
Park it on a slight slope and you don't even need a charged battery!
(it's kind of sort of one of the reasons I am leaving my Ghia as points ignition)
aircooled said:
Baja bug, obviously.
Make sure it has a points ignition, no radiator or water to worry about, lots of traction, and you could easily carry enough spares to rebuild the engine in a small box if you wanted to.
Park it on a slight slope and you don't even need a charged battery!
(it's kind of sort of one of the reasons I am leaving my Ghia as points ignition)
Really this isn't a bad idea plus they are not too terrible on gas .
It depends what kind of apocalypse too , really an EV being able to have unlimited fuel from the sun is a huge plus
VWAC Beetle or anything with a Chrysler slant 6.
Antihero said:
It depends what kind of apocalypse too , really an EV being able to have unlimited fuel from the sun is a huge plus
May be unlimited, but it's power limited by how many m^2 of panels. So you can only go so far from your solar panel farm.
Alcohol can be distilled, some oils can be squeezed out of plants for diesel.
But, yea, it really depends on what kind of apocalypse we are talking about. And who is left to rebuild. With the right people around, pretty much anything can be made to work. Oil can be drilled and distilled into fuel, power cam be made for EVs, etc. All this zombie talk is fun, but realistically, we are not going backwards in technology ability.
kb58
UltraDork
10/22/23 11:05 p.m.
In the novel "Grapes of Wrath", I think they had a Model A, and changed out a piston on the side of the road. I was impressed. Could run on crap gas as well.
kb58 said:
In the novel "Grapes of Wrath", I think they had a Model A, and changed out a piston on the side of the road. I was impressed. Could run on crap gas as well.
Ability to repair is paramount.
kb58 said:
In the novel "Grapes of Wrath", I think they had a Model A, and changed out a piston on the side of the road. I was impressed. Could run on crap gas as well.
The rod still had plenty a shim.
I found myself explaining to some guys at work that old timey engines had bearings that were poured in place, that you had to scrape to fit, and the rod caps had shims between the two that one would periodically remove, as maintenance, to close up the bearing gap back to acceptable limits.
I would go something older diesel. If that day came, we would have so much fryer oil, big rigs, and truck stops out there that you would have fuel for a pretty long time.
I would look at probably an old ambulance or something bigger that I could live out of while solidifying a new homescape.
