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BangShift Question Of The Day: What Is Your Ideal, Purpose-Built Winter Beater?


BangShift Question Of The Day: What Is Your Ideal, Purpose-Built Winter Beater?

(Photos: Craig VanBuskirk) If you haven’t already seen the cold, white fluffy stuff falling from the skies, don’t worry…it’s on the way (except for you wise-asses in Arizona…but you’ll get yours with the wind.) Winter is on it’s way, and it’s moving on in as far as BangShift Mid-West is concerned…things have gotten cold in a hurry, and while we usually get hit with the snow after the first of the year, planning for winter driving ahead of time is always a good idea. This year, should any snow fall, we will become a one-vehicle household, since Angry Grandpa has proven to be incapable of surmounting the final hill near our house without severe dramatics (or, like last year, failing entirely before sliding backwards on the ice into the ditch with yours truly, who had been airing down the rear tires, standing there screaming curse words.) A Fox Mustang in the snow is just begging for trouble, and there is pretty much zero chance that the Imperial will be mobile before spring.

But BS Mid-West is in an area where snow is an event, not a standard. I have a friend up in Wisconsin named Craig, who I’ve known off of Mopar FMJ sites for years. This is a guy who looks at a Chrysler Fifth Avenue, then his torch and welder setup, and gets an idea. He is, far as I know, the only person who has turned a Fifth Ave into a proper lowrider, hydraulics and all, and he’s been in other builds as well. But when yet another Fifth Ave appeared in his photos, I simply guessed “parts car” and didn’t think much about it…until I saw another picture of it, sporting all-terrains and a raised ride height. From luxury ride to a drift basher? Yes!

Which got me thinking…I’ve never owned a four-wheel-drive vehicle that I ever used in the snow. In fact, I’ve only owned one four-wheel-drive, ever, and that 1984 Dodge Ramcharger went on a trail on a sunny fall day once before I flipped it for a profit. The only other “winter beater” I’ve ever had was the Superbeater Mirada, and it only got roped into that spot because if someone hit it, I wasn’t concerned. The Fifth Avenue is a great choice…you can find these things on Craigslist dirt-cheap, they take all the good cop parts, are durable and abuse-tolerant (I personally have tested that part out on numerous cars) and have heaters that could warm up the heart of an ex-mother in law. Far as I’m concerned, all that’s missing is a snowplow attachment.

That’s just me, though. What about you? What would be your fun-in-the-snow rig?

 


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17 thoughts on “BangShift Question Of The Day: What Is Your Ideal, Purpose-Built Winter Beater?

  1. Chevy Hatin' Mad Geordie

    In the UK its called a senior citizen’s concessionary bus pass which entitles you to free bus and local rail travel. Save the wheels for the spring and keep all that road salt from eating them alive!

  2. Brandon

    I ran a 78 Pacer DL with the 304 V8/TF904 combo for some time. wide, heavy, and it made “muricuh” noises. That thing was a fantastic beater with a heater. Until i realized when i go murder furry woodland creatures its not very cool to strap a bleeding meat-bag of wild game to the roof….so now, I have a 78 W100 shortbox powerwagon, big block auto. Things a tank.

  3. jerry z

    When living in NJ, I had 2WD Chevy p/u’s. Just threw about 500# in the bed with all terrain tires and was good to go.

  4. dirwood

    was gifted a yj from my sister, got bored with the 4.2 and built a 318/dakota 5sp for it-the thing was an absolute riot in the snow.

  5. Michael Meyer

    Where I live, in southern Illinois, snow is a hit or miss affair. Last year was nothing, but a the year before that was a foodie. We live on a gravel road with steep hills going up to our house coming from both directions. If it snows more than 2″, a 4×4 is pretty much a necessity. Right now I am finishing work on a 1995 Ford Explorer with 1-ton axles swapped under it. Hope to get it finished before the 1st deep snow.

  6. Michael Mey

    Where I live, in southern Illinois, snow is a hit or miss affair. Last year was nothing, but a the year before that was a doozie. We live on a gravel road with steep hills going up to our house coming from both directions. If it snows more than 2″, a 4×4 is pretty much a necessity. Right now I am finishing work on a 1995 Ford Explorer with 1-ton axles swapped under it. Hope to get it finished before the 1st deep snow.

  7. John Thomure

    My winter beater is my summer cruiser. Currently, an ’05 Mustang GT. Prior to the Mustang, it was a RWD 300C. When I grew up, four wheel drive was rare, and front wheel drive virtually unheard of. It can be done.

  8. Whelk

    A Fox Mustang with an LSD and *snow tires* is just fine for Northeast Ohio winters. The key is not to suffer through with all seasons.

  9. Anthony

    Firestone Town and Country snows on anything and you are good. Toss some sand in the trunk too. Make sure heater works too.

  10. Drew

    Best winter beater I ever had was a ’74 Dodge Dart four door, leaning tower of power, auto, and snow tires all the way around.
    Only issue ever was deciding whether to creep in, back out, creep in a little farther, back out, in again farther…you know, the smart way, or…
    Just get a good head of steam and let momentum get you to the other side…
    Assuming there IS another side..

  11. Threedoor

    We have a 70 Wagoneer with a Buick 350 and a TH400. I swapped in an open knuckle front with disks and regeared the rear to match, 3:54. Put on a good set of 31 11.50s I took off my Blazer when I put one tones under it. The Waggy has a low center of gravity, Good brakes, plenty of grunt and a killer heater. For four years I’ve been trying to sell it and it just languishes until it snows and then it pays for itself.

  12. convSS

    My winter ride is also my summer work/tow vehicle, a 2001 suburban 2500 4×4 with the 8100 engine. 11mpg on a good day, or closer to 8 if I’m pulling my camper, but, it’s paid for, reliable, and heavy enough to go through pretty much anything we get here in central Wisconsin, Always liked wagons and 4x4s, kinda the best of both worlds!

  13. manchowder440

    no snow where i live, but floods are a reality, bought an 85 power ram 350 with a utility box, 4.56s and granny gear 4 speed.. put a 72 longbed insead of the utility box, some 33×12 16.5… and itll do 45 mph all day long wet or dry. the ride is rough as hell, and hot air only blows out the a/c vents, 360 uses as much oil as it does gas, but its unstopable

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