I have to laugh every time I see the items with a Metro hitched to a Trailer. In truth the Metro couldn't tow much more than a baby carriage.
I owned a brand new Metro in about 1954. The engine was the same as the MG of the period, but detuned by replacing the MG's dual SU carbs with a simple downdraft carb.
We made the round trip from Texas to Pennsylvania with a new baby. With that Metro loaded down with our stuff, it was second gear up the steeper hills. In 1956, the Metro got traded for a new 1955 Studebaker Coupe.
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John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2007 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison LTZ
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
I won't debate that better trailers are being made these days (I'd lose), but tow rigs have come a long way. I can tow a utility trailer with numerous tons behind my Dodge Cummins and still pull the hills at highway speeds with very good fuel economy.
Even my little S-10 (I can't bring myself to call it a truck, let's use the Aussie term Utie), puts out enough punch to make moderate towing a pleasure.
Although many of us remember the cars of yesteryear fondly -- you didn't need a degree in engineering (both mechanical and electrical) or double-jointed elbows to perform simple service -- I am far more rested after a long journey with air, cruise, quiet and decent seats. Remember sticking to those black vinyl benches in the summer?
However, as fuel prices are back up again, I think we're going to see increased interest in the smaller and lighter trailers. I just located what sounds to be a fine Argosy 6.7, which I think will ride nicely behind the S-10.
And no, I don't think I'll buy a Gremlin as a tow rig.
I just located what sounds to be a fine Argosy 6.7, which I think will ride nicely behind the S-10.
I towed a 3250# Scamp 5th-wheel with my S-10 for several years. I had the 195 hp Vortec in mine. Performance was good, but gas mileage was only so-so. I put in a performance chip which required premium gas, so cost per mile wasn't very outstanding. If I were to do it again, I would skip the chip; it didn't make very much difference.
The photo is in 1994 overnighting at Marathon, TX on the way to Big Bend.
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John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2007 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison LTZ
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
I had a 1970's Plymouth Cricket. The car was OK...it was the tranny that kept going out, enough to say that it was a lemon. My dad owned a Metro back in NY. Trade it for a Plymouth stationwagon...our first utie! Too bad it didn't have the hemi in it!lol
and if I didn't need to spend all our money fixing up the Moonunit, I still would not mind having one!!!
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Leigh (IB Aluminated)
"When a great ship is in harbour and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for." by Clarissa Pinkola-Estes, author of ‘Women Who Run With the Wolves’
I owned a Yellow Pacer for many years and it was a good city car. Replaced it with a Mustang with a sunroof. I don't think it would have towed anything. Pacer is just another part of our history.
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