When running in a multiple vehicle caravan, you have several different types of vehicles needed. A couple of self sufficient larger trucks. An armored school bus for carrying people. An RV can serve as the mobile command center. You might want to lash a few motorcycles to the back of the bus for recon missions or to gather supplies. To think that a random assemblage of running cars and trucks will work sounds like a quick way to become one of the undead.
In the infancy of WWZ, one of the key pieces to any successful roving tribe of the alive is the point vehicle. You have to have one. All anyone needs to do is watch the Road Warrior to see what a carefully driven post apocalyptic hot rod can do.
This prime example sits in my favorite used car lot, where several of our Zombie Trucks of the Week have been found. I secretly think the owner is doing some pre-planning.
When choosing a your point vehicle, several qualifications need to be looked for.
1. Popular model. You don't want to be scavenging for parts for a Ford Pantera while evading the undead. It simply isn't a good decision. The popularity of the mullet mobile in America probably is linked to the popularity for Bon Jovi. Wherever there are rednecks, you will find plenty of Trans Ams. Trust me.
2. Easily accessible engine. A mid 80's Nissan 300 ZX could fit most of the bill. But good old fashioned American Heavy Metal means an engine compartment that can actually be accessed. Unless your tribe resembles the carefully selected cast of Discovery's The Colony, you probably won't have an automotive engineer and three grease monkeys back in the armored bus.
3. Heavy Frame. You will want some options here. Attaching a cattle guard to the front of your point vehicle allows it to clear a path for itself. It doesn't need to be massive, just enough to easily get in and out.
4. T-Tops. This Trans Am doesn't have them, but any mullet mobile with a poor mans convertible will help you gain several shooting positions in case you get into a hairy situation.
With all this in mind, what vehicle would you choose to run point in YOUR zombie caravan?
back in the day, a mechanic friend of mine offered to hook me up with an engine for a body I had, I had an 86 buick. he had a 454 that he swore we could fit in it. Chop the drive shaft and you'd have room for that bad boy. I wonder if a car like that, moderately heavy but with a beast under the hood could fit the bill? Persuader on the front.
Posted by: Aaron Mansfield | 04/25/2011 at 11:33 AM
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and not pick what I think I'd have the most fun driving as a zombie point car (an Impreza WRX - who wants to have to fix a blown head gasket in a Subaru when brain-eaters are clawing after you?)...and go with a mid-to-late 90s Civic hatchback. Parts are almost infinite, excellent fuel economy, and if you can get a buddy to ride in the back, plenty of shooting vantage.
Posted by: Charles Meeks | 05/01/2011 at 06:28 PM
No question: the Toyota Hilux pickup truck. The Hilux is the gnarliest vehicle ever. It's simply unstoppable. It doesn't gobble too much diesel and its engine is reliable and easy to fix using common tools and junk spares. They say in Afghanistan that their maintenance kit for the Hiluxes are screwdrivers, socket wrenches and WD40 - that's it. It keeps going on conditions that would stop a Humvee. The Hilux is just perfect for the end of the world.
Posted by: Carson Ahlstrom | 08/11/2011 at 05:26 AM
I will get a Ford F350 truck, put some armor on it and mount all sorts of heavy weaponry. A .50 cal on the roof, an automatic grenade launcher or mortar on the back, and enough ammunition to blast through hordes of zombies. Blades or spikes on the bumpers are also a nice touch. That's the perfect post-doomsday zombie-killing vehicle.
Posted by: Angelica Emmanuel | 08/18/2011 at 10:22 AM