Founded by enthusiasts in March 1993, to represent owners of ALL American vehicles, Motorvatin’ USA quickly became a fully recognised national club. Our aims at the very onset, were the same as they are today: to build a club capable of promoting American vehicles, both classic and modern, to a far wider audience - and more importantly, one to which enthusiasts would be proud to belong.
It wasn’t long before smaller one-marque clubs realised the benefits of being associated. In 1994 the Chevrolet Club became incorporated, followed closely by the Camaro Club - both well-established organisations in their own right. We were thrilled to welcome the Buick Club UK onboard in 1998, and by the summer of 2000 it was decided that all clubs should go under one banner name, that of the Association of American Car Clubs. This would reflect both the individuality of each club and the unity of one strong body. The latest to become a part of the group is the Ford Club UK.
 American
cars have always existed in the UK, but have had a pretty bad rap
over the years. Back in the fifties and before, car ownership was
a luxury only the rich could afford; so to own an American car, odds
are you were either royalty, a film star or notorious gangster. English
blond bombshell Diana Dors loved to sling her 50's convertible Cadillacs
through their paces on the narrow British lanes. The Kray twins were
also no strangers to using a little extra Detroit muscle to get the
job done quickly in London's Eastend of the 60s - and so it goes.
The image stuck. While a number of British gentry also owned American
cars for use on high days and holidays, they were altogether far more
reserved about it.
Those whose aspirations to own such vehicles outstretched the span
of their wallets could always scour the many American air bases for
used vehicles left behind by servicemen returning home. But with very
few American parts suppliers this side of the pond, ownership was
not for the faint-hearted and often ended in tears. By the 1970s many
of the surviving American cars prowling British streets were modified,
and as such fell into the custom car bracket, categorised at shows
alongside outrageous and novelty chariots. Others just kept going
the best they could, courtesy of alien power plants and all manner
of ingenious adaptations.
By the late 70s things were perking up for the American car owner.
More owners' and enthusiasts' clubs began to form, and from these
shows emerged which welcomed owners of all Detroit steel. Now there
were numbers you could ring, advise to be had, and places to go where
you could finally meet like-minded people. Still however, reading
matter in the auto press was cornered into odd pages of the custom
magazines - but soon all that was to change.
By the mid-1980s a whole new scene was beckoning. American 50s retro
was everywhere. Hollywood was churning out 50s-based movies quicker
than you could rent them from your local video store, and the whole
world had caught the fever. Right at the time everyone wanted a 50s
cruiser, the UK saw an upturn in prosperity. New companies formed
to sell you your very own American Dream, and it seemed nobody came
home from a stateside holiday without a new arrival on the way! This
was to be the UK's own 1950s America.
During the 80s and early 90s, classic cars were being imported direct
from the US with greater momentum than Ford UK could bounce Escorts
off the Dagenham line - and these were a whole new ball game. The
majority of this new breed was straight, untainted by years of British
weather, or restored to a high standard. The whole classic car scene
was enjoying a boom, and accompanying the 50's cruisers came early
gems, 60's performance machines, and many more. Suddenly even the
'stiff-upper-lipped' Great British car collector was adding curvaceous
American iron to his collection.
Many of the clubs however, had failed to keep pace with the times
and proved unable to attract these new enthusiasts who expected more.
The old image was still there. There was a need for change, a desire
for new representation - an organisation that could represent all
serious American car enthusiasts in a way that they could be proud
of.
American car owners themselves for many years, the founders of Motorvatin'
USA had closely observed these changes. Being involved with existing
clubs, they knew the shortfalls of what was currently on offer, and
the relentless hard work and dedication it would take to put this
right. Eventually, when you're done talking, it's time to walk the
walk and put your money where your mouth is... and so the new organisation
set about trying to change the image of half a century.
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