Best classic car clubs for American cars

When it comes to car design, the Americans clearly believe in excess. While it’s not to everyone’s tastes, you can’t deny it’s led to some incredible machines over the years. The classic car world would undoubtedly be a more boring place without the likes of the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger roaring up to classic car shows around the country.

We know first-hand just how many Brits love an American classic car. At the Classic American Stars and Stripes Car Show – an event which Lancaster Insurance has sponsored in the past – enthusiasts of American classics come together to share in their passion and swap tips and advice on these amazing motors.

But you don’t have to confine your passion for American classic cars to just one weekend of the year. By becoming a member of a classic car club for American cars, you can regularly speak to and meet with fellow enthusiasts.

So, what are the best American classic car clubs in the UK? That’s where we come in. Here are some of the best clubs that have come onto our radar of late. But if we’ve missed one out, be sure to let us know!

Pre 50 American Auto Club

The Pre 50 American Auto Club claims to be the “biggest and best club in the UK catering for the lover of classic American cars, trucks and bikes”. While these claims are hard to validate, there’s no questioning that the club has played a vital role in the preservation of classic American vehicles in the UK.

Founded in 1965 by six American classic car enthusiasts, the Pre 50 American Auto Club was set up to promote vintage motors from the other side of the pond and assist owners in locating parts for their vehicles.

While sourcing parts for your classic is relatively easy these days – thanks to the internet – it was a very different challenge back in the 1960s, and owners were reliant on having the right contacts.

Without that trusted network, American classic owners ran the risk of seeing their cars turn into rust buckets – something the Pre 50 American Auto Club were completely opposed to!

The club’s motto was – and remains – ‘Dedicated to preservation and restoration’ and is open to owners of an American vehicle of any age. You don’t even have to be an American classic car owner to join the club, you just need to share in owners’ passions.

What do you get for the price of membership?

Membership is priced at £30 per year for UK members and £40 for overseas members. For that, you get a whole heap of benefits including advice on importing American vehicles to this country, access to an excellent club library (which includes a large stock of technical manuals), and of course the ability to tap into members’ technical expertise on American automobiles.

You’ll also get free entry for you and your vehicle to the Rally of the Giants, an annual event organised by the Pre 50 American Auto Club where well over 400 classic American vehicles are in attendance including “some of the finest examples to be found anywhere in Europe”.

Set in the sunning grounds of Blenheim Palace, it really is a must-visit event for anyone with an interest in American motors and attracts visitors from all over the UK and many parts of continental Europe.

The Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain

Did you know? Of all the 1960’s classic muscle cars, the Ford Mustang is the only model to remain in continuous production since its introduction.

Even Ford underestimated how successful the Mustang would go on to be. Upon the launch of the Mustang in 1964, the manufacturer expected to sell 100,000 vehicles yearly. But in just two years, it had sold one million units. It hit the 10 million mark in 2018 and remains one of the best-selling sports cars in the world.

The Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain welcomes owners of all models – although those from 1964-73 make up roughly half the 1,800 members in the club. But you don’t need to be a Mustang owner to become a member – as long as you idolise all things Mustang, you’ll be welcomed with open arms. Who knows, you might be taken for a spin in one, if you strike up a friendship with the right member!

Founded in 1979, the Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain was borne out of a desire to help ensure the preservation and enjoyment of the Ford Mustang and the Ford Shelby Mustang. Today, if you have a question, all you need to do is head over to the club’s forum on the website and you’re sure to get an answer.

What do you get for the price of membership?

To post on the forum, you will need to become a paying member of the club. It’s £25 for a standard membership, which will also get you a copy of the bi-monthly RoundUp magazine, which is filled with great features and tips.

You’ll also get free entry into the club's annual show, which is open to all UK members, and you might even be able to get a discount on your classic car insurance.

Pontiac Owners Club

Pontiac is one of the most iconic car brands in the world having seemingly churned out classics for fun. For starters, there’s the original GTO, the first car to bring together an oversized engine, affordable pricing and marketing that focused on performance.

The introduction of the GTO in 1964 kicked off the muscle cars arms race – then the second generation of the car in 1969 took the genre to another level, being armed with a massive 7.5-litre engine capacity.

Then there’s the Trans Am – the high performance version of the popular Pontiac Firebird series – best known as the car Burt Reynolds raced cross country in Smokey & The Bandit.

If you’re a Pontiac hobbyist, you should definitely make a bee-line for the Pontiac Owners Club.

Formed by a small group of Pontiac enthusiasts in 1988, this UK-based club makes it easy for Pontiac owners to meet on a regular basis and to pool their knowledge and experience in running these cars.

Thanks to contacts in the US, owners are able to get their hands on spares which might otherwise be out of reach. Or, if you’re in the market for a Pontiac, the club promises to tell you beforehand “if that ´69 GTO is not just a dressed-up Le Mans, or if a Trans Am has been abused in its life”. This is the sort of advice that can prove invaluable.

What do you get for the price of membership?

For £20 per year, you’ll get access to all that technical advice we’ve already mentioned, plus a copy of the club magazine, Wide Track News, which has details of monthly meetings and events, in addition to all manner of informative articles.

Discounts on MOTs are available at approved testing centres, and you might even be able to take a chunk off your classic car insurance policy.

Plymouth Owners Club

We’d be hard pushed to choose a favourite Plymouth – although we’d probably rule out the Plymouth Prowler (1997-2002) which came with a lethargic V6 engine and four-speed automatic gearbox which meant that its performance was average at best – certainly not up to its $40,000 price tag anyway.

If you were to push us on a favourite, we’d probably opt for the Plymouth Road Runner Superbird, an eye-catching yet short-lived muscle car, distinguished by its sky-high rear spoiler and its futuristic pointed nose.

Perhaps best known for having a horn tune copied from the Looney Tunes cartoon character Roadrunner (who also featured as a decal on the vehicle), the 1970 Superbird also had amazing aerodynamics.

It is believed that only around 1,000 Plymouth Superbirds exist today, so you’ll be lucky to find one in the UK – but if you do, the owner is likely to be a member of the Plymouth Owners Club.

Founded in 1957 as the Plymouth 4 Cylinder Owners Club, it began life with just three members. The club has grown significantly since, welcoming owners of all 4, 6 and V8 powered Plymouth cars, Plymouth trucks and Fargo commercial vehicles built from 1928 to the end of production in 2001.

While it’s a US-based association, Plymouth Owners Club has members from all over the world including the UK. While you might not be able to regularly meet with other members (with meets taking place in the US), you’ll still be able to tap into their technical expertise and reach out to them for spare parts.

What do you get for the price of membership?

As a UK resident, membership will cost you $45 per year, for which you will get a year’s subscription to the Plymouth Bulletin, an award-winning, professionally-printed magazine featuring stories, articles, historic photos and much more.

But perhaps more valuably, you’ll get access to all members’ contact details. Don’t be shy in making contact with a member with the same vehicle as you – just make sure you factor in the time difference if they’re in the US or elsewhere!

The DeLorean Owners Club

Ahh, the DeLorean. We’ve not been shy in making it known how fond we are of the car which is synonymous with the Back to the Future series. For a motor that was largely a commercial failure, which caused its manufacturer to go into receivership, the DeLorean has done wonders.

Is it all down to the Back to the Future appearance? Quite possibly. But the DeLorean has a charm that goes beyond that – namely its stainless-steel bodywork and brilliant gull-wing doors.

Given that there are believed to only be a handful of DeLoreans in the UK, it’s amazing that the DeLorean Owners Club – the only accredited DeLorean club of the UK unsurprisingly – exists, but we’re glad it does.

Formed in 1996 by two DeLorean enthusiasts, the pair wanted to make the DeLorean an accessible car to own and use in the UK. Since then, the club claims it has “gone from strength to strength”, helping owners and general enthusiasts of the DeLorean to meet and share tips and spare parts.

“We are not simply a group of enthusiasts, but a diverse group of volunteers and 'custodians' committed to preserving the history and heritage of DeLorean as part of the core of the DeLorean community keeping the cars and DeLorean name alive,” according to the club’s website.

What do you get for the price of membership?

The annual membership fee is £27.50, which entitles you to a subscription of the quarterly magazine, full access to the club forum, event listings and so much more.

Plus, if there is a DeLorean which has come onto the UK market, you’ll be the first one to know!

Get a classic car insurance quote today

If you enjoy running an original American muscle car, make sure you’ve got the classic car insurance that’s up to the job.

Here at Lancaster, we’ve teamed up with a host of car clubs around the country to offer owners discounts on their classic car cover. Just ask if being a member of your club entitles you to a discount when you call us for a quote.

Whatever model you end up buying, we can offer cover to match. Over 96,000 vehicles are insured by Lancaster in the UK.

Like you, the team at Lancaster is passionate about classic motors and we want to help preserve them for the future.

Benefits of classic car insurance through us include:

• Up to 25% classic car club member discounts
• Cover for static shows
• Cover for historic rallies
• Salvage retention
• 90 days EU cover
• Limited mileage discounts

You’ll also have 24-hour access to our claims line and UK call centre.

Get a quote for classic car insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.