The very much MTOW departures of the Pan Am and TWA 747s with their early JT9Ds from Heathrow to California did cause some concern to Heathrow ATC on warm summer afternoons, which often meant on easterlies, and there was some breath-holding until they were out of sight. Once referred to as "leaving via the Piccadilly Line", while a comparable Pan Am departure was described as a "Hedge Clipper".
I can recall watching TIA and World DC-10s scraping over the 26 approach lights at Gatwick when departing from 08 on hot summer days - must have been interesting on the Brighton line! Presumably the same off the other end, it just wasn't so obvious from the spectators' balcony; but then there was the rising ground of Russ Hill beyond...
I believe one DC-10 did take some souvenir metal work back to California wrapped around a gear leg.