How far did you drive it???

[JohnS48plm]

The coupe made it from Michigan to Concord, NC with a stop in Mt Airy, NC where Andy Griffith is from. Here's the car in front of Wally's gas station. John

[Olddaddy]

My long distance trip doesn't really count because it was driven by the Previous Owner. It's such a good story I had to include it here. I bought my car from a Navy man stationed in Norfolk, VA. Prior to that they had been stationed in San Diego, CA. When he was transferred it was a sudden thing so he packed up and flew off to Norfolk. His wife, and three children followed driving the 50 Suburban all the way across the country. The amazing part is when he then deliverd the car to me in Florida. He arrived with literally no front brakes, the linings were completely gone, metal barely touching metal. One rear brake was frozen and not operating at all. The car had ONE wheel brakes! The head gasket was blown and making more steam than a steam engine. The tires looked like something out of the Grapes of Wrath. And so on and on. When I think about that woman, and her kids headed East out of San Diego into the desert of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas my respect for her grows, and grows. I've made that run more than a few times in modern dependable cars and the thought of my poor old Plymouth on that road gives me pause.........

[55 Fargo]

Good morning all, just got back from another successful mission, 15 miles that is. Temp outside 40, engine temp 165, ran at 35 mph on rough gravel road, and 50 mph on abandoned Sunday morning highway. The way she was running it could have gone maybe a 100 miles no problem, but don't want to presumptious. The car has rattles, no carpet and door panels. I am going to put some kind of carpet down , even for temporary to quiet things down. The car steered and handled very nice on pavement. With new taller tires, a front end alignment, she should be good to go, plus I need to deal with the 4.30 diff. Sorry to banter about this, but it's agood feeling when you are able to take out the old Mopar for a spin...........Fred

[55 Fargo]

That is a good story Charlie, my Uncle sold a 50s Ford 1/2 ton to his son in-law, the truck was in Manitoba (mid-Canada). His son-in-law and his daughter drove the old truck (unrestored) all the way to Vancouver BC on the west coast 1500 miles away, in early winter. He was running water or not enough antifreeze, they stopped overnight in the mountains of BC, that night the block cracked, but they made it all the way the next day to Vancouver, where the weather is a lot warmer........Fred

[Normspeed]

Great story Charlie. And Rockwood, great to hear that you've got the old buggy up and running.

When I left South Florida for California in 1965, I was in a $50 1955 Plymouth 4 door, powerflite model, with rust holes you could almost put your head through. By the time I hit the hilly part of Florida, I saw I was losing oil pressure on the uphills and gaining it on the downhills. I put the car on a diet of 1 quart oil and one can STP each time it got low. Used quite a bit going across the country. The only real misadventures were replacing the generator in Texas, and the exhaust pipe broke off at the maniflod, also in Texas. Both times the locals treated me very well in getting it back on the road. Car ran well with plenty of oil pressure, with all that STP in there.

When I finally got to CA I treated the trusty old 55 to a real oil change with pure 30W. It knocked so loud you didn't even want to start it!