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Hi all, Today was HOT! 94 degrees F and the car never went to what I would consider overheating at any time. The trip out was without incident after meeting up with two other cars and while looking for shade to park in, found a spot close to the beer garden and that was good enough (to keep an eye on the car naturally....). I used to sit on the Car Show Committee with 12 other Members / Volunteers and our best show spread out on the 100+ acres of historic local buildings and natural woods was about 750 registered cars. Today's show (possibly due to the heat) was only about 250... However, there were some interesting originally equipped cars which were there for the first time. A beautiful Buick GS. A 1919 Buick who actually drove the back roads some 40 miles away to be here. Great family adventure and experience. We had our fair share of street rods naturally but this 1909 EMF came from London, Ontario trailered of course) but was the oldest Antique at the show. Then while waiting for the 50/50 draw what do we see, Two Lincolns driving near the pass and review area. One was this 1925 Lincoln. And the other a 1927, 7 passenger Lincoln. I was so fascinated listening to the young fellow who was driving it and telling us that he really wasn't a "car guy" but had learned about how to set the spark, the gas, hit the floor starter after turning on the key and resetting things after it stared that I didn't take a shot of the whole car.... They drove both vehicles from about 60 miles away together and were about to leave for home. Beautiful cars and happy to see the expression on the young fellows face! Sadly after they draw the 50/50 just about everyone leaves and because it was early the three of us decided to do a side trip to a Music Festival on the way home which was having a car show too. So, if I am to believe my trip odometer today was 65 miles round trip and again, with temps in the mid to upper 90's the car managed to operate with in acceptable performance. Checked the fuel filter though and think a new one might be in order????

After work yesterday I just had to get the car and tool around a bit. I have been suspecting the speedometer is off so grabbed the Garmin and tested it out. No pictures but sure enough, it is reading faster than actual speed by about 7 miles an hour when showing 55 miles per hour. That's good in a way as I won't be getting a speeding ticket but.... today's young drivers have no patience or respect for slow old cars and so far have been lucky NOT to have anyone pull a fast turn in front of me or passing with little room creating an panic move on my part. Will pay attention to the trip odometer next and see how accurate it is doing as I'd like to continue recording just what mileage I will be putting on her. Being off the road for so long it is almost like getting a new (used) car and learning how it acts and performs. Going out soon to drop the top and double check the fluids before heading out for the day at our Club's semi annual car show. Should be a fun day!

Convinced the wife to go for a ride tonight Downtown like we used to do (many years ago...). Missed the photo opportunity at the River (Detroit) but captured the ride home after almost 15 years not doing so.

Well, finally uploaded the short Friday night video. Nothing exciting and only on the way home but.... First time we have done this together in this car in about 15 years. Kinda recapturing our dating days (in my mind).

So, it is Friday night and after a "stressful week", needed a Buick fix! Decided to load the necessary car show needs in the trunk for this Sunday and thought, Let's bring the car home and convince the wife to go for a Friday night cruise downtown. Pulled it into the other driveway before heading home for a picture. I was just about home and turned the corner when I heard something start rattling in the back on the drivers side. Backed into the driveway and pulled the hubcap from the left rear wheel and find this laying under the cap. Seems one of the three brake drum bolts snapped a head but what has me wondering, how did it loosen up and rattle in the hub cap? Put the wheel wrench to the bolts and managed to tighten one of them but otherwise nothing seemed loose. Cleaned up the cap and convinced my wife to go for a ride. Waiting for the short video to upload but suffice it to say Friday nights are not the same as they used to be..... the Downtown crowd does not get busy (as my son told me) till about 10:30 or so.... Man have I gotten old. Meanwhile, the car performed like a trouper and even had a little fun with what looked to be a middle aged couple in a 2000 something Mustang. Parked her at home for the night and will change her out for the work truck in the morning.

Dale, I'm using the the theory of short trips, starting, driving and checking fluids (after being off the road for sooo long for mine) will determine if I'm crazy enough to attempt a 10 hour trip to the Nationals this year.... In the meantime, having a ball capturing the experience again! Go For IT!

No current pictures today. Just stopped by the Special and resisted taking her out to a Wednesday night Cruise-in as the usual suspects will be at the Car Show this Sunday and want to not spoil the day..... I did clean up the rest of the 160 square grill pieces I missed doing and boy, do my fingers hurt! (old pic)

Does that mean you are driving the Electra to Wisconsin Keith?

Returned to the close by Monday Night Cruise-In again and whether it was the cool evening air or feeding her what high test we have around here, sure seemed to be happy tonight.

Last minute decision to go to the Monday night Cruise-In so with the gas gauge not reading (stuck at 1/4 tank) drove over to the gas station and filled up with high test again to the tune of $20.00. Since it has been awhile driving realised the odometer quit working at 49,000 something but the trip odometer still works as does the speedometer. How accurate they are? Will see when I check against my GPS one day. Should be interesting.... Rad is up, oil was not down enough to add any, trany fluid reads normal when hot and in drive so good to go once again. This time I left the top up as it has been a bit cool today and I'm just getting over a cold. Interesting observation, with about twice as many cars there tonight as last week, maybe where I parked or with the top up changed the looks of the car, but she did not draw near the interest as that first night. It's still good though as so far she operates like I expect it to and have plans to attend my Car Club's Spring Show this coming Sunday which is about a 50 mile round trip. My friend with the '66 Continental decided to drive his '55 Cadillac tonight and thought I'd share. It is a local car purchased used (back in the day) by an alignment shop owner, sold to his daughter till Joe bought it 10 years or so ago. Other than a repaint and the usual mechanical work it is all original equipped too including a nice interior. Another nice highway car!

That's not bad!!!! Ashamed to admit it but took me over many years to do my brake job. However, the end rewards are truly wonderful! Keep at her!

Thank you so much Sir. Dad always said he wished he had kept his Model T but made up for it some by buying a 1920 Overland model 4 in 1966 which we grew up learning about "old cars". Many Happy Memories!

Try replacing the bulb with one of those CFL ones (you know the curly ones). Yes they take a minute to warm up bright but they take a drop much better than the element type bulbs. Cut down my replacing them about 80%.

Cleaned up the top as it needed a good cleaning and conditioning being down for a long time, then went home for dinner and clean the white walls. These short trips are helping me get used to the feel of the Dynaflow again.....

Did the white walls at home, had dinner, talked with a few neighbours out walking about and wondered, "What is it?" Youngn's? LOL Went the back way around the neighbourhood and saw a red & white '58 Ford Fairlane sitting in a driveway that I have never seen before so had to stop and investigate. Seems the car was her Dad's who had passed away three years ago and had been stored in her garage all this time. She is getting it looked at to be road worthy and plated but not sure if she is going to keep it or sell. Nicely restored 2 door post car with V8 (312?) stick on the floor and she started it right up there in the driveway for me. She was as interested in the Special as I was her Ford and hopefully she will keep her car and enjoy the ride too!

After more lawn cutting and getting just about caught up, pulled the Special out to clean up the top on her this afternoon. I was worried after having it down for so long and finding some spotting (on a white top no less) what I was going to use to clean it. Found a two step cleaner and re-coat package that seemed to do the trick. The top is only 32 years old! Next will be the mandatory white wall cleaning and then out for a short cruise downtown.

95Cardinal, "If" I get the Special there please look me up and if not with the car, I (my wife and I) will be there with our tags on so hope we can meet. I attended the Eyes ON Design show a few years ago (2014) with a fellow car collector and enjoyed the whole show, setting and review exceptionally! A very worthwhile event on the shores of Lake St. Clair for anyone that can attend. This Caballero was another Canadian owner Steve Plunkett who had the car transported there after a restoration and which only had 3 miles on it! He won a ribbon and went through the review. One can actually see a few antique cars in the parking lot across from the Ford Estate which is almost a small show bonus in itself. Should I feel confident enough with the Special, would be a great drive along the Lakeshore Drive with the top down!

Here are a few of my Dad's cars. His first car with some friends. A later upgrade. And another of his early ones. RIP Dad. (May 1, 1924 to March 25, 2017)

Thank you Sir. July is looming fast! Would have been better to have done this last year but such is life. Have not seen the progress on yours. Would imagine if it is on the road you would have posted or are you going to surprise us at the National?

Yes everything looks good on paper. Just need go go over everything on the car with a fine toothed comb before venturing out but signs are pointing in a good direction. With that rainbow last night, the registration number having 58 in it and receiving it exactly two months to the date we laid Dad to rest, starting to think there is something to the stars aligning thing? Realistically though, the mechanical is of concern some. I'm going to have to get her back on the hoist as the brake pedal is lower than it was and when applying the brakes hard, she is pulling to the right but able to compensate due to the power steering. Will check for the obvious first like a leaking wheel cylinder or hose connection (even though new), then check adjustment and drum condition. Then I need to pull the plugs as she seems to be dropping one. It could be a wire too but have a new set in the trunk. With the high mileage it might be a fowled plug due to some blow by.... I'd still not like to have to walk back from as far as she will take me. (say from Milwaukee?)

This might be a little spookie as I had to go back to work after supper and saw this.

Yee Haa! Just received my confirmation for this years National and.... Call it fate? My number is 2'58'. Thanks Roy!

I have not followed along from the beginning but my two cents would be (if you have not already) to get several clear inexpensive inline fuel filters as you are driving her. I'm at that point like you with having the car off the road for many years and even with draining the tank and rinsing, not sure I really have all the crude out of it and don't wish to have it settle into the carb leaving me stranded somewhere. With these you can see any stuff collecting and easy to change out. If I missed you doing your gas tank ignore the above. Otherwise, drive her till what you hear and feel seems normal to you but most importantly, ENJOY THE RIDE!

Keith, I suggest you call Roy at 1-214-354-1348. You might get his voice mail but leave your contact information and he will call you back. He took the time this morning to say he would call late this evening or next as he was out of town and register me over the phone as the software (on-line) isn't working just right for us Canadians. He mentioned to me that another Canadian was having issues too. Would that be you by chance? With snail mail what it is I don't want it to be any later getting confirmation. Good luck and hope to see you there!