Antique Car Driving Stories.

[Guest drnittler]

Dumb request..Does anybody out there have any antique car long distance driving stories? All I see here, at shows, are people who trailor the cars. I must be the only person who actually drives to events. Thanks.

[DavidMc]

I have just returned from driving Perth to Sydney (Australia) 2,600 miles in a 1912 Maxwell 2 cylinder, it took 20 days. There were about 30 cars and bikes all around 100 years old and all one or 2 cylinder that made it all the way. I was a great adventure not without problems but we did trailer the Maxwell to the start. As we live in Sydney we thought that driving the 2,600 miles to Perth for the start was a bit over the top!

We also have 1920's Packards all restored to excellent original condition and all driven on tours. We have covered about 15,000 miles in the oldest a 1922 Packard and it has always made it home under its own power.

Each car has been entered into concours/show type events in its first year after restoration then maintained in good condition but not to show standard so that it can be driven in all weather without being concerned about it getting dirty.

If you don't drive them you are missing out on great experiences.

However the best part for me is the years spent restoring them .

[Matt Harwood]

I drove my 1929 Cadillac about 2500 miles last summer, and plan to do at least as much this year. We drove down to the Cadillac National Meet in Columbus, about 140 miles each way, and took it straight down the highway at 55 MPH, with my lady friend following me in an Allante we had for sale. No issues at all, complete with her two young sons, including Riley the Red riding shotgun with me. We enjoyed the meet, then drove home through monsoon like conditions and once again the Cadillac did not miss a beat. The wipers actually worked reasonably well, although I discovered that the top insert has a few leaks and the raise-up windshield tends to drip on my leg as the rain piles up against the seal at the bottom. In fact, it seems like every third time I take the car out it rains. But that's the point of having a car that isn't a trailer queen--you just keep driving and worry about it later. I wipe it down when I get back in the garage.

As a matter of fact, we're gearing up to head down to the same venue next weekend for a huge car show. My plan is to take the Cadillac, but we're still waiting on tires, so if that doesn't work out, I suppose I'll take the '41 Ford out of inventory and drive that instead.

Father's day weekend we took it down to Akron, about a 45 mile drive, and again, pleasant. We took back roads instead of the highway this time, and yes, once again, the rains came and flooded us. The Cadillac doesn't seem to mind the rain and ran perfectly all the way home. It's the best-running old car I've ever experienced and seems to be as reliable as my daily driver and I honestly never think twice about taking it out, even for a long drive with family. Of course, now that I've said that, it's going to break down just to spite me, right?

Trailer? What's a trailer? Get out and DRIVE!

Edited June 29, 2012 by Matt Harwood (see edit history)

[The Old Guy]

I hauled a 1935 travel trailer from Michigan to California ,then up the coast to Washington state, and home with my 1932 Buick 90 series. I have also put 112.000 miles on my 1940 Buick.

BUICK ARE MADE TO BE DRIVEN

[ply33]

Not as many miles as some other responses here. But a group of us caravanned from California to Portland, Oregon (about 1500 miles round trip) for a show a couple years ago. And I've just heard the spring 2013 Plymouth club's meet will be in Tucson, about 850 miles from home via freeway (or a bit over 900 miles each way by the most obvious non-freeway route) and am starting to make plans to drive to it in the '33.

[Guest drnittler]

Thanks one and all. I needed a little inspiration to get me going in my 61 Studebaker Lark. Thanks.

[Mark Huston]

Several years ago, I owned a 1928 Studebaker President close-coupled sedan.

With my family, wife, and two daughters, we traveled for 2 weeks camping out along the way with another couple who were driving a 1928 Studebaker President roadster. Our trip consisted of close to 3,000 miles, we left Sacramento, California driving over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, driving east across Nevada, Utah, then up into Idaho turning west to Sutherlin, Oregon, and then returning to Sacramento.

The purpose of our trip was to attend two Antique Studebaker meets that were held on back-to-back weekends. The first weekend was a meet in Logan, Utah. The next weekend was the meet in Sutherlin, Oregon. My friend and I tied for the longest distance driven award at both meets.

We looked like the Grapes of Wrath with all of our gear tied down to the back of the cars and the running boards. The longest day of driving with the last day when we left Sutherlin, Oregon, in the pouring rain, driving straight through to Sacramento which was a distance of over 400 miles. We did not get out of the rain until we reached Redding, CA. The kids still talk about that trip.

Edited June 29, 2012 by Mark Huston (see edit history)

[Guest drnittler]

All great adventures

[John_Maine]

A few years ago, there was a story in the Buick Bugle about someone who purchased an early 50's Buick in the northeast and proceeded to drive it to Florida or somewhere down south during the winter. It was interesting as they ran into a snow storm on the way. Pete Phillips might remember when the story appeared.

[AVSmi]

Here's the blog that has my story...Alice Ramsey - The Road Trip

Dan Boehm