Poll - How far away from home do you drive your classic?

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I get a thrill from roadside fixes in the middle of nowhere lol... kind of an adrenaline rush, like "hey if I don't fix this I might die!"

Farthest I drove my Duster was 6 1/2 hours to Telluride, CO and back to Denver for the Bluegrass Festival. Spent more money on gas than we should have but damn was that a fun drive, nothing like opening up the secondaries to pass slowpokes on a 2-lane highway. Zero mechanical issues too but I still brought all my tools.

There really is so little to go wrong with these cars and unless it's something severe that keeps it from running at all they can usually be "limped" pretty far. I'm not going to worry about spinning a crank bearing or blowing up a rear axle, if that does happen then so be it, "it was destined." Better than sitting in the house (garage?) all day safe and sound twiddling your thumbs.

Oh and I recently got Hagerty classic insurance on my Duster which includes roadside assistance and coverage of replacement parts and tools. Not much of an excuse not to go cruising anymore. My biggest fear has always been getting hit by some dumbass in a truck or SUV, WAY more scary and realistic than a break-down.
 
I get a thrill from roadside fixes in the middle of nowhere lol... kind of an adrenaline rush, like "hey if I don't fix this I might die!"

Farthest I drove my Duster was 6 1/2 hours to Telluride, CO and back to Denver for the Bluegrass Festival. Spent more money on gas than we should have but damn was that a fun drive, nothing like opening up the secondaries to pass slowpokes on a 2-lane highway. Zero mechanical issues too but I still brought all my tools.

There really is so little to go wrong with these cars and unless it's something severe that keeps it from running at all they can usually be "limped" pretty far. I'm not going to worry about spinning a crank bearing or blowing up a rear axle, if that does happen then so be it, "it was destined." Better than sitting in the house (garage?) all day safe and sound twiddling your thumbs.

Oh and I recently got Hagerty classic insurance on my Duster which includes roadside assistance and coverage of replacement parts and tools. Not much of an excuse not to go cruising anymore. My biggest fear has always been getting hit by some dumbass in a truck or SUV, WAY more scary and realistic than a break-down.
Couldn't agree more, in all the years I drove my 70 to work daily in the summer, plus on weekends cruising or to the drag strip, I had one very minor collision with an elderly woman who probably should not have been driving anyway as she said she didn't see me.
 
I drive a classic every day, as my daily driver is a 1990 Ford Bronco, closing in on 170k miles, all stock, original 5.0 liter automatic, has had the front end rebuilt, new brakes all around, tires etc. It runs decent, gets me to work and back every day, I will be replacing the radiator soon as it is showing signs of age, and while I'm there I'll do the upper and lower hoses and the bypass. All part of how I keep the maintenance up on any of my vehicles. I have taken this truck on a 5 hour round trip this winter without any problems, except that the heater control does not direct the air flow to the floor, making for some cold feet. I replaced the transmission last fall with a used one out of an F-150 that I parted out, gave it a major tune up, and a few other minor things, otherwise it has proven to be reliable, and I enjoy driving it.
 
Ok, good deal. Sounds a lot like my car except the front end, which I'm doing now with the off set bushings, and t-bars and all the rest of the front end parts.
Electrical...mine is still original and worries me a bit.
I know this isnt a purist thing, but I was thinking about replacing the alternator and distributor with GM type parts. Then no ballast resistor, no external regulator and a lot less wiring. All for the sake of simplicity and reliability.
Funny I was worried about wiring...took the car to Carlisle last summer. 500 mile ride each way. Of course the second I got on the highway I had a weird vibration but said the heck with it, and plunged on. Got to Carlisle and parked the car in the hot sun all day to go enjoy the car show. Went back to the car after a long day, fired it up and smoked rolled out from under the dash...electrical fire...not big, but I was 500 miles away from home! So I pulled all the fuses I could and disconnected the instrument cluster then fired it up again. No more smoke. I drove all the way home with no dash but made it. Since then I've replaced all the under dash wiring as well as put in an after market dash and gauges. I've only drove it 100 miles since then, but it seems good now. Break downs take the fun out of rides when your far from home.
 
I am planning on driving my 64 dart wagon next year on Power Tour. Should be about 2000 miles round trip.
 
This is more for the non-daily driver a bodies..
How far do you venture from home in a car that you may not drive to often?
I'm thinking mostly 72 and back.
My car, 67 barracuda..bought in 1/18, did a lot of mechanical and electrical work and then did about a 2 hour ride away from home, and then back on a crazy hot day. Ran well, no break downs, lol.
But how far would you go...4 hours, 8 hours, etc?
from Central Florida to Michigan and back a couple times, I can't wait to get the 66 dart done (with the 97 Sebring convertible power seats)so I can at least drive for 6-8 hours without feeling like a mule kicked me for 2 hours straight.
 
I drive mine about 60 miles from home twice a year. Pretty lame compared to you guys.
 
Many times, couple hundred mile round trips. Just cruising. I’d love to go further. But, at 9-12 mpg. It kind of gets expensive. I take my car out often, seems like I spend $30 every time I pull it out of the garage.
 
So far, longest trip has been 90 miles one way, but I'm still sorting out the car. It's 53 years old with 127K on the clock, and has had NOTHING done to update or improve it since it left the factory. So far, I got all the leaks fixed, new wheels and tires, fixed the brakes (B-I-G relief there!) and replaced the radiator. But I know it's still far from ready for a road trip. The rear end knocks, the tranny makes clunking noises when shifting and won't stay in 2nd gear when decelerating, the front end is all original and I can look at the rubber boots on the ball joints and see inside to the working innards. This winter will see all that fixed. Once I get it done, I won't be scared to take it anywhere.
 
I purchased/picked up a daily driver '65 Valiant Signet convertible 273 auto in Port Angeles, Washington and drove it to La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico (with one stop in California) which clocked about 2,250 miles. Still running, but shakes a little at idle.

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I drive mine about 60 miles from home twice a year. Pretty lame compared to you guys.

Agree Bob - that is pretty lame! We need to get you out to more shows! You should check out "Mopars at the Red Barns" next July - it would be probably 100+/- miles each way, but almost all on I-94! I took the Swinger last year.

Dick
 
Agree Bob - that is pretty lame! We need to get you out to more shows! You should check out "Mopars at the Red Barns" next July - it would be probably 100+/- miles each way, but almost all on I-94! I took the Swinger last year.

Dick
HA! Thanks Dick for agreeing with me!
Always wanted to go there but it makes me nervous to drive on I-94 at 60 mph.
 
In September my wife and i drove my 74 Duster from Racine wi to lacrosse wi taking the long way, it took about 6hrs to Mississippi mayhem.
 
HA! Thanks Dick for agreeing with me!
Always wanted to go there but it makes me nervous to drive on I-94 at 60 mph.
Sounds like you need to do tires and a modern alignment, then you wouldn't have that issues unless more is wrong with the front end.
 
We'll get a few more Mopars and have a 60 mph caravan!!!
Do you guys really only go 60 mph on the highway? As you probably know, there are spots in MI where the limit is 75mph now.
That wouldn't be a caravan, but more like a traffic hazard! lol
 
Agree Bob - that is pretty lame! We need to get you out to more shows! You should check out "Mopars at the Red Barns" next July - it would be probably 100+/- miles each way, but almost all on I-94! I took the Swinger last year.

Dick
Just googled it..sounds like quite a place, the Gilmore car museum! 2 hours ride for me which should be fun.
My only dilemma is that I have a wicked 340 all done up, plus 4k stall and 3:55 gears to slap in my cuda. Its currently a 273 2 barrel, 292 gears and just fine on the highway getting 16mpg. If I do the swap, it kills my traveling I'm assuming. Burnouts or long cruises....decisions..
 
Most so far was a 200 mile round-trip to meet up with some awesome FABO members at Summit.

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Just googled it..sounds like quite a place, the Gilmore car museum! 2 hours ride for me which should be fun.
My only dilemma is that I have a wicked 340 all done up, plus 4k stall and 3:55 gears to slap in my cuda. Its currently a 273 2 barrel, 292 gears and just fine on the highway getting 16mpg. If I do the swap, it kills my traveling I'm assuming. Burnouts or long cruises....decisions..
Could do the trailer queen syndrome since I have a truck and car hauler, but would never do that. If you can't drive them to the show, don't talk to me, lol.
 
-- Get AAA . --- AAA Premium will pay for a 200 mile tow, plus a couple 100 mile tows each year. -- I've only used it once. a few miles from home, for The 33. -- But it's cheap insurance.
Yep, used it for towing from a leaking main seal half way to Carlisle this year. Slightly over 100 miles so I had to use the 200 mile towing. Then after I got it home I discovered that the the flat bed operator dented my brand new Tanks Inc. fuel injection tank by tightening the ratchet strap against it ARRRGHHH
 
Yep, used it for towing from a leaking main seal half way to Carlisle this year. Slightly over 100 miles so I had to use the 200 mile towing. Then after I got it home I discovered that the the flat bed operator dented my brand new Tanks Inc. fuel injection tank by tightening the ratchet strap against it ARRRGHHH
From the moment the operator goes to hook up the cable to the moment they roll out I'm right over their shoulder checking everything they touch, I told one operator if he doesn't like he could just leave and I'll report it to AAA. Learned the hard way before these things were classics. Even then I'm watching as the cables/straps are loaded.
Before these were classics I had the rear valance on a 73 Barracuda caved in and rear brake lines crushed. I have seen bent struts from people strapping cars down to those.


Alan
 
From the moment the operator goes to hook up the cable to the moment they roll out I'm right over their shoulder checking everything they touch, I told one operator if he doesn't like he could just leave and I'll report it to AAA. Learned the hard way before these things were classics. Even then I'm watching as the cables/straps are loaded.
Before these were classics I had the rear valance on a 73 Barracuda caved in and rear brake lines crushed. I have seen bent struts from people strapping cars down to those.


Alan
Yep, shoulda paid closer attention, live and learn.
 
Just googled it..sounds like quite a place, the Gilmore car museum! 2 hours ride for me which should be fun.
My only dilemma is that I have a wicked 340 all done up, plus 4k stall and 3:55 gears to slap in my cuda. Its currently a 273 2 barrel, 292 gears and just fine on the highway getting 16mpg. If I do the swap, it kills my traveling I'm assuming. Burnouts or long cruises....decisions..
I have a very similar set up, and jetted a little rich, but goes like a scalded dog. 8mpg yes but so what!! Drove it (& left it) at the airport last week. About 100 miles each way and 75 limits most of the way. Wanna spice up business travel? Highly recommend!!!
 
Both of my project cars are st/strip cars and will be required to drive the 60 to the strip and back even though I have a trailer. That's going to be the max effort with the Plymouth the brand X will be a summer daily driver.
 
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