Your Thoughts?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,976
Likes: 54
From: On the bank of the Columbia River..... Washington State
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 801
Likes: 19
From: Moose country Vermont
Go for it
If you have good insurance, AAA, and a little savvy, just drive it.
I bought a 67 in cocoa beach, Fl and drove it 1550mi to Vt. Nowhereman(Keith) is the current owner. Original car had 90+K miles. Great road trip. That is what owning these cars is about.IMO
I bought a 67 in cocoa beach, Fl and drove it 1550mi to Vt. Nowhereman(Keith) is the current owner. Original car had 90+K miles. Great road trip. That is what owning these cars is about.IMO
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,049
Likes: 134
From: St. Clair Shores MI
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
2017 C2 of the Year Finalist
I guess it all depends on you: do you want an adventure story to tell or a tow bill to show your friends?
Me, I'd opt for the adventure every single time
Me, I'd opt for the adventure every single time
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 15,297
Likes: 2,261
From: NorCal
Maybe there's a Good Samaritan on standby who could help him finish his cruise, if need be............
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 939
From: Chattanooga Tennessee
The decision to drive these cars is never going to be as safe, sensible, or comfortable as a modern car. Why not start your ownership off right?! I know I did.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,073
Likes: 414
From: Maine
He could ask someone who lives in the SF area to check out the car...so that he has an idea of its condition.....lots of very helpful people
Jack
Last edited by Jackfit; Aug 11, 2015 at 10:33 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 15,297
Likes: 2,261
From: NorCal
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 148
From: Santa Barbara California
There are some really good people in the Bay Area who can check the car car and perform whatever whatever work it may need. I assume it may just need fluids changed and a tune-up. It seems the drive could be fun but what condition is the car in? If it is pristine, do you want to chance road chips, etc.?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 38,307
Likes: 2,070
From: California
I would think anyone with mechanical skills
Could evaluate it for such a trip! I would focus on the cooling and ease of it starting and tires, but if i could get it running relatively smooth or find it running decent and had brakes or could get brakes--- I could make it!!! (Been there and done that a number of times in my life!) But i also know what parts i would throw in the car for the trip!!!
PS it is really hard to follow such a post with cautions on ROAD CHIPS!
Hey Jack, those two ladies look so good in your car, you should just give it to them!
PS it is really hard to follow such a post with cautions on ROAD CHIPS!
Hey Jack, those two ladies look so good in your car, you should just give it to them!
Last edited by TCracingCA; Aug 12, 2015 at 12:19 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,015
Likes: 2,260
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
Sounds like a great shakedown trip to me. I mean you bought it to drive it right?? Then let's drive the wheels off it!!
JIM
JIM
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 171
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Drive it!! If it checks out as far as decent brakes, no major leaks and fluids in good shape, by all means go for it. I drove my 65 all over the country in some very desolate areas in the 70s, way before cell phones! When I bought my 57 in 2003, I drove it 300 miles over two mountain passes in Colorado with only a test drive and some basic tools. Maybe not the smartest thing to do, but memories of that trip always bring a smile to my face. I couldn't pass anyone without getting thumbs-up and waves.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,913
Likes: 211
From: APO AE
Where is the OP?
If I am reading it right, Tuxnharley has already seen the car we are speaking of... right?
If it were me, and its not, I'd ask him directly, "Could this car be driven for a 10 hour trip with some "reasonable" degree of certainty that it would make it?"
Sounds to me like he has questions about how the motor is set up...
If I am reading it right, Tuxnharley has already seen the car we are speaking of... right?
If it were me, and its not, I'd ask him directly, "Could this car be driven for a 10 hour trip with some "reasonable" degree of certainty that it would make it?"
Sounds to me like he has questions about how the motor is set up...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 3
From: Mosquito Land, Manitoba, Canada
Going over the Siskiyous in a 50 year old car you really have no history with is insane. There is 10 plus miles of 6-7% downgrade heading toward Medford plus several sections of 6% grades up and around Grants Pass. It isn't like driving around Florida where speed bumps are the only mountain passes you'll encounter.
.
.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,145
Army
There is plenty of time for adventures in your car once you get it home and checked out. And, what's the worst that can happen. Well, anything...from a delay in the trip to something biblical. Typically the more mechanically inclined on here will tell you to 'go for it'; the rest prob come down on the 'tow it home' side.
As stated, I've done both. However, in the case of the '66 Mustang I spent several hours going over it and driving it around the seller's local area before launching from MD to FL...
I wouldn't let some date for a car show drive my decision though...
As stated, I've done both. However, in the case of the '66 Mustang I spent several hours going over it and driving it around the seller's local area before launching from MD to FL...
I wouldn't let some date for a car show drive my decision though...
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 47,628
Likes: 65
So, I bought a 1965 Corvette L76. I've discussed this on many threads on this forum. The problem is, Monterey has a car show and the car is sitting in San Francisco at the former owners house. Should I wait for a car carrier for a late August delivery or should I just fly up there and drive it back 10 hours to my house?
Your thoughts?
Your thoughts?
Thread Starter
Turn 12!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,976
Likes: 506
From: The Beach
Where is the OP?
If I am reading it right, Tuxnharley has already seen the car we are speaking of... right?
If it were me, and its not, I'd ask him directly, "Could this car be driven for a 10 hour trip with some "reasonable" degree of certainty that it would make it?"
Sounds to me like he has questions about how the motor is set up...
If I am reading it right, Tuxnharley has already seen the car we are speaking of... right?
If it were me, and its not, I'd ask him directly, "Could this car be driven for a 10 hour trip with some "reasonable" degree of certainty that it would make it?"
Sounds to me like he has questions about how the motor is set up...