As a few of you might remember, I put my car in storage last June, moved out of the house after 23 years and hit the open road in a used motorhome. In over 5,000 miles of driving, thru 17 states, I only saw three C3s...a '70-72 orange SB convertible going down a street in Georgetown, SC...a late beige coupe at a car show in Myrtle Beach, SC...and a '70-'72 white convertible on US1 in St. Augustine, FL. I was a little early for a vette show in Nappanee, IN as well as the Turkey Run Car Show in Daytona. You C3 owners out there need to drive more!

In that regard, I went and visited mine yesterday. Here is a picture of the remnants of my man cave:



I will be staying at an RV park near Miami for 3 months, before heading out to the western states...and maybe even Alaska. I plan on getting a fresh battery and spending some quality time getting re-acquainted. It should fire right up and hopefully nothing breaks, because the temptation to floor it is always there. There are things to improve and I have made a list, but I really don't care to spend any more time and money. Thankfully the gas tank contains non-ethanol "Recreation 90" along with C12 race fuel.

My pristine '95 Harley Softail Custom sits abandoned in the back of the locker. I tried to sell it and only received a few pitiful offers. I don't care to drive it any longer (never scraped a knee, quit while I'm ahead) but don't feel like giving it away either. Maybe I'll just keep it as a decoration in the living room of my old-age town house. The lawn mower is left as a reminder of that drudgery.

 

Harley's make great home decor.

 

Get in and Go.

 

Sounds like you're living the life most of us just dream of doing! Enjoy!

 

Enjoy!!

 

Nice looking cover there...is that one of the ones that Central sells? I'm in need.

 

Agreed on more C3 cars getting bugs mashed on the front end and caught into the radiator fins.

There will always be the protected ones but for drivers, like mine, it's always great to see them racking up a little mileage, headed somewhere fun.

Seeing a H-D sitting in the living room like qtlow, makes a great ice-breaker on football sunday, doesn't it?

 

I believe that is where I bought it. Tan flannel. Really soft inside and fits like a glove.

 

I can understand yours appreciating the warmth of the hearth during those cold and snowy Colorado winters. Mine was much happier in the air conditioned living room than in the humid garage. I tried to put it in the bedroom, at the foot of the bed, but the wife would have none of it. No sense of humor...or decorating taste.

 

You're absolutely right Faster Rat. This is where it gets stored during the winter season. At first it took a couple of years to convince my wife to let me do it but once I did it's been regular thing ever since.
The only condition is I have to drain the gas......... No problem.
So at the end of the riding season I change the oil, wash it, wax it, drain the carburetor and gas tanks, put it away and plug in the battery tender.
The following season I just gas it and go!

 

With the holidays over and all the running around done, decided it was about time to fire up the rat and take it for a ride. Got a new battery from Dave Walters, along with a squirt bottle of C12. Checked the fluids, looked for leaks, smelled the non-ethanol 90/C12 gas in the tank, decided everything looked OK so started cranking...and cranking...and cranking. Could not get it to fire. No spark. The points were almost new, but I pulled them anyhow because they have been sitting in the heat and humidity for over six months. We'll see tomorrow if that is the problem. Oh well, nobody ever said these antiquated systems worked well...all the time.

The wife and I are planning to attend the NCRS regional meet in Kissimmee later this month. Should be a nice 250 mile drive up the back roads, taking HWY 27 past Sebring and thru the lakes region. Plan on getting her a set of headphones or ear plugs, otherwise I will never hear the end of "why is this car so loud." Might even attend one day of the Mecum Auction...3000 cars over 10 days. Looks like the collector car hobby is alive and well. Stay tuned.

 

Should be a nice drive. Hopefully we can caravan up there. A pair of 69 427's with side pipes waking up the dusty little towns. Hopefully we can get 12-13 mpg under 60 mph.

It would really be a nice ride if I had my radials, but I am forced to use my wooden shoes for the Performance Verification.

Gary

 

Used a metal fingernail file on the points. The car fired right up. Then went over to Dave's shop and found this restored beauty sitting in the corner.



Looks like I will finally able to set up my re-built original distributor and vacuum advance.