Wish me luck
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,936
Likes: 54
From: Marietta, GA & Elba, AL
St. Jude Donor '16
Wish me luck
I'm taking the '81 out of town for the first time. 250 miles to my place in Alabama. I'm hoping to make the trip under its own power.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
4 years and 3 months of ownership and I've successfully made ONE trip that was 40 miles each way.
The next longest trip I've ever made was about 25 miles...that was "one way" because she came home on a wrecker.
Other than that, I've only been around town.
So...good luck! I'm sure you'll have fun no matter what happens.
Seriously, though. If everything is in good order, you don't have any pops or sputters, your tires are in reasonably good condition, and you don't have any reasons to DOUBT the car will make it, I'm sure it will be a blast.
The next longest trip I've ever made was about 25 miles...that was "one way" because she came home on a wrecker.
Other than that, I've only been around town.
So...good luck! I'm sure you'll have fun no matter what happens.
Seriously, though. If everything is in good order, you don't have any pops or sputters, your tires are in reasonably good condition, and you don't have any reasons to DOUBT the car will make it, I'm sure it will be a blast.
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,360
Likes: 5,243
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Enjoy the ride. There's nothing like a road trip in a Corvette. As long as you've taken care of things, you should be fine. The one thing that I have had problems with on long trips in old Vettes are rear wheel bearings. A long trip in warm temps will expose a bad wheel bearing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 115
From: Yelm Wa
When I bought my first Corvette ('68), I was a young man, I drove that car everywhere.
I drove it up to Canada, mountain pass in winter (no wipers-Rain-X) Logging a lot of miles, never gave it a second thought..it never left me stranded.
Now that I am older, and supposedly wiser I find that I am overly cautious..forgetting the fact that these cars were daily drivers for many of us.
It's impossible to predict when there will be a failure..It might be a couple of miles from home, or several hundred miles, just like any other old car.
Enjoy the ride.
I drove it up to Canada, mountain pass in winter (no wipers-Rain-X) Logging a lot of miles, never gave it a second thought..it never left me stranded.
Now that I am older, and supposedly wiser I find that I am overly cautious..forgetting the fact that these cars were daily drivers for many of us.
It's impossible to predict when there will be a failure..It might be a couple of miles from home, or several hundred miles, just like any other old car.
Enjoy the ride.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,936
Likes: 54
From: Marietta, GA & Elba, AL
St. Jude Donor '16
I made it with zero problems. Runs great at highway speeds, rough at idle, but I plan to do a tuneup next. Drove 250 miles and saw one other Vette. A C5.
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Great. Congrats.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: NYC NY
I've driven a '65 that sat for a couple of years from just outside of Buffalo New York to NYC with no incidents. I have also driven a brand new '78 Pace Car from Lake Placid to NYC and broke down about 100 miles in to the ride when the fan belt let go. The point is if you know your car leave with a clear head. You have minimized the risk and take lady luck along for the ride. Have a charged cell phone and room on a credit card for a safety net and enjoy the ride. After all that's what a Corvette was meant for......to be driven.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Have fun. Enjoy the smiles and the waves as people give you the thumbs up on the highway. You know your car, and if you did not trust it, you probably would not make the trip.
After years of short drives in my 75 I decided to drive from San Jose to Los Angeles to see my daughters. Thats about 375 miles one way. I took the top off and had a good cruise at 65 mph all the way with the T Tops off. What a blast it was.
have a good safe cruise.
kdf
After years of short drives in my 75 I decided to drive from San Jose to Los Angeles to see my daughters. Thats about 375 miles one way. I took the top off and had a good cruise at 65 mph all the way with the T Tops off. What a blast it was.
have a good safe cruise.
kdf
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 37
What are the main issues people worry about with a longer trip? These cars were built to be driven and not just short nice day drives.
One time I had a fan belt break on the highway. I got a new belt and also a spare to carry with me now.
One time I had a fan belt break on the highway. I got a new belt and also a spare to carry with me now.