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27 States in an Old Car....

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AngliaGT

AngliaGT

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I'm thinking (yeah - it happens every 5 years or so)
about a road trip accross the USA,maybe in May.
I've got a rough route laid out - about 7,000 miles.
But who to see?Which car to take?
I've got the ratty '68 Ford Cortina,that is a cool car,
because it's rough around the edges.
Then there's the '67 MGB GT - a "20 footer"/driver.
The '78 Datsun B210 - Hey,it's a Datsun.
The '60 Anglia - but it needs lots of work.
My thought is driving through (is thru a word?)CA,Nevada,Utah,Colorado,Kansas,Iowa,Illinois,Wisconsin,Indiana,
Michigan,Ohio,Pennsylvania,New York,Vermont,New Hampshire,
Maine,New Jersey,Virginia,North Carolina,South Carolina,
Florida,Tennesse,Arkansas,Oklahoma,New Mexico,Arizona,then
back home.
I'm thinking 45 days,$4,000+,camping & staying with
friends/family when possible.
I'm thinking about doing this in May,or September.
Any thoghts,or ideas?

- Doug
 
Sounds like a Plan. I see Vermont on the list- Lots of good campgrounds around here and if you would like to save a buck or two i have a yard you can pitch your tent in...

I vote for the gt.


m
 
Doug - a good suggestion I got from several other guys who once did a "classic car trip".

Before the 7000 mile trip, take at least one overnight trip in every car you're considering. You need to check that the car will hold up.

So while you're planning the route, also plan the "car condition evaluation".

And here's a great group of trip planners:

https://americanroadmagazine.com/forum/

Tom
 
Stop on by
we will have the coffee pot on and brewing.
 
Sounds like fun. Take one with overdrive if you have it... freeways are unavoidable in some places. No matter what you take it'll be fun.

Look me up if you make it out my way.
 
Doug, I certainly hope you'll look me up if you come through Virginia. I'm right in the center of the state (geographically), with loads of historical interest places nearby, not to mention more wineries and brew pubs than most entire states have!

When the time comes, let me know.

Cheers and best wishes for a safe trip. :yesnod:
 
If you happen to drive through a dry, dustly place with lits of Juniper and scrub pine, and the occassional cacti, give us a shout.
 
This may never happen,but I've always wanted to take a
trip like this.I think that I'll start keeping a file on this.
The Cortina got me started on this idea,as it's reliable,
low milage,& a little rough around the edges,plus I would have
the only Bugundy one if I attended a car show!
Sorry if I left any areas out of the list - this is just
a rough idea.I appreciate the offers of meeting up.

- Doug
 
I suggest fall. If you timed it right you could be in Watkins Glen for the Vintage Grand Prix Festival. Not to mention the fall foliage in the North-East.
I don't have an extra bed to offer, but it'd great to get to see you guys again.
 
Road trips are great, especially in a "special" car.

Take time to see the attractions along the way.

Jeand and I have seen a lot of America during road trips in the MG.
 
Doug- I love road trips. My love of my life and I took one when I moved to Seattle.
69 V'dub bus. We took the time to see the sites and I suggest you do the same.
Of course we had no other choice.
It broke down every day on the trip
 
racingenglishcars said:
DART said:
Doug- how do you get from NJ to VA without going thru (yes, I think it is a word) MD??
Click to expand...
That's exactly the first thing I noticed, but I was also thinking West Va.
Click to expand...

Better yet, howsya gonna git in or out of FL w/o Georgia or AL?

I say BGT. You could still find parts "easier". datsun would be most reialble but the most boring too. IMO about the same in a Yugo.
 
DNK said:
Doug- I love road trips. My love of my life and I took one when I moved to Seattle.
69 V'dub bus. We took the time to see the sites and I suggest you do the same.
Of course we had no other choice.
It broke down every day on the trip
Click to expand...

Those weren't break downs, they were opportunistic failures to proceed....you would have missed everything you ended up seeing if they hadn't happened! :laugh:
 
I was planning to do a 13,000 miles trip in our '49 TC a couple years ago but some things got in the way. No idea when it will happen at this point but it will happen. You only live once.
 
I'm still trying to make it work - the two things that I would
like to do is meet Peter Egan,& make one of the Hemmings "Cruize In's".
Meeting other British Car people is the "Frosting on the Cake".
If you're willing to meet-up,or let me stay with a tent/sleeping bag
along the way,please let me know.

- Doug
 
Hi Doug. As you know, I'd been planning a very similar coast to coast trip in my 1958 Mercedes-Benz. The trip was in honor of my parents, who never could make their own trip, due to illness.

Just my luck - now I'm dealing with illness myself. In addition to that and related medical expenses, the only thing holding me back from making that trip now is fear of mechanical breakdown along the way, and its related expenses.

I'd imagine that any of the wonderful old cars that you choose to use for your own trip, could have a breakdown. Things like snapped suspension, thrown rod, transmission loses a gear, etc. Big mechanical issues like that would be a major headache to repair along the route, as well as cost a small fortune - especially "out in the sticks" where you don't know any classic car guys.

How are you handling the possible breakdown issue? Maybe there's something I'm overlooking that could encourage me to take my trip after all.

Thanks.
Tom
 
The car (1968 Ford Cortina Deluxe) has 69,000 original miles
on it,with low miles on a rebuilt transmission.I have a garage full
of extra parts,plus lots of contacts for Cortina people.I would have
it checked over before I left.
I was also thinking that maybe I could use this trip as a fund-
raiser for Cancer research,stopping at different car shows,& having
people affected by Cancer sign their names on the car,which would truly
give a purpose for the trip.
Again,this is still in the thinking stage,& may or may not happen.

- Doug
 
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