The Drive Home, Part 2: The High Desert

Photos by Bill Hall and Derek Klein.

Day 2 started early for the crews. The cross-country expedition from the LeMay/America's Car Museum to The North American International Auto Show in Detroit has wound east of Bend, Oregon, and is headed for Boise, Idaho. Ahead of us lies the high desert of Eastern Oregon.

The cars are settling in nicely, and the crews are all feeling a sense of accomplishment for navigating the snowy pass the night before. The morning is clear and cold, and we are sure to give the cars plenty of warm-up time as we deal with the small items that plague old cars in winter; frozen locks and sticky weatherstripping. Each of the cars cranks easily and idles well.

A lot has been made about the preparation the cars have gone through to be ready for the trip. Specifically, the precautions that have been taken to protect the cars from the elements and road salt. Each of the three cars is wearing a clear vinyl wrap on the rockers, quarters, front fenders and hood. In the case of the Chrysler, it extends over the headlights and light surrounds. The weatherstripping on the door, tailgates and trunk lids are new, and each car has had its lower components and underbody painted during the extensive mechanical refitting necessary to make each car roadworthy. Liberal use of greases and protective undercoatings were employed in the mission-specific preparation. The result is a better weatherproofed car than was ever available in period.

Although the snow and slush provides for dramatic images, the expedition has not run into the use of road salt yet. Though with weather pushing through the Midwest, we expect to see it used from Kansas to Michigan. Once in Detroit, the cars will be treated to a thorough cleaning with a de-salinization wash and detail before they are trucked back to the LeMay Museum.

The crews have upgraded their communication with short range walkie-talkies for each of the vehicles. LeMay/ACM CEO David Madeira, in the lead Mustang, is quick to point out sights or crack a joke, and the banter between the ACM crew is friendly and funny. But most of the time, the airwaves are silent, as the drivers are immersed in the natural wonder of the surroundings and the time-capsule vehicles traversing the roads.

Heading into Boise, the team stopped at a microbrewery for an ACM enthusiast gathering before packing it in for the night. Halfway through an intersection, the Mustang stalls…the third time today. We believe there are a few issues with the little Ford that are competing for our attention – the starter, carburetor and ignition switch to name a few, and we are anxious to take a look at them when time permits. But it's nothing to dampen our enthusiasm for the adventure we are on, and what challenges we face on the road then next day.

William Hall is a writer, car collector and classic car broker based in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

from Hemmings Daily – News for the collector car enthusiast http://ift.tt/1VnHxZH