Old tow vehicles

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Old tow vehicles

Postby Kurt (Indiana) » Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:36 pm

These older tow vehicles are fun to drive and are a great conversation piece, but sometimes things just go wrong.
I've been really lucky with my Mustang but I know it will have a problem some day.
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Mary K has a good looking '66 Mustang in her album, but I don't know if she has towed with it or not (what say Mary K)??
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There were several at Minden in 2005 with lots of stories and wierd mishaps along the way.
Being couragous and daring is part of the mystique that makes teardroping fun. :thumbsup:

I'd like to hear some road trip stories so I know the potential that I face when towing with my '65 Mustang. :thinking:
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Postby doug hodder » Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:48 pm

Kurt....I'll use my Rambler for close local trips, but just don't want to take the chance on a long haul...no air, no guts...and parts can get tough to get, it's kinda an offbreed car...With a Mustang like that, parts will be more readily available if something happens. I think the real key here is just how well you know your vehicle no matter what it is and what you can do to it on the road if you need a repair. Gage has some good stories about Minden.

As I have run more miles on mine, all the wheel cylinders are now bad and need to be replaced, easier than rebuilding them in my opinion and I can get them. It's an original car and it spent a lot of time sitting, and as I go through things I get more confidence in it...however, I don't think I'd do a long trip with it ...guess I've turned chicken with my advanced years...For me, it's an adventure if someone is with you...a pain in the ass if you're by yourself...at least that's my thoughts on this car... Doug

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Postby AlaskaJack » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:14 pm

Kurt... is that a '66?
I ordered one new... (yeah... in '66) in as close to "British Racing Green" as they could get (actually, pretty close) with the 289, two barrel carb, black interior and a four speed. Ahhh..... she was sweet!
Yours looks great!
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Postby Scooter » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:18 pm

Need to get off my boat kick and get Shelley ('52 Chevy) back on the road. Needs tires, new master cylinder, among other things. This year is our silver anniversary together. She was my first ride, a junker we resurrected after high school in 1982.

All stock, with the exception of electric wiper motor and 3.55 ring and pinion (the old 4.11 was.....uh, let's not go there). :?
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Postby AlaskaJack » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:49 pm

Shelley is a real sweety!! :thumbsup:
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Postby doug hodder » Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:19 pm

Scooter...what a beauty!!! I had a 51 Suburban...kinda hacked up, and as a 19 year old...I didn't help it any...but they sure had good looking lines... :thumbsup: Doug
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Postby dhazard » Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:41 pm

Old cars, no problem…
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http://tnttt.com/viewto ... douge+zone
Just stay out of the Doug Zone.
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Postby Catoosa Grani » Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:07 am

Well, I can't pull my trailer with this one, but it is a 1921 Model T Huckster that we have driven all over the United States. We trailer it to where we are going and then drive only it until we go home. We usually put 300 to 500 miles on it on a trip. This is a fun car and goes slow enough to see the scenery.

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Now, this is our tow car, a 2003 MINI Cooper S, a really fun car to drive and you have to look in the mirror to see if the TD is really there.

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Postby doug hodder » Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:22 am

Grani B....what a beautiful T!!! that is just made for a vintage camper...maybe some canvas sides and cots is all it takes...Doug
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Postby 48Rob » Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:59 am

Curt,

I don't know Mustangs, but Doug is right on with his take on it!

I think the real key here is just how well you know your vehicle no matter what it is and what you can do to it on the road if you need a repair.


As you know, I do a bit of traveling with my old car.
I know it well, and am able to make repairs if ever needed, though I have never yet had to make a roadside repair...because I know it so well.
(Well, I have had a couple flat tires, and had to wire up a cracked manifold once...)

I use it often enough that the slightest change in anything is instantly apparent...and corrected.

In the old car world, there are drivers, and there are show cars.

Each are nice in their own right, but it can be comical to watch the owners of the "perfect" looking show cars struggling to get them running, or listening to them cough and sputter as they attempt to get them from their trailers out onto the show field.
(Many can't get around the block under their own power).
Many of these owners obviously spend every free moment waxing and polishing instead of taking the time to understand and maintain the drivetrain...
A pile of plastic trophies is heaven for some, but being able to hit the open road anytime for any reason, for any distance without a care is why I'm in it.

If a vintage car owner doesn't have 100% faith in the car and their ability to deal with what may, then it probably isn't a good candidate for towing a trailer...

In general, if an old car can be driven for a hundred miles straight without any issues, it can make a thousand.


Rob

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Postby Kurt (Indiana) » Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:19 am

Rob, of all of the car/trailer combos I've seen so far, yours takes the prize.

With trailer brakes, the overwhelming size of the cabin car is minimized but it still looks scary to me. :shock:

Any car older than 1985 (pre Fuel Injection) can make the trip challenging and fun at the same time (for many reasons). :thinking:

I really enjoy the "period" look of the older cars and the teardrop trailer so, to me, it's the fun part. :applause: :thumbsup:
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Postby elmo » Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:59 am

It won't be my primary tow vehicle...but will be putting a hitch on it this week. Thinking about getting rid of it and getting a 1955-1957 Ford or Chevy pick-up for my next project.

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Postby Scooter » Sun Jun 03, 2007 9:58 am

This '67 was my great "classic as a daily driver" experiment. Bought it as is, with a '93 Vortec V6, modern A/C, and other nice work the previous owner had done. Then it dominated every weekend as I kept tweaking and trying to make it something it could never be...the perfect brand new vehicle.
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More pics of the '67 here: http://www.truckwithaheart.com/67chevy.htm

So I drove it for a year, then wimped out and got the Element. Haven't looked back. :thumbsup:

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Postby deputydogrick » Sun Jun 03, 2007 6:47 pm

Kurt,
I started working for Ford in 1969, there is nothing on your 66 that can't be fixed reasonably and quickly, even today. I had a 71 Mach 1, paid $3500. off the truck. Boy do I miss those days. Cars that could be actually worked on, didn't need anything but a screwdriver and a matchbook short of putting a piston through the side of the engine. even then we could get a few more miles.
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Postby t-vicky » Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:10 pm

If I can remember them new then they are not [img]old.http://tnttt.com/album_ ... ic_id=8637[/img]
The impossable just takes longer & cost more.
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