Customs Sight unseen ‘54 Olds Tex-SoDak trip

After selling my ‘40 Chrysler, my wife was fairly persistent it was her turn for a car. Searched for a ‘54 Cadillac for some time. Stumbled on a cool ‘54 Olds in a picture. After approving it with the wife I added that to the search. I found a super clean rig outside of Dallas. The old fella that had it gave me a pretty fair description of what he had. Shortly later I booked tickets for my 13yr old daughter and myself to fly down and bring it home. Last august….

 

She was super excited to go with. The plan was take backroads and avoid all highways and interstates. We figured 3 days and 1200 miles.

 

The fella picked us up at the Dallas airport and we went to the car in Wills Point. We stopped at a Napa on the way to the car. He went in and bought an inline fuel filter and gave it to me. This should have been my first clue…..

After checking the car out and taking car of the financials we needed to get heading north. We got out a couple hours later than planned due to a bit of financial error on my part. We went north to Greenville TX. Stopped at an oreilys and harbor freight. Bought tools, and all the proper necessities, along with our first tank of fuel.

 

A definite perfect selection. We don't get to see pictures like yours very often.
That ride will last for a while

 

Our next stop in all honesty was to find some proper A/C was at a chik-fil-a in Sherman TX. (Her choice). It was 100+ and the car kept what I thought was vapor locking and would act up a bit more past a certain temperature but I could keep it under that if we didn’t run the swamp cooler.
The fella filled the trunk with stock intake, and several steering parts, drums, spindles, and other various parts from a parts car. She was quite heavy in the trunk. Trying to get it to run cooler and save a bit on petrol, we decided to find a new owner for these parts. (Don’t ask). The plan was to make Chickasha OK the first night. We pulled into Duncan OK around 8 pm and called it quits. Cooled off in the pool. Ran to Walmart and got some water wetter and a turkey baster so I could make some room for the snake oil.

 

Woke up early to some light rain, topped off with fuel and headed north. The rain picked up and sometime north we pulled into a Walmart, applied a heavy coat of rain x and then realized we had no tail lights. Was quite dark yet not quite 6 am. I bought a bicycle tail light, taped it to the bumper and plotted north.

This was one of the best parts of the drive, cruising these small backroads and bounced along Route 66 for a bit.

 

Haylee was quite upset with me when she found out I let her sleep through that awesome sunrise and Route 66. I thought teenagers like extra sleep. Stopped for some breakfast jerky and gas station donuts.

 

We got to Fort Dodge KS just before lunch. Was 110 degrees. After some questionable BBQ. We needed to avoid the heat and not hurt the car during the heat. So she talked me into a water park full of shitheads that kept looking at my daughter. I may never let her date or wear anything less than a sweater ever again.

we got tired of the water and found a movie theater, had a popcorn dinner.
After the movie we decided to finally brave the heat. We were only a few miles north and realized it was still way to hot. 7pm and 106 degrees. We stopped in the shade at a dollar store in Jetmore KS. Sat there till we stopped sweating and pointed towards home again.

We knew we were behind schedule a bit so we ended up jumping on I70 and let the old 324 buck for awhile. My cousin heard of our trip and demanded we crash at her place in McCook Ne. We drove well into the night and showed up around 11pm.

 

She wasn’t happy but I drug her back to the car at 430am. I really didn’t want to contend with the heat again so early it was.
We jumped in the car and after letting it warm up we took off. It didn’t take long to realize it wouldn’t shift from low. After many minutes of pondering I kept driving it around a Walmart parking lot trying to get it to warm up the fluid ( in my head this would fix it) (sure).

and…. Eventually it slipped into 2nd and we crammed it back on the two lane. Now there was one thing we had to figure out on the car that we had yet to use. The heater. It was what felt like 40 degrees. Long story short the warmest it hit all day was like 65. Crazy. Was an awesome drive up through the Sandhills of Nebraska.

 

Car was running fantastic. Stopped in Chadron NE for breakfast.

So I used this app to track fuel mileage and costs. At one point we ran at 26.5 mpg Crazy


We got home early afternoon and the wife loved it.

 

Have really enjoyed the car. Just had the hydramatic rebuilt this winter and making plans for king pins and some simple custom touches.

 

Man what a fantastic journey and post! Shit the cars pretty great as well. Thanks for sharing

 

Love it! Reminds me of all the roadtrips in our 1954 Olds 88 coupe. The Olds engines from the 50's got great mileage, I routinely get 24+. Thanks for sharing and keeping that beauty on the road!

 

I genuinely cannot wait to do it again. I am on the hunt for a early to mid 60s pickup. I keep looking farther and farther away from home because I cannot wait to do this again.

 

I once had a '54 Olds, same colors. Engine was shot, bolted in a '55 324. Some idiot stole it shortly after, never saw it again! Beautiful car.

 

drive it down to the roc in October! Half the distance but you get to drive it there and back fantastic weekend of fun

 

I turned my T in and did not make it. Probably should have tried the Olds, but its still pretty stock.
Talking about going down to be a part of it and enjoy it.

 

Fantastic little car and fantastic trip. Keep the 13-year-old thinking about old cars and she will be just fine.

-Abone.

 

Amazing that you found a car that matches the color of the T.

 

Brings back memories of the 60s. I had the same car minus the rocker trim. 55 olds eng and a 37 cad LaSalle trans. No where as nice as yours. Great find and road trip

 

Creating memories is the best excuse their is for buying something long distance.
Doesn't matter if it's a vehicle or parts it's the trip that matters.

 

dude there were about 300 non registered, fucking cool hot rods, at the hotel,reliability run and in the parking lot. Don’t let a little thing like not being “in the show” stop ya I took my late model and had a blast, taking the 46 this year wether it’s in the show or not. Loads of fun

 

Nice to see someone willing to road trip an old car, kind of a risk to fly that far and drive that far in a new purchase. Looks like you had good luck and a good trip with your co-pilot.

 

Cool story! Love the car. Green is my favorite color. Two tone to boot! I have had my 1950 Ford coupe for 10 years now and haven't put 1000 miles on it. I'm planning on taking a road trip to Owingsville, Ky. In Oct. and can't wait! Hope you find a 1960 pick-up even further away! Love it!

 

Nice!

 

Sounds like a great wife, great trip with your daughter, great road trip, and great times ahead!!!
Time to enjoy the new addition to the family!!!

 

That was a great trip Ryan. Rapid Shifters will have to do some Cruzin this summer.

 

Just wow! What a cool adventure with your daughter! And, a way cool car as well! Congrats! I second what Tim says that you should just drive it down to the Gathering at the Roc even if not entered. It would be another fun trip.

 

Great story and great memories for both of you!

I really love the dark green painted on the rear of it! I'd have to do some mild custom touches and paint the rest of the car to match that dark green.

.

 

As others have said, it was a memorable trip with your daughter. Not many of us had, or took the opportunity to do something similar. You and your daughter will remember this forever.