Featured Art & Inspiration Old car stuff in the snow

I probably should get it running.

 

I’d be playing in the snow for sure if that was in my driveway!!! Talk about neat, that is the definition of neat!!

 

I know how you mean that.
I'll stick my neck out to say,,, It should not last, long.

 

my front yard

 

From about 2018. My then daily driver 59 GMC.

 

Hibernating

 

For all you in Idaho, how long does it stay on the ground (months?) and how deep?.

 

Something different in the snow....

 

Similar conditions from our local So Cal mountains, usually during the winter storms that bring snow and freezing temperatures to the higher elevations.


Hello,

After spending my teenage times driving the black 1958 Impala around our local Bixby Knolls cruising area, it was my goal to have the nicest paint on our hot rod sedans. The black paint got the initial Cadillac Blue Coral Wax that no one else was using due to the difficulties in application and wiping it off. Most used liquid for fast wax jobs and Vista Wax for paste usage.

But, in the junior year of high school, I was chosen to drive a group of friends up to the local Big Bear Mountain ski area for the annual “after Christmas” gathering of the teenagers from all over Long Beach. It was a tradition well before my older brother’s time as a teenager. It was like a “ right of p***age” being a teenager in our high school, as well as at other local high schools.
What a difference driving around the coastal shoreline versus going up those steep roadways to get to the high elevation forested areas. Even loaded with two other teens and requisite clothes bags, the Impala still had power to get up those roads to the rented cabin. But, it did make the Impala a "lowered" custom car on those teenage road trips.

So, we were not wild teens, but a cabin was rented by various groups. Yes, we had a parent as a chaperone as required by the owners of the cabins available. One for the girls section of the block and the others for strictly boys. But, the daily activities were all free flowing and selected by the teens wanting to do something we normally can’t do as a daily activity. Snow played a big part on the vast mountain locations, including some great ski runs and lodges.

Jnaki

So, we were all comfortably gathered around the fireplace with the visiting girls from next door. The talk was standard teens and everyone was having fun. The storm outside was snowing and we all watched it come down. The girls were not worried about getting back to their cabin, it was just steps away. But, the snow was coming down faster as the evening wore onward.

By the time it was late and time for the girls to get back to their cabin, we all walked them through the snow to their cabins. We did notice our cars had started to get snow on top of everything.

In the morning, we were ready to drive to town and start our teenage adventures. But, outside, the cars were now all covered with at least two feet of snow. Only the headlights/grill and front bumpers were showing. One of the boys opened his door and tried to start his motor. It was a clunk and that was it. The oil was still cold and probable too thick to start. We normally use 30 wt. Valvoline, but our friend in Los Angeles told us to use 10-30 for cold climates and so I was the only one with the variable grade oil.

Consequently, the 58 Impala turned over and started. As it sat there idling, the snow covering the hood began to melt. The other guys tried to start their motors and started wiping the snow off of their whole cars, roof and trunk. But, I knew it was possible to scratch the paint with the wiping off of the heavy snow. So, I left the roof and trunk alone.

My Impala was the only one that was able to start to the wonderment of the girls next door and have heat. So, it was packed with teens wanting to go into town to eat a nice restaurant breakfast. Legal seating it was not and it was a good thing no CHP patrol was not cruising around. 4 in front and 5 plus were in the backseat… a lowered custom car stance was the view, as we rumbled into town, a short distance away.


Gradually, the snow began to slide off naturally and the black paint stayed as shiny as the last thick coat of Cadillac Blue Coral could supply and protect. Also, luckily, I remembered that our mechanic friend told me how to adjust the carbs for higher elevation tuning. Now, it was part of the "hissing" teenage cars at every signal light and cruising around... But, probably the only one with a good tune and powerful motor... ready. YRMV