Should I trust the Seller when he says car will drive back to Texas?

found a 69 Studebaker Avanti II in South Bend Indiana (where else) and seller says the car will drive back to Austin Tex. no problem..it is low miles and I'm thinking a big plus is the Avanti IIs are powered by SBC..the plan of course would be for Sally and I to fly in,see some sights, Indianapolis, and drive the car back..I'm just going to put on my Bermuda shorts,a camera around my neck, some cash and go for it..any ideas, experiences, on this kind of road trip? am I nuts for not going up there with truck and trailer?

 

You should be able to get some small idea if the car will make it back from your conversations with the seller.
If it will (and most will if you are open to roadside ingenuity and an adventure), then go for it.
It sounds like fun.
Oh remember to take your copyof the HAMB helper pages.
r

 

That's a leap of faith right there - but if you're going to do it, at least come prepared or stop by the local parts shop in Indiana for anything you might be able to pull off o the side of the road (belts, hoses, gaskets, plugs, fluids, and all emergency supplies like cables, flares, a cell phone, etc. even an alternator) Maybe you could send somoe hand tools to the seller's address in the mail for you to take with you on the ride back? At the very least, check the car over from top to bottom, and it's basic mechanical worthiness before even thinking about leaving he sellers driveway you crazy *******.

 

You can meet some of the coolest people sometimes on adventures like that.
Just take your basic toolkit and give it a go.

 

Def. bring a toolbox with some obvious parts, like rubber fuel line, oil, brake fluid, cotter pins, tire plugs, **** like that.

Otherwise, go for it. The worst that'll happen is that it'll break down and you'll have to get it towed and hauled. Would **** but wouldn't be the end of the world.

 

Make sure the brakes, fuel line and steering are solid working items.
Everything else is fixable without 911 intervention.
r

 

Flew to Oklahoma, bought a truck, drove it back to Illinois. 95 deg. plus heat, no power steering, brakes, or anything else. Took basic hand tools on the plane. Bought a gas can & filled it locally in case the fuel gauge didn't work...and it didn't. Had an absolute blast.

 

if you have problems, they will likely be with the brakes or fuel system....just be prepared, and bring a laptop or web enabled phone so you can get hamb help on the way if you need it.

should be a fun trip!

 

Avanti's are 1963s.

Anything newer is one of the repops
Of course you already know that.

 

Like Gigantor says, a big leap of faith. It's a gamble. Maybe fly up and rent a vehicle and tow dolly?

 

if southbend's anything like ohio, you might wanna bring some sweatpants to throw over those bermuda shorts. all the puddles are still frozen here...

 

You might check out the possibility of renting a vehicle and tow dolly. But flying up there and starting out on your own, might be interesting. If you have problems, then rent the vehicle and tow dolly and bring it back.

Make some contacts with people along the route, before hand, just in case.

 

Have you bought the car already or is he trying to make a sale? I get leery of people that are too confident in the car. Most honest old car people will say that it will probably make it but it is over 40 years old. A shyster will guaranty a perfect trip. If you've already bought it, he has no reason to lie to you.

 

Not trying to be negative.. But I've tried this twice..

First car was driven back from Co.Springs to Dallas and made it to OKC before it started knocking... it was a newer '92 spirit R/T that had been extensively modifed.. so I found out later that the computer wasn't giving enough fuel for the added boost... something I never could have found with all the inspection in the world before I bought it. So that's just bad luck..

The second car is the '57 buick I have now.. he said it would drive from nashville back to Dallas... I took the truck and trailer and not 50 miles after we started driving it around town the internal fuel filter clogged completely with dust in the tank. I I blew it out backwards through the fuel line and it only took a day to clog again. There was no way it would have made it back.

If he hasn't driven it in a while or it's a garage queen I'd be prepared to fix something on the side of the road. Locate a uhaul and trailer near the car before you go. Drive it around before you buy it and make sure you get it up to speed for a decent distance. The buick purred and putted around town no problem...when you got on the highway it started starving. Also post your route and if anything happens maybe you'll be near a HAMBER that can help.

Just make sure take a long test drive. Overheating and fuel starvation and other stuff might not show up if you just drive around his neighborhood.

 

Don't forget the AAA card - they'll tow anything! There's a lot of "nowhere" on that trip, don't want to get stuck 15 miles from anything good - at least if you can get it back to a city, you can fix it...

 

I like your idea of the plane ride up, the sight-seeing, and the trip home. I'd suggest you take, in addition to a cell phone, a GPS unit that has points of interest. I use one when I'm going to car shows and have found it invaluable for locating the closest tire shop, service station, etc. They give you the directions to them and their phone numbers - so if you're totally immobilised you know the closest place to call for ***istance.

 

What about having a local guy you trust (such as a HAMBer or other car type guy) go look at it? may cost a 12-pack and a few bucks, but it will give you peace of mind before making the trip.

Just bring a toolbox with basic stuff and some common parts as the rest said and go for it. Have fun, life is about taking some risk and adventure.

 

Most people mean really well but a phone conversation wouldn't enable me to decide. Maybe if you can drive it around town for a day or two before leaving. After that, If you have doubts you can always rent a uhual truck and trailer at that point.

 

make sure you go to the museaums in south bend/studabaker and i think theres also a deusenberg cord one also

 

you have to have a big set of cojones to jump in a car you have 0 history with and drive it, and far. Driving across a city to get a car home is one thing, but from one state to another state is totally different. plan and prepare is all you can do, and have fun. Map your route, closest parts stores, rental places, HAMBERS, Hotels etc obviously.
A good set of tools and a roadside kit its standard, being ok with breaking down on the side of the road is a must.

Have FUN! This is part of the build, the first step and the first memory with the car, as long as you are prepared (and the wife) to possibly be stranded than your good to go.

Take pics, would love to see your journey and experience, would make a great post.

 

Even a car you built and have been driving around for years can break down on a trip. Nothing is guarenteed. I'm an adventurer so I would say go for it BUT like everyone else said just check the car out from top to bottom before you hit the road, carry your tools and some basic spare parts. Of course those aren't the parts that will break BUT you will have better piece of mind.

Here's some links to Ozzie's adventure when he picked up his newly purchased car and drove it back to Miami, FL and post it here.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150243

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151149

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151278

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151539

 

I don't think I'd jump in a new car with no known history and drive it 1000 miles on a "sight seeing tour". Fact is, it's cooler than **** up there right now with snow on the ground so don't be a fool and think that a roadside break down, in the middle of the night, in no- man's land, is a cake walk. If your telling your wife that it's a sight seeing tour and the car breaks down, you'll never hear the end of it and your wife will always hate the car. You're better off getting a friend that knows cars to go with you. That way, any breakdown is no big deal and will be forgotten after a few days. Imagine the worst case senario: Your crusing along at night with your wife and the you hear the dreaded knocking coming from the engine (or ****** if you prefer). You glace down at the oil pressure gauge and it's pegged at 0 psi. You pull over, get out in the blowing ice/rain mix, only to find serious trouble. Now what? You can't just run to the Mega parts store and swap motors out so what do you do? You're in the middle of no where and the cell phone doesn't work. Remember, she's getting wetter and colder by the minute....you take it from here.

Edit: I had a similiar experience years ago, I made it about 100 miles before it started smoking and loosing oil. Good luck!

 

Be careful what ya carry on the airplane now a days. Sounds like fun.

 

go for it. especially if your wife is a mechanic...and just have fun..cadillac dave

 

Hell,I'd do it in a heartbeat. Matter of fact I'm actually kind of
jealous already. Not sure my wife would feel the same way though...

 

Ask yourself a couple questions:

1) What would I do if it broke down in the middle of the trip with something fairly major. (i.e. threw a rod, burnt up a ******, etc.) - is it going to put you in a bind time wise (to get back to a job, etc.) or is it a financial burden only (plane ticket home and back, towing fee to???, etc.)

2) How good of a "mechanic" are you - I put that in quotes because it's not about the actual text book repair of something - it's the ingenuity of it... Example - say your fuel pump died or the filter clogged with rust - would you know what to do? Would you whip out the 5 gallon can of fuel and the fuel line and strap the tank to the roof and run the line to the carb to get to the nearest town/shop (gravity feed fuel to the carb!)

I would do it in a heartbeat - and actually have several times. Best (worst) one was when I bought an old bus, loaded up 20 friends and what little tools we had, headed to New Orleans for Mardi Gras from Lawrence... All the heater hoses were rotten, heater core up front was shot, had to patch hoses, byp*** the core, alternator mount broke, carb froze up several times, etc. Ended up after the blown heater core pulling water out of a stream on the side of the road filling the radiator... made it 1200 miles with about 50% old coolant mix and stream-water in it that was filtered through a t-shirt... (forgot to mention we were broke students too and couldn't afford anything!) I've got dozens more stories about that one trip - it's priceless....

What I'd do is make up another post asking folks what they would bring along / borrow / buy before heading on the trip.

I would bring the following to start:
- a good selection of hand tools (checked luggage)
- a cell phone and car charger cord
- GPS (or borrow one)
- A voltmeter (for electrical troubleshooting)
- wiring supplies (some 14ga wire, crimp connectors, ****s)
- Hose clamps (2 each for - fuel line, radiator, heater)
- fuses (make sure they match the vehicle!)
- Points file (I'm ***uming it's got points)

Buy when I got there:
- 5-gallon fuel can
- fuel filter (if it's a cheapie in-line filter type)
- Radiator hose mending tape
- enough heater hose to replace one hose or byp*** the core
- Fuel line (enough to run from the roof)
- Fluids: ****** fluid, Oil, DI water (battery, radiator, and to drink!)

Inspect the belts and hoses for any signs of age/cracking, etc. and check tension. If they look shaky at all replace them when you're there. Check coolant for proper color (i.e. not corroded/rusted up), check radiator cap's rubber parts - if they're in good shape then it leads to believe that it's been taken care of. check battery connections for condition and corrosion. Check suspension for worn parts - hopefully the seller will let you put it up on stands and check before leaving. Check lights (headlights and tail/brake are the most important - turn/ front markers aren't quite as big of a deal), wipers and blade condition (think rain!), and that the cig. lighter works (for GPS/Cell charger)

Go to a lube place and have them change the oil, check the diff & top off, grease the ch***is and U-Joints (often overlooked!) - make sure they do it as most places promise they do those services and never get out the grease gun... a shelled u-joint from lack of grease will stop you right quick (ask me how I know on several occasions - since I started doing this I haven't lost a single one!)

Drive around town, make sure everything seems to work and head on out on a fun adventure!

 

ditto onlast post ......id do it , like others say you break down huh who cares not the end of the world

 

Avantis('s) are typicaly well cared for because it takes a special kind of person to own one.
If you get cold feet and want someone to go and fetch it ,I would go for a small nominal fee and the price of the plane tickets from point a-b and from point c-a and road expenses.
I'm a competent long lifelong "mechanic" and have plenty of experience on road adventures.
It would be a good opportunity to see my sister in law in Austin and check out the Continental Club too.

 

I bought a '65 GTO in unrestored condition (running and driving) about 8 years ago from a guy in Sacremento. The engine had had some work done and I was ***ured it would make the trip to Austin. Drove it by myself all the way to Phoenix and picked up my girlfriend at the time at the airport. We then proceeded to have the absolute roadtrip of a lifetime back to Texas, taking our time of course! Wouldn't trade that memory for anything. Had brought some tools, only had to use them once to re-route the heater hose when the core started to soak the carpet in antifreeze. Other than that, car did great. Maybe part of the fun was not knowing if the car would make it, guess I'm weird like that. I would definitely do it again if I thought the car I was buying would make it...

 

Do it
inspect it when you get there brakes and steering most important
be smart on the road and take your time . Its an Adventure . done it many times . most people will tell you if something will get you killed when you are getting ready to drive off in an unsafe car
Enjoy
Mark