Features 40 COOP Goes to Custom Car Revival...another adventure

Now don't get me wrong, seeing the Larry Ernst cars, both the original and the tribute, as well as all the other legendary cars is a thrill, but the Blue Danube has always been one of my favorites. It just has that special something.

A few years back or maybe 10, I lose count, I was at the Pumpkin Run just outside of Cincinnati and walked into a building and there it sat in all it's glory. The people standing around it were mostly just quiet and staring at it. It has an aura around it. I must have stood there 15 minutes just taking it in before I was drug off to look at other cars by my hot rod buddy.

 

One of the great pleasures of my 2012 adventure to B'Ville was seeing this AMAZING coupe on the salt and driving around the town

 

Thanks for the kind words about 40 COOP. Sorry I have not replied sooner....Life got in the way. I've been updating things on 40 COOP since returning from CCR and getting ready to get back on 53 COOP for next year's CCR, plus family things, etc. etc.

 

Well, guys, it's time for another posting for CCR 2025....

Back to the pics:







Nice chop.....Mopar to 'em...Don't see many custom Mopars of that era!













Well, that ends my photos at CCR 2025. Sorry if I missed some cars in my wanderings around the venue. It was a great show and a great honor to be grouped with the Customs Featured In Rodder's Journal. Thanks Kevin Anderson and Steve Coonan for the invitation.

But then there was the ride back to Maryland:

Instead of punishing me, Jay, and 40 COOP by returning via I-70, we headed up to Fort Wayne and picked up US-30. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! It was smooth divided highway with generous speed limits all the way east to where we picked up I-71 near Mansfield, Ohio. US-30 is the old Lincoln Highway. It splits into US-30 and Ohio 309, which runs through Marion, Ohio, where I lived from1972 to 1988.

On the way we met up with my brother-in-law Winston Campbell near Upper Sandusky, who drove up from Marion to reunite with us. in 2012, Jay and I met up with him and my wife's late sister, Janet on our way to Bonneville. That trip was what got 40 COOP featured in Rodder's Journal #57.



I met Winston in 1972 when we worked at Fairfield Engineering Company designing coal handling conveyors and other stuff. We both had more hair and didn't need to wear hats back then.

Then Jay and I headed up to Akron to meet up with Asa Sharp, one of our Rusty Nuts members who put on Jalopyrama.



Asa's building a '32 3-window (Brookville) with a Dodge 325 Hemi:









He also has a '53 Commander Coupe which had the same 2-tone blue paint scheme as mine (but he repainted it with a similar, but metallic, scheme). Drivetrain is stock 332 V8 w/ 3-on-a-tree w/ overdrive. Its a beauty!



You may have noticed the non-HAMB collection of cars...He has a lot of rare Mopars of the 426/440 era, but I'm not allowed to show them here.

Leaving Asa's place, we headed toward the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Just after we got on the west gate, GUESS WHAT!. exhaust pipe broke off right in front of the muffler......#&$%@! Bonneville salt!

We pulled off at the first convenient exit and two stranges helped us support the pipe with a tie-down strap they donated; Thanks, fellas!



Then they guided us to a small auto repair shop at the next exit Damn, I should have noted the name of the shop. Anyway, they got us on a lift and welded a sleeve over the break and had us back on the road in short order:



After an overnight stay at a motel, Jay and I arrived back at his home in Sykesville, MD all safe and sound:



It was a great trip with minor "adventures", but getting there is all part of the journey. Next year I plan to have 53 COOP at CCR 2026. Gotta get back on it NOW!



https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/53-coop-studebaker-gets-a-major-makeover.1208116/

Hope to see you there next year!

 

Awesome update!