How many have taken a long road trip in their vintage Mopar?

[moparcanuck]

I'd like to drive the GTX from up here in the GWN to see my sister in Texas but I've read about so many classic cars being stolen from parking lots that I am hesitant. To those of you who have, how do you protect your car at night?

 

[Dennis H]

Many roadtrips here. Some questionable circumstances moteling it. I carry Insurance, cover it every night except heavy rain, park where lit if possible, and in bad locations park so it would be difficult for the tow truck to get into position for a snag. Do what you can to mitigate it, but don't let it stop you from enjoying and driving your car. Battery cut-off and a steering wheel club too. None will prevent theft. Sometimes a $five to the clerk and leave it at the registration area. Varies a lot by location. In Marina Del Ray it was a $20. Valet "don't touch my car...

This is a 69 Coronet, not a Hemi Cuda or Superbird.

 

[themechanic]

Like Dennis said, unless you're in the car with a .45 S&W all night, there is no guarantee from theft. If you do decide to go for it, talk to your insurance company first about your policy/coverage.

On the other hand, why not fly your sister up from Texas and show her the GWN in your Mopar one day at a time?

 

[dickdale]

Make an extra battery cut underneath the dash, use a steering wheel lock, wheel lock and still there is no garanty you're car isn't going to be stolen...

 

[Budnicks]

In 2007, I got a wild hair up my a$$, I guess I wanted to spend all my money on fuel & it was much, much cheaper then too, less than $2 a gallon for 91-93 oct. & I got about 15 mpg average on the open road with the 6bbl & 3.73:1 gears thou {when I kept my foot out it anyway}, not bad for a mid 9 second 700+ Hp car.... I went from the NorCal Sacramento/Rancho Murieta south I-5 to LA then east onto Route 66, ultimately was heading up towards Chicago Ill., but I actually never got there, then had to tow my 68 RR 479ci/6bbl resto-rod back to Derby Oklahoma, I couldn't find a good tranny shop, then finally found a place I trusted, Mopar guy owner, that let me use their lift & I got the trans fixed {2nd gear band broke}... Then I went back up to McConnell AFB, to visit my nephew Keith in Wichita Kansas area, played a bunch of golf, then we went to Topeka to run the car with my nephew, then we drove back down south Hwy 35 to Hwy 10 southern route back to Calif., thru Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona to SoCal & back up-to Hwy 99 to Hwy 5 to NorCal/Rancho Murieta, it was a really memorable trip, much better when my nephew joined me... The last time I did anything like that, was the 1st Hot Rod Power Tour, that did the original Route 66 to the Lincoln Hwy, 1995 or so {I think} but had to cut the tour short, because of my business needed me back... I brought all kinds of extra stuff with me, golf clubs & suitcase, tools, spare tire & small floor jack, spare ignition box, Holley gaskets, jets, squirter's/cams & power valves, regulator, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, proper belts, different array of various gaskets, fuel additives & water separators, oil, filters, a selection of a few special bolts/washers/nuts, an extra 2 gal gas jug, because gas station were far & few between, I only had a 200-300 mile range, with a 19 gal. tank... Some stations were really dingy old looking too & I didn't want any fuel problems... Good thing the 68 RR's have a big a$$ trunk... I think Route 66 "hates me", but it was fun as hell too, I had a blast... A manly adventure to say the least, if your a car guy/gal, it's a must do at-least once or twice... Now I usually just stay within 100 miles or so of home, If it ain't in that range, I really don't need to go anymore, been all over the US traveling & Racing in my youth anyway...LOL... Been there & done that... Car was really never out of my sight for very long anywhere, where it wasn't pretty safe & I have a master arming switch, also battery disconnect in the trunk, for safety & I think someone else would have a hell of a time starting, let alone stealing the car anyway... I was also packing some Colt .45 acp iron, just in case...

I'd like to drive the GTX from up here in the GWN to see my sister in Texas but I've read about so many classic cars being stolen from parking lots that I am hesitant. To those of you who have, how do you protect your car at night?

It ain't all that bad, I wouldn't be all that concerned, just be smart...

 

[GTX.JCW]

How about this..

Map your route via family , friends or b-body folks that might be able to provide a garage or other secure parking for the night?

A dinner out at a nice restaurant and breakfast the next day would be a nice way to say thank you.

Just a thought..

Jeff

 

[moparcanuck]

On the other hand, why not fly your sister up from Texas and show her the GWN in your Mopar one day at a time?

Already done that several times. :glasses10:

 

[64BEL]

Pull the rotor - that would at least stop anyone from driving it away.

Ah, the good old days. In '83 I drove my '70 GTX from Wisconsin to Santa Clara, CA (Silicon Valley). I don't know what I got for mileage - maybe 10 if I was lucky? It was a 440+6, 4-speed. I stayed with a friend in Oklahoma on the way out. I can't rmember if I overnighted anywhere else - I must have, though. I stayed in CA for 4 months with my brother. Anyway, on the way back, I was low on money and drove it pretty much nonstop in 2 legs. First was northern California to western Nebraska - where I stayed at a buddy's grandpa's farm for a night. On that leg, I slept for awhile one night at a rest area in Utah or Wyoming. I laid across the buckets with my head on the driver's seat and my legs out the passenger door window. LOL - I wouldn't do that today - for a lot of reasons! I drove the last leg of the trip in one shot - western Nebraska to central WI. Going through the Omaha/Council Bluffs area at about 3:00am I was on empty. I would have paid $10. for a gallon of gas at that point. I was sure I would run out of gas - no open stations around. Remember - this was before you could pay at the pump. I came over a hill near Council Bluffs, and Joy! There was an open station. I had to be on fumes, because it took 18.8 gallons. It had a 19 gallon tank that had a dent in it. LOL

 

[Jeremiah]

I have put 2000+ miles on a vintage car without a second thought. Go for it and have fun.

 

[tallhair]

Many roadtrips here. Some questionable circumstances moteling it. I carry Insurance, cover it every night except heavy rain, park where lit if possible, and in bad locations park so it would be difficult for the tow truck to get into position for a snag. Do what you can to mitigate it, but don't let it stop you from enjoying and driving your car. Battery cut-off and a steering wheel club too. None will prevent theft. Sometimes a $five to the clerk and leave it at the registration area. Varies a lot by location. In Marina Del Ray it was a $20. Valet "don't touch my car...

This is a 69 Coronet, not a Hemi Cuda or Superbird.

All great suggestions in this thread and many examples of getting these old cars out and enjoying them.

I've been back and forth from Illinois to SA and Northern Texas so many times in classic Mopars I couldn't even count the trips. Many times i was even pulling another classic on a trailer or with a towbar. When I had to stay overnight somewhere I made sure I stayed on a main road, in a decent looking and well traveled area, and didn't leave my car behind the hotel/motel and was in a very well lit area and I parked so a tow truck couldn't get at it and turned the steering wheel to full lock (when in the 70 RR w/locking column). I've also pulled into rest areas that were very well lit and slept in the car when I was tired but that was in my younger days but today I'd definitely plan extra time in and have a hotel lined up and just take an extra day traveling if I needed it instead of doing the Iron Man driving.

Another option would be to remove the steering wheel and take it into the hotel which is not that hard with a gear puller. Of course they could use vise grips but by taking some precautions you're just making it more difficult to thieve and if you make it difficult enough maybe they'll pass. I also like the club idea but I've never had one. May pick on up though.

 

[Cranky]

Where about in Texas are you headed? I'm just east of Houston and had garage space if you don't want to drive the car around that much while here....

 

[daredevil]

If I was gonna road trip my car I would have a motion alarm installed and a lojack transmitter.If it is stolen I want to catch the bastards.

 

[tallhair]

If I was gonna road trip my car I would have a motion alarm installed and a lojack transmitter.If it is stolen I want to catch the bastards.

Hey that's a great idea too DD

 

[Budnicks]

Hey that's a great idea too DD

X2 yeah it is !!

as much as hate hearing an alarm constantly go off, for every little damn thing... The Lojack is a great Idea...

If I was gonna road trip my car I would have a motion alarm installed and a lojack transmitter.If it is stolen I want to catch the bastards.

 

[dickdale]

There is a guy in The Netherlands, Europe that had his 73's challenger shipped to the states, drove it for about 5000 /6000 miles and shipped it back to The Netherlands, Europe... That's the a nice way to do a roadtrip!