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I am a proud new owner of a 356 CMC. I just bought the car yesterday on e-bay. I have long been a Porsche owner with few 944 in possesion. However, this is the first time I will own an older technology car and have some questions for you. I live in Kansas City MO, and the car is located in Greenville SC. I am planning to drive all the way there this coming up weekend to bring it back home. My question to you is if the car is capable enough to handle a 1000 mile highway trip. The car has a 1600cc, dual carbs, and according to the previous owner the engine has been recently tuned. Please let me know as soon as possible. Hopefully I can count on my fellow porsche owners. Thank you.
1957 CMC(Speedster)
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I am a proud new owner of a 356 CMC. I just bought the car yesterday on e-bay. I have long been a Porsche owner with few 944 in possesion. However, this is the first time I will own an older technology car and have some questions for you. I live in Kansas City MO, and the car is located in Greenville SC. I am planning to drive all the way there this coming up weekend to bring it back home. My question to you is if the car is capable enough to handle a 1000 mile highway trip. The car has a 1600cc, dual carbs, and according to the previous owner the engine has been recently tuned. Please let me know as soon as possible. Hopefully I can count on my fellow porsche owners. Thank you.
Lambros, the car you bought is not a Porsche. It is a VW with a fiberglass 356 body on it. You know that right?

As for the 1000 mile drive...that is anyones guess. Personally, I would not attempt a 1000 mile drive in a car I have not seen and tested. Even then I would probably have it shipped.

Other comments?
Ron
Lambros, in this forum there isn't much that all of us will agree
on, but it is a safe bet that all will agree these are not Porsche's
and in this case that is a good thing, being a VW means better reliability for a 1000 mile journey....rather than the real ones...
If you already purchased the car, than the previous owner is probably
the best one to ask...he no longer has a reason to lie, if he thinks
the car can't make the trip, he should tell you...
Take it easy and drive it to its new home...
Lambros, in this forum there isn't much that all of us will agree
on, but it is a safe bet that all will agree these are not Porsche's
and in this case that is a good thing, being a VW means better reliability for a 1000 mile journey....rather than the real ones...
If you already purchased the car, than the previous owner is probably
the best one to ask...he no longer has a reason to lie, if he thinks
the car can't make the trip, he should tell you...
Take it easy and drive it to its new home...
I think it depends on your VW skills. As long as it's getting good compression and runs even, I'd go for it armed with a few spares like points carb cleaner, and a belt. Take your AAA card. I'm with Vince, if the owner says it'll make it post sale, then... If he hedges, ship it.
Some things come to mind....make sure the valves are adjusted (or have been recently) and make sure you have fresh oil in the crankcase. Also, new plugs would be nice, and if it has points in the distributor, new ones would be a good idea too. Also, look at the air cleaners and change/clean them before you attempt a 1000 mile drive. Finally, have a look at the fan belt. If it looks the worse for wear, replace it before you head home. Have a great drive home and good luck.
Ron
Lambros, Jim's right, it depends on your skills as well as the condition of the car. A thousand miles is a long drive if half way home something goes sour with the engine, drive train or electrical system. When I first owned my 2000 VS, I would have been ill advised to attempt a trip like yours, but after owning and maintaining it a while, I gained confidence and would have thought the trip that you describe would be a real adventure. At least you are avoiding the hot summer season and will be less likely to overheat driving fast.
I have done a couple of few hundres mile trips....after the car is obviously tuned and you are satisfied with it this is what I found to be crucial.

1- Electrical tape, the heat pulled a wire off the coil and the car felt like it ran out of fuel. After walking to a gas station (the guage was low) and putting gas in, it didn't do anything....low and behold, electrical tape and VROOM.
2- A small 2-gallon gas can. The guages ARE NOT accurate.
3- A booster battery, cranking can kill the battery quickly.
4- Appropriate tools.
5- Duct tape. (A mans best friend)
6- Some extra oil, thats your cooling system
7- You may want to open the engine lid a bit off the hinges so it is a little 1" higher than the body. Allows more air in.
8- Extra Fan/Drive belt
... keep it at 3500-4000 rpms and go for it.... :)
Lambros, maybe you are in the correct forum; it could be an "event"! I did the same thing you are planning, only my drive was 2,000 miles. I was assured by the seller the car was 100% mechanical, turns out it wasn't quite (shocking I know!), but I made it back home anyway in 4 days. Are you renting a car to get there and doing this alone, or is somebody going along to drive the other car back? If you have a cohort to follow along, thats ideal. In checking out the mechanicals make sure lights - including brake - work (my brake lights didn't I discovered later!). If alone, a cell phone and triple A membership is good security. I echo all re: tools, add a fire extinguisher and cans of "Fix-a-Flat". You may want to get a copy of John Muir's "Keeping Your VW Alive" (or something like that), scan through it before you go. Stop for gas sooner than you think you need to (I almost ran out in the desert, 110 degrees!). A small cooler for some drinking water and whatever is nice. Be prepared to receive a lot of attention from admirers when you stop for gas, food, or at a motel - the fun part. Best of luck, hope you can look back on the experience fondly.
One other item to check. I drove my e-bay CMC 1200+ miles from Jackson, Miss. to Kitty Hawk, NC. First time owning a VW based car. Flew down with a one way ticket and a bag of tools. Car seemed to check out fine, fresh oil, good belt, new plugs, etc. About 400 miles into the trip, a huge grin on my face when suddenly something went way bad. No forward motion. Seemed like clutch. After some very frustrating time it was diagosed as a spun rear hub. In the middle of Georgia it is hard to find help. Ended up at a Porshe garage, new hub put on and we did make it home. Found out even the porsche garage didn't tighten the wheel enough. Spun another hub. Fixed this one myself.
Also, we have been having alot of rain, cold and some snow in the south east. Prepair to get cold and wet.

May the weather gods shine upon you
Jeff must've done that prior to 9/11 I guess (?). I flew one way also, bought everything after I got there. Good point about the weather Jeff, I had bought some shop towels, ended up using them to mop up from various leaks resulting from driving many miles in heavy rain - you'll have no idea how watertight it all is till you are getting soaked.
Actually was POST 9/11. Took e-bay listing, pictures, e-mail from seller, damn near got cavity searched, had the tools as carry on - became baggage. Actually had a flight crew member come back to my seat to see the pictures and ask all about the car. Also hit a 6 hour downpore, sat under an overpass while every 18 wheeler dumped buckets into my lap (correct - no side curtains). a rain suit would have been a big help.
If you think you might have to tow it home, Budget, Penske and other places will rent you a truck and trailer. My guess is it would be over $1500 to rent a truck and trailer to tow it a thousand miles.

I had a car carrier ship mine from Michigan to Ca. If you end up doing that, I recommend that you do a lot of homework on the trucking company and get a signed quote with the promised delivery date. The trucking company I used was horrible. They said they would deliver the car within 28 days. It got as far as LA and then sat in their wharehouse for 5 weeks. They had it for 8 weeks before I finally had to rent a truck and trailer to bring it home from LA. Whatever you do, don't use Reilable Auto Carriers. They are not reliable.

Do I sound Bitter?
Lambros,

I made a similar trip about 6 months ago. I bought a 66 VW bug in Southern California and drove it to Oregon. Before making the trip I tuned it up (plugs, valves, oil, etc) and drove it for a few weeks. I am glad I did as 48 hours before I was to leave the brass fuel inlet to the carb came off the carb and the pump kept pumping fuel on the engine until the carb bowl went dry. Had I been on the road, I wonder where I would have been stopped and how much in frustration and $$ it would have cost me. You just don't know where the next VW shop or parts store will be...

I wouldn't do it personally.

Be safe-
Mike
Bought my speedster two months ago, and luckily it was only on the other side of town. I still had a flatbed towing service transport the car to my home. I refuse to drive a new purchased vehicle until I have gone over the car in detail. I feel the 120 bucks I paid for the transport was well worth the piece of mind.

I guess the main thing you have to ask yourself is....do you want to embark on a adventure or do you want to get the car home?

If the response is a adventure then pack some tools and parts and a cell phone with AAA on speed dial and go for it.

Personally, I would have the vehicle delivered by a enclosed auto transporter. I had a vw rabbit shipped from tennesse to houston texas in an open carrier for 600 bucks. It was worth it. In the case of a speedster that leaks I would pay the extra for a enclosed transport unless you want to receive a bathtub full of moldy water.

I used www.carmoves.com they got the car to me in a week. I was very impressed with them.

Good luck.
If you have vacation time then just do it. I am sure that if you post your route you can find a bunch of us on the site that are along your way. Get some phone numbers and there you go instant help when needed.

I can't count the number of times that I have handed out something from my spares kit to some poor stranderd VW owner, I would definitly go out of my way to help someone on the board if they needed something. That and I have a garge full of gently used old vw parts like just about everyone on this board, would be more then willing to send you off with some, heck probably more then you needed. (I really need to clean the shop out.
If it was in fair condition and recently tuned, I'd try it. Do take a tool kit, buy a spare fan belt. (If that gen light goes on shut it off and check the fan belt NOW.) Also, a bit of wire and tape. Maybe a second set of points and condensor. Common failures are throttle cable-easily wired mid throttle to next town.; clutch cable, can you start it in first and speed shift to next town; fan belt and points.

If it sound, smells and drives right, you can handle 1000 miles.
Bruce, I'll be sure to bring a peace pipe....and a fan belt...
I'm going to do a sleepover in Santa Cruz...Got a few friends there..
I really hate the 5.....its fast but boring....will work my way to
the coast at some point before Santa Cruz....got a suggestion...
maybe to avoid that pass at 5000 ft or so, would prefer to miss the snow if there is any next week..
Vince,

Actually I-5 from Medford to Redding is a pretty nice drive, mountains and some scenic vista's. South of Redding is where it gets boring. I've cut off I-5 at Williams,(no relation,)over to the coast range and come into the Napa valley from the North. That is a scenic route. You go right by Mt. Shasta North of Redding which is pretty impressive. The highest pass is right on the California-Oregon border, about 4300 elevation. You should be OK with it this time of year but to be on the safe side I'll forward the Oregon hiway status phone number today. If you have a cell, that would be prudent if the weather looks a little rainy/snowy.
By the way, that is a sweet looking Ghia! Did you pick it up off E-Bay? Didn't see it listed in the Medford papers.

Bruce
Thanks Eddie and Bruce.....I was bidding on this car on ebay,
The guy wouldn't tell me the Reserve, My hi bid was 5K when it
closed not reaching the reserve. then found out his reserve was 5500....so we split the difference...He claims the car is absolutely original in every way, no rust, perfect body, one small rip on driver seat, dash perfect but veener has a few cracks, recent service, he is 3rd owner, 2nd owner stored it in a hanger with his plane for 20
years,If its all true, this is a score...i'll know next week..been looking for a clean one for some time....but didn't have a lot of money......hope this is the one....got my speedster on ebay last
year and it was/is a gem to me..........here are a few more pic's

That looks like a great score Vince! It looks really nice, except for the engine compartment in which the paint is supposed to match the body color; but that's easily fixed. Nowadays the good news is that all the parts to fix Ghias are being reproduced and they are easy to find. 20 years ago when I had my '69 it was almost impossible to find a set of aluminum mouldings or the Ghia deck lid script for it; now they seem to be available everywhere. Your new car looks like a winner, enjoy!
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