Short road trip to Canada

[DetMatt1]

It was a perfect day for a drop top so I decided to go see a friend in Windsor. I have put a lot of miles on this car this summer and I have tried to photo document each trip. These turned out great and I am glad I took a little extra time to snap the one with downtown Detroit in the background.

 

[Brads70]

Car looks GREAT!

 

[ramenth]

That's what they're meant for: to be driven.

 

[moparleo]

Does anyone else get the irony of Detroit in the back round and the seventies era Detroit iron ?
Great subject matter and photo.

 

[DetMatt1]

Leo gets it!
First road trip this season was to the Lake Mi shoreline with my girlfriend, a place called Saugatuck for the Memorial Day weekend, about a 500 mile trip in total. Weather wasn't great, I think we had the top down for all of a half an hour but it was still a great weekend. The car did well for not having left the Detroit in at least 17 years and it probably saw more rain then it has in over 20 years combined. I gave it a tune up and replaced the points with a pertronix before we left and when we got back I had to replace a cracked exhaust manifold and transmission dipstick tube. Both probably cracked because of the sustained resonance on the highway. This is where I began to realize that I was probably wrong in assuming that it had a 3.23 axle ratio. I knew it wasn't a sure grip and even have one that I was going to swap in but it turns out that it has a 2.97 one legger in it and to be honest, I love it and have no plans to change it out unless I find a 2.97 sure grip!

 

[ramenth]

Matt, you're sitting on my dream car, you know that? One of these days I'll have a '71 Challenger droptop. Gotta get through the projects first and I have a street rod to build in Sarah's honor.

 

[DetMatt1]

I know Robert, you'll get one, I know you will!

 

[AlleyoopMgv]

Great picture's, DetMatt!

 

[DetMatt1]

The next event for the car was the annual CEMA show at the WPC Museum. My dad was a volunteer at the museum for its entire run and he always had the car at the show. I will continue to take it to this event and I hope my dad will continue to join me for years to come. This year we had the honor of the car being invited to a spot in the circle in front of the museum. As usual it was a great show!

 

[moparlee]

Great pics Matt! It was nice meeting you and your car at the Metropoliton during the Mopar Nats.

 

[DetMatt1]

Thanks Moparlee, it as great to meet you as well. That was a nice hotel, I can't wait for next year already!
I was supposed to go to to Carlisle with my girl in my Imperial. After pulling the engine to freshen up the top end, replace the rear main seal and do a thorough cleaning under the hood, the engine went back in and the rear seal continued to leak. I even used a MRE billet housing but I don't feel like talking about that mistake right now. Anyway, I scrapped that trip last minute and rented a cabin near Torch Lake In northern MI and we took the vert instead. Torch has been ranked the most beautiful lake in the USA and 3rd most beautiful lake in the world. The water is blue like the Caribbean. On the way back down we stopped for a couple hours at Higgin's Lake, which the same survey ranked as the 6th most beautiful lake in the world. This was where my family vacationed every summer when I was growing up, lots of fond memories there. The vert performed flawlessly on that 800 mile trip!

 

[moparlee]

You are right Matt, Torch Lake and Higgins Lake are beautifull. We have been to both. Anyone ever tell you that you should have been a professional photographer:icon_smile: Great shots for a Mopar Calendar.

 

[Rawhide]

Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[DetMatt1]

Next up was the Mopar Nationals and since I still haven't had time to fix the leak on the Imperial I had no choice but to take the Challenger. It again performed flawlessly with the only casualty being the clutch drive on the fan which started to fail shortly after leaving home. It was roaring under the hood but never got worse so I just ignored it knowing I had replacements at home and figured if I had to I could just pick up a new one at the swap meet. Took the title down with me in case somebody wanted the car more then I did and I still have it. I gave out what I thought to be a number that would just scare them off as I have been growing more fond of the car with each mile I drive it. At least 2 people didn't bat an eyelash when I gave them the number and told me to call them when I was done with it. Some that know the number are calling me crazy so I guess if the shoe fits.....