Quick trip to get a 37 Terra

barrysweet52
barrysweet52 Expert Adviser
edited November -1 in HUDSON
There have been a few interesting threads on towing and trailers. Thought I would share my recent experience. I hired a car trailer ($85/day) and left Adelaide South Australia at 4am for Echuca Victoria approx 800km away. No electric brakes, just the old hydraulic brakes that work when you slow down. I left early to get through the city when there was no traffic on the roads. I only had to stop at 2 out of 39 traffic lights. I got to Echuca at 4pm with a sore bum from 12 hours driving. We loaded the car quickly, had a coffee and left an hour after arriving.



The dearest price for unleaded petrol was $1.71/Lt, and LPG 81c/Lt. Our petrol price is based on the price of Singapore oil. The dearer petrol gets, the more GST the Gov gets. (They get 10% goods & services tax).



I travelled a lot slower on the way back because of the load and it being night time. Its now our autumn (Fall), and a lot of wild kangaroos and wombats have come south for food and like to stay on the warm bitumen roads on the cold nights. Luckily I didnt see any. Whenever I got tired I would pull over for a short sleep at one of the many truck parking spots. I recently sold my Hlux ute to buy a Ford ute (6cyl 1 tonner). The Ford is more roomier

but I still managed to kick the horn and get a leg cramp.



Because of the slower driving and bad fog I had to drive back home through Adelaide in busy daytime traffic - something I try to avoid.



Hudson cars and parts dont pop up for sale very often, so when I heard about the 37T, I had to go for it. Funny thing is that it was the third phone call that I found out that the mans deceased exfather in law (motor mechanic) had done up the motor but motor was never put back in the car. The car would be a hard restoration, but has a lot of good parts.



Hope the thread is of interest. I close with the unanswerable question, How many cars is enough? Regards, Barry

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    echuca hey? my dad lives an hour along the murray from there,(barham nsw) its not often i go up there without passing some kind of old tin. there seems to be plenty left strewn along the murray. getting your hands on it is another thing! the old boy that started the business i work for also lives out there at lockinton
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Glad to hear of yet another '37 Terraplane going back on the road. (You imply that the previous owner hadn't driven it in years, and I imagine you will remedy this).



    Sadly, our petrol is becoming dearer over here in the States, as you've probably heard. It's going to be interesting to see how this affects the old car hobby.



    I think I can justify spending the extra gas money because I drive my Terraplane comparatively rarely (and because my 'everyday driver" is a Ford Focus, whose modest petroleum appetite offsets the Terraplane's thirst). On a long trip my T will get 18 mpg (is that 7.66 km/liter?), which isn't exactly stellar, but is respectable for a full-sized car of its era. The National Meet is important to me so I'll save my pennies to pay for the gasoline, but maybe cut back on a meet or two that's closer to home.



    So, I'll continue to soldier on in my old car, adjusting my driving habits to the new realities.
  • jtroberg
    jtroberg Member
    Thank you for the very interesting post. It is always interesting to hear how other collectors get their cars home. For me, some years back (actually 1973) I rented a car hauling trailer to bring my 37T home. I used my '51 Chev pickup to haul it, and planned to make the haul in the early morning hours, a Sunday as I recall, to avoid traffic. The route took me from Renton, WA to the north end of Seattle, WA USA. Since there was little traffic at that hour, my companion suggested I not stop at traffic lights if there was no oncoming traffic - I took this suggestion and it worked out OK. On occasion when I did have to stop, the brakes on my 51 Chev would barely stop in twice the usual distance, as I recall. The risks we take when we are young & foolish. I still have the 37T - the '51 is long gone.



    How many cars are enough? This depends on (1) the Mrs. and/or (2) how much storage room you have. If neither are limiting factors, I think we just collect until we run out of energy or money, which ever comes first.



    ;)
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I read the article in the WTN of the guy making the trip to get his 54 using a Chevy S-10 for a tow vehicle, he's lucky he only burned up his truck and didn't kill someone. For those who don't know the S-10 is at best a 3/8 ton pickup with undersized brakes and a lot less weight than the trailer and car he was towing. People are really foolish when it comes to towing. Your ford 1 ton should have been more than adequate even with just surge brakes on the trailer, but an S-10 isn't adequate for jet skis much less towing a car on a trailer. I'll let you know when I have enough cars but I know it won't be until I get a 37 and a 49 commodore.



    Harry
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    jtroberg wrote:
    Thank you for the very interesting post. It is always interesting to hear how other collectors get their cars home. For me, some years back (actually 1973) I rented a car hauling trailer to bring my 37T home. I used my '51 Chev pickup to haul it, and planned to make the haul in the early morning hours, a Sunday as I recall, to avoid traffic. The route took me from Renton, WA to the north end of Seattle, WA USA. Since there was little traffic at that hour, my companion suggested I not stop at traffic lights if there was no oncoming traffic - I took this suggestion and it worked out OK. On occasion when I did have to stop, the brakes on my 51 Chev would barely stop in twice the usual distance, as I recall. The risks we take when we are young & foolish. I still have the 37T - the '51 is long gone.

    How many cars are enough? This depends on (1) the Mrs. and/or (2) how much storage room you have. If neither are limiting factors, I think we just collect until we run out of energy or money, which ever comes first.

    ;)

    You thought traffic was bad around here in 1973 ~ LOL :p ~ it was like the wild-west around here back then...compared to mess we have now :D
  • Ol racer
    Ol racer Senior Contributor
    Well put by jtroberg.. (An Understanding) Mrs, Money, Space, Energy all limiting Factors....and you need to have strong passion for the Make ....

    Personally I have made some very long trips for parts cars (and trucks). While on holiday in Canada I spotted and bought a '47 Commodore Parts car located in OH. Bought a Truck in Idaho then dropped down to the Salt Lake HET Nationals; Bought another Truck in MS, Bought a '37T in NJ, another '37T in Indiana, and 2 more Parts Trucks in OH, and a '38H Parts car in NY. I may have forgotten a few, but each of these Trips were quite an 'adventure' loading from their 'resting spots' then trailering back home sometimes many States away from Pa where I reside... Why???? Because I might restore another one or I may need a Part for one that I drive...(I think)
  • barrysweet52
    barrysweet52 Expert Adviser
    Im lucky to have a good wife, a few sheds, 10 acres and perhaps younger than most Hudson owners in Australia. Its an adventure going off to look and bring a car home. Someone recently said the journey is just as interesting, as you meet a lot of other people with similar interests. Today if you dont go and get a car or parts, they can end up in the rubbish dump or scrap metal. Yes I did my homework when I bought the ute. I looked at the carry weight and tow loads, and type of rear suspension. Fords are better than General Motors. Ford automatic can tow a larger load than a manual. But both have a problem with radiators. The transmission sometimes fill up with coolant. In Australia people arent restoring like they did 15 years ago, and Ive almost given up advertising in the 2 Australian Hudson club newsletters. Havent given up collecting though. The way I see it, you can go out to dinner at a restuarant, or go to the movies, and it can cost you the same as filling up the Hudson with fuel. When Hudson did their fuel economy tests for their advertisements, they must have done it on a down hill slope. Anyway, Im glad a few found the article interesting, Barry
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    How many cars is enough? I picked up car Number 30 on the weekend a 1922 nash, I still have under cover room for a lot more cars.
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