Re: The Duchess Project: 1940 Super 8 Convertible Sedan
Posted by Joe Santana On 2012/2/17 15:04:19
MILEAGE UPDATE: I've made a number of short trips in the last few months just to regain confidence and to get accustomed to driving the Duchess again. I've driven her to work several times and also to the airport.
Feb 9 I drove her to Eugene, 120 miles each way, flat freeway driving, for a business meeting and back with two colleagues. With overdrive I'm getting 16 miles per gallon with tires at 28/26 psi and doing 65 consistently.
Feb 12 I drove over the coast range, 80 miles each way, to the Oregon coast, mostly in the rain. She does get noticed. No problem staying up with traffic over the hill.
So now there is 1,000 miles on the odometer.
HOOD ORNAMENT: I've been considering some alternatives for the hood ornament.
FUTURE TRAVEL: I plan to drive to Seattle and possibly to Victoria BC (via Ferry) this spring. Then, Pebble Beach in mid-August. Williamsburg VA in September.
Since I drove the Duchess every day for 26 years, I view her as transportation, elegant, yes, but a way to get somewhere in style. And I believe, if you can't take it out on the road, if you cringe every time you start it up, what's the point? All this driving is great to finding bugs, leaks, weak connections, etc. And its's such a pleasure to be out on the road again, though being in today's gridlock is absolutely no fun with a car that loves the open road.
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Feb 9 I drove her to Eugene, 120 miles each way, flat freeway driving, for a business meeting and back with two colleagues. With overdrive I'm getting 16 miles per gallon with tires at 28/26 psi and doing 65 consistently.
Feb 12 I drove over the coast range, 80 miles each way, to the Oregon coast, mostly in the rain. She does get noticed. No problem staying up with traffic over the hill.
So now there is 1,000 miles on the odometer.
HOOD ORNAMENT: I've been considering some alternatives for the hood ornament.
FUTURE TRAVEL: I plan to drive to Seattle and possibly to Victoria BC (via Ferry) this spring. Then, Pebble Beach in mid-August. Williamsburg VA in September.
Since I drove the Duchess every day for 26 years, I view her as transportation, elegant, yes, but a way to get somewhere in style. And I believe, if you can't take it out on the road, if you cringe every time you start it up, what's the point? All this driving is great to finding bugs, leaks, weak connections, etc. And its's such a pleasure to be out on the road again, though being in today's gridlock is absolutely no fun with a car that loves the open road.
Attach file:
(68.35 KB)
(71.13 KB)
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