Plenty of us dream about pulling an old car out of storage and just driving it across the country. Few of us would pick a 1972 Chevelle that had been parked for decades. A Tennessee gearhead who posts as @VICEGRIPGARAGE actually did it, with his wife along for the ride.
The car is a one-owner 1972 Chevelle. In an earlier episode, he says, it had been tucked away for more than two decades before he brought it home from Ohio.
This time, the plan was bigger: a round trip of about 3,600 miles to a drag racing event near Phoenix, Arizona, and back.
Getting A 1972 Chevelle Ready In A Hurry
He admits he put off the work until the last minute. Still, the to-do list was long, and he stuck to budget parts. The plan called for a four-barrel intake and carburetor, an ignition upgrade, new bearings and brakes, fresh wheels and tires, and some interior and exterior trim.
He also had a second car to prepare. A friend was coming along without a vehicle of his own, so he readied an old Buick for him to drive. That car needed work of its own before it could make the trip.
As he puts it, the trip was high risk and high reward. If all went well, they would throw some bags of clothes in and hit the road.
Route 66 Instead Of The Interstate
Rather than stick to the freeway, the group followed as much original Route 66 as they could. They also took back roads, gravel and dirt roads and scenic byways through small towns, with a stop at the Petrified Forest.
Fuel stops came with mileage checks. At one of them the host reports 18.67 miles per gallon and jokes that he really tuned it for economy.
It wasn’t completely trouble-free. The host mentions a rear main seal starting to weep and leave a small puddle once they reached the Phoenix area. Along the way, friends in other old cars joined the convoy, some of them coming all the way from Tennessee.
Arriving In Arizona
Finally they rolled into Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona. “I do know for sure it’s well over 1,800 miles here,” he says at 1:52:54, admitting he didn’t keep exact count.
He says the Chevelle was “absolutely perfect, zero issues” on the way out. The Buick, by contrast, needs front brake pads and a couple of sensors. He says he pulled that car out of a shed and simply told it, “Let’s go,” and it held up just fine as well.
Tips For A Long Trip In An Old Car
His trip offers some lessons for anyone planning a road trip in a classic:
- Start on the basics: brakes, bearings, ignition and tires matter more than horsepower.
- Do a shakedown drive before the big trip, so small problems show up close to home.
- Travel with friends in a second car, and bring tools and spare parts.
- Watch for leaks at every fuel stop, and keep an eye on the gauges.
- Take the slower roads when you can. As he puts it, “I urge you guys to turn off highways when you travel when at all possible.”
Where The 1972 Chevelle Stands
The Chevelle made it to Arizona under its own power, with the drags still to come and the long drive home ahead. He says the trip back will take a different route, with more back roads.
His closing advice sums up the whole adventure: “Your junk ain’t going to work unless you do.”
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