Check out this link. I'm sure to guys in so cal know of this guy but just saw a program about him on tv. Spent 5 years custom building a Cadillac to go from Cali to New York and back nonstop. Like, no stops. Refueling on the fly. Changing tires on the fly. Fascinating custom car. Accomplished this in 7 days there and back!!! http://www.carscoops.com/2010/11/meet-louie-mattar-and-his-fabulous.html?m=1 He had a cell phone and all kinds of crazy shit in there. 2 co drivers and himself on shitty 1952 roads. Amazing.
There was a part on the show where at the beginning of the journey they all felt like shit and figured out they we're constipated. Rang up the local doctor and he had a sheriff drive em out some laxatives so they could keep.... Uh ..... Going. Hahaha. Can't make this shit up. I think the car is in a museum in San Diego.
I don't see what he did as any different than " hot rodding". He thrashed on building a car to push his and the cars limits for 5 years and then did it. The car itsself....... Looks like a bastard Liberace whip before there ever was one. And I can't see how this wouldn't be worth the price of admission. Now, the " thing" out in the middle of nowhere was a burn. But this car says hot rod for all of the right and wrong reasons. I love it
Kids?!?! That's not a cell phone. It's a mobile radio telephone. Waaaaayy before cell phones were even a glimmer in the minds of sci-fi writers. BTW, that's a hookah, not a bong
Does this mean I should be replacing my rumble seat with a chemical toilet to maintain period-credibility??
Dave Schuab drove his 32 hi boy roadster thru 49 states in 8 days 16 hours and 48 minutes for a total of 9,856 miles with a bag of beef jerkey and bottle water by himself, TWICE, I think that it was 10 days on the first trip. Hell of a feat, he also raised over $100,000. dollars for Children's Hospital at Stanford. Yes he paid for all the trip himself.
The mans name is Louis Mattar, his car was put together in a shop on Market street in San Diego. He made numerous trips with it and always non-stop, the car had catwalks on both sides, as did the trailer, the car had hydraulic rollers on each corner that could lift a tire to change a flat, extra fuel and tires in the trailer. It was quite a commotion whenever he would show the car and demonstrate it's abilities, I believe it now resides in the San Diego Automotive Museum. One other memorable trip was from the Canadian border to the tip of Mexico.
Was it worth it ? For an 18 -19 year old sailor, all of them were worth it. Half a dozen magazine cars, Prowlers, Oilers, Iron Horsemen, Bean Bandits, 4 Ever 4s, circle burners, live radio shows all in one place .... The most I remember paying to get in was $2.50, less in uniform, but Navy guys in San Diego weren't very popular.
For as weird as it all is, the car is still a hell of an engineering job. Motorized catwalks, built-in jacks, oil changes while running, full 'facilities' inside, the guy didn't miss a trick. All in all, pretty amazing if more than a bit strange...
Remember taking the bus downtown from North Park and walking over to Market street and going into his garage and looking at the Caddy when they were getting it ready to take on the first trip. Yes, the San Diego Automotive Museum is well worth the price of admission! In the past couple of years, they've featured lead sleds, woodies, low riders and roadsters. All HAMB friendly.
The Jalopy Journal
