Joe Machado here: This is long, so please be patient.
Here is an idea that I have had for a few years and have noticed from the many emails of work needed on Imperials, because dealers repair shops where an Imperial is just a Chrysler, etc. are afraid to work on Imperials and Chrysler Imperials, (pre 55). I am offering a repair service to start off as a hobby, to see first, if it is feasible, wanted, and needed by those of you who want to drive their's, but have no room, or work space, tools, etc. to make it happen. I have an acre and an 8 car garage to do this. I have for the last 21 years been able to maintain my cars as everyday drivers. Before that, they were just old cars, and I drove them on a regular basis anyway.
I have made many trips across the USA and been able, no matter the problem, to return home. I am not rich, just an individual who truly loves the automobile and will always, to the best of my health, drive them as everyday cars. The 61 Imperials, and the 69 Daytona that I currently use. I maintain a parts supply and keep up with what both of these car makes interchange with so I can use them as daily drivers. I know some of you want to just restore them and not drive them. That's ok, I am aiming this at the daily drivers. So, here is how I see it, without any input from you yet, and I want input from you, the other owners who want this to happen, but again, do not have the room or neighborhood who understands a non running car as an eyesore, to let me know if you could use this service. Please email me privately. In the beginning, I will not offer body and painting. But I am offering mechanical, electrical, air cond., except for auto temp air at present, of which I have no knowledge yet. Your questions are very welcome. Now, as for the other service I am providing, Classic Car Tours.
I have wanted to start, what I always thought could be done, just did not have the time to push it.
This is where I would rent on a mileage and or daily basis, a classic Imperial or muscle car to travel throughout the USA, trips across and around America. Those who travel from, say, Europe, Austrailia, who want to travel, Route 66, Highway 60, 101, or any other theme trip. The other ideas I am throwing out here is a trip with the thought of hitting wrecking yards before they dissappear from the landscape. We could take a utility trailer or a car trailer behind the car and do it as a buying vacation so you could find what you need for your project back home. I am very flexible. Now, you say, but you said we, yes, I would go along and we, you and I, drive the car you choose that I currently own. I have endless ideas with this.
You choose the theme for the trip. Say, you want to use my 61 Imperial to make the trip. Instead of you renting a new car and travel with no connection to an old car as we travel around, we would be getting local people as we drive, to ask questions and we ask them in return if they know of any cars in the area, of say, parts, or whatever they have knowledge of. I have been doing this and found it to be very beneficial when they come up to me and ask if I would like to buy something they knew about there in town. It does happen, and I have lots of parts due to just that very thing. I have found many wrecking yards this way.
I have found, and I am sure most of you who travel in a classic, see, that people will talk and be very friendly towards a classic car driver. I have had video, flash pics at night, and daytime where people take pics as I drive of us. The connections are out there, and the cars and parts are dissappearing before our very eyes if we do nothing to retrieve them. These trips are not limited to just overseas owners. What if you do not own one and just want to travel our highways, mainly the 2 lane blacktop roads, no matter where they go. Again, it is what you want the theme of the trip to be.
By using, for example, my 61 LeBaron with its dual air, I am open to 1 to 3 people, male or females, coming on the trip. It could be with or without a trailer. I have available, a very heavy duty tow assembly for the LeBaron. I have towed cars behind it. On trailers or on the ground if registered. No dollies because you cannot back up.
I am also offering my 69 Daytona for those of you who want to travel in a muscle car, again with all the same offerings as the Imperial, except for one major thing, no air conditioning. It could be a race track theme, or parts chasing, and it also has the towing capacity and I do use it in the same capacity as the Imperial, parts or towing a car that you might see and want to buy. Anything your heart desires as long as it is legal.
I know that questions like, can your wife come along as a couple. Yes, I am open to couples wanting to travel together, whether just site seeing, or for any other reason I have stated. If that is the case, I will make an offer, that my wife can go, if it is ok with you. She will not always be able to do so, because we have 4 grandchildren, and she does love to see them as I do. They are in Denver and we live 1,000 miles from them.
So, let your imaginations run wild and let me know personally what you think and request speciffically any ideas you have beyond what I have.
The prices would always depend on the cost of what hotel/motel you choose. The fuel costs, etc. If there was a breakdown then this is part of the experience. In that case, I will pay out of my own pocket, not you, for the repair. But, here you must pay your own food and motel, untill I can get the car back on the road. I know other questions will be asked here, and I welcome them.
So, now, lets enjoy these cars as they should be. Driving those two lane blacktop highways, seeing the little old towns with so many secrets to finding that experience so few of us have been able to have, driving classic iron thru classic America while we still can and have the health to do so. Very Sincerely, always the classic car lover, Joe Machado
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