Wagons In the Winter

I got my license in the dead of winter in the Chicago area, so "counter-steering" just came naturally. The next summer turned-out to be a major disappointment when I found-out I couldn't "drift" corners anymore..

My dad finished out his career back in Tulsa (we were originally Okies), and when he retired, he bought-out the lease on his company '83 Caprice Classic wagon. I'd visit for the holidays every year and, as much as I loved my folks, I could only handle so-much "Masterpiece Theater", so dad would let me go carouse around a little during the evenings.

Don't let anyone kid you. As hot as it gets in the summer, Oklahoma can go totally "Northern Exposure" (sans moose) every year. Dad kept a pair of snow-shoes for the rear, and even had a set of $15 hub-caps for the occasional sacrifices to the curb-gods. He'd drop a coupla' bags of landscaping gravel (about 100#s of 1/2") behind the back seat, but ahead of the rear axle. The weight-shift helped the rear brakes considerably, and the gravel works way-better than sand for getting unstuck. Just don't try to hide the bags under the "trunk" (it makes the car prone to "butt-plants"). Use the trunk for a coupla' sleeping-bags and a box of beef jerky (it doesn't freeze), and carry some Gator-Ade in the back seat if there's a chance of gettin' really stuck.

I ended-up bringing the car down to Florida back in '99, and it looked great. Both Chicago and Tulsa used salt/sand on the roads, but dad would just take the car through a local car-wash with "under-spray" once a week. For my vote, the C/C (or similar full-size wagon) is a great winter choice. For any size car, poor traction will always have its compromises, but if the Schlitz really does hit the fan,
SIZE MATTERS.. ..

 

ROTFLMFAO!!!
You tell a colorful true story!

 

I drive all winter here....

 

I may go look at this 79 Pontiac wagon this week.
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/1954594966.html

 

Maybe it's because I'm such a delicate little flower orrrr just a bit slow...But I don't know what this means ROTF...I got the rest of it...stop giggling...


my daughter(also a little flower) just told me what it means...someone needs their mouth washed out

 

Luckily, you and my wife don't have arms that long. you're a bit further away by about 1,300 miles.

 

And I'll bet you don't even know how to turn on the heater!

 

You know, a rat motor will bolt right in too.

 

Yep, it can. But, it would make it more challenging to drive in the winter and just become another project. I was thinking a 455 Poncho!!

 

Geeze, DR....from the look of the pix it almost looks too nice to be too be a winter driver. But they do mention lower body rust. They say they are flexible with the money....I would go look at that car right NOW! Might get it for 8 or 900! What engine is in there now?

 

It's got the 307 Olds motor in it. Not a bad engine, but not a big powerhouse either.

 

My point is, DR, I have had winter experience galore with all kinds of cars as I'm sure you have too. I can tell you that a 455 is a torque monster and does NOT get around well in the winter snow. The 307, OTOH, gets around great. I have driven both the 455 and the 307 in box wagons in the snow and it was like night and day. Even with radial snows on the back and weight over the rear axle...the 455 just spins out in snow. IF you want the Poncho wagon (and I think you should be there right NOW looking at it) for a winter car then I would leave the 307 in there. Just my

 

I agree. There's really no need for all that torque in a winter car. Talking to the wife about it right now.
I'd really love to have the Merc. Zephyr in the E-Bay listings, but I'd spend more on the shipping than the asking price.
Oh, decisions, decisions!!

 

Well....that Merc is in New Mexico. Wouldn't be TOO bad if you could fly in and drive it home. But it's not a runner. Risky to buy that car blind. Does the guy have a ton more pix? Does he say WHY it's not road worthy as he puts it?

 

Put some Skis on the front and some rear tracks from a bobcat and have a go..