[VAC] Re: 1950 speed in a 2000 world

["Kenneth Reed" <archneo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim and Fred,

These wonderful messages really struck a chord with us.  We have two vintage
vehicles to tow our '57 Bubble:  a 1956 Chevy 4x4 Pickup, and a 1957 Chevy
4x4 Suburban.  This autumn my wife and I enjoyed a week of back roads, state
highways, and even 90 miles of very rough gravel roads, with our vintage
combo (we were pulling with the pickup this trip).  We maintained about 65
miles per hour on the paved roads, and were down to 15 mph on the gravel.
We stopped at small town gas stations, talked to locals, made lunch at
parks.  We did travel an interstate for about three hours, and it was
positively boring.  Everywhere we went, people asked what we had, and struck
up conversations easily.  It's fun to be the instant center of attention at
a little cafe, just by pulling into the lot and walking inside!

I do know that for the early '50s Chevrolet trucks, a ring and pinion is
available that allows you to cruise about 10 mph faster (for 1/2 ton trucks
only).  I haven't done it, because my 4-wheel-drives would be twice as much
cost and work to convert.  Besides, 65 as a cruising speed felt just fine.

Ken & Molly Reed
'57 Bubble