North Carolina to Illinois Roadtrip for Parts Car #59

[Jason Edge]

Just popping in to  share a bit about my 5 day road trip to from North Carolina to Illinois topick up parts car #59, a 1963 Four Window Sedan de Ville. I had recently driven 16 hrs 15 minutes straight by myself from Texas to NC after our CLC Winter Board Meeting and told myself I am going to make this trip easier and spread it out since I needed to travel 918 miles each way, not to mention get the car loaded and secured to car hauler.  

Backing up a bit I had parted out 58 1963 & 1964 Cadillacs since 1997, usually parting out 2 to 4 a year. In 2022 I brought in 3 parts cars back to back which sort of overwhelmed me, not to mention I had been working to complete a house addition to my 1912 Queen Anne Home (my other passion. I have also been consumed with having as much of my fasteners accumulated over the years gold cadmium plated.  (I have now had about 3,300 lbs plated!). Last year was the first time in 26 years I had not brought in a parts car.  You might say I was chomping at the bit to bring in #59!

So, the first leg of mystery trip took me to Xenia, Ohio just outside of Dayton. That was about a 7.5 hr drive.  3 Days into my trip and looking back I now know that was the right choice as it is a great stopping point for destinations further North. It is a very nice small town and my Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel was right o the interstate. In fact I will be staying there again tomorrow night on my trek back home.

Yesterday, I made it to Bloomington Illinois,  The trip from Xenia/Dayton to Bloomington was about 4 1/2 hrs and 300 miles. Compared to the first stretch it was a very easy cruise.  My 2nd stay over was in Bloomington for 2 reason. The first reason was to: take Chapter Members Logan Robb a transmission and grill. Logan is a regular on our monthly Zoom meetings and good customer and Chapter member and it was good to meet him and his dad in person.  He is also the one that turned me on to this parts car so I have to give a big Shout Out and Thanks to Logan!!!!  Second, Bloomington was just off the interstate on the way to my final destination, Plymouth, Illinois, and put me with a couple hours to the car.  

Today I left Bloomington around 8am and arrived at the parts car in Plymouth, IL around 10:30 am and was back on the road by noon.  It is some of the most picturesque farmland I have ever driven through. Siri on my iPhone took me down this secondary farm road that connected two state roads and knew I would have to stop and get some pictures on the way back with the car in tow. I made it back to room about 2:30pm and am here on laptop sharing a bit of my journey.

I have made 3 legs of my 5 leg trip and am looking forward to getting back home. I have about 400 lbs of cadmium to go through that I had just got in, and now a 5000lb/5000pc parts car to dismantle.

Anyway, That is my story and am sticking with it.   Below are a few pictures from the back road in Illinois with my 2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT 'Et2Brute' Pulling Parts Car #59.  

Update Feb 8, 2024:
It was smooth sailing all the way home. Here is a picture with my trophy right after I pulled in. 

[Jason Edge]

As a reminder of my Modus Operandi regarding parts cars and parts, I will start breaking down in the next few weeks, and going down my Wait List, Top to Bottom, with 1st preference to Chapter Members. If you know you are on the Wait List for an item, you are good to go. As I like to say "I Forget Everything, Excel Forgets Nothing!". If not sure or just want to check on something else, email me at [e-mail]

[Dave Fehrle]

Nice pics! Hope the last 2 legs of the journey went uneventful!

[Jason Edge]

It was smooth sailing all the way home. Here is a picture with my trophy right after I pulled in. 

[Kurt]

Careful, you're gonna scratch that hood : )