Tom Hamilton's Trip to the West Coast

March 8 to 19, 2001 

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170 miles before St Louis, we blew a tire on the trailer at 70 mph.  That's what was left of the tire in the foreground.  Notice that the fiberglass fender was ripped off of the trailer before we could stop it.

This turned out to be the only problem with the truck and trailer on this leg of the trip.

 

The first stop is in sight
As we neared the Mississippi River, there was the arch in downtown St. Louis, the gateway to the west.
1937 55K Special Roadster, 10 year restoration completed in 2000, value $3-5,000,000.
It was a clear day, time to try her out for the first drive of the year.
It's a tight fit if you do not want to drag your foot on the door frame.
Very nice and very rare.
This key opens the rumble seat.
This little door gets you into the soft top storage area where you begin the process of putting up the top.
Nice dash board.  All body parts, chrome, instruments and accessories were hand built during the restoration. 
The process started with two frames, engine and drive train, with everything else built from scratch.
1937 Mahiem, 1 of 10.
1960 220SE Cabriolet with birds eye maple veneer wood work.
1957 300Sc Cabriolet Roadster original owned by Buddy Hacket.  1957 300Sc Coupe in back ground.
1931 SSK kit car of the type raced in the early thirties.  1937 540K originally owned by Gherring's assistant in back ground.