3,000 mile coast-to-coast DPB adventure...CA 2 VA

[Mebot]

This is the story of how a DPB Marauder (#254 of 328) made it's way across the US from rainy Northern California to snowy, cold sub-freezing Virginia!

First of all, I must confess. I mentioned in the For Sale thread that this was a gift for my dad. He actually bought it, it's his money. I can't afford another car right now! lol, but when I said it was a gift, it still is. I did all the legwork for the car. I contacted Paul (natacop), who's one hell of a guy! Kudos for his patience and his follow up. If I ever get out to NorCal, I'll buy you a beer!

Anyways, yeah I pretty much talked with Paul, "kicked the tires" from 3,000 miles away, got the transport company lined up, sent the express mail certified check and contacted Paul with little questions here and there.

The car arrived yesterday (Friday Feb 1). It kind of threw a wrench in my schedule. It was picked up in California last Saturday and the transport company gave me a 7 day window for it to travel across country. This would have worked out perfectly, as today (Saturday) would have been great because we don't have work.

But I called the guy on Thursday and he said yeah I am in NC and I will be in VA by 10 am. Sure enough 10 am we met up and got the car unloaded. Drove it back to dad's house and then we both had to go to work.

here's the truck

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-01101553_zpse4711b24.jpg

coming off the truck
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-01102227_zpsa3c83fe8.jpg

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http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-01103648_zps643f088c.jpg

There was a lot of road dust on the car. It needs to be washed bad! unfortunately, it's freezing here and we both had to go to work.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-01103654_zps2a972c72.jpg

I'll admit, I'm a tad jealous. This is a beautiful, well maintained DPB. It came with all the original maintance records, the Marauder DVD, poster, window sticker, leather jacket and even the key fob is from the original Lincoln-Mercury dealer it was delivered to in Las Vegas, NV back in 2003

We drove it home and it was a short distance (maybe a half mile) but I can tell it's a well-oiled machine. Shifts great, handling is smooth and the ride (even though no upgrade suspension) feels terrific

Dad is ecstatic. It fits in his garage with more than enough room to spare. Not like my mickey-mouse garage! I'm looking forward to working with him on it. It will be his "baby", his project, but I will be there for guidance and to let him know about all the "quirks" of the car that I've learned over the years from this site. He's looking forward to the CAM meet ups here (Carlisle, Berts, Capt'n Dans, ABC Brewery, etc)

My dad is not a computer guy so i doubt he will join the MM.net forum, but trust me his adventure will live through me. I can't wait to get my black and his blue together from some photo shoots!:D

~Ryan

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-01114857_zps4eaa1ccd.jpg

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http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-01114932_zpsf9a0a719.jpg

[Mebot]

I took a video of it offloading and I thought i uploaded it to my YouTube channel, but can't seem to find it right now.... I'll post it up if I can find it...

[DOOM]

Aww man!!! :drool: :drool:

[Mebot]

Now there are 3 blues in Virginia!

:banana:

(that i know of)

[lji372]

:beer:congrats to your dad

i call dibs when it gets sold!!!!:banana:

[Mebot]

Hooray, I found the video. It was extremely cold and windy, so apologies for the wind noise. The tips barely touched the ground coming off the ramp, but you can obviously see (and hear) the chin spoiler dragging on the ramp. D'oh!

Oh well better the chin spoiler getting scratched then the bumper!

EgQzaJTYpzk</IFRAME>

[SC Cheesehead]

:congrats: to your Dad, and let him know he's now officially a member of the BLUES BROTHERS!

[gpfarrell]

Well done!!

[jus4kix03MM]

Very nice. Congrats.

[WhatsUpDOHC]

Congratulations to you and your Dad - Great Marauder story.

Mark

[Ladyhawke]

When your Dad needs to our lift is available.

[1Marauder]

AWESOME STORY!!! Geat job all! Thanks for sharing! What did the freight cost in semi-closed? PM and let me know how you like thier service and give me thier data!

Thanks

[Bluerauder]

The tips barely touched the ground coming off the ramp, but you can obviously see (and hear) the chin spoiler dragging on the ramp. D'oh!

A 4" x 4" (or stacked 2" by 4"s) at the end of the ramp cuts the angle enough to avoid this dragging. Most (knowledgeable) roll back operators carry these on the flatbed to address such situations.

[Murked03']

Congrats to you and especially dad I'm pretty sure he's gonna relive teen years with that tasty lookin DBP!!!

[MinnesotaMM]

Anyone know how many of the 328 DBP are still in existence? or on this site?

[Comin' in Hot]

It's great to know there is another DBP in the east!!

[HammerDown]

AWESOME!!! Congrats to your Dad--looking forward to seeing the "blue" at the next gathering!!!!

[OleP71Dude]

Mebot:
Congratulations ! Even dusty from the road trip you can tell that is one nice MM ! Here is a tribute tune for you & your Dad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8DuRuh1uDA

OleP71Dude

[CBT]

Anyone know how many of the 328 DBP are still in existence? or on this site?

I know of one.....:)

[ctrlraven]

Very nice! FTW those are the really good BFG KWD2 tires are should only be driven in temps 50 and up. They get nice and soft during hot weather but when it gets cold they become like rocks.

[8UWITH6]

Great looking car. Those wheels are really growing on me. :)

DBP for the win! :) :) :)

[tbone]

Kickass story with pics! We need more of this on MM! Thanks!

[tallpaul]

I like the wheels. Tell us more about the car.

[Mebot]

:congrats: to your Dad, and let him know he's now officially a member of the BLUES BROTHERS!

Good deal Rex! I let him know! he's thinking about coming to Louisville and making an appearance there. Hope he fits in!


When your Dad needs to our lift is available.

Yep sounds good. You guys need to come over to the new house one of these days


AWESOME STORY!!! Geat job all! Thanks for sharing! What did the freight cost in semi-closed? PM and let me know how you like thier service and give me thier data!

Thanks

Sent you a PM. Let me know if you need anything else! thanks



It's great to know there is another DBP in the east!!

We hope to see you in June for Carlisle!


AWESOME!!! Congrats to your Dad--looking forward to seeing the "blue" at the next gathering!!!!

Carlisle!


Very nice! FTW those are the really good BFG KWD2 tires are should only be driven in temps 50 and up. They get nice and soft during hot weather but when it gets cold they become like rocks.

I knew i've see these tires before. Thanks for the heads up on the summer-only wear. I doubt Dad will be driving during the winter, but I will give him the heads up


I like the wheels. Tell us more about the car.

Thanks, those are 20inch Shelby wheels. I don't know what year. The car's mod list are: Clarion touchscreen audio unit with subwoofer and amp in the rear. LED interior lights, K&N cold air intake, HID headlights. There were HID foglights, but crapped out before shipment. Paul threw in the regular bulbs. I'll have to take a look at these. Also, Mach 1 chin spoiler, godhead front and trunk emblem.Qa1 lowered coil overs.

There's a lot more I'd like to tool around with my Dad and work on it with him, but just with our work schedule and commitments on the weekend, it's hard to find time. Once it gets warmer, I'm sure we'll be taking it out more!

Thanks everyone for the replies. He's excited and so am I.

We're hoping to both make it to Louisville this year!

Mebot:
Congratulations ! Even dusty from the road trip you can tell that is one nice MM ! Here is a tribute tune for you & your Dad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8DuRuh1uDA

OleP71Dude

haha thanks for the clip Mike! Much appreciated! :beer:

[Embassy]

Congrats.

I really like those wheels.

[MOTOWN]

Sweet ride!

[Baaad GN]

Like to see that car in Louisville

[Mebot]

Like to see that car in Louisville

Me too. We're working on it :beer:

[Mebot]

It was a fairly nice weekend so Dad was able to get the road dust washed off. He got it registered at VA DMV so we took it for a quick spin

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-09135753_zpsee77b63c.jpg

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[Mebot]

More pictures :

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-10160142_zps54372c15.jpg

My nephew (he's 1 1/2)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-10155344_zpsb56d2582.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-10155357_zps7a2bc71c.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-10155927_zps54cd2159.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Mebot/2013-02-10155917_zpsc006df91.jpg

[Roadwarrior]

Great story & a nice pair of Marauders. :2thumbs: :beer: