While on the phone with the kids during Drag Week, talking about where we were driving our Challenger Hellcat, the boys asked me how long it would take to drive across the country. This lead to an explanation about the original Cannonball Run and then them asking if we could do it. I’ve not told their mom yet.
There was a very colorful cast of people and vehicles for the “real” cannonballs of the early 1970s. From limos to big block crew cab trucks to modified ambulances, nothing was off-limits.
In the modern era, where Johnny Law has far more tools and firepower at his disposal, the vehicle for a full tilt, cross-country assault would need to be equal parts fast, clandestine, indestructable, and have the ability to carry fuel like a water buffalo.
So what would you choose as a land based missle to haul ass from the Atlantic to the Pacific?
(Here’s where we tell you that those early Cannonballs were run in a different era that lacked massive urban sprawl, overcrowded highways, and the high social awareness of dangerous, agressive, and reckless driving. Don’t try this at home, kids.)
For the record, we think that a lowered dually pickup with a couple of auxialliary gas tanks, and a rear gear somewhere in the high 2.90s would be awesome. You’d be able to drive the thing hundreds (maybe a thousand plus) of miles and really let it eat in the wide open territory to make up time!
Panther platform Crown Victoria. Plenty of room for fuel, and passengers. 4.6 can make decent power or be swapped out for something else easily enough. Handles pretty good and not to hard to make it handle better. Blends in and people just think you are a cop so they will not report you to the real police.
Totally agree.
Slammed twin turbo Dodge Cummins would work for me!
I’d use a ex police Dodge Charger with a driveline from a wrecked Hellcat.
I’d be happy to use my XA station wagon. 393 stroker Cleveland, 2.77 rear end, plenty of comfort, and room for spare fuel and a mattress. When do we leave?
I think you’re pretty close to the mark with a dually. Something in white or silver, 2wd auto, and a 2000 gallon auxiliary tank in the bed. Air bags would allow you to manage the ride quality as the fuel load lightened. I’d leave the tune alone, and swap the stock wheels for something considerably lighter than stock to offset the fuel weight.
In fact, upon reflection, a SRW 2500 series truck would have enough payload to carry 200 gallons of fuel. Given that, the key here is personnel management. The stock tank, plus 200 gallons gets you from NYC to a point within a stock fuel tank’s range of the finish. You leave NYC with everyone geared up for six hours non-stop. At six hours, you swap drivers and hit the restroom quickly. Repeat six hours later.
You would have to limit food to healthy snacks and water. Granola, jerky, and nuts/almonds. Tomato juice or iced tea would be okay in limited quantities.
The big key is making sure you average 15 mpg or better, and you’d have to make sure the truck can run comfortably at 100+ while knocking down that kind of fuel economy. That would mean one fuel stop, and only taking on what amounts to a stock tank fill, and that could be sped up by pulling from two pumps at once.
Could easily make it with the 200 gallons in a 2wd Cummins truck, especially a 12V. 4 drivers, couple coolers packed with food and swapping every 5-6 hours would kill it.
FWIW, the current record (28 hours 50 minutes) was set in 2013 by 3 guys in a Mercedes CL with 2 extra 22 gal. tanks and a lot of electronics.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/10/new-record-driving-across-the-us-in-less-than-29-hours/
I think a duramax swapped mercedes s-class + large fuel tanks is the ticket. High mpg at 80+ mph avg .
Raptor baby!!!! Think of the short cuts
Mercedes Sprinter V6 CDI low roof with Ambulance equipment, ie sports suspension, HIDs etc. Can fit get 3 50 gallon tanks underneath plus what ever you need in the back, seat 4 people in proper seats and most importantly, a porta-potti in the back. Could damm near do the run without actually stopping, driver changes while moving if you’re REALLY brave.
And who’ll look at a white cargo van rolling down the interstate?
I think an 05-06 GTO that was modified correctly and manual would be the best bet. First thing would be overhaul the suspension, replace every bushing, and add coil overs with drag bags in the back. Upgrade the brakes, add diff cooler, oil cooler, aluminum radiator, and trans cooler. Let the engine breath with an intake, exhaust, and proper dunno tune with data logging before hand. Put another fuel tank in the trunk. The front lighting would need to be hids or LEDs.
Put two full size spares in back seat area.
Or get an E63 AMG Estate.
Tahoe SSV
It’s got a cop motor, It’s got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks.