COKER CORNER GET OUT AND DRIVE! Founded in 1958, Coker Tire Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of tires and wheels for collector vehicles. With authentic brands such as Firestone, BF Goodrich, Michelin and more, the Chattanooga, Tennessee-based company supplies a 100-year range of tire fitments for classic cars, muscle cars, Hot Rods, classic trucks and more. Coker Tire also offers a wide variety of American-made steel wheels and high-quality accessories for numerous applications. Find out more about the extensive product line at CokerTire.com. Summertime is in full swing, and that means your collector car should be out of hibernation and ready for the road. We’re always reminded of the fun of driving old cars during this time of the year, as we watch events like the Hot Rod Power Tour and the Great Race take place, giving car guys and girls the opportunity to stretch the legs of their car. The impact that traveling car events have on the general public is huge with an immeasurable reach, considering how many people see the cars passing by on the roadways. But do you really have to pay an entry fee and tie up several days of vacation time just to enjoy your car? We firmly believe in driving your collector car regularly, even if it’s just a trip to the grocery store. Keep in mind that some types of antique car registration and specialty insurance limit usage to car shows and other special occasions, so be sure to cover those bases before committing to driving on a regular basis. As long as it’s legal and your car is up to the task, there is nothing quite like the joy of driving an old car. Okay, we might be romanticizing that a little bit. In fact, if we’re being honest, what we’re really saying is that the brakes won’t work quite as well as your modern daily driver, the steering isn’t nearly as responsive, and you’ll end the experience smelling like exhaust fumes—but that’s all a part of the fun. Nevertheless, there can be a lot of risks involved, and for certain cars, you may even end up asking yourself, “Is it really worth it?” The truth of the matter is that certain cars are not designed for regular driving. An easy example is the famous big-block Corvette—this is an exhilarating car to drive, but usually in short bursts, because they’re not exactly fuel efficient and often require higher than 93 octane to support the high compression ratio. It’s common for car enthusiasts to choose a more basic car if they plan to drive it often—something with a straightforward engine and no frills. That’s why you’ll see more four-door vehicles these days—they’re more affordable, and they’re usually packing a smooth-running engine that requires less maintenance. One of our marketing guys here at Coker Tire, Tommy Lee Byrd (TLB, as he’s affectionately known), has proven the concept with a grandma-fresh 1964 Chevelle four-door. In the past few years, he has logged more than 40,000 miles on the sedan, making improvements and changes along the way to increase the fun factor for the whole family. 124 // MECUM.COM
