Maxx or as the wife calls him the Blue Rocket.

[sc72]

Ok the story begins back in 09, I had a 90 L Plus that was a real rust bucket, remember we live in Iowa, the floor boards, well they were gone and doing the Flintstone was a reality and after putting patches on patches I told the wife it was time to pull the plug so I stripped every useable part that I could get off and started looking for a new ride. The next week I found a nice 92 KJ Blue GL that I liked but it was down in Bradenton FL I showed the wife and she thought it would be nice and at that point she called it the Blue Rocket, I kept looking but I always came back to this one, she said give him a call so I did, we talked and he said come on over and take a look, I said well I live in Iowa and he hung up, so I called back and he said he didn't have time for jokes, so I told him I was serious, so after he got done laughing he sent some pictures and we did more talking, a week later I booked some airline tickets, three weeks later I was headed to Tampa, then to Bradenton, they met me at the air port and it was about 15 minutes to their house and there he was sitting in the shade of a Palm tree. We talked for a few minutes, them took him for a drive, I was hooked, Maxx was going home with me, back at the house the wife had made some sweet tea, we sat down and started to haggle, he wanted this, I said ill give this, 5 minutes later the deal was done. We talked for another hour and I learned Maxx was bought new up in Fort Walton Beach FL and had spent all of his life in FL, We checked the fluids, wheel bearings etc, we were ready to head north west, I hooked up the GPS, threw the carry on bag in the back, said thanks and headed for the car, I heard the screen door slap shut and a voice said wait for me, the lady had made me a sack lunch and a large McDonalds glass of sweet tea for the road. I said thanks, closed the door, the wife said you call when you get home now ya hear. Maxx and I left, 18 hours later we pulled in the drive at home.

The first pic is of Maxx the morning we got home.

The next pic is the beginning of his transformation. You will see plenty of mods that have been done to Maxx from the Mazda 121 front grill, to the Euro tail lights, Im not going to dwell on all the upgrades I have done, so see what you can find, Thanks for looking.





















If you have any questions lets hear them.

[1990new]

Great story there Karl. So is this your entry for Maxx (aka Blue Rocket) in next months FOTM?

[sc72]

Why yes it is, as of this morning it's time for May FOTM.

[Rick the Quick]

Nice work Karl!

[Eaglefreek]

Any details on that trailer as far as a brand and/or model or how old it its?

[sc72]

Hello Rick, ya the trailer was sold by Montgomery Wards, manufactured by Ideal Manufacturing in Oskaloosa Iowa, The tag on the bottom had a serial number and a date, it was made or sold in 1964. she tows straight as an Arrow. Thanks for the question.

[sc72]

Rick the Quick, it's been a lot of fun and truly a labor of love. Thanks I'm going to lean on you and my friends South and South west, I'm going to start looking for another rust free body running or not and ya it needs to be KJ Blue

[sc72]

Rick Eagle Freak, did you notice that I pulled the trailer axle and adapted Festiva spindles and hubs, I took the Axle to a friend of mine who is a real fab man and welder, as I mentioned it tows like a champ.

[Rick the Quick]

Rick the Quick, it's been a lot of fun and truly a labor of love. Thanks I'm going to lean on you and my friends South and South west, I'm going to start looking for another rust free body running or not and ya it needs to be KJ Blue

I will keep my eyes open. What years was KJ Blue available? Sweet little trailer. BTW I drove from Des Moines Iowa to Chicago a few years back in a restored '65 Beetle. It was July and hot as usual in New Mexico and Texas so I was lucky to get it trailered from New Mexico to Iowa. Drove US 64 all the way back to Chicago and enjoyed every mile of the journey. I had forgotten how pretty Iowa can be. Lots of rolling hills and very green. Passed through many small towns and found myself stopping about every 50-75 miles to get gas and a cool drink. I enjoyed talking to the locals and could not help but notice how tidy the state looked. If it wasn't for the long winters it looked like a nice place to live. If the B6T car is finished by fall I plan on driving back to Chicago for a quick visit. I plan on avoiding the Interstates as much as possible. 30 years of traveling I-40, 44, + 55 is enough for me. Same old fuel and food at any given exit. Two lane highways and small towns make for memories that stay with you. If I drive through Iowa i will look you up my friend.
Rick.

[Eaglefreek]

Hello Rick, ya the trailer was sold by Montgomery Wards, manufactured by Ideal Manufacturing in Oskaloosa Iowa, The tag on the bottom had a serial number and a date, it was made or sold in 1964. she tows straight as an Arrow. Thanks for the question.

Rick Eagle Freak, did you notice that I pulled the trailer axle and adapted Festiva spindles and hubs, I took the Axle to a friend of mine who is a real fab man and welder, as I mentioned it tows like a champ.

Thanks for the info. Why did you use Festiva hubs? So you only have to carry one spare?

[milehighbear]

Hey Karl, I too am from Iowa. I was born and raised in Davenport and left there in 67. After retiring out of Air Force I ended up in Denver and have been here ever since. I have made several trips back there cause I still have lots of family there. I will be coming back there in Aug for family reunion. It is a great and beautiful state. Car looks great. I also acquired a Blue 92 here about three weeks ago and am building it up too. Good luck with the little car and Festiva of Month.

[sc72]

Rick, Eaglefreek, the trailer came with 8" tires and rims, they were weather checked and just didn't look real road worth, so I had extra GL rims, good tires, extra spindles, so I made the change, it worked out quite well. Actually the spare tire thing wasn't a thought till now.

[sc72]

Bear, I have been following your post about your new car and what you are doing to it. You and I have talked about your and my adventures racing at Cordova. In the fall the wife and I like to take the river drive north to see the fall colors, if the colors are bright, we grab a hotel room and spend the weekend driving around, sometimes we end up at Galena. It would be great to meet up but I'm not a party crasher, maybe someday. Thank you for your service. I was born at Offutt AFB Sarpy County Neb and spent 16 years in the service with my Mom and Dad, quite an experience for being non enlisted.

[Rick the Quick]

Nice to get rid of the 8" tire / wheel combination. I imagine an 8" tire is made for lawn tractors and wouldn't be safe at speeds that you will be driving, Not to mention how fast they would be turning at any normal driving speed. As you probably know it's hard enough finding 12's locally. When I got my '88 back in '06, Discount Tire still had the 4 tires for $99 billboards around town. 4 tires for $99 as long as you were looking for 12's. I remember going in asking for the $99 deal and having the salesman say they wouldn't fit my car unless I had a Festiva. I said good I'm in luck. One set in '06 and one more in '08. Come 2010 I needed one tire to make the trip to Chicago and Discount told me they didn't have one 12" in stock at any of their stores nation wide. I went to the U-Pull it that day and found a nice set of alloy 13"s with 4x114 lug pattern. I went back to Discount and bought a nice set of 175 x 13 Michelins. 70 series I believe. What a difference it made in ride, handling and traction, especially wet traction. It was short lived. 2 weeks later an uninsured driver pulled out in front of me and I T boned him hard. That was the end of the nice '88. After riding the '78 BMW R100/7 (that's a motorcycle btw) for three years.....rain, snow, dust storms, hauling groceries and Lincoln welders, I broke down and bought another car......a '93 Festiva! Drove it for a year before stumbling across this Forum. Now there's #2 and a B6T engine with G transmission waiting to go into the '93.....Living the dream!.....LOL.

[sc72]

Rick, Rick the quick, the KJ Blue cars came out only in 1992/93 Thanks for your help. Thanks It was luck finding the trailer but works out well. From D.M to Chicago in a Bug that had to be fun and the route you took is a good road to see Iowa, I would like to hear more about the bug and maybe a pic or two. At the first Green up of spring Iowa really starts to smell good, I like to take balloon rides and see all the Great colors in the fall, hey we have corn already pushing through, we never planted before May15 but the winter this year was really mild, average temp 33 IIRK. I'll bet it was interesting talking to most of the locals, then there's the old boy locals that can really sling the B.S. you need a few of those to really appreciate the rest. Your right about the winters, they can be halfway nice or just bone chilling, We have thought about moving Arizona way but the Grand kids are in our life a lot, we will be buried outside of town overlooking Red Rock Lake, that's the wifes idea, what do I care I'm gonna be Dead. I agree two lane Black top, a Mom and Pop dinner is the best way to see the country and make new friends. We have a saying here in Iowa,

There are no strangers here in Iowa, they are just friends you haven't met yet.

When you come our way, if it's through Iowa or Missouri or ? give us a call, we will be there, Heck we might make a mini meet out or your stop.

Safe travels friend.