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From Goiânia to Uruguay in a 1969 Dodge Charger – Part 1: Preparations

You know those people you invite out of politeness, never expecting them to actually accept? Well, I’m one of those.

During an event in Garibaldi, RS, my now-new Uruguayan friend Pablo invited me to his homeland to attend an American car meet. And, of course, being a fan of impulsive decisions, I accepted on the spot. The car was chosen right then and there, no hesitation: a 1969 Dodge Charger. After all, if you’re going on an adventure, might as well do it in style.

The Charger had already seen plenty of miles and long trips, but I wasn’t naive. Before hitting the road, we gave it a proper check-up: engine, tires, transmission, differential, electrical system—everything was inspected. Oil changed, valve cover gasket replaced, radiator cleaned, and even a little adjustment to the parking brake. Everything seemed to be in order—at least as much as a classic car’s mechanical stubbornness would allow.

As every Dodge owner knows, these cars have a natural talent for letting water seep in (perhaps a factory feature, who knows?). So, I took the opportunity to replace the trunk liner with a breathable rubber mat, which not only helps with drainage but also keeps luggage from sliding around like they’re on an ice rink.

Of course, I couldn’t forget my laptop. Because between one city and another, there’s always some office issue that needs fixing. Who hasn’t had to approve a report in the middle of a road trip, right?

Speaking of distance... The event takes place in Piriápolis, Uruguay, organized by the Lokustom crew. From my city, Goiânia, it’s about 2,800 km (1,740 miles) away. But a straight-line trip? No way! I reworked the route, adding visits to friends and must-see places, and just like that, the outbound distance magically jumped to 4,300 km (2,670 miles). Now that made sense.

This time, I managed to drag my parents along for the adventure. They’d be following closely, along with my brother, in a Mustang Mach 1. Not bad, huh? A muscle car combo tearing up the road to Uruguay.

Finally, the big day arrived. Bags packed, car cleaned, trunk loaded, tank full. Time to hit the road and see where this journey will take us. Spoiler: probably to the nearest gas station—because if there’s one thing this car loves, it’s guzzling fuel.

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