Crossing the country: couple travels 3,000 km in a 1977 Ford Corcel for a special reason.

An old car, a nine-day trip, and almost 3,000 kilometers of road. That's how Hilário Zaltron, 63, and Janete Niedermeyer, 54, from Toledo (PR), transformed a simple car sale into an unforgettable journey. Aboard a 1977 Ford Corcel, the couple set off north to deliver the vehicle to its new owner—and keep it within the family.

The final destination: Humaitá, in Amazonas , where Hilário's brother, Vilson Zaltron, was anxiously waiting for the car. The journey, made without air conditioning and under the heat of Brazilian roads, lasted nine days, with planned stops in Campo Grande (MS) , Cuiabá (MT), Vilhena and Ariquemes (RO).

The trip, even with the typical fatigue and hardships, was worth it. Passionate about classic cars and the Corcel, they didn't want to sell it to just anyone. So, crossing the country to deliver it to Hilário's brother was the perfect solution.

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“We planned the itinerary and everything went perfectly according to schedule,” says Janete. The couple left Toledo on the 11th, made stops to visit relatives, and even attended mass during the national holiday. “We liked to enjoy the trip; it wasn’t just a road trip,” she recalls.

In Ariquemes, the couple stayed with cousins ​​for a few days before continuing their journey to Humaitá. There, they met Vilson, who had traveled by bus from Manaus to receive the car.

One Horse, many stories.

The 1977 Ford Corcel, with over 100,000 kilometers on the odometer, was sold for R$ 20,000. But, according to Janete, they could have closed the deal many times sooner.

“We could have sold the car more than ten times over. People admired and congratulated us on our courage,” he recalls, laughing.

Hilário is passionate about classic cars, especially Ford models. After selling his old Ford, he bought a vintage Pampa, another beloved car from the manufacturer. "The whole family loves classic cars. Now the Corcel will stay with us," he explains.

The end of the journey — and the beginning of another.

In Humaitá, the Corcel was temporarily left at a friend's house, waiting for a ferry to take it to Manaus. The low water level of the Madeira River delayed the boarding.

While the car awaits the next stage, Hilário and Janete have already returned to Paraná — by plane, this time.

"It was a tiring few days, but it was worth every kilometer," Janete summarizes proudly. "We took the car with us, but we brought back many stories."