63 days, 12 hrs, 30 min crossing
Jackson and Crocker completed the San Francisco to Manhattan drive in 63 days, 12 hours, and 30 minutes, arriving at 4:30 AM on July 26, 1903.
Where this was said
Buffalo Wreck, Manhattan Arrival, and Jackson's Bet
At 51:50 · chapter starts 51:40
The final stretch threw one more surprise at them: near Buffalo, New York, the car hit what Jackson described only as 'a hidden obstruction' and all three — Sewell, Horatio, and Bud — were ejected. Miraculously, none were hurt and the car survived. They kept going. On July 26, 1903, at 4:30 AM, they rolled into Manhattan, having crossed the United States in 63 days, 12 hours, and 30 minutes [1] — Josh "63 days, 12 hrs, 30 min crossing: Jackson and Crocker completed the San Francisco to Manhattan drive in 63 days, 12 hours, and 30 minutes, …" 51:50 . Press, Winton representatives, and Bertha — 'Swipes' herself — were there to greet them. Jackson had won his bet. He never collected [2] — Chuck "He never collected on. Oh, I was curious about that. He didn't? Nope. What a stand-up guy." 52:47 . Whether from magnanimity, exhaustion, or simply not wanting to make the return trip any time soon, the money stayed where it was.
What Happened After: Jackson, Crocker, and Bud
Bud retired to the Jackson farm in Vermont. Jackson went on to serve in WWI, run businesses, and donate the Vermont to the Smithsonian. Sewell Crocker, the unsung hero who kept the car running, died at around 31 — the one genuinely sad note in an otherwise triumphant story.
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