not such a happy Opel day

[OpelJim]

Well and very nice couple Lori and Chris M. from Reno Nevada drove down Saturday 03 24 07 to pick up their new 1971 Opel Gt.
Chris was smiling ear to ear when I pulled in the parking lot with his GT
Lori was so happy he was happy
They drove away around 1130 AM for Monterey Ca. for a romantic overnight stay there before driving home.

I was so happy to see them driving away happy new Opel owners.

Then about 2-3 PM PST I got a call from Chris.

He said, " Jim this is Chris I have some bad news" ( I was thinking oh no I hope the engine did not blow up!!) Chris said, " I am on the 134 freeway and I hit a fork in the road "

I thought maybe he did not use MAPQUEST and got lost?
I asked him, " What do you mean you hit a fork in the road ?" ( I am not making this up this really was the conversation on our cell phones)

" Well I ran over this fork in the road me and about 10 other cars "

Now I am really confused!! " You did what?? What do you mean you ran it over"

He said, " You know fork lifts Well I ran over the fork"

I said, " You ran over a forklift ?? What was that doing on the freeway? "

He said, " NO not a fork lift just a fork lift FORK it was on the road and I ran it over punctured the 2 drivers side tires and busted the 2 15" rims, I am by the side of the road now waiting for a tow truck."

" OH MY GOD So you were in an accident ARE YOU ALRIGHT?
What was a fork doing on the freeway? "

He said, " I am ok can you get me 2 rims I am near Santa Clarita"

Well the story goes on from there and I am awaiting a call from Chris so I know he got home safe, but I wanted to share this story so I can urge and encourage new Opel owners NOT TO pick up their Opels and DRIVE THEM HOME. USE AN AUTO TRANSPORT COMPANY !!!.
The car has very little chance of getting damaged while it is being delivered to you. It will cost less than picking it up yourself. Think about the time spent all those 18 hours behind the wheel, the gas the food and the lodging expenses.
It really makes sense to have it delivered.

When Chris calls I will continue the saga....

[ungermm]

They could have had the car delivered, but then, they wouldn't have the story to tell their friends how they literally hit the fork in the road. Thankfully they are safe and can laugh about it later. Although, on second though, if they busted a couple of front rims, they may have done a lot more damage to their new GT. I have seen a lot of strange things on the road before, but, never a fork from a forklift. I have run over a mattress myself. jerry

[heimue]

Originally Posted by OpelJim ...so I can urge and encourage new Opel owners NOT TO pick up their Opels and DRIVE THEM HOME. USE AN AUTO TRANSPORT COMPANY !!!.

If you follow that advice, then you better NEVER drive your Opel. You can hit a fork when driving to work, to the supermarket, to a Opel meeting. Leave your Opel in the garage, and trailer it to the meetings. Oh, and put the trailer on a trailer, so you don't hit something with your trailer...

Dieter

[opelnut10]

It was an accident, and as long as you drive your car it can happen. Maybe they could not avoid the object, but a forklift fork in large enough to certainly be seen laying in the road and unless you a boxed in by other cars the GT steering is quick enough to avoid hitting it. Lucky to have no injuries, and only tire and wheel damage, having two blowouts and broken rims at highway speed could have been a whole lot worse. I agree these cars are to drive and enjoy and if you don't feel secure doing it then by all means put a lot of lipstick and chrome on that honey and put it in an enclosed trailer, rope it off and stand guard on it at a show and get your trophy and put it back in the trailer and take it home(IMHO)

[jvandyke]

I had mine transported. I missed the opportunity for an adventure but so many factors were against me. My biggest concern was condition of the car. Seller can tell you it runs fine, that doesn't mean squat. They might not have a clue themselves. (massive vacuum leaks, no rear brakes, no heater, bad starter in my case, none of which I'm convinced the seller was aware of) Then there's opportunity on your part, time of year (weather) and so many other things.
If it were better weather and I really trusted the seller's judgment (not necessarily honesty) and I had the time I would rather have driven it myself, although I wonder how much fun it would be. I've had mine now for a couple months and have wrenched quite a bit and driven a few hundred miles and I'm finally beginning to relax and really enjoy it. I think I'd be way too anxious to appreciate a just purchased trip home.
If you have time, money and expect a surprise or two, including the possibility of having to trailer it in the end, drive it.

[opelnut10]

I agree that if you are not completely sure of the roadworthyness of the car then it should be transported or at lease trailered to where you are going with it. There is nothing more miserable than being broken down on the side of the road with a car that you just bought. I had that happen with a dealer car that I was test driving and checking it out with the idea of buying it. started running hot at highway speed so instead of frying the engine or at the very least blowing a head gasket, I pulled it on the shoulder of the road and walked to a phone (before the advent of cell phones) called them and had to wait for about 1 1/2 hours for the tow truck to take it and me back to the dealership, needless to say after that experience they could not have made me a gift of that car

[OpelJim]

Well we ( Opels Forever/USA Opel) have purchased and sold well over 200 Opels over the past 11 years.

I have had a few people come and pick them up from here (in So Cal), and drive them home to Kansas, Utah, cities close to me in California, and even as far away as Illinois BUT most of buyers had it transported to places like NYC, Florida, Las Vegas, Ohio, Oklahoma, 2-3 to Virginia, Idaho, Colorado, South Carolina, Connecticut, New Mexico, etc etc etc and of course overseas.
I think 18-20 hours of driving is too much to do in 1-2 days, especially in a GT

Kathy and I drove to Beverly Hills to buy a GT there and drove it back to Fallbrook
It was about a 2 1/2 hour drive on the freeways. We were cautious as there is always the chance someone could hit you and damage a car that is sold to the buyer. If it is in between ownership and there is no insurance coverage then no way can it be driven.
Every other Opel I purchased was trailered back to the shop/storage building. I felt less stress that way.

Of course as some have mentioned it is a matter of trust.

Buying a GT (or any Opel) from some unknown seller (eBay) is a risky proposition.

Chris M. and Lori's GT was one I had known for 10 years had performed service and repairs on it, knew the original owner, knew the 2nd owners, and took a week to go through it to make sure it was in decent condition prior to delivery. Not too many private sellers are willing to get the Opel ready for delivery, as we ( Opels Forever/USA Opel) do. Parts and labor at the sellers expense is usually at a minimum or not at all.

So I agree buying an Opel from a private seller is risky, and it is like a box of chocolates.

[baronbors]

OpelJim- did i just get SPAMMED by you?? You even had a smile on your face- way to go- Dude

[Mike Preble]

Like Jim said, distance driving in a GT can be very rough on the body. I, myself, drove from Tucson to North Carolina, a 2300 mile trip, in 4 1/2 days. My GT developed Opel night blindness with a faulty headlight relay on the first night causing me to only drive during daylight. 40+ hrs of just driving, not including stops. Your legs are very straight compaired to a large car. I developed major cramps in my legs to the point I had to roll out of the car on to the ground to stretch at each stop. And the stops became more frequent each day. Boy, did I get some funny looks from people as I did this. Once in N. C. I bought a trailer.

The Manta is a lot nicer to drive. JMTCW

Mike

[Opelkurt]

Opels tend to spend a lot of time sitting before they're sold. The things that pop into mind that tend to fail or screw up after extended storage:

Water pump bearings.
Radiator and heater hoses rotted from the inside out, ready to rupture.
Rusty brake lines that blow up when you want to stop.
Rust in the gas tank, plugging the sock and filter.
Mouse nests in the heat / ventilation system and anywhere else you can imagine.
Tranny or differential drained dry from slow leaking gaskets over a dirt floor.
Rotted tires that appear "fine".
Sticky calipers and leaky rear brake cylinders.
Rotted / non-existent torque-tube donut.
Multiple vacuum leaks from decayed hoses.

I've had all these, plus many I've forgotten. Unless it's a daily driver already, I wouldn't trust an unknown old car for a trip around the block.

-Kurt

[OpelJim]

Originally Posted by baronbors OpelJim- did i just get SPAMMED by you?? You even had a smile on your face- way to go- Dude

SPAM is unwanted email, unsolicited not "opt'ed in" email

How did that apply to my post ?

[baronbors]

Originally Posted by OpelJim SPAM is unwanted email, unsolicited not "opt'ed in" email How did that apply to my post ?

Sposed to be a joke- but i guess you had to be there to get it- sorry!

[OpelJim]

He and Lori got home ok Sunday night

The Gt is in the garage at his house now

He needs some help so I will ask you all here now in this thread
and again in the parts wanted section

He needs to replace 2 RIKEN 15 inch rims with 5 spokes

I will attempt to upload a pic of them ok I think I did it

If anyone has 2 of these please let me know

He told me in hindsight he will not drive the LA freeways ever again

Up until he got to the 134 freeway all was going just great driving the GT.

I am guessing that 10 cars where in line and in heavy traffic that is why he did not see the fork in the road all 10 cars ran it over. The state of California will not accept any responsibility for the damaged cars.

Well at least it is home now and both Chris and Lori were not hurt in a crash

[dallasmanta]

ok that was funny... I kept thinking they hit a metal fork from the dinner table till the end. Just shows you that the GT needs better road lights to see what is ahead. Never had this happen in the Manta with Hella off road lights.

Only the brave will take a new Opel in unknown condition on an adventure.

Back when I was single and fearless I made all types of trips with tools in the trunk . My first aid kit had a change of plugs/points/ condensor etc. hoses fuel and radiator, Duct tape, fan belt and oil. always made it home Ron

[namba209]

Originally Posted by OpelJim I am guessing that 10 cars where in line and in heavy traffic that is why he did not see the fork in the road all 10 cars ran it over. The state of California will not accept any responsibility for the damaged cars.

Jim, that's the way it is here in CA. The driver is responsible to avoid anything in his lane, regardless. But then if he causes an accident in his avoidance manuevers, then he's responsible for causing the accident. Wierd rules. One of the things I had to brief newbies in the Navy coming here for the first time. Now if they know who the company was that dropped the fork off the forklift, they could get recompense, I do believe.

[soybean]

Originally Posted by dallasmanta Back when I was single and fearless I made all types of trips with tools in the trunk . My first aid kit had a change of plugs/points/ condensor etc. hoses fuel and radiator, Duct tape, fan belt and oil. always made it home Ron

Myself included in the above post. Wait, I do that now too. I even have her own set of tools that ride along with the above.
I was always told "Better to have and not need, then need and not have or you'll have left your cake out in the rain"
Jarrell

[66kadett]

Okay, I'm prejuduced against torqueless, characterless Hondas. I have the right after living with a '93 Civic for a while.

In an Opel, there is no question that SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK. That is just a fact of life with a car that's at least 32 years old. But the Opel is a car for tinkering and experimenting, and some of that temperamental nature adds (and builds) character.

The mini-brutes are so much fun that getting one sorted out and useful forges a connection between owner, machine and marque. Years after my last Kadett went away-a victim of the pre-internet era-it still hovers in my consciousness like a lost love.

But the Opels remain vivid, and the source of many happy memories and stories. The Honda, well, it died and was replaced with an equally forgettable minivan.

As long as there is nothing that can't be fixed, the Opel GT with an unpleasant encounter with a forklift fork adds another bit of lore. Drive your Opels; love your Opels; know that every story is a little piece of those who have ever cared for an Opel.

Character is something that's not available on a Honda at any price!

[newman27]

Originally Posted by 66kadett Okay, I'm prejuduced against torqueless, characterless Hondas. I have the right after living with a '93 Civic for a while. In an Opel, there is no question that SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK. That is just a fact of life with a car that's at least 32 years old. But the Opel is a car for tinkering and experimenting, and some of that temperamental nature adds (and builds) character. The mini-brutes are so much fun that getting one sorted out and useful forges a connection between owner, machine and marque. Years after my last Kadett went away-a victim of the pre-internet era-it still hovers in my consciousness like a lost love. But the Opels remain vivid, and the source of many happy memories and stories. The Honda, well, it died and was replaced with an equally forgettable minivan. As long as there is nothing that can't be fixed, the Opel GT with an unpleasant encounter with a forklift fork adds another bit of lore. Drive your Opels; love your Opels; know that every story is a little piece of those who have ever cared for an Opel. Character is something that's not available on a Honda at any price!

An excellent post and I agree completely. They could make an Accord that gets 100 MPG, never needs any maintenance, and resells for 110% of what you pay for it and I still wouldn't buy one. Boring...

[jvandyke]

Getting off topic I guess but last night after a meeting with some guys we all gathered around my little GT. Everyone liked it, of course. I have to wonder why don't more people pursue little dreams like this (old, cool, somewhat obscure classic cars) and drive them? Lots of guys have toys but to me driving it nearly daily is where the fun is. If I couldn't (or choose not to) drive it, why have it?
Having said that, I was about 1/2 mile from home on my way to work when I turned around and took the GT home to swap for the Intrepid. Belt started squealing last night and was real bad this morning, I don't NEED to deal with that on a morning commute and I spilled hot coffee all over me as I shifted, hmmmm cup older somewhere might be a plan.