by cammerjeff » Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:59 pm
Well I don't know if I told every one here how my trip to get the Catlina Safari turned out. 13 hour drive one way to get the car, the car was almost exactly in the condition as the seller described it. Looked good in the late evening light mist, Started right up, I drove it around the block and tested all the accessories, every thing worked!!!!! And loaded it on my trailer. The plan was to get something to eatand then find a room for the night.
Things started going wrong just as Ipulled into a HotelParking Lot, I got a Frantic call from my Wife saying the house next door was ON FIRE!!!!!! Well I told her to grab the Dogs and get out of our house as the Garage is only about 10 yards from our house! Well I was no longer sleepy and decided to drive through the night and come home. She called me about 2 hours later sayingthe Neibors got out, but thier house was a total loss, and the FD arrived just as our house started to burn. And we have some damage but nother Major.
So slighty releived we continued on. Everthing was OK until just south of Finley Oh10 when the freezing rain started. I slowed down to around 30mph but the Semi's were not happy with that speed, finally one passed me and decided to do his best imitation of a NASCAR lane change in front of me, and when I took my foot off the gas my trailer tried to pass my truck, couldn't save it and the car and trailer went in the ditch, the 36000 mile survivor took quite a bit of damage to the Right Rear 1/4 and tore out the spare tire well. Plus a few scrapes small dents and the rear tail gate emblems were knocked off of it.
But both incedents could have been alot worse!!!!! No body was hurt, the car and our house are repairable. Haggerty has been great dealing with the claim, I onlyhad the car insured for 12 hours when I wrecked it, and they paid the claim with no hassels, they didn't even blink when we found a small dent in the rear bumper and it had to be repaired and rechromed. My home owners insurance is anouther matter, I have been fightingthem sense November and they have just recently paid 2/3's of what I would consider fair.
But the house is under repair finally, and I got the Safari back from the shop on Monday the 9th, our own Clyde helped track down NOS Tailgate emblems to finish it off (Thanks Again Clyde!!!!) I actually got to drive the Wagon for the 1st time Monday, it drives like a new car, very happy with it, but now I have to change all the Fluids, belts, and Hoses. And replace the Cheep Aftermarket AM Radio, add some rear speakers, and a power antenna, and swap out the Delux wheel covers for a set of 71 Dog Dish's and Trim Rings. And it will be ready to Cruise. Better days!!!!!
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Jeff R
1971 Catalina Freeway Enforcer
77 Astre Formula, some day soon powered by a 215 Buick V-8
1973 4-speed Lemans Safari STOCK!!!!! 1978 Catalina Safari
2006 Mallet Solstice, 6.0 LS2, 6-speed manual
2009 Solstice Coupe, 2.4, 5-speed Manual