by Mike » 2008 Dec 23 Tue 11:49 am
Hey Jerry -
Merry Christmas to you and all the rest of us Conestoga owners...
Well...I don't have any Conestoga news...but I got a great Christmas present last Monday...
Normally I drive a bike back and forth to work (bout 82 miles total). Well Monday at 5:30am the rain was comming down too hard (I normally do drive it if the rain is light when I leave home) to take the bike so I hopped in the car and braved the L.A. traffic.
On the way home...what do I get...a hit and run...! I've driven the car no more than about 10 or 12 times in the almost 12 years I've worked at this place...and what do I get...
Other than my motorcycle, my car is a 59 Lark, 259, auto, 2dr wagon...which is now about 4" shorter than it was Monday morning..!
I pulled over...they (she) kept on going. My trailer hitch receiver destroyed their lic. plate, so no getting the number.
As I stood there waiting, I noticed that there was no body damage...as far as I could tell. Their bumper went under my tailgate. And my car is slightly lower thAn stock! Anyway...I stopped at the store on the way home...only to notice that "reverse" could not be located. I pushed the car out of the spot and went home.
Somewhat luckily, a previous owner installed a VERY heavy duty, home made trailer hitch receiver. 2"x3/16 wall tube welded frame rail to frame rail, a 1/4" thick plate welded behind that. That took all of the hit...other than the rear motormounts...!
The 2" tube...still straight after about a 25mph hit.
Damage -
Bumper looks like a chcaine (spl.?) on a road race course.
The bumper upright/licence plate protector is somewhat flattened.
The panel right behind the bumper, under the tail gate was pushed down about 3 inches.
The rear motor mounts both broke and the bellhousing is sitting on the crossmember (reason for no reverse).
I called the Highway Patrol...they didn't care.
I called my insurance comp., they didn't care.
My deductable is $1000.00
After a call to SASCO....my bill for a new (yep NOS) bumper, the bumper upright, rear motor/bellhousing mounts, and a solinoid for the Conestoga...330 bucks.
So...other than playing tag with the rain...I just gotta get out there and swap all this stuff.
Mike