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Poor plywood

Charlie Olson

By Charlie Olson
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Charlie Olson

Charlie Olson

Posted
Posted (edited)

I decided to drive PLYWOOD to this year's Annual WaveCrest Woodie Meet, at Encinitas, CA., this past weekend. I left home at 4 AM to avoid the heat ( Thursday, 9/16 ); although I did have to keep adding fluid to the radaitor, during the big hills, in eastern CA. I stopped in Alpine, CA, to gas up, buy some more coolant and stretch my legs, after eight hours of driving. Twelve minutes after I had filled up the tank, I was leisurely driving on an adjacent to the freeway surface road; when I came to a three way, all stop, intersection. I was heading West, facing up a hill and waiting my turn, after a lady was finished making a legal left turn, to be headed up the same hill, in the same direction I was heading. All of a sudden we all see a large White Ford Expedition coming down the hill, heading East, and speeding. The 19 year old driver of the Expedition did not slow down, for their stop sign; instead, the driving was honking her horn at the lady who was making the legal left turn in front of her. The Expedition hit the front, left quarter of the left turning ladie's mini van and then bounced right over to PLYWOOD and struck PLYWOOD at a side swiping angle. The Expedition driver did not have her license with her, did not have insurance, had just lost her job and she and her Mother, who was her passenger were facing eviction from their home. These two gal's lives were a real mess and now it had all just gotten worse for them. PLYWOOD's engine was still running, so I turned it off, tried to exit the driver's door, but could not open it. I am happy to report that I have no injuries, cuts, bruises or real pain; just some mild soreness and stiffness in my arms and shoulders. Without a more thorough appraisal of the damage to PLYWOOD, I can report that the left front fender is toast, the left front grill area is toast, the bumper is toast, the rim is really bent up and I am not sure about any of the steering, suspension or other front end concerns, yet. None of the wood was damaged and with a little prying of the jammed fender, the drivers door works normally. Grundy's Ins, has the Philadelphia Company assisting me and their appraisers will view the car tomorrow, in Santee, CA. I did manage to rent a car and attended the three day Woodie meet, where I was awarded this year's HARD LUCK STORY AWARD; a very nice $150 Vinyl Banner of this year's WaveCrest poster. Jeff Olson, a Woodie guy from Encinitas, gave me a perfect stock 15 inch 1946 Plymouth rim, before I left, to return home, this morning. Art Butler who stores and works on PLYWOOD with and for me has already lined up a reasonable transporter to bring PLYWOOD back home to PHX, so we can restore it and get it back on the road. I shall add some photos tomorrow, once I get them downloaded. I am not spooked, but I may just stay with in a 100 mile radius of home when I do any future road trips, unless I trailer most of the longer distances. Just too many break downs lately, to want to venture out too far. I decided to drive the rental car back on the same route to enjoy the scenery I didn't see when I was driving in the dark, in PLYWOOD. As I was heading East on Route 238, from Gila Bend to Maricopa, AZ, I drove right past two huge auto salvage companies, that I didn't know existed. They were both closed, but I did manage to peak over the walls and saw hundreds of old cars, at both locations. Something tells me that there is going to be all of the parts I need to get PLYWOOD back on the road again. I am grateful I wasn't hurt and look forward to driving my Plymouth, ASAP.

Edited by Charlie Olson
Young Ed

Young Ed

Posted
Posted

Charlie I know all too well the feelings involved with crashing. It felt quite odd for me when two weeks after totalling my p15 I took off in the 46 pickup for a 3day car club tour. Just driving an old car felt strange. I've since as you know gotten the p15 back on the road and it no longer feels strange but I do find myself being a little more careful. I have some leftover grill stainless from fixing my car-let me know if you can't find any. FYI in case it helps the pieces I had the hardest time with were the center caps for the big bars.

Plymouthy Adams

Plymouthy Adams

Posted
Posted

man, thats bad news but you survived to fight yet again..this is bad to have the damage but your health is more important...I feel for folks down on their luck, hard to believe they were to poor to pay attention..never know who is in the other car and how prepared they are to be on the road..

JIPJOBXX

JIPJOBXX

Posted
Posted

Well at least you did not get hurt and the way it sounds you can probably muster up another fender. As I read your statement the wood part did not get damaged so that good. You can probably find another fender and have it painted to match the rest of the car and be on the road next spring. Sorry to hear about this but I know you love your old car and it will once again be on the road!

BobT-47P15

BobT-47P15

Posted
Posted

Sorry to hear about the accident, Charlie. Glad you're OK.

Probably be more sore on the second day.

I saw a guy at the Kansas City swap meet who had some P15

grille center connectors. Might be able to eventually find him

if you can't get some anywhere else.

TodFitch

TodFitch

Posted
Posted

Sorry to hear about the accident. I am glad that you are not injured and that the car seems to be repairable.

And thank you! I've been scouting, in a half-hearted manner, ways to get from where I live to my parents without getting on a freeway. I know how to get from Needles through Parker and on down to Buckeye or Gila Bend but the way east from there seemed like it required going through the Phoenix metro area or get on I-8. When I was a child the road now numbered 238 was just dirt and it did not occur to me that it would now be a good paved road and allow me to get to Casa Grande and then over to the Florence area without going through Phoenix.

Someday, maybe, I'll drive the 33 back to Arizona for a visit. Last time I drove it there was before I took it apart in the late 1970s.

Charlie Olson

Charlie Olson

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Thanks, Every Body, for your kind words and encouragement. Yep! Not getting hurt was a major blessing. I have already bought a replacement hubcap on Ebay ( # 300470275794 ), that matches the remaining three, as to condition and appearance. I am looking forward to seeing what the insurance people will be offering/suggesting. Drive defensively, All. Thanks again.

Yeah, Tod, that Route 238 is real pleasant to drive; lots of nice curves and dips; if you have time, and are traveling through M - Sat, you might stop in at those huge "junk yards".

Charlie

Edited by Charlie Olson
steveplym

steveplym

Posted
Posted

I'm glad to hear you are okay Charlie. Plywood is hurt, but sounds like you are well on your way to making it whole again. Good luck with it.

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