03.28.08
The Aquisition
Drove to LA to pick up the Bradley GT II that I purchased on ebay! The reason I chose this particular vehicle is because of the light weight of the fiberglass body. The car was a kit in the late 1970’s early 80’s. Towards the end of its run, Bradley started producing electric conversion kits for the Bradley GT II and eventually started producing completed, turn key if you will, Bradley GTE’s. I thought ebay would be a good place to start and I found one! Albeit not electric, and it didnt have an engine or tranny. Still I bid on it and got it for $499.00
I decided that this would be a good trip for my mom who rarely gets to go anywhere as she cannot drive. We left the central valley at 0700, headed for LA and made all the way to the bottom of the grape vine in great time! No traffic jams, beautiful.
At the bottom of the “Grape Vine” we decided to stop and get a bite to eat. Since it looked like I would be running a little late (my reservation for my tow dolly was for 1200, and it was now 1130), I decided to call U-Haul in Gardenia where I had a tow dolly reserved, and let them know where I was so that they could continue to hold the dolly. I left the restaurant and walked to my Jeep; my own private phone booth, “No problem, the woman at U-Haul said. And it wouldn’t have been had I not locked my keys in “my own private phone booth”. I called up my roadside service and they said they would send someone but it will be 40 minutes. So thinking that it was only 40 min, I called U-Haul again and let them know that I was DEFINITELY going to be there and explained the details of the current situation. “Fine” said the woman, “Just let us know when you are on your way”. So we waited…
45 min had passed and still no tow-truck. I called my roadside service again and found out that the Truck was sent to the wrong place. They were looking for me in a city that was about 100 miles from my then, present location. They said they would send another truck, this time to where I actually was, but it will be another 40min. I said “OK send them”, then went in search of a coat hanger. While I was trying to open my Jeep with a credit card and a coat hanger (which I subsequently did), a very nice gentleman offered me the use of a very “special hammer” designed to break glass in case of an emergency where one may have to break out of ones vehicle. I opted for the credit card and coat hanger method.
I got the Jeep open, canceled the tow-truck, told the guy with hammer “no thank you”. I called both U-Haul of Gardenia and the guy I bought the Bradley from, Immo, to inform them of the current situation. I really was on my way. It was now 1400.
After climbing the Grape Vine, it suddenly occurred to me that “It is Friday and I should be entering L.A. right around 1630 “Rush Hour”. Who ever came up with that term has obviously never driven in “Rush Hour”. There is no rush except for the anxiety buildup within each of the vehicles occupants which are “stuck” in rush hour traffic, and it usually last from about four o’clock in the afternoon until sometimes seven thirty or even eight o’clock at night.
We arrived at the U-Haul in Gardenia before closing. I said “I made it!”, gave them my reservation number and they informed me that my reservation had expired as of NOON! “I know”, I said, “that’s why I phoned three times”. “Each time I was assured that all was well, and I had nothing to worry about”. A woman asked me “Who did you speak to?” and I said “I didn’t get her name, I didn’t think I would have to defend my courtesy call, but her voice sounded very much like yours” of couse this didn’t score many points. What can I say, I was tired.
The reality of the situation was sinking in. It was like watching all of my carefully laid plans unravel in front of me. I had just driven 300 mi only to find my reservation was canceled. Fortunately there was a dolly in the yard and I was able to rent that one. They did remind me that if I was going to be late I should call… it was at that point, I vowed to myself to never use U-Haul again… Er after this… and rented their Dolly for a two leg, one way trip home.
The first leg was to pick up the car. I called Immo to let him know that we were with dolly in tow and on our way. We arrived and loaded the car on the Dolly. I noticed the rear hatch was not bolted to the car, so Immo bolted it using 4 brand new bolts, washers, and nuts, a great start for my new EV project.
