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Re: SOLD! - Extra Long Bed RHD Patrol Pickup

PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2018 10:08 pm
by futuredeadguy
Ozzie arrived today around 5:20 PM EST. Charlie, the transport driver, chose to unload in the center lane of the busiest road in Greenville. 45 MPH limit, but 60 MPH is reality. I assisted with the unload and was scared it was going to be my last Thanksgiving the whole time.

Anyway, Oz is safe in the garage with a couple new friends - the ‘76 280 and ‘79 620. Can’t wait to start playing with the new toy.

Jim

PS - Thanks RiverPatrol for selling to me. I know it was a tough decision. Ozzie will be cherished and well cared for.

Re: SOLD! - Extra Long Bed RHD Patrol Pickup

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 10:43 am
by RiverPatrol
Looks like Ozzie fits right in with your stable. Glad nobody became road kill. I'm eager to hear your impression of driving RHD. Enjoy.

Re: SOLD! - Extra Long Bed RHD Patrol Pickup

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 11:34 am
by zed
So, what is hiding under the car cover?
Keith

Re: SOLD! - Extra Long Bed RHD Patrol Pickup

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 2:36 pm
by futuredeadguy
zed wrote:So, what is hiding under the car cover?
Keith


That’s my ‘76 280 I picked up in Tucson about six years ago while on a project there. Been a Z guy since 1987. New to Patrols, but I’m hooked for good.

Jim

Re: SOLD! - Extra Long Bed RHD Patrol Pickup

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 3:18 pm
by futuredeadguy
RiverPatrol wrote:Looks like Ozzie fits right in with your stable. Glad nobody became road kill. I'm eager to hear your impression of driving RHD. Enjoy.


As you know from PMs, we’re doing Thanksgiving weekend at the beach. I drove the 3.5 hours from Hatteras to take delivery, then drove right back to continue the rare break from work. It was a long day - delivery was 4 hours after promised time, but no worries. Still a banner day. We’re finally doing our turkey today. I did some minor driving last night. I plan to cruise the neighborhood when we get back home. It’s a good, quiet place with wide streets to pull over if I start to panic ;)

First impression is that it won’t be as difficult as I thought. Took me a bit to orient to the reversed shift pattern and actually find the gears, but I’ll get it.

Updates coming.

Edit: BTW, If you hadn’t put the sticky note with the shift pattern on the windshield, Ozzie would probably still be sitting in the turning lane of I-264.

Jim

Re: SOLD! - Extra Long Bed RHD Patrol Pickup

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 4:03 pm
by futuredeadguy
Probably the most noteworthy part of the purchase was the delivery. The delivery driver called me from his stopping point 1/2 mile from the house. He claimed he couldn’t get to the house due to low trees, power lines, etc. Truth be told, most shipping companies have that in their disclaimer. I tried to explain there was another major road nearby that would be safer for unloading, to no avail.

So, I walked the 1/2 mile to meet Charlie, the driver. He was removing the tie-downs when I got there. There were a lot of them. At first, he motioned from his spot In the turning lane of an interstate bypass for me to stay on the side of the road. But when it was time to remove the last restraint, he needed me in the driver seat to hold the brake while he removed it, then slowly roll Ozzie to the street.

Meanwhile, have you ever been to a major racing event? Indy? F1? NASCAR? You know how when the race is really calm during a yellow flag, then the pace car leaves the track and all hell breaks loose? That was happening every 2 minutes while we were trying to get Ozzie off the truck. We were unloading 1/2 mile around a curve from one of the biggest intersections in town. Every time the light turned green, the race was back on, and it was two feet away from us with no wall or fence between us and the cars. Charlie never flinched. At the same time, I was wondering about the holding power of my underwear.

Despite my request to handle the delivery payment and sign-off after we got Ozzie off the highway, we handled it right there in the middle of the race.

Once off the main road, all was good. We got Ozzie to the house and in the garage.

I have bought a lot of vehicles over the years. This will be my most memorable. This Thanksgiving, I am grateful to be alive to enjoy this truck.

Jim

Re: SOLD! - Extra Long Bed RHD Patrol Pickup

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 6:19 pm
by RiverPatrol
futuredeadguy wrote:As you know from PMs, we’re doing Thanksgiving weekend at the beach. I drove the 3.5 hours from Hatteras to take delivery...


I was surprised that he made the delivery on Thanksgiving. Guess it was convenient for him.


futuredeadguy wrote:First impression is that it won’t be as difficult as I thought. Took me a bit to orient to the reversed shift pattern and actually find the gears, but I’ll get it.


The shift pattern will probably be the easiest part to get used to. Remembering that everything else is reversed is the challenge to wrap your head around; turn signal, window, shifter, etc. Then, staying positioned correctly in your lane is the tricky part. I had to keep reminding myself to pay attention to the fog line, not the center line, even after I’d driven it for a while. You’re fortunate to have the opportunity to learn where you’re comfortable. My first introduction to RHD was a crash course. Landed at London Gatwick airport and had to be in Rochester, 1 ½ hours away. The only option was to rent a car. That was exciting. :roll:

It’s nice to know that Ozzie continues to generate memorable sagas. When I obtained him it was also memorable.

Re: SOLD! - Extra Long Bed RHD Patrol Pickup

PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2018 3:42 pm
by futuredeadguy
BTW, that VW single cab was still on the transporter when it got to me. Headed to Virginia Beach. I used to be majorly into VWs until I decided they were bad luck for me. Restored and destroyed two Karmann Ghias. I’ve grown up a good bit since those days. I sent photos that RiverPatrol posted of Ozzie being picked up to a friend who is probably THE air-cooled VW guru east of the Mississippi. He owns a similar single cab. His comment: “I’d much rather have the Patrol”.

Jim

Re: SOLD! - Extra Long Bed RHD Patrol Pickup

PostPosted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 11:16 am
by RiverPatrol
8-)

Re: SOLD! - Extra Long Bed RHD Patrol Pickup

PostPosted: Mon Nov 26, 2018 1:06 pm
by mdawg4x4
futuredeadguy wrote:
zed wrote:So, what is hiding under the car cover?
Keith


That’s my ‘76 280 I picked up in Tucson about six years ago while on a project there. Been a Z guy since 1987. New to Patrols, but I’m hooked for good.

Jim


I love the 620 and 240Z. And the Z has the headlamp covers! Rare if original! Cool if reproduction pieces!
I learned to drive a 74 620. When I learned about the Patrol 10yrs or so ago, the Z went on the back burner. Maybe some day.