today my 280e euro fell off the trailer on the way out to my indie's shop.

my brother and i loaded it onto the trailer and he was taking it out there when it fell off the trailer! he said he saw it come off and was afraid to stop the truck and trailer because he thought the car would run into the back of it. but it was in gear and just stopped right in the lane without swerving at all!

he said the one i had tied down came loose. apparently the hook which i had hooked on lower a arm slipped creating slack and it just rolled off! the parking brake doesnt work either.

apparently the high ride height is good for something because he said the rear didnt appear to have hit and the front splash apron just grazed the end of the trailer as it came off!

it is out at the indie now getting the springs changed for h and r 1" lowering springs. they called and said that the konis on the back have lost their gas. so i called luke at tire rack. he said that koni might want to rebuild them. he also said he doesnt have them for the front. it currently has bilsteins for the front, so i guess i will keep them at least for now.

i took it around the block today. it accelerates fiercely! i cant wait to get it on the autocross track for a little fun!

i guess i will have to get some safety chains to chain the car to the trailer.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

What transmission does it have, or did it have?

it is the five speed. and it seems to be uninjured. he wasn't going very fast and was able to drive it back on the trailer and off at the indie's.

it was in first, thank goodness. and one of the rear tires is kindof bald and very very old. i am pretty sure it is one of the ones that was on it when i sold the car ten years ago to the fellow i bought it back from. so i expect it probably slid some.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

so i went out yesterday and looked it over. the front valance is crumpled up around the bottom of the radiator so i think we will pull the rad and push the metal down there. also the pan is pushed up a bit so we will have to take that off and straighten it. i dont want any blockage to oil flow whilst i am thrashing about the autocross course!

the lowering springs have it hunkered down nicely. it will probably put me in with a bunch of modified mustangs and camaros though so it might not be the smartest move i ever made.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Wow. Sounds like you got lucky!

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Oh yes! You were sooo lucky. Sounds like no real damage and the car could have been totaled.

I lost an entire load of moulding in the middle of a busy 6 lane road because I had not tied it off well enough. I never moved so fast in my life to get the moulding loaded back up. I think the PO felt sorry for me and didn't ticket me. I got the moulding to the jobsite and there were only a couple of pieces that were unuseable. I too was very lucky.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI