ALF1

Balls, boy, balls! That's what gets you through life. Buy four GM baseball caps, then all of you wear 'em with white short-sleeve shirts and dark khakiis. Rent a truck with a rear hoist large enough to lift the sign; drive up like you own the place, shuffle through a pile of papers, pick one out* and place it atop your clipboard (all this while people are watching) -- and go to work. Make sure you have an official-looking toolbox. <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span> * Be creative in doing this sheet, but be careful not to use GM letterhead or anything that could become evidence. Use some language like WORK ORDER FOR PICK-UP OF LANSING SIGN AND DELIVERY TO MUSEUM, with a bunch of mumbo-jumbo on dates, etc. CAVEAT: This post is for entertainment only, and should not be interpreted as an invitation or encouragement to commit a crime. Crime is <span style="font-style: italic">no bueno</span> as it tends to make you a criminal.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What do you suppose they said when the automatic transmission or A/C was introduced?</div></div> Absolutely no relevance to this discussion -- but I'm sure they, "Wow, what an advance!" <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The nice thing about all of the individual modules <span style="font-style: italic">is that they can be repaired.</span> </div></div> Really, Padge? And at what cost? The owner's point was that they're <span style="font-style: italic">already</span> becoming hard to find -- and who's going to repair them 20 years from now? They're not like the older, simpler, non-computerized classics, where production numbers hit 100,000+, resulting in parts being reproduced offshore. There's no profit in trying to manufacture modules for a low-production animal. Unfortunately, EDBSO's post has it right. I love Reattae too, Padge, but look at the Forum: the majority of posts are about problems with ECMs, BCMs, those game-arcade instrument panels, etc. And the car isn't even 20 years old yet! My 52-year-old Bird is undergoing its third restoration, and there isn't a part on it that isn't available as a quality, concours-quality reproduction ...including fenders, speedometers and dashboards. Who's going to spend tens, or hundreds, of thousand of dollars to start reproducing a variety of modules when the market may not exceed 100 at the time? Makes no business sense. When the supply of Reattae parts cars is exhausted, that'll be it. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> -- ALF

Just got back from Florida and attended a big auction. Talked with the owner/auctioneer, and Reattae came up. He says they'll never bring top dollar because of their dependency on last century's electronics. His first example: A '49 Merc woody went for $80,000. It has no computers, and can be maintained/rebuilt/restored for the next 100 years or so. His second example: No one wants a vintage computer because the electronic guts are obsolete. And he says it'll be the same with Allantes, Reattae...<span style="font-style: italic">anything</span> from the '80s on that depends upon chips and the such. I love the Reatta -- but I'm afraid he's right. <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

I know there now is a "sale/sought" column, but I add this only as additional information on what they're selling for. There's a '90 red/tan convertible (about 100K miles) here in Southern California for $2500. <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

Ran across a '90 convertible here in Southern California that the lady is thinking about selling. Red (needs paint) with tan top/interior, black moldings, non-stock wheels, non-stock stereo, about 100K miles. Heard it run; sounds good, but know not much else. She's talking in the neighborhood of $2500. If anyone's seriously interested, give me a shout at jsell26965@aol.com and I'll pass your phone number along to her. Jerry

Ran across a '90 convertible here in Southern California that the lady is thinking about selling. Red (needs paint) with tan top/interior, black moldings, non-stock wheels, non-stock stereo, about 100K miles. Heard it run; sounds good, but know not much else. She's talking in the neighborhood of $2500. If anyone's seriously interested, give me a shout at jsell26965@aol.com and I'll pass your phone number along to her. Jerry

After nine '90 convertibles, I'm ready for a '91 coupe. If I can find a real cherry, you'll see it listed here. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <span style="font-weight: bold">--ALF</span>

Garage-cleaning time, and I just discovered a left-over from my Reatta days. It's a Delco factory-rebuilt '90-'91 OEM am/fm stereo with cassette, still in shrink-wrap and a note indicating that it cost me $200 to have reconditioned. It does have the CD harness. It's been in a drawer for at least a year-and-a-half. Best offer, plus about ten bucks for bubble-wrap and shipping (it's heavy). jsell26965@aol.com (714) 504-4027 <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

Garage-cleaning time, and I just discovered a left-over from my Reatta days. It's a Delco factory-rebuilt '90-'91 OEM am/fm stereo with cassette, still in shrink-wrap and a note indicating that it cost me $200 to have reconditioned. It does have the CD harness. It's been in a drawer for at least a year-and-a-half. Best offer, plus about ten bucks for bubble-wrap and shipping (it's heavy). jsell26965@aol.com (714) 504-4027 <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

Know you really never left, but.... Air is sure clearer here than in the basement, huh? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

For what it's worth.... I've owned nine '90 convertibles, and only one (87K miles) had really noticeable cowl shake. Like constantly going over railroad tracks. New tires front and rear, dynamically balanced, plus front-end alignment, solved the problem. <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

G.E. makes a double-sided tape that is flexible and easy to apply, but turns to epoxy as it cures. I applied a set of the plastic centers onto chrome Cadillac wheels about five years ago, and they're still there, bonded solid. Jerry

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And just remember Kitska, the plural of Reatta is Reattae. </div></div> Actually, the plural of Reatta is IYGMTOYNH ("If you've got more than one, you need help!") <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

Where is the car located, and would you feel safe driving it to the West Coast? Thanks, <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

Glad to be able to give you a chuckle... (By the way, the good Reatta people on this forum don't remain anonymous; they actually list their names and e-mail addresses on their home pages. But I guess it's easier to post snide messages while hiding in Beaver County, Pennsylvania....) <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

Let's see: I've owned a silver/grey, a grey/grey/, a red/tan, a blue/blue, a Driftwood/tan, white/burgundy (2), a black/tan, a black/burgundy and a white/tan. All '90 convertibles, ranging in mileage from 44K to 170K. I'd like to find a burgundy/tan, burgundy/burgundy, white/grey, white/blue, or some other color combination of a '90 convertible I've not owned. If anyone has, or knows of, one.... <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span> (Ignore the political ranting below; I'll deal with Republicans if the car/price is right....)

Just visited your home page, Padge. The Judge reminded me of my '69 GTO convertible, purchased in '70: 454 with Hurst four-speed, black with white interior; no air, no power anything except that ugly blue engine under the hood. It had been ordered as a "sleeper," with no badges or alloy wheels. Only giveaway was the painted plastic nose instead of chrome. Many tickets, many upset automatic Vettes. Upon marriage (the third and final), sold it to a Marine at El Toro for $800. And it had those really desirable Firestone Wide Ovals (just prior to radials.) As I recall, it had a nine-pound clutch, which almost took both feet to engage. A truly straight-line car, as is your Judge: lots of go, little manueverability, even less stopping. Ah...the muscle cars of our youth! <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF </span>

My most revered sweatshirt proudly proclaims across the front: "No proper English gentleman goes motoring at night." <span style="font-style: italic">-- Sir Malcom Lucas</span> But my t-shirt informs you that..."Every Lucas bulb has a built-in warning when it's about to fail: it lights up." <span style="font-weight: bold"> -- ALF</span> Owner of the most frustrating car ever built: the drop-dead beautiful 3.8 Jag sedan, engineered to run at 120 degrees Centigrade -- and sling water right up on the distributor when the fan blade (with four inches of ground clearance) encountered slightly flooded intersections.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Do you know that the Marine Corps is a department of the Navy?</div></div> Awright, that snaps it! From the days of Tun's Tavern, the navy has always been the transportation arm of the Marine Corps. The swabbies are our bus drivers, plain and simple. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span> Also known as E. G. Sellers, 1398767 Sergeant - USMC - Combat Correspondent Korean "Police Action"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The current avitar I'm using is not of me but, of my wife.</div></div> Wow, small world! That's my mistress. <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">TRY GETTING THE CAR ALIGNED </div></div> Voila! I've owned nine '90 convertibles. Two of 'em drove like Cuisinarts, with the dash shaking so badly I couldn't read the speedometer. After full-body alignment, both were improved to a point where you didn't notice any cowl shimmy. Try it! <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

Hey, nice car! Just needs a little TLC.... <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

They go through the grille and attach on the inside bottom. <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>

Parts are scarce -- and far more expensive than Reatta. <span style="font-weight: bold">-- ALF</span>