curt_tomlinson

Hi All who PMed me. Sorry, I'm adjusting to the new look, and features, of the forum. I believe I've responded to all and made my email address available. Sorry again. curt

Hi Richard, by vultures, I meant these few guys who buy up all the cheap reattas they can find and parts them out as they're worth more as parts than cars. Actually, it was rather bright of them and they made lots of money. Unfortunately for guys like me, they flooded the market and parts now are a fraction of what they were a few years ago. e.g. I have left driver window I paid J. Finn $90 for 5 yrs ago (very fair price then). I advertised it last year and couldn't get over $20 bid. I can't get the seats out of the car so they go with it when I'm finished. Plus, they cost too much to ship. This weekend I'll be advertising both sets of headlights with buckets, metal cap, rebuilt motors and low use NOS actuators. Also, ECM, BCM, rebuilt radio/cassette, rebuilt CD unit and a CD unit that is good and just needs the belt replaced. I also have a very nice complete set of the faux woodgrain dash and console trim from a Riviera. I have the black original set, too. Grey c-console arm rest, and lots more. I'll probably just offer the headlights and electronics listed this weekend. I also have both convertible top windshield latches (male and female sides) which are nearly impossible to find. Thank you all for your kind comments and good wishes. curt

Ronnie, thanks, very kind of you. Mike hang in there. I know some days hardly seem worth the fight, but I'm not yet ready for the alternative. I do believe the arm caused the accident. I'm an excellent driver an have won competitions at Porche rallies. I did upgrade the wheels and tires to 16" and Michelin x-ones. Basically the same size wheel the 91 models came with -tire size, too. I've always been curious if The general beefed-up the A-arm in the 91 model. Bet Padgett or one of you guys of his ilk knows. I do know a whole lot of us pre 91 Reatta owners did that same wheel upgrade. BTW, I wear my seatbelts religiously. In this case had I not, I would most likely have walked away. The seatbelt effectively made me the rollbar. I'm six one. The top was up and the windshield immediately went to cowl level. The top saved me from being scalped. Enough o' that. smile and check those A-arms. curt

I don't get out much but I'll have a picture taken. It's easy to describe. Look at the rear lower A-arm -the strut attaches to it. There's a big hole between two approx. 3inch, roundish stubs. One end of them has holes where the bolt goes through to allow the arm to pivot. The other end turns into the A section where the spring and strut reside. Those two short, round sections fractured bi-laterally and completely separated allowing the wheel to flop around. curt PS It is a 90 vert but I believe all Reattas used this same system

Hi All, Some of you may remember me as "curtislt" from a few years ago -my former login seems to have expired. I flipped my Vert and broke my neck. The road shoulders here in NC are atrocious. I went off the road and into a red clay rut caused by an 18-wheeler. Trying to get out, I skidded sideways and the right rear lower a-arm sheared off. This allowed the wheel to fold under and the car flipped on its top and my neck. I bring this up as I've heard from other Reattaphiles and Buick mechanics that this is not uncommon. I mention this only because I recommend you check rear a-frames for wear or cracks. I also recommend you put in a roll bar if you use your Vert as a daily driver. I died in the crash, was revived and left a bit of a mess now. I'm selling off some of my harder-to-find parts on Ebay. Seems these new entrepreneurs who are flooding the market with parts have pretty much destroyed the market prices. I'm a real car guy and my Reatta was in perfect order; whatever seemed "off" to me was repaired, rebuild or replaced (NOS if possible). When I'm done with Ebay, I may post a list of remaining parts here for sale or just store 'til the vultures put themselves out of business. Also, I have a few more items to have removed, and then I'll sell the remainder of the car for the remaining parts. The engine and tranny have about 128k and work perfectly. The grey leather seats w/all options are the nicest original seats you'll find. The majority of body parts are good (except driver door, top of left quarterpanel and trunk lid is iffy). The A/C was rebuilt, etc. This was a CA car and we only moved here less than a year before the accident. So the car is rust free. Glad to see my fellow Reattaphiles are still going strong. Please, I didn't tell my story for sympathy or oohs & aahs; I don't require that. It's just a word of warning. Take Care Curt