@Richard F

Backed into at the gas pump

Richard F · 2004-06-10T21:49:23.000Z

Good grief. I just had some idiot back into my '34 Auburn at a gas pump while I was filling the tank. He was in a big pickup and was trying to squeeze into the front pump while I was filling the car at the rear one.While talking to the guy at the next isle over (have you ever NOT gotten into a conversation at the gas pump in your classic car?), we both heard a sickening crunch and I felt this terrible pucker when I saw that it was my car. I dropped the gas pump handle (probably not such a good idea) and headed for the front of the Auburn, expecting the worst, as about twenty onlookers suddenly appeared out of nowhere to see a classic car in distress.To my amazement, there was no discernable damage. The plastic bumper of the pickup just kind of rode over the sprung bumper on the Auburn and other than a tiny curl of black plastic hanging on the top edge of one side of my bumper, there was nothing to see. no scrapes, nothing out of kilter... nothing.I told the character in the pickup we both were pretty lucky.It got me to thinking. Has anyone ever seen any test data on whether 30's vintage sprung bumpers can withstand a 5 mph hit? Maybe they flex enough that they are actually tougher than modern bumpers even though they look fragile.

Jun 10, 2004 (edited)1.3K views

Replies (6)

· Jun 12, 2004

Whew! That was close! I've wondered the same thing about the bumpers on my car. While it isn't really intentional, I usually seem to fueling my Auburn "off hours", maybe that's a good thing.

You dodged a bullet here, and provided us with a good lesson.

(edited)

· Jun 12, 2004

Richard,

I am sorry to hear you nearly got clobbered at the local gas station. I have had many near misses driving my old cars; fortunately I have never been hit. Several years ago a friend of mine was out for a spin in his 1929 Graham-Paige 4 door sedan when he needed gas. He stopped at a gas station and was at the pump filling the Graham up when some local kids were in the process of leaving the station. The young 17-year-old driver in his fathers jacked up 4-wheel drive truck decided for some unknown reason to back around real fast (screwing off for his friends in the truck) instead of pulling out of the station in the direction he was facing. In the process of backing up the young driver backed right into the center of the passenger side of the Graham-Paige. He hit hard enough to push in the both passenger side doors and break the center doorpost. My friend’s wife was stilling sitting in the front passenger seat when the car was hit and she required medical attention at the accident seen.

The only ones qualified to repair the car (wood bodied sedan) was an antique car restoration shop. The young drivers insurance company tried to total out the Graham-Paige and just pay off and not have to repair the car. My friend threatened to sue for damages plus the repairs. So, the insurance company finally agreed to get the car fixed. The bill was very big.

Every time I stop for gas in my 1929 Studebaker I think of my friend and what he went through and worry about some idiot hitting me. Sorry to hear Richard that you got hit. Now you just confirmed my worse nightmare just might come true yet.

(edited)

· Jun 13, 2004

Mark, That story reminds me of just about every trip I take on the highway with one of my antique cars. Seems the adoring public has a tendency, while driving beside our cars, to ease over into our lane of travel while looking at our cars. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> They don't even realize how close they are to you until they look ahead again, very scary! I've edged over to the right a number of times to avoid them. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Wayne

(edited)

· Jun 25, 2004

I have same problem with folks passing me on interstate, then looking back at my car as they drift into my lane. Use my horn a lot. Another thing that seems to "startle" them is not seeing anyone on left side of car when they pass - most seem amazed to see me driving from right side in my 1934 Rolls Royce.

I'm also very careful in gas stations - younger kids seem to think they are on "pit row" and need to "race" out when done with gas filling.

(edited)

· Jun 25, 2004

Gee,

That sounds so much like the elderly (let's say superannuated!) gentlman with a carload of people in a brand-new Mercedes sedan who simply whipped his car out of a parking lot into the street in front of my just-acquired '58 Chevy sedan delivery.

I managed to skid to a stop just inches from the B-post of his car. He got out, and testily inquired as to why I was angry--guess he just doesn't understand $2500 58 Chevy "California" bumpers (for those who don't know, Chevrolet built their 57-62 cars with 3-piece bumpers, except for those cars built in the Van Nuys California assembly plant, which for whatever reason, used bumpers stamped out wholly in one piece--the custom car crowd has virtually obliterated the parts car market for these bumpers, and my delivery was built--you guessed it! On the Van Nuys California assembly line.)

Art Anderson

(edited)

· Jun 30, 2004

I've had the same experience driving with gawkers wandering all over the road, particularly on the freeway. I'm usually careful to leave a lot of room in front since I know I can't stop as quick as any modern car, and keep a lookout on the sides. The only thing that really scared me is to look in the rear view mirror and see the middle of someone's grill, ten feet behind me through my tiny rear window.. half the time there's a cell phone in the driver's ear. Since I'm always in the slow lane on freeways and not usually going over 55, idiots getting on from a short onramp on the right and trying to beat me to the end of the merge lane also scares the hell out of me.

But I guess I never thought to be cautious when stopped at the gas pump. If I had heard Mark tell that story about the Graham before, maybe I would not be so quick to pull into a busy station. In fact, I was filling the car at the local Costco when it happened and they are always busy nowadays... saving ten cents a gallon looks pretty stupid in retrospect. I was lucky to have such a cheap lesson.

Places I will be more careful: gas stations and parking lots... and I will never parallel park my classic on the street again if I can help it.

(edited)

To join in the conversation, you must be a club member.

You’re welcome to read and like every post. Members can reply and start topics of their own.