The following images may be upsetting to some....

[docsavage]

For those Delica owners, this is not the correct way to park. However, it is a good illustration of what a few moments of inattention can do. I was travelling along the road at approximately 50 kmh (actually 47, the GPS was on for the incident) and looking at something on the left side of the road when I drifted right and caught the soft gravel shoulder. I was trapped in the ditch so I attempted to steer directly into the ditch nad onto a flat spot to try and stop. This was successful momentarily till that sneaky power pole showed up. In order to avoid it I had move again and got caught in this ditch again and tipped over. Unfortunately the damage is quite extensive and the vehicle will be written off (lift kit is spoken for ).

Although my van was about 8 feet tall, I do not attribute this height to the tipping, perhaps the narrow wheel base a bit, but that ditch is very steep. As you can see (in the video) the van when righted would stand on its own in the ditch (a 50+% slope).

I am in the early stages of dealing with ICBC, but I am confident that a fair settlement will be reached.

Pics of the incident









And video

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v253/ ... ure021.flv

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v253/ ... ure023.flv



James

[Mystery Machine]

HOLY $*@% James!!

I hope you're OK and all intact? (I guess you must be - but people are more important than motors.... )

I'm so sorry to hear about the van! I am truly gutted for you and know what you have put into that motor. All that time & effort! The main thing is you're OK....but I hope you get this sorted with IBBCICB or whoever it is and you get rolling with another L300 real soon. DON'T YOU DARE give up on L300's now!

Keep the kit for your next one (and the rear tire holder etc....) and keep us informed of how you get on.

Are you allowed to buy cars back of the insurance company over there? If so, strip it right down and make a real hardcore off-roader out of it.... Cut the roof off behind the drivers seat and make Canada's coolest convertible/pick-up!

Sorry again to hear/see this.

Regards,

Bruce.

P.S. I know you'll bounce back even more full of beans!

[Todd64]

Whoa. Sorry to see this. But from the last pic it doesn't look that bad. The Crystal lites are still intact.

[jessef]

Jezoos James.

that is one steep bank.

Glad you're okay.

Who's got the lift ? Josh ?

[FalcoColumbarius]

You know that my invitation still stands... smiles.

Falco.

[marsgal42]

Are you allowed to buy cars back of the insurance company over there? If so, strip it right down and make a real hardcore off-roader out of it.... Cut the roof off behind the drivers seat and make Canada's coolest convertible/pick-up!

Yes, we can buy our writeoffs. I did it myself when my beloved VW Beetle blew a fuel line and torched its engine compartment. ICBC declared it a writeoff, but I had a go at fixing it. It may have been a writeoff when you have to pay for labour, but if your labour is free (and the car is an endangered species, in this case a 1302 Super Beetle), the finances change.

...laura

[docsavage]

I do plan to buy the van back, all sorts of goodies to take off that they won't let me do other wise. The damage is mainly in the pillars between the windows that hold up the roof. The are all slightly bent and I can see how fixing would be alot of money and never get right again.

Bruce, great minds think alike. When I get it to somewhere to work on it, I'll fire up the plasma cutter and start hacking. From the front of the crystal-lites, down to uni body. Add some steel to make a frame out of the uni-boxes, put on a flat deck, more lift (maybe solid axle) and make a kick ass, cab over truggy ( tube frame on a chopped up pick up - usually for Toyota's).

Really, the biggest loss is the time invested. I have probably put in a couple 100 hours fixing, fabricating, and testing. But I did learn a lot, just as intended.

James

[Mystery Machine]

Bruce, great minds think alike. When I get it to somewhere to work on it, I'll fire up the plasma cutter and start hacking. From the front of the crystal-lites, down to uni body. Add some steel to make a frame out of the uni-boxes, put on a flat deck, more lift (maybe solid axle) and make a kick ass, cab over truggy ( tube frame on a chopped up pick up - usually for Toyota's).

I know it's not lifted/maxed out like it should be, but this is a quick mock-up I did a few years back. I wanted to see what it would look like cut down to the bottom of the windows - making more of a conventional pickup.



I'd love to see your idea though - kinda flatbed ass-hangin-out 'MadMax' looky likey!

I know what you mean about the time invested then lost.....but as you say, it's all experience. I'm so glad I've done everything I have to my motors because I have learnt SO much and it has given me the confidence to tackle pretty much any type of project now. The only things that stop me are finances, driveway space and time. If I could overcome those obstacles, I'd have quite a range of pretty cool machines (mostly L300 based) on my drive. I know that you're very much the same....

Let us know how you get on with the insurance?

[Green1]

Although my van was about 8 feet tall, I do not attribute this height to the tipping, perhaps the narrow wheel base a bit, but that ditch is very steep. As you can see (in the video) the van when righted would stand on its own in the ditch (a 50+% slope).

Even the most stable vehicle in existence will still tip over if the bank is steep enough, doesn't matter how "stable" it is.

Glad to hear you're ok, and it's another reminder to the rest of us to pay attention to the road!

[konadog]

YIKES! Great no one but the bus was damaged, but what a heart-breaker - scary too. Really sorry for your loss. It shows how even the straight flat roads at relatively slow speeds can get ya. Good luck with the paperwork, the new little truck, and getting back into a L300

[The Pinkfingers]

So sorry about the loss (of van and hours put into it). Glad you're OK.

[Adrock]

Thats what it gets for taking your teeth.

I almost want something like this to happen so i can extremely modify my van. as it stands its still hard to cut the remaining value off for a pickup bed. I was thinking a tarp/tent style thing like jeep soft tops so i can still bolt the seats in if I want, but also take it all off and throw in dirt bikes or a sled or whatever. Whatever you d o will be awesome. Hope you have a new one on the way too though.

[patty]

Maybe attept somethign liek the old four runners with the clamp down rear roofs? I love those.

[docsavage]

I'm not sure I could have had a better experience with an insurance company. From the reporting of the accident Monday June 23 at 10:00 am to getting a check in my hand at 4:30 pm Thursday June 26 is quite amazing. The settlement was fair and I bought the van back.

SO... if anyone has parts requests, let me know what you want. I'll be disassembling the beast on Monday.

James

[coaxial]

jesus god almighty, that is not a reasonable place to park!

Sorry for your loss dude, hope you get something nice as a replacement, nice new deli, pajero, landcruiser, etc :)

As for parts I don't need anything urgently but I am needing a new skid plate on the front (the 2nd to front one), and new fuel tank skid (probably diff size on my 5spd), new radiator, and new rear door (but I'm lowroof green/grey). And that sure is a nice set of wheels & tires :)

MM that mock up is the goofiest looking thing I have seen in a while. Awesome for camping though! throw mosquito net over that and sleep under the stars :)