Brett
True Classic
I'd already posted some of the facts about this on the events forum as an update to the Miafiori Oregon '12 event. But at the urging of some others, I'm going to go ahead and upload a shot or two of the car after the accident. I have been hesitant to do so because I know many of the Northwest FIAT enthusiasts, many of whom are on this forum, knew and really appreciated this car. I know I really appreciated this car. And seeing it so damaged is kinda hurtful. But I also appreciate how tough this little car is and how it gave its life for me so that I was able to walk away mostly unhurt.
For those of you who don't know the car that came to me already famous as "Mellow Yellow" or sometimes "MeloYelo" and with four(!) three ring binders detailing its history and restoration, this car was previously owned by Les Zesiger who outfitted it with a completely custom wiring harness including some of the beefiest relays known to man. He also spent many countless hours restoring the car and making it pristine. A wonderful treatment to the engine bay and most of the rest of the car. From there it went to Mike Mittelstead who lavished it with more hours, removing all remaining rust, freshening the engine cover and putting on some fully restored CD-91s. After having loved Xs ever since driving one in high school, Mellow Yellow was the best for me to own as my first X 25 years later. This was a no issues, no excuses car. I'll miss it greatly.
This is how I'll remember Mellow Yellow:
I did have a very unfortunate event happen on the way home (from the Miafiori Oregon '12 event). In fact, I was almost all the way home, about 8 or so more miles to go (of a nearly 300 mile trip) when driving eastbound on Hwy 211 between Woodburn, OR and Molalla, OR and traveling at a Hwy speed around 55mph, a westbound 2000 4Dr Camry attempted to turn left into a driveway right in front of me. The other driver jumped out of her car right away to tell me she was sorry she didn't see me, so I think she is also not seriously hurt, but she and her two passengers were all taken by paramedics to the hospital for evaluation. The paramedics when they arrived on scene were really nervous looking for the passenger of the yellow car, because the spare tire apparently wasn't secured in place, the force of the impact and it's additional momentum pushed the passenger seat forward and off its rails, making the headrest hit the windshield and leaving the classic bubble like someone's head had hit the windshield. I was wearing my seatbelt though and Mellow Yellow performed as it was designed to in a collision, leaving me pretty much unhurt other then some stiffness and sore neck, shoulders and forearms. As such, I declined ambulance transport, but at my wife's insistence, did go get checked out later. Doctor agreed with me that nothing is broken or serious, I'll be sore for a few days. Mostly my neck hurts. Physically anyways. Seeing how the seat hit the windshield on the passenger side, I am very glad I was wearing my seatbelt, and that the X-1/9 is the tough little car that it is. It could have been much much worse. I think what hurts the most is that Mellow Yellow will be no more.
This is what Mellow Yellow looks like afterwards. Twisted and bent, but beautiful in the protection it gave me:
For those of you who don't know the car that came to me already famous as "Mellow Yellow" or sometimes "MeloYelo" and with four(!) three ring binders detailing its history and restoration, this car was previously owned by Les Zesiger who outfitted it with a completely custom wiring harness including some of the beefiest relays known to man. He also spent many countless hours restoring the car and making it pristine. A wonderful treatment to the engine bay and most of the rest of the car. From there it went to Mike Mittelstead who lavished it with more hours, removing all remaining rust, freshening the engine cover and putting on some fully restored CD-91s. After having loved Xs ever since driving one in high school, Mellow Yellow was the best for me to own as my first X 25 years later. This was a no issues, no excuses car. I'll miss it greatly.
This is how I'll remember Mellow Yellow:
I did have a very unfortunate event happen on the way home (from the Miafiori Oregon '12 event). In fact, I was almost all the way home, about 8 or so more miles to go (of a nearly 300 mile trip) when driving eastbound on Hwy 211 between Woodburn, OR and Molalla, OR and traveling at a Hwy speed around 55mph, a westbound 2000 4Dr Camry attempted to turn left into a driveway right in front of me. The other driver jumped out of her car right away to tell me she was sorry she didn't see me, so I think she is also not seriously hurt, but she and her two passengers were all taken by paramedics to the hospital for evaluation. The paramedics when they arrived on scene were really nervous looking for the passenger of the yellow car, because the spare tire apparently wasn't secured in place, the force of the impact and it's additional momentum pushed the passenger seat forward and off its rails, making the headrest hit the windshield and leaving the classic bubble like someone's head had hit the windshield. I was wearing my seatbelt though and Mellow Yellow performed as it was designed to in a collision, leaving me pretty much unhurt other then some stiffness and sore neck, shoulders and forearms. As such, I declined ambulance transport, but at my wife's insistence, did go get checked out later. Doctor agreed with me that nothing is broken or serious, I'll be sore for a few days. Mostly my neck hurts. Physically anyways. Seeing how the seat hit the windshield on the passenger side, I am very glad I was wearing my seatbelt, and that the X-1/9 is the tough little car that it is. It could have been much much worse. I think what hurts the most is that Mellow Yellow will be no more.
This is what Mellow Yellow looks like afterwards. Twisted and bent, but beautiful in the protection it gave me:
