Finished Picture

As promised you can see the body work complete here. I did change the Infiniti letters to Skyline since the car really is a Skyline in Japan. The new navigation works great too!

Got My Baby Back!!

7 Dec 2004 was "The Day That Will Live In Infamy" as I took the G off the dealer lot in Dayton OH (2005 model). 14 Aug 2009 is not nearly the same feeling as I had when she was new, but man is it good to have some wheels again and it's safe to say my the G is in good health! But not without first gutting the trunk, adding Alpine's latest Nav (NVE-M300) and applying sound deadening to the trunk (particularly the wheel wells). I'll get some pictures of the completed body work soon. As for Alpine's new Nav I love it so far. The Alpine Blackbird Nav system was a failure and disappointed many so I'm happy Alpine is stepping up to the plate once again.

Zinc coating applied to all welds, primed and ready for paint preperation. New tire also installed. Scheduled for paint on Wed 12 Aug 2009.

Reconstruction Mock up

Patrick checks trunk alignment and fits the quarter panel and rear trunk panel before welding. Soon these new panels will be part of the G for good. Can't wait to get my car back and when I do Alpine's newest Navigation will be added to the alpine head unit already in place. http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=NVE-M300

Rebuilding The G

Reconstruction continues at Monte's Autobody in Lompoc, CA. Hope to have my wheels back next week. You can see the Drivers quarter panel removed and the rear trunk as well.

Once welding is complete seams will be sealed and a galvanized coating applied to all welds for corrosion protection. Next paint, glass re installation, tailight, new bumper (mounts, reinforcement, energy absorber, and cover) installed. O yeah, and one each new tire.

The Impact

While parked in a residential area in Santa Maria on 11 July 2009 my car was hit in the rear driver's side. I was not in the vehicle at the time. The damage totatls comes to 13K in. Of course it was a hit and run.

I purchased the car new in 2005 with nothing more than a minor scratch or ding occurring over the years. The G had been parked in downtown, Los Angeles, Detroit, Cincinnati, St Luios, etc, with not so much as a door ding.

Ironically, for all the times I didn't pay close enough attention changing lanes or backing up I had not been in an accident. Although the car was parked at the time of impact, it was moved a full two car lengths (good thing there was nothing in front of the car).