The birth of Orange Krate...

[Orange Krate]

If ever there is going to be a winter day to pick up Orange Krate...the next couple of days would be it!

[Orange Krate]

So my salesman Dave and I go to the back bodyshop lot where Orange Krate awaits the new GFX installation. He says "lets setup your Onstar account".

I had Onstar before in my Trailblazer so I know the drill. He pushes the call button and we get this cute little pixie on there by the name of Natasha. Well Dave and I are older guys so immediately we start chuckling and looking at one another. Dave says... "Where are you at Natasha?"

"Ontario, Canada."

The chuckling breaks out a bit louder as we look at each other. So I say "Are you Russian."

She says, much to my surprise, "Yes. Why do you ask?"

I say "Do you know who Bullwinkle is?"

Mind you Dave and I are laughing and she has an infectious laugh and is literally chattering like a squirrel. It goes down hill when I ask her if she knows Rocket J. Squirrel.

She is WAY too young to know these cartoon characters. But she says she has heard of them. I asked her if she knows Boris Badanov and she says no. More laughter. We somehow are managing to get the Onstar programmed...when I randomly cut loose with my Bullwinkle impression and Dave absolutely loses it. So now my salesman is gasping for air and Natasha is barely audible because she is laughing so hard.

It is a good thing we never got to Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties! We wrapped up the deal, I bought my 300 minutes of Onstar and I am good to go!

At the end of the call she says that Dave and I had just made her night and we were one of the funnest calls she has had at Onstar! Apparently not much going on at Onstar!

This is yet just more example of a fine Canadian individual who can have some fun while doing a great job! Just like our friends up at Oshawa. Thank you for calling Onstar!

[Orange Krate]

I haven't yet officially picked up Orange Krate at the dealer but I have signed a contract with no exchange of money taking place as of yet. I hope to make that happen today if the car is completed at the body shop with the painted GFX etc. I have screen captures for the CamaroTracking.com and Chevy Connects site. See below.

[macc24]

Great story. I've been IOM'ing around now for 3 months and know this car will be around for a long time. Continued success and fun as you blend into every sunrise and sunset.

PS - Between the color and power you'll find merging on any freeway is not a problem.

[Orange Krate]

Originally Posted by macc24

Great story. I've been IOM'ing around now for 3 months and know this car will be around for a long time. Continued success and fun as you blend into every sunrise and sunset.

PS - Between the color and power you'll find merging on any freeway is not a problem.

I think the color and power are superb. We are late in our trees turning colors here and I hope to get a shot of her with the trees on fire with the fall/winter reds and oranges! Quickly we are moving to wet season...fortunately no snow. I now have a HONEY DO list a mile long thanks to my wonderful wonderful lady who is being very supportive of this endeavor. She has NO CLUE how awesome this car is yet, other than it is a "pretty" car. I chuckle when I think of what she will feel like when she gets a real ride. She liked my 500 HP '23 T-Bucket. She even drove it around town one night with one of her friends!!! That was one cool night. Of course I followed in my vehicle to make sure she wasn't accosted! When she drives Orange Krate I think she will love him and want her own flavor! Perhaps an Apple Krate or Lemon Peeler?

[BWProductions]

After seeing the ground effects painted, I am really excited to see what it will look like, CONGRATS!!!!

[Orange Krate]

Originally Posted by BWProductions

After seeing the ground effects painted, I am really excited to see what it will look like, CONGRATS!!!!

I stopped by the dealer body shop and their work is looking superb! Rather than mask stuff they did it right and took pieces apart and painted every nook and cranny.

They sanded and sealed, flex agents used, IOM base and the clear coat looks 1/8 deep. Thus far it appears first class. The body shop owner is a hot rod and street rod owner and he pays attention to detail. He loves Orange Krate so it is being done under his direct supervision. It is the first IOM they have had roll through their bodyshop facility.

The GFX are an interesting process in that they come shipped in a box with the plain gray plastic color. The rear valance has the chrome bezels for the exhaust. Those come off for painting and then there are new chrome cones that actually hammer on over the existing exhaust pipes after they cut the pipes down to size to fit the new valance openings.

Orange Krate also gets the billet aluminum fuel door, painted engine cover, and the cargo net.

All the details are just about complete short of handing the dealer the check and taking the keys and hitting the road! So so very close.The day is clicking away and I hope to get a few decent photos but...may have to wait until tomorrow.

The question remains as to whether I get all of these leftover pieces??? Engine Cover, Rear Valance...??? I am going to ask for sure. Looking ahead to the pearl gold striping to be done over in the San Fernando Valley.

[PQ]

Ok, read this whole thread.

I'm glad I didn't read it til now.

I would have been on pins and needles as well. lol You really create excitement in your posts. Awesome read.

The Orange Krate story is really cool. I too was chasing a lost dream from my younger days. Not as far back as the bicycle story, but cetainly your first Camaro. Me? I bought a 1973 Z-28 in 1986 and I LOVED that ragged out POS.

Congrats, and I can't wait to see the final product.

[Orange Krate]

Originally Posted by PQ

Ok, read this whole thread.

I'm glad I didn't read it til now.

I would have been on pins and needles as well. lol You really create excitement in your posts. Awesome read.

The Orange Krate story is really cool. I too was chasing a lost dream from my younger days. Not as far back as the bicycle story, but cetainly your first Camaro. Me? I bought a 1973 Z-28 in 1986 and I LOVED that ragged out POS.

Congrats, and I can't wait to see the final product.

Thanks PQ! These are exciting times. I am truly splurging in a time when perhaps one should be really frugal. But...I am not getting any younger! It is going to be a pleasant break from the tasks at work! Thanks for reading my journal and stopping by and commenting. I will post plenty more as Orange Krate comes on the scene!

[2010 SS RS]

Congrats Orange Krate...cant wait for your explosion into the Camaro Owners world now...lol

[Orange Krate]

Originally Posted by 2010 SS RS

Congrats Orange Krate...cant wait for your explosion into the Camaro Owners world now...lol

Thanks 2010 SS RS! Let's just call this re-immersion therapy! HA HA HA
32 years later and that young man who has matured like a good bottle of Jack Daniels, is ready to feel a little bit of the road again Camaro style! I can easily flashback in my mind to a time when I cruised my first Orange Krate Camaro at 140mph on a long wide and open straight away not too far from here. Too many cars around these days to do that. Cheers to the "good ol' days, and to the new Gen 5 that is "not your Dad's Camaro"!

[SwedeandBlondie]

Originally Posted by Orange Krate

The question remains as to whether I get all of these leftover pieces??? Engine Cover, Rear Valance...??? I am going to ask for sure. Looking ahead to the pearl gold striping to be done over in the San Fernando Valley.

You should get all these pieces. They are yours. You paid good money for them.

Can't wait to see Orange Crate!

[Orange Krate]

This novel is turning into "War and Peace". So Orange Krate is now paid for, the paperwork almost done (wife needs to sign final docs and she is working!!!). I need to finish cleaning Orange Krate's nursery (still!) and the body shop is closed on Saturday and Sunday so the last two things (fuel door changeout and engine cover changeout) have not occured. I could do both of these no problem but it is part of the contract and warranty so let them do it right? Let nature take its course. But here is a sneak peek of the painted license plate bracket that I fretted about. I think it turned out halfway decent considering the black monstrocity it was before. Darn California license plate law! Fully understood why but heck with it. It will take me about a NY second to remove that hideous sales plate and bracket and replace it with an Orange Krate approved accoutrement.

[rtcat600man]

Looking Good