Now Available! Fresh Parts for Classic Cadillacs

More than just another General Motors (GM) brand, over the last fifty years the Cadillac nameplate has become synonymous with the highest possible levels of style, luxury and quality in the automotive marketplace. While other top tier automakers like Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes (and others) have long collective predominance of the European marketplace, here in the United States Cadillac stands alone at the top of the hill.

Cadillac’s consistent emphasis on high-style combined with cutting-edge technology enable it to earn its place as America’s premier luxury car brand. Albeit Cadillac’s mighty use of fins and chrome might have been a bit over the top at times, Cadillac customers seem to have embraced all of the brand’s large and luxurious vehicles up to the present day. However, it is the cars from the mid-’50s to the mid-’70s that are thought to be the most attractive and most stylish cars Cadillac ever made. Not remarkably, that same group of classics also represents the cars that most Cadillac enthusiasts want to restore, and that’s good, because here at Original Parts Group Inc., we naturally encourage all restoration projects. However, you’ve got to have the right parts to finish any restoration project and the supply of some classic Cadillac parts has been scarce to non-existent for years now. General Motors is not going to help as it has no plans to make fresh parts for old cars now or in the future, and that situation is unlikely to switch anytime soon.

The availability of fresh factory-style parts for classic Cadillacs now rests solely in the arms of the aftermarket. Original Parts Group, Inc. strives to address the needs of classic Cadillac enthusiasts with the best fresh reproductions of parts that have been unavailable since GM stopped supplying them many years ago. OPGI presently offers thousands of exact-reproduction, factory-style restoration parts and accessories to fit the most popular one thousand nine hundred fifty four to one thousand nine hundred seventy six Cadillac models, and fresh parts are being added to the catalog all the time.

The latest group of Cadillac components to be added to the OPGI catalog is a batch of fresh parts bearing the RESTOPARTS® name. RESTOPARTS is OPGI’s proprietary line of exact, authentic reproductions of the original GM products and are manufactured on brand fresh tooling to the highest standards of fit, finish and function. This means all RESTOPARTS parts are built and backed by the trusted OPGI name and assured to be premium reproductions that supply the quality and durability you’ve come to expect.

1961-62 & one thousand nine hundred sixty four Cadillac Tail Fin Lens.

These Cadillac tail lamp lenses are injection-molded on brand fresh tooling developed from genuine NOS parts. Made of crimson acrylic for a totally authentic appearance, each lens also features the correct GUIDE, SAE and LH/RH markings on the lens face just like the original equipment from General Motors (GM). Built to exact GM contours and dimensions to assure a ideal fit, these lenses cover all Cadillac models for the years, 1961, one thousand nine hundred sixty two and 1964. Part # CE15732-PR applies to a pair of rear lenses for the year 1961. Part #CE11221-PR is a pair of lenses for all one thousand nine hundred sixty two models and part number CE11228-PR covers 1964. (#CE11221 shown)

1959-64 & 1971-78 Cadillac Step Plates

A set of shiny fresh door sill step plates are a superb welcoming feature when injecting your car and they are also a very effortless upgrade you can do at home. Door sill step plates are not exactly exterior items as they are not visible when you sit inwards your car with the doors closed. They are very visible any time the door is open tho’ and old worn out sills will undoubtedly degrade your car’s appearance. These bright-dipped, anodized aluminum doors sills from RESTOPARTS come in three versions; years one thousand nine hundred fifty nine and one thousand nine hundred sixty have a square-tag (#CE00210) and Cadillac crest in the center. Years one thousand nine hundred sixty one through one thousand nine hundred sixty four (#CE00211) get sills with an oval Cadillac crest. And eventually, Caddies from one thousand nine hundred seventy one through to one thousand nine hundred seventy eight get sills with a “Fleetwood/Bod by Fisher” tag riveted in place (#CE00217).

1963 Cadillac Tail Lamp and Back-Up Lenses

Owners of one thousand nine hundred sixty three Cadillacs will be glad to learn that OPGI has their tail lamp and back-up lamp lens needs totally covered. Both lenses fit all one thousand nine hundred sixty three models and are injection-molded in the correct acrylic plastic to exact GM specifications. Both lenses also feature the correct GUIDE, SAE and LH/RH markings right on the lens face just like the original equipment from GM. Specify part # CE11223 for the crimson tail lamp lens and #CE11291 for the back-up lamp lenses.

1963 Cadillac License Plate Lamp Assembly

Brand fresh, factory accurate license plate lamp assemblies for one thousand nine hundred sixty three Cadillacs were not available anywhere until OPGI stepped up to the plate. Now, OPGI offers a finish assembly under part #CE15741. The lens cover (# CE11165) and lens gasket (# CE06889) are also available separately. Ditch that ugly plate lamp on your Caddy and substitute it with a brand fresh assembly from OPGI that features an injection molded clear lens marked with the correct GUIDE markings and diffuser lines. These lamp assemblies will fit all Cadillacs made in 1963.

1963 Cadillac DeVille Rubber hood V Emblem

The last fresh Cadillac product in this batch of RESTOPARTS is a shiny, fresh V Rubber hood Emblem to fit the original one thousand nine hundred sixty three Cadillac DeVille. Because they are mounted prominently front and center on the giant DeVille bondage mask, a bruised or missing Rubber hood V Emblem is just about unlikely to overlook. Get your own flawless, bright chrome plated “V” under OPGI # CE08381.

Shop for Cadillac at www.opgi.com. Now OPGI offers and expanded line of Cadillac parts – back to one thousand nine hundred thirty six and forward to 1993!

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Get a Treat On It – Door Treats, Mirrors and More

Original door treats and exterior mirrors are components that are always exposed to the elements and as a result, they often look far more battered and worn than the rest of your classic GM car, especially if the final paint and figure work has already been finished. Interior door treats, window cranks and mirrors can take a lot of manhandle too, and they can also look pretty worn out inwards an otherwise immaculately restored interior. Albeit preserving original General Motors (GM) parts can be significant to the originality of a restoration, brand fresh old stock factory replacement parts like treats and mirrors are simply not available anymore. Please note – the examples here are for Chevelle. You can select your year, make and model lightly at OPGI.com

There is not much that looks better on your rail than a brand fresh set of door treats. These jewel-like treat sets manufactured by RESTOPARTS® are triple chrome plated exact reproductions of the factory GM units. The treats feature case-hardened steel and die cast zinc alloy along with the finest stamped hardware and spring reproductions for a flawless fit, finish and function. Kits for four-door cars are also available. Each front set includes: A pair of chrome outside door treats, two door treat gaskets, chrome push-buttons with rods, and the O-rings, springs and retainers necessary to climb on them.

Exterior mirrors always take a hitting due to their location that is exposed to the elements. When they become worn and rust-pitted, they can indeed detract from an otherwise good looking car. This fresh RESTOPARTS-manufactured pair of exact GM factory spec mirrors will enhance the look of any car. There is simply no comparison on the market to our precision set (pictured above) for ’69-’72 Chevelles, El Caminos and Monte Carlos. OPGI also carries a broad selection of mirrors for all GM A, B, C, E, and G-Body vehicles. These factory-identical reproductions of the originals feature the correct factory “bump” or rib-line and a casehardened die-cast zinc end ball to protect against “mirror droop”. Each mirror set also includes a premium mounting kit with authentic molded (not pressed) gaskets, mounting brackets and required screws.

If you have bruised or worn out original treats and mirrors it might be possible to refurbish them or clean them up a bit, but only to a point. Chrome plated parts don’t truly take well to vigorous scrubbing, albeit with some patience, luck and some #0000 steel wool, you might be able to revive the original chrome to the point where it might look decent from several feet away. However, if the rest of your vehicle is immaculate, it is very unlikely that the old chrome parts will match the level of a good restoration. Instead, they will very likely stick out like a sore thumb on an otherwise excellent looking car.

Because the factory replacement mirrors, door treats and window crank assemblies are no longer available from GM, Original Parts Group, Inc. (OPGI) has responded by manufacturing a broad range of fresh premium reproduction assemblies that are identical to the original equipment in appearance, fit and function, as well as being triple chrome plated for durability and long-lasting brilliance. Whether your car needs fresh door treats, or a set of mirrors, OPGI manufactures accomplish, factory-correct reproduction mirrors and interior/exterior treats and cranks for all of the most popular classic cars from Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, and Cadillac. The precisely cast steel or die cast zinc components from OPGI also contain all of the buttons, springs, gaskets and mounting hardware necessary to get your rail treated decently (pun intended).

No more droopy mirrors! Don’t leave behind that OPGI also offers fresh RESTOPARTS-manufactured interior mirrors that are factory-exact, stainless steel-backed reproductions featuring hardened zinc, die cast attachments and end nuts to ensure the mirror stays in place, securely in the pocket – where you want it!

OPGI components are all top quality items that meet or exceed the original factory specifications and many customers have noted that the OPGI parts actually look and perform better than the original equipment did when fresh. Because your mirrors, door treats and window cranks (or power window buttons) are very visible from just about any view of the car inwards or out, it is significant that they look as good as possible. Whether your car is a daily driver or a showcase vehicle, it simply won’t look correct with anything less than absolutely flawless replacement parts, and when you shop at OPGI, you can count on getting what you need the very first time, and every time.

Interior window cranks (as well as power window shove button assemblies) can often look worn and permanently dirty from years of use. Fresh RESTOPARTS window crank treats (available with clear or black knobs) will cure that situation! Designed to fit and function just like the original equipment, each crank is precisely cast for a ideal fit.

Whether you drive a Chevy, a Buick, an Olds, a Pontiac or even a classic Caddy, OPGI has the bases covered when it comes to treats, mirrors and much more!

Shop for restoration parts at www.opgi.com.

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Stop & Turn: Brake & Suspension Mods

When Original Parts Group Inc. (OPGI) commenced working with the guys from HOT ROD Garage on the one thousand nine hundred seventy Chevelle SS four hundred fifty four tribute car known as “The Executive Chevelle,” the project broke fresh ground. The Chevelle was built from the commence as a modified car using aftermarket parts and as such was the very first vehicle in the OPGI fleet that was not built out as a 100%, factory-spec restoration. At the time, the stated purpose of the project was “To create a car that has the clean look of a 1970’s muscle car on the outside with modern power and reliability hidden inwards.” If you think about it, that statement could be true for most classic car projects, as the owners want to retain the looks and style of the old days in cars that feature enough “modern performance” to keep up with today’s traffic and road conditions. The only problem with that balance is that the standard of spectacle today is pretty high, and the bar keeps getting higher. While yesterday’s V-8 powered muscle car classics still have slew of power to keep up with modern traffic, their capability to stop and turn is a different matter entirely.

There is just no way the factory suspension setup on a 40-year-old car can treat like the latest batch of fresh Challengers, Mustangs and Camaros that come from the factory tooled with big disc brakes, numerous sway bars, high-tech shocks and modern suspension geometry. The good news here is that you indeed don’t have to lodge for the limited spectacle of a 40-year-old suspension system any more. Thanks to an abundance of aftermarket suspension components, you can retrofit modern, high-performance suspension and braking components right onto your classic rail. Any car that treats and stops better is also a safer car, and that’s a win for everyone on the road.

StreetGrip Suspension Systems from Ridetech are an affordable treatment to better treating that is designed to beef up a factory suspension system without substituting the entire suspension system under the car.

When it comes to stopping power, many older cars from the ’60s have drum brakes at all four corners. At best you might find a pair of petite factory disc brakes on the front of your car. Both setups are inadequate compared to the brakes found on modern cars today and considering the weight of car, factory braking systems from the old days are just plain unsafe unless you truly don’t plan on driving the vehicle much. It goes without telling that high spectacle driving duties are pretty much out of the question with most of the old braking systems. The good news here is that there is a wealth of fresh disc brake conversion kits available from the aftermarket today. You can lightly find a better brake setup to upgrade the stopping power of just about any classic car these days.

A accomplish suspension upgrade kit like this “Speed Kit” from Detroit Speed includes fresh a-arms to help convert the rail and treating of your classic muscle car.

OPGI offers a multiplicity of high quality braking components from brands like Classic Spectacle Products, Wilwood, SSBC, Russell and more. From finish conversion kits to individual braking components and the hardware to install them, you’ll find everything you need to beef up your brakes in the OPGI catalog today. You can rebuild an original drum brake system, substitute individual GM factory (drum and disc) braking components or upgrade to a downright fresh disc brake system all the way around. If you go with larger wheels, you can install larger discs that have been cross-drilled, gas-slotted and zinc washed. Combine top quality rotors with larger multi-piston calipers for even more braking spectacle.

Fresh polyurethane bushings are an economical way to tighten up your suspension. Your car will track straighter under braking thanks to firmer bushings that will not deflect as much as the worn-out rubber bushings that are very likely under your car right now.

Along with a brake upgrade, it might be a good idea to check out some suspension mods available to keep your wheels planted more tightly on the ground. Even if you’ve got good brakes, an overly soft or worn factory suspension system on a 40-year-old car can still make stopping and turning a challenge. Fine treating is not just about smoothing out bumps in the road, as we found when we upgraded the suspension on the Executive Chevelle with a finish Hotchkis Stage I Total Vehicle System Treating Package along with fresh Chevelle spindles, steering arms, tie rods and center link from OPGI. When we tested the combined effects of Wilwood disc brakes and the Hotchkis suspension setup on the Chevelle at a local autocross course we found that the Chevelle ran the course a utter four seconds swifter in modified mode. Four seconds is an eternity on a brief autocross track with an overall lap time of about one minute. Prior to the mods the Chevelle wallowed through the turns knocking down cones and the overall stopping distances got longer and longer as the factory brakes got hot. After the mods, the overall treating felt more precise, turns were flatter and the car stopped when we dreamed it to. In modified mode our 40-year-old Chevelle felt ready to take on any road or track situation with fresh confidence. That’s why OPGI offers a wealth of components and kits from top brands like Detroit Speed, Hotchkis, QA1 Motorsports, Ridetech, Moog, Moser and others to tighten up the treating of just about any suspension system. As with the improved brakes, the fresh suspension system with better sway bars and shocks made the OPGI project Chevelle a safer treating vehicle out on the road, and that’s where it counts the most.

Adding larger sway bars front and rear like these “Sport Suspension” bars from Hotchkis will go a long way toward improved treating, especially on cars that lack a rear bar altogether. The Hotchkis bars are tubular designed and feature greaseable bushings along with heavy-duty mounting brackets and end links.

Shop for car brakes and suspension at www.opgi.com.

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Premium Stereo Technology for Classic Cars

Restoration of a classic car is usually performed in steps. After you’ve overhauled the drivetrain and made the exterior look ideal, a good next step would be getting sultry about the level of creature comforts you have planned for the interior. How your car sounds is an significant aspect of that convenience and we’re not talking about the roar of your engine through the harass – we’re talking about entertaining sounds, the kind that should be emanating from your car audio sound system.

Here at Original Parts Group, Inc. (OPGI) we know that our customers have a broad multitude of musical tastes, and that’s why OPGI offers a broad multitude of custom-built auto sound solutions. The auto sound industry has come a long way in the last two decades, and the result is the capability to set up the audio system of your wishes inwards just about any car. Car audio systems have benefited greatly from the stream of permanently improving technology as most of the components have gotten smaller and more powerful at the same time. This has also permitted designers to create more compact systems that are totally unobtrusive in a classic car.

Albeit OPGI does not address the “maximum sound pressure” types of audio systems that some audiophiles build to rival for “Most/Loudest Decibels” awards, you can build a boomin’ sound system with OPGI components, and it will look good in your classic car, too.

Custom-made Autosound stereo head units feature OEM style pushbuttons and knobs along with the car’s brand name or logo.

These days, you can install a state-of-the-art system bristling with power and the latest high-end technology to demonstrate off your good taste. Or, like many of our customers, you may want a more understated system that pumps out the high wattage in a more stealthy and stock appearing package. For purists that desire to maintain their car’s vintage-correct appearance, the latest generation of stereo radio/power units from Vintage Car Audio and Custom-made Autosound USA suggest something to fit all of the most popular classic GM cars.

Stereo/Radio head units from Vintage Car Audio permit you to choose from either the one hundred Series (100 watts) or three hundred Series (200 watts). Both are available with black or chrome faces.

Both Vintage Car Audio and Custom-made Autosound suggest powerful, modern audio components with retro-looks that are easy-to-install, making them ideal for people restoring their own cars. In most cases, the units are custom-built fit to each vehicle application and look totally original in a classic dashboard setting without requiring any cutting or modification of the car’s original dash. This permits the installation of modern stereo features into a classic car without having to sacrifice the original factory appearance.

These premium Kenwood dash speakers are designed to fit right into GM A-Body locations without any modifications to the car or the speakers.

Car audio speakers are better than ever today as well. Modern speakers (like the Kenwood units from Vintage Car Audio) utilize the latest technology to supply tighter bass sounds as well as improved overall clarity when compared to car audio speakers from just a decade ago. You can choose from speakers designed to fit your specific GM A-body factory mounting locations (without modifying your dash) or perhaps choose custom-built plastic kick panels with pre-cut speaker openings (available with or without the speakers pre-installed).

An iPod Integration Kit will permit hassle-free connection of your iPod or iPhone to almost any FM radio head unit.

OPGI also offers all of the ancillary accessories necessary to install a modern sound system in your classic car. Antennas, faceplate bezels, speaker assemblies, and mounting brackets all help make installation a hassle-free affair. Adding modern technological interfaces with iPod integration, Bluetooth amplifiers, and remote operational controls is also a snap when you have the right components. You’ll find a wealth of good auto sound options inwards every OPGI catalog and on the OPGI website too. For more information on specific applications, availability and pricing, visit OPGI.com or contact an OPGI Sales Representative directly for more details.

Shop for car audio/stereos at www.opgi.com. The link provided here will take you to audio equipment and accessories for Chevelle, but OPGI carries a broad range of these products for your car, too. Come in your year and model to see all the optionsl

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OPGI’s five Top Tech Tips: Weatherstripping

Everyone knows that fresh weatherstripping can tighten up the fit and sealing of a vehicle’s doors, windows and trunk (and more) to make the overall driving practice quieter, cleaner and more convenient. What fewer people seem to recognize is just how much extra noise (and extra fumes!) we are bombarded with during every day driving. Drivers seem to overlook the fact that the seals on the assets of the car can leisurely age to the point of total deterioration as a car gets older, and when you’re dealing with classic cars, it is pretty much ensured that you’ll need fresh weatherstripping at some point in the restoration process.

The seals around doors and doorframes can crack with age or may have fuckholes worn through from use. Over time, weatherstripping ages and gets tighter simply through exposure to the atmosphere. If the rubber has lost its pliability and can no longer spring back when you squeeze it inbetween your fingers, it can’t make a decent seal around your doors either, and replacement is in order. You don’t have to wait until you can see the pavement through the door seams to install fresh weatherstripping however! Gratefully, installing fresh weatherstripping is an affordable upgrade you can perform at home.

Albeit fresh weatherstripping needs to fit tightly and securely everywhere it is installed on a vehicle, you don’t want to over-do it by using too much, using numerous layers or using materials that are too thick for the job. This can make your doors and windows very difficult to close. Instead, use only the recommended amount of weatherstripping that is designed and made for your vehicle’s specific application. Individual weatherstripping components as well as finish weatherstripping kits are available for almost all popular GM classics and they are accurately designed to ensure correct fit and effortless installation on your specific vehicle.

#Two. Maybe the Old Weatherstripping is Still Usable

If you think your old weatherstripping may be in pretty good form but it is letting in air or water get through in just one or two very petite areas, attempt applying extra weatherstripping adhesive under the liberate portions, or use a clear silicone sealer to seal the specific areas that leak. If the old rubber still has some pliability, it can still most likely make a good, if somewhat makeshift, seal.

#Three. Match the Fresh to the Old

When installing fresh weatherstripping, very first check to see whether the fresh weatherstripping is exactly the same as the old seals you’re substituting. The fresh weatherstripping should have the exact same form, thickness, fuckholes, channels, and rubber studs on the inwards as the original parts you are removing. Obviously, if the fresh seal is lacking the exact same dimensions and specs, it won’t install or seal correctly.

#Four. Plan for Some Seal Shrinkage

Most fresh weatherstripping materials will shrink a bit and flatten into place after the glue sets up and the surfaces are opened and closed with pressure. You can account for this shrinkage by leaving an extra 1/Four inch or 1/Two inch of seal material (that can be trimmed later) so that you will have a ideal seal after the rubber flattens into place through use.

When installing fresh weatherstripping, begin the installation and gluing process in the center of the lowest portion of each seal, as that is where splashed-up water will most likely gather before it drains out and exits the vehicle. This would be the bottom-center location for internal doors, windows and windshields, and around the striker plate in the trunk. Closing the seam with proper-fitting weatherstripping in these areas helps ensure that any water trapped inwards the seals or in the doorjambs in that area will drain away decently and not promote rust situations in the same area later on.

#1. The seal material must lay vapid or your doors and windows won’t close decently when the weatherstripping is bunched up or layered in any one spot.

#Two. If your existing weatherstripping is still somewhat pliable it can very likely still do its job temporarily.

#Trio. The fresh weatherstripping must have the exact same dimensions and specs as the seals you liquidate or it won’t install or seal correctly.

#Four. Fresh weatherstripping materials will shrink a bit in length after the rubber flattens into place through use.

#Five. Begin the installation and gluing process by commencing in the center of the lowest portion of each seal as that is where moisture is most likely to collect.

Shop for restoration parts at www.opgi.com.

Click this link for weatherstripping. The example is for a one thousand nine hundred seventy Chevelle, but OPGI offers a accomplish weatherstrip selection for all years and models.

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OPGI’s “New” one thousand nine hundred eighty seven Buick Grand National Comes Home

The latest addition to OPGI’s fleet of ideally restored GM classics needed no restoration work at all. With just 9,797 miles on the odometer, this one thousand nine hundred eighty seven Buick Grand National was delivered to OPGI in better-than-excellent condition. The purchase included everything but that “Fresh Car Smell” from thirty years ago.

In addition to the primary business of supplying and manufacturing restoration and high-performance parts for classic GM cars, Original Parts Group Inc. (OPGI) also maintains its own fleet of restored cars for in-house parts testing and use as display vehicles in advertising, at trade shows, car shows and other special events. Of course, it goes without telling that all of OPGI’s classic cars have been downright restored to the highest degree of original authenticity using OPGI parts. Every car in the OPGI fleet has its own story to tell, and the most latest addition to the fleet has proven no different in that respect.

Original Parts Group acquires its cars in many different ways. After purchase, some cars are rebuilt from the ground up, while others might be purchased in almost totally restored condition. However, most of the time it’s somewhere in the middle. OPGI buys cars that are partially built and proceeds to build them some more. The procedure for a utter rebuild of an OPGI classic usually involves sending a car out for a full-frame-off restoration and drivetrain rebuild. Of course, OPGI supplies all of the restoration parts and related accessories needed for each restoration/transformation job, but work on the engines, transmissions, and final paint and bod work is usually treated by outside playmates or suppliers.

Today, we would like to introduce the latest addition to OPGI’s fleet of classics with the one thousand nine hundred eighty seven Buick Grand National (GN) you see displayed here. With the upcoming release of OPGI’s tenth and newest annual parts catalog aimed at Buick Regal variants and the two thousand seventeen SEMA Showcase looming large in the not-too-distant future, OPGI’s “new” car this year just had to be a Buick Grand National. However, unlike the majority of the cars in the OPGI fleet, this Grand National did not need a rebuild of any kind, or any fresh parts at all for that matter. That’s one of the perks when you buy a 30-year-old car with less than 10K miles.

When was the last time you witnessed a 30-year-old set of GM car keys in this condition?

Several months ago, Casey Mohr and Tony Giroux of the OPGI Sourcing Team were tasked with finding a nice clean Grand National that could be restored back to original specs and spectacle. Making that task difficult was the fact that Buick didn’t make too many of these cars in the very first place, and the ones they did make seem to have already been snapped-up by savvy purchasers who know that their cars are both uncommon and desirable these days. They are also immensely joy to drive, thanks to the turbo-charged Trio.8L V6 putting out two hundred thirty five hp and three hundred thirty lb-ft. of torque. At the time, the one thousand nine hundred eighty seven GN was one of the quickest cars on the road and spectacle enthusiasts could not help but notice that the little turbo V6 permitted quarter-mile times that were swifter than the latest V8-powered Chevrolet Camaros of the day.

After scouring the “Grand National For Sale” ads in all the usual (and some unusual) places, it looked like Casey and Tony were going to have to make at least several different road trips to examine and hopefully purchase one of the handful of cars available that met most of our requirements. Unluckily for the Sourcing guys, the best cars were strung across the country from west to east, and many were scattered at points up and down the East Coast from Fresh York to Florida. Then, as if by providence, Tony discovered a clean, low mileage GN listed for sale in the San Francisco/Bay area Craigslist. The chunks of a deal were kicking off to fall into place when Casey volunteered that he had a friend in the Bay Area who might be able to examine and photograph the car for them, negating the need for an initial excursion to San Francisco. Ideal.

The very first batch of photographs sent to OPGI concerning the purchase of the car included this puny but very significant detail photo of the GN’s odometer demonstrating the mileage to be just 9,797 miles. The passage of over thirty years time is not apparent anywhere on this car.

Casey’s friend Drew Alexy from the little town of Danville, California met with the car’s possessor (Tarek Mohamed), took over seventy five photographs, and then forwarded them to Casey along with a general, glowing report on the car. In real estate deals, brokers often tout the main feature of a house as being “Location, location, location!” When it came to Drew’s initial report on the desirability of Tarek’s Grand National, he could have saved some time by simply shouting “Mileage, mileage, mileage!” The figure of 9,797 miles means that this entire Grand National has an odd sort of time capsule status about it. Other than a few very minor details involving the passage of a few decades, this GN is “right off the showroom floor” and almost brand fresh in many significant ways, both inwards and out.

Upon further examination and negotiation, the mileage was verified by service receipts and a deal was struck. The one thousand nine hundred eighty seven Buick Grand National formerly belonging to Tarek Mohamed of Oakland, California would now belong to Original Parts Group, Inc. Because this car and absolutely every part on it are almost in brand fresh condition, it requires no lengthy rebuild and can be pressed into service in the OPGI test fleet right away after a quick general tune-up and the addition of fresh fluids and perhaps some fresh tires as well. The paint is original, the tires and brakes are original, and there is no wear on the seating surfaces at all. And the turbocharged V6 is very strong! This car is as close to a brand fresh one thousand nine hundred eighty seven Grand National as it gets. Even the ignition keys look oddly “clean” without marks or wear on them of any kind. The less than 10K on the odometer indicates not even enough miles to decently break the car in. Despite its age, it is a fresh car in many ways.

Bringing home the bacon. Caser Mohr and Tony Giroux from OPGI’s Sourcing Department were tasked with a nationwide hunting tour that ended with the successful capture of a fully-mature Buick Grand National with a youthful 9,797 miles on the odo. Here the team gasses up Tony’s Silverado at a Shell station off the five Freeway outside of Kettleman City, California, a place that Casey described as “The Actual Middle of Nowhere.”

Despite some dust, light rain and squashed bugs, the Grand National arrived back at OPGI Headquarters no worse for the wear….and the mileage on the odometer stayed exactly the same.

All parties agreed to all terms and conditions, and the last remaining bit of business was to physically go up to the Bay Area, put the car on a trailer, and take it home to OPGI Headquarters in Seal Beach. Casey and Tony agreed to finish what they had began and Tony even volunteered the use of his own Duramax-equipped Silverado to haul the OPGI trailer and the Grand National back to Seal Beach. The “new” OPGI Grand National is a beauty, and even however it was “all the way up” in the Bay Area, that’s a lot better than driving to Jacksonville, Florida and back to secure it. Something like that that would have been an unpopular “ride to remember” for sure! For Casey and Tony, the actual trek was not too bad and the duo didn’t even have to stay at bad motels thanks to the hospitality of Casey’s Aunt and Uncle who live in the petite town of San Ramon near the Bay Area. Staying with Casey’s relatives at least assured that their road excursion would include good food, clean beds and good company!

Look for more coverage of OPGI’s “new” Grand National coming up soon. The car will be appearing in both Web and print advertising, and with the two thousand seventeen SEMA Demonstrate coming up in just a few months, the Grand National will make an appearance there, too!

Always looking ahead. It looks like Tony is already prepping OPGI’s fresh Grand National for an upcoming display or demonstrate venue.

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