Kadett Chronicles 2: From crap to cool – a perspective

Let me first announce that I say “crap” lovingly. It’s all in the eye of the beholder, after all, and every time The Gearhead looks at his Opels, he just doesn’t see the crap. The surface rust, the dirt, the torn vinyl seats with stuffing pouring out of them, the hardened window rubber, the cracked windows, the broken headlights, etc, etc, etc. Nope. He just sees the possibilities. What the car once was and could be again. You know, the cool. Actually, I admire that about him.

Then there’s me. Not a car junkie myself, but I am cut from the same cloth that appreciates a passion. I can understand the appeal in the idea that something exists in an new, altered, and/or better state all because of you. So while I see the crap, I can also see the cool. I’m perfectly willing to throw myself into any project that my loved ones have cookin’. Why? Because it’s important to them. If they have a passion and a project, I’ll gladly jump on that bandwagon.

So when The Gearhead decided to polish up the Kadett to make the car show circuit, I was all in. But I’ll let you in on a little secret….I am, after all, a girl and therefore would like to roll into the car show in a gorgeous car. No rust. No dirt. New paint. You see where I’m going with this. Hmmm. I wonder if this means that I’m actually responsible for this whirlwind month. I’ll have to cogitate on that while watching The Gearhead replace the ignition switch later.

And while we’re on the subject, I hope you don’t expect to see lots of technical details and instructional type information on this here blog. I’m writing it and know none of these things. All I can report on is what I observe or learn on this job. So alas, you’re gonna get my spin. I do hope you stick around though, if not just for the pictures.

Kadett Chronicles 1: Setting the stage

The Gearhead.
My husband is a gearhead, an Opel gearhead, specifically. He loves everything about these cars. He belongs to Opel forums online, goes to Opel car shows, has Opel friends. Even the cat is named Opel. Not to mention that he owns about 10 of these cars. Most have seen better days, but all are beauties in his eyes for one reason or another.

The Geargirl.
That’s me. I could also be called The Support. The Help. The Photographer. The Blogger. The Kitchen Sink. Basically I’m in this to make The Gearhead happy so I’ll try my hand and anything that needs doing. Need a ¾ inch socket? I’m here to serve. Need a cool beverage? I’ll gladly provide. Need a dash pulled out? I’m your girl. But mostly I stick around because he looks super-fantastic-great all greased up in dirty jeans and old ripped t-shirts. And I love photography so this gives me yet another thing to shoot and practice on.

The Challenge.
Restore a 1967 Opel Kadett in one month. There's a car show coming up and we’re going. Come hell or high water, we’re going in an Opel. A pretty one.