Crashed 86 4kcsq

["Doyt W. Echelberger" <Doyt@nwonline.net>]

For my family, it was not a good weekend here in northern Ohio. We lost an
old friend.

My 1986 4kcsq was rear-ended  Sunday evening. Nightmare stuff. My 29 year
old son was driving. Having that car probably saved him from serious injury.

About 6 PM Sunday he was traveling in a construction zone at a steady 45
mph, following traffic in a single lane with concrete barriers on the
driver's side, grassy flat berm on passenger side. Everything was cool,
when some maniac in a new silver Olds appeared out of nowhere from behind
and slammed into the rear bumper, doing about 70. The Audi shot ahead under
the impact, and then the maniac hit the same spot again, with almost the
same force. This all happened in about 1.5 seconds.

The Audi made a sharp right onto the grassy berm, to avoid being hit again
and to avoid being driven into the car ahead. As the turn was being made,
the maniac hit a third time, smashing in the driver-side corner of the
trunk and jamming the spare tire and trunk forward into the wheel well,
effectively acting like a friction brake on the left rear tire.

Having gotten the offending Audi off the road ahead of him, the maniac
passed on the left and cut in front of the slowing Audi, standing on his
brakes.  The maniac got stopped before the Audi, and the Audi smacked into
the driver quarter panel of the maniac.

The whole thing took about three and a half seconds.

All the doors opened and closed. None of the passengers (2) or the driver
got injured.

The car is sure to be totalled by the insurance company, but with the left
wheel well pulled out, it would drive normally.  The already tiny trunk is
about a foot shorter, mostly on the driver's side.  Both front corners of
the hood and fenders got flattened, one by hitting orange barrels, the
other by hitting the quarter panel of the Olds.

A highway patrolman asked the Olds driver what happened, and he replied
that he had no memory of the accident.....some kind of mental blackout.
The guy was in his late 60's and didn't have a clue.......

The people in the Audi remember it very clearly.

I spent about $5,000 over the past 4 years, getting the car in top shape.

For those interested in parts scavenging: The engine was replaced this year
by a low-miles used one, with new seals, water pump and idler pulley,
rebuilt alternator, new clutch and slave, new master cylinder and brake
proportioner, new rear calipers, emergency cables, rotors and pads. The
tranny was flawless and all the quattro stuff was good. I replaced all 4
springs with selected used ones from a 1984 quattro, and they really did
the job. Thanks Al Swackhammer. The fuel lines were all redone a few years
ago. The interior is black leather in good shape, and the seat heaters
work. And it has all its door handles and window switches and innards.And
the front spoiler is OK, as are the ground effects on both sides.

State farm rep looks at it tomorrow, and is certain to total it.  Then they
will cart it away and I will lose track of it. Speak now if you want it, so
I can ask what they will sell it back to me for. I won't part it out, no
time or place.  If you want a parts car, probably drivable with some
fender-well bending, this one was given all the advantages since it was
built. First owner lives in same town. Car nut with 2 old Benzes. Liked the
Audi better. Anyhow.........I still have my 87 5kcstq, and appreciate it
even more.

Moving on now. Be glad you are still driving Audis, and cherish those 4kq's
that are still doing it. It was a high point in my car-owning life and it
lasted a long happy time. Maybe I'll find another one.


Doyt Echelberger