Possible Complete loss of my Corvette...

[22229stingray81]

I was on the G.W. parkway today, driving to school. I come up on two cars in the right lane (I am in the left) the front car starts to brake slightly, which means I begin to pass them... this is when it happens... the car behind the braking car decides to go around her.. only problem is I'm right there... SMACK! Hit my rear right wheel and door... I go spinning and spinning..smoke everywhere.. pieces of tire, rocks, dirt... I don't brake yet, I want to see if I can right myself.. I see that I will go tail end first, so I hit the brakes, and try to steer out of it... you wouldnt believe where I laned... RIGHT exactly in the middle of a scenic overlook parking space.... 50 feet sooner I would have been eating trees, 50 feet later I would have been eating another car AND trees... Even in a time of distress MY baby corvette performed magnificently... Thank God the guy stopped.. he turned out to be a 76 year old guy that just decideds he isnt going to look or signal before he changes lanes... his car of course just had some damage, and was able to drive away. (Got his info first of course). So as I'm waiting for the flatbed (I made sure it was a flatbed)... I ran across 4 lanes of traffic to get by poor old wheel spinner that flew off during the impact... Very hard piece to replace... 5 police cars drive by... finally the last one stopped... after he practically calls me stupid for not calling them, he realizes it was not a hit and run... then he didnt know what to say...

Finally the flatbed shows up.. thank dear god this guy appreciated vettes and knew what he was doing... I told him it couldnt be driven and he agreed, and he did everything possibe not to scrape the nose and rear end (minor muffler scrapping, thats it). He needs to turn the steering wheel the other way before he can fully raise it so he gets in the vette he just goes "wow.. either you paid a lot to restore this or you really take care of her" I wanted to cry... This is the first time in 4 years my baby couldnt carry me home. Oh and I forgot to mension that 2 suv's stopped to yell at us for blocking traffic.. you know, because where they were going couldnt be interupted by my wrecked car, sorry for getting hit maam, my fault.. the cop came back actually later and put his lights on.. didnt help much to direct traffic though..

My normal vette mechanic doesnt do body work and doesnt deal with insurence claims so I had to go to a backup shop, one that I have no experience with; the faltbed driver actually recommended a few shops, which surprised me he knew so much about corvettes, so we went to the one I recognized... "East coast corvette".. so we get there.. and east coast corvette is out of business.. right next to them is "Corvette specialists" and gives me the down-low on the deal.. apparently the other shop was fraudulent and got caught and went out of business.. thank god I didnt go to them for work. This lady who owns "Corvette specialist" has been in business for 29 years.. you should have seen all these sharks they had in the shop..anyways to make a long story shorter.. they look pretty good.. now.. the thing Im worried about is.. chasis damage... will the insurence company total it?? Will my fists let them total it?? We just have to wait and see what is really broken, besides my wheel, rear quarter, and pride... oh and see if the offender doesnt change his story... God my beautiful Crager star wire wheels.. my paint.. she even said the repair paint wont match, which I already knew... she said the quarter panel can be patched though.. it didnt look that bad... well see... please keep me and my baby in your prayers tonight all.sorry for the long post, I dont know where else to turn.

-Tatortot

 

[DDLS3]

OH NO...............Tatortot:cry I'm bummed just reading your post. Glad to hear that you were not hurt, it could have been much worse. We'll all say a prayer for you and your vette. Hope everything works out ok.

 

[Evolution1980]

Same here, man...that's a tear jerker! :cry
People are idiots. BTW, have you voted in the poll section for what really ticks you off about other drivers??? :eyerole

Well, here's hoping everything turns out OK. If you see my car now, you wouldn't know that I ever planted it squarely into a guard rail at one time and tore up the front AND rear panels, suspension, steering, pride... :L

IF...IF...the insurance company totals the car (which they likely will unless you had stated/valued insurance), offer to buy the salvage car from them. Probably be like $50. Then you can rebuild the car on yor own time, or part it out on eBay and make a nice penny back on it and then put that towards another one!
"When you're handed lemons...."

 

[Yoda]

-tatortot,

I remember your first date with your L81, has it been 4 years now!! Wow you've been through quite a bit with that ole girl, getting it running and keeping it running, even a Hurricane :eek

Just seems like yesterday stingray6974 and I were calming you down in the chat room, I don't even remember what we called it back then.

If you can help it, DO NOT LET the insurance company total it. Keep it titled and get the ole girl repaired. If they do Total it try to keep the same VIN and buy it back from them if possible.

-tator you are always in our prayers, get that degree, Keep that 81 keep looking forward young jedi

Bud

 

[22229stingray81]

Thank you sooo much for all the kind words everybody, they really made me feel better. I just got a call from the other guys insurence agency.. he admitted it and they said they would "take care of the cost" so at least he didnt try to lie.

I am really really lucky to have such supportive parents in this matter.. especially my mom, shes in love with the car too.. they have offered to pay whatever amount and do whatever is needed to get this girl back on the road.. I think they realize what My corvette means to me, and realize that I have been responsible with it. If it is totalled.. well buy it back and rebuild it... if they let us of course (the state.. im not sure how it works with totalled titles). Bud you sure were right about being through a lot with this ol gal. Its been a horrible year for her... exactly a year ago this month we had the devistating blizzard that crushed my t-tops.. then the past summer my paint incident... then the hurricane.. now this... Im still trying to keep positive though... hopefully this will make her strong and more beautiful then ever before... new paint.. assuming I can afford what the insurence wont pay for... Ill be tip top by summer.. hopefully.. thanks again so much for the kind words again.. Ill keep you all posted.

-Tatortot

 

[Evolution1980]

Dude...a blizzard? A hurricane? For pete's sake, Take the insurance money and build a garage for your baby! :L :L
I'm not one for even leaving my car out overnight, let alone in bad weather! :L

Oh, and since it seems like you are always doing fixer-upper work on your car, do yourself a favor (if you already don't)...take the receipts and put them in a box and never look at them except for warranty purposes. Never ever ever keep track of how much money the vette costs you to keep on the road.
"You'll laugh" :L
"You'll cry" :cry
"You'll hurl!"

 

[22229stingray81]

You know what the messed up thing is evolution80? I dont leave her out at night...I dont even take her in the rain anymore. Granted its not a full garage but its something... No matter what I do, the more I baby her the worse things happen... I'm never gonna win... oh and about a year ago I tried to total up everything that was matinance related (not cosmetic or interior pieces), I was up to $8k.... thats an average of $2k a year since Ive had her... but shes worth every cent and much much more.


-Tatortot

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

VERY SORRY to hear about your baby. I know all about that. About 3 years ago it happened to me. Some guy in a SUV pulled out in front of me. Well I got a good look at the underside of his truck. It was a total. The Ins gave me $12500 for the 80 and I purchased it back for $1300. The frame was bend and there was nothing left of the front body that was useable. I parted it out and sold around $4000 worth of parts. Sometimes I wish I had rebuild it, but that is another story.

If it is totalled do some research to find out what it would cost to buy another one in the same condition. That way you have an idea of what you should get out of it. If it is reparable buy it back, take the money you and fix it. You may even have enough left over for some improvement or another vette.

Well again I'm sorry about your accident and I hope everything comes out OK. Keep us informed and good luck.

Gary

 

[22229stingray81]

Thanks for the kind words Copdogcorvettes, I hope IF it is totalled I can get that much for it.. the bluebook value is amazingly low... but if there is any chance of rebuild, it will be done, even if it has to sit there for 10 years first.. she aint goin' anywhere unless they pry her from my hands... Money is second to love.

-Tatortot

 

[Jacko]

it didnt look that bad... well see... please keep me and my baby in your prayers tonight all.sorry for the long post, I dont know where else to turn.

-Tatortot

Hey buddy, I feel so bummed out for you.
My stomach started turning the minute I started reading your message.

I know the world seems like it is crashing around you at this time, but everything will work out in the end.
At least nobody was hurt.
Keep your chin UP - it could have been much worst.

You will be back in your baby b4 you know it.
\ My best to you \

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

Mine as an 80 with 76k miles. Blackw/white interior. 305 and auto, ac, smoked glass T tops, centerline wheels. It was near perfect before it was parked under the SUV. I checked around on Ebay, Auto Trader, Blue book and anywhere else I could find vette for sell. I copy the ads of one that appeared to be close to mine. When the adjuster talked to me I told him what I had found and that mine should be worth between $11k and $14K. When he was done the company got back to me and offer $12.5k for a settlement on the car and if I wanted it back I could buy it for $1300. I took it and didn't look back.

Good luck and don't let them push you around. Make up your mind as to what you think you should get for it and be able to back it up with proof. If it isn't totalled then they should have to repaint the whole car with the shop said they can not match it. I sure the body shop should be able to help you out that way.

Gary

 

[Eric]

Tatortot,

You have my sympathies dude but as others have said, it could have been much worse. It seems like just yesterday you recovered from the roof falling on it under all of that snow and ice last year.

FYI, in Virginia it's a piece of cake to get your car back if totalled. Sadly, we have a reputation for being a good place to run wrecks through to get them out with a squeaky clean title. All that happens is this - if the insurance company calls it a total loss, they will offer you an amount. If you want to keep the car they will deduct a portion from the amount and the title never leaves your hands. While you are essentially buying a totalled car back from them, the title never switches hands and the car can be fixed with no marks on the title. Now the insurance claim will show up in their system but you'll still have your car.

If a car here actually ends up with a salvaged title, you can buy the car and restore it. Once it passes a safety check, it is given a rebuilt title.

Also, Stingray's Autobody in Purcellville VA (540-338-3929) did a heck of a job on one of our member's cars when he got rear ended in Fairfax. When I saw the car I could not tell where it had been hit. I also assumed the entire car had been painted as it looked so nice but they had blended it perfectly since he couldn't swing an entire repaint. In it's present condition, I know getting them to give an estimate might be difficult but they do good work.

Good luck!

 

[dsagers]

Insurance Claim

Don't forget to ask the insurance guy for sales tax "after" he gives you the estimate.

 

[drags1998]

Really sorry to about vette, Am glad your OK. DOUBLE no TRIPLE check the shop your looking at,if your not sure, take your BABY to someone you are sure of!!!GOOD LUCK, MY thoughts are with you! Paul :cry

 

[22229stingray81]

I can't thank everyone enough for all the help. Everytime I remember the crash I can just read these posts and cheer up. Jacko- Ive felt sick all day.. just hearing that loud smack.. makes my stomach turn. CopDog- Thanks for the info, Ive been looking at vettes all night on different websites.. just to get a look at other ones, thanks for the pointers. 71Shark- THANK YOU SO MUCH, you have brought me a great relief. I didnt know how VA worked with salvaged or totalled titles.. its good to know that I can rebuilt it. I dont care if they give me $5 after I buy it back, Im still buying it. I appreciate the shop recommendation, though it seems a little far, about 60miles.. at $3 a mile for a tow.. well you get it. The paint was really really bad before the crash.. so it is going to have to be totally repainted. If I get her on her feet and can drive it I may check out your recommendation. dsagers- I didnt even think about that! Thanks! drags1998- My trusted corvette shop didnt want any part of this.. kind of upset me, my family has been going there since the 80's... I can kind of see his point about not doing body work and not wanting insurance people but where do I turn? This place looks good.. and I have heard good things about it.... Thanks again everyone.


-Tatortot

 

[GerryLP]

Tatortot,

It pains me to find about your misfortune, and I also feel your pain, but just remember that it hurts this much due to the love we have for our cars.

In 1985, a car passed the double-yellow line and hit the left front wheel and fender while I was coming out of a stop sign. The insurance told me that since I was leaving a stop sign, some responsibility would fall on me. I think that it worked out 90% his fault and 10% mine. Anyway, I worried alot for a while that I should have fixed the car myself (and save $1,800 - $2,000 on labor), but now I think that at the time I was living in an apartment and I could not have fixed it on my own without a garage full of tools, so in the long run the best thing I did was to have a shop (a chevy dealer in Alameda, California with an awesome paint shop) fix it for me...yes it cost alot :cry

Many of us have endured many such events, stories, and anecdotes, and If I ever meet you in person, I'll tell you about some of the more fun ones I had in the vette...:L...but you know what? I am willing to bet that most of us are still glad we kept our cars. I know I am.

Hang-in there good buddy. And you came to the right place. We're here to help you through the thick and thin and the good and sad times. Above all, the most important thing is that you were not hurt -Period!

 

[Evolution1980]

I appreciate the shop recommendation, though it seems a little far, about 60miles.. at $3 a mile for a tow.. well you get it.
-Tatortot

Look at this in a different light...

You are gonna spend a decent buck redoing everything anyways. Is it worth saving a measley $180 and taking your baby to someone you're not completely sure of? When it's all said and done and you get your car back from an unknown shop, will feel better that you saved $180 but the car isn't exactly like it was? Would you pay another $180 if you could have it done correctly the first time around?

Basically, you're gonna spend a couple of grand on all this. $180 is a drop in the bucket. And for the piece of mind, I think $180 is reasonable in the grand scheme of things. You haven't skimped on your baby in the past, why start now when she really needs you???

 

[Eric]

Tatortot,

If you do decide to give Stingray's a shot, get in touch with 77vette, I'm pretty sure he's the one that used them.

Good luck! - Eric

 

[Chris Kennedy]

I had a similar thing happen in 1998, when a bunch of drunk fisherman hit me in Houston, Texas. The drunks totalled three other cars, and the Corvette saved my life. I owed it. O.K., now you need to go to war. I am a Bush supporter, so you need to view this in a similar vein, but it's you vs. those terrorists who would part you from your car: First, these sharks are extremely tough cars, and I think that you will find that you have mostly body damage, or at worst, a bent trailing arm/wheel etc. This is nothing. Second: Here's a key piece of advice: LOTS of people try to part you from your car when this happens, most of all people who pretend to appreciate Corvettes. Some of the biggest snakes I have met are "good old boy" type Corvette owner. One tried to tell me there was frame damage and the car needed to be totaled. There wasn't, and it didn't. THIRD: "frame damage" sounds ominious, but it often isn't a big deal. If the shop where its at claims frame damage which can't be fixed, get another opinion. FOURTH: Parts are NO problem, either. Don't let the "expert" Corvette shop tell you they can't get parts--many of these experts know nothing about what really is avalaible. One of the best things about these cars is that people are competing with each other to sell you parts. Corvette Central often has stuff others don't, so check with them. Bottom line: Trust NO ONE, except your parents. If you don't like the shop where the car is, have it taken elsewhere. Work with your insurance company, do NOT talk to the other insurance company without talking to your company first. Be angry at what happened and tell your insurance company to hold the other insurance company to getting the car fixed---they are lucky you weren't hurt or killed, but don't admit that you are fine. Next: the important thing is to PUSH PUSH PUSH and get the car running. Lots of shops want to keep your car around as long as possible. This is an old tactic---they take apart just enough to make it difficult to go somewhere else. Don't think that being pleasant to one of these shops means that they are going to do you a good turn. Most of the time they will only screw you harder---think of the "good old boy" Corvette types at these shops and the Deliverance twins in the same vein. I got to the point where I bought parts separately and took them to the shop, myself--"here's the part you couldn't find, isn't this great, that means that now you can get to work". Sorry to be so blunt, but I suspect we have all had similar experiences. Lastly, I think painting is one of the biggest Corvette rackets around. Get quotes for a good, solid, "real world" paint job, not something for trailer queens. If you get the car running, then you can get it around for estimates. My car and I have been together for an additional 80 thousand miles, so you will likely have a happy ending, too.

--Chris Kennedy
Houston, Texas

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Well Chris said most of what I wanted to but let me say again, it is your car, if you want to keep it, KEEP it. Do not let anybody talk you out of it!!

In 1966 I bought a new GT350. My brother and mother used the car to go to school and it was rear-ended by an uninsured Rambler station wagon. My insurance company offered to payoff the loan but no more. I desperately wanted to keep the car but my father had a screaming fit and I eventuality gave in to the pressure. By 1970 you could not touch a GT350 for 3 times what I had paid for it!

From this bitter lesson I learned and have never forgotten the following:
Never buy a car on credit unless you can afford to pay cash for it and afford to lose the money.
Always follow your own mind – no matter how much pressure you are placed under – at least your own mistakes are yours and over time they will cost you no more than someone else’s.
Never take NO for an answer. Do not get mad, never lose your temper, just stand your ground. 98% of the people on this earth will back down sooner or later and the other 2% will respect you.

Now do not worry about storms, wrecks, or anything else that comes your way…bad things happen to good people. Some people survive and stay good. A few people turn the bad around, make it better and become great. From reading your post I think you may well fall into the later group.

Looking forward to throwing you a wave when the Shark is back on the road.