Sad, Sad Day.

[offshore]

yES YOUR CAR BURNT UP FROM THE STARTER WIRE. NO IF ANDS OR BUTS! YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE IN THESE PICS WHERE IT SHORTED. LOOK AT THE WIRE WHERE IT FRAYED . UP TO THE LEFT GOING TO BATT IT'S COOKED (WHITE) WRIGHT WHERE IT SHORTED. THEN LOOK RIGHT FROM SHORT THE WIRE IS FINE. SORRY BUT THATS WHAT TOOK YOUR CAR OUT!

 

[offshore]

Last one. And it is the last one. I went to try to open the hood and the cable snapped. So.....what I've got is it.

 

[a69vette]

Don't forget the fuel lines were on the side of the starter.

 

[Pappy]

Sorry to hear of your loss, I wouldn't know what to do if I lost my car.What insurance company do you have? Keep us posted on what they say.I use Hagerty, qurious to see how they treat you.

Regards,
Terry

 

[vigman]

Rick

I am sorry for your loss.. I'm with ya bro.

I for one do not think things are that bad

( well I mean yeah your pride & joy is crisp.. but....)

When I was working in the wrecking yard we would get similar shape cars ( some worse.. some not as bad) and start pulling em apart.

The engines survive well
(minus carb & externals)

It usually front clip time.

The firewall is hit & miss..

Painless makes some NICE harnesses.

And lots of interior cleanup!

So turn your thinking around
(if possible when your heart is heavy like this).

Put her away for now.. and give it some time.


Think of this as a frame off restoration oppertunity.. I know this SUCKS.. But you will have some cash from the Insurance.. IF you are like the other members here, don't give up on her....

BRING HER BACK!

YOU CAN DO IT.. and were all rooting for you..... one step at a time...one day at a time.

It will be a long road.. but worth it in the end.

I'm there for you.. we ALL are there for you!


Vig~

 

[Daryllawman]

So sorry Rick............What can I say........Hang in there, its got to get better as you have seen the worse...good luck:cry

 

[58Mike]

Rick, I remember how devastated I was when I got some gouges and nicks in my paint in a windstorm canopy collapse a few months back. My damage wasn't nearly as bad as this, so I can only imagine how you feel. Know that we're pulling for you!

- Mike Greene

 

[Nut]

Rick... I have no more words that haven't already been said. I am so sorry for your loss. But like Vig said, if you have the time and energy try and bring her back to life. You won't regret it. Good luck.

........... Nut

 

[a69vette]

Flatbed came

She's in Orlando, I should know something tomorrow (Tuesday). It's at Dewey's Just Vettes, talking to Dewey earlier on the phone when I was describing the damage he felt it won't be a problem to bring it back. Tomorrow will be new light. Then we deal with the insurance co.
Thanks,

 

[vigman]

See... it will be good... it will be better

..We have the technology
..We can build her faster
...Better
...Stronger

( and I hope it doesnt cost 6 million dollars..)

Vig~

 

[BBB454]

Oh man, Rick, I'm so sorry this happened!
I sure hope the ins. co. doesn't try to mess with you now, that would at least make it a little bit easier to deal with...
That was a beautiful car and hopefully it will be again soon!
Barb

 

[majortom75]

Dude, sorry about your loss. Beautiful car. Adversity only makes us stronger. You'll have her runnin' like a racehorse again soon, I'm sure.

 

[teekilya]

Rick,

So sorry! Your pic's made my stomach turn!

As for how the fire started. If you can take some advise from a woman:

I have seen my share of car fires, (I am a firefighter) I couldn't tell a whole lot by the pictures however, the big "starter vs fuel line debate" I am not sure of. In my experience, the fire always burns hotest where it started. So, look things over and try to determine what burn't the hottest. Where is the most damage? I don't suspect the starter considering as near as I could tell in the pictures, the wiring around it was not completely fried. That would lead me to believe it started somewhere else in the engine compartment.

Then again, what do I know, I am just a dumb blonde LOL


Good luck to you, Hope to see you rebuild it!


"Save the Wave"

Tee

 

[Eric]

Geez Rick! I just saw this and scared me so much I ran downstairs to confirm that I do have steel fuel lines (memory slipping). Sorry to see your baby in such a shambles but as others said it's good no one was hurt. Best of luck in getting this all sorted out.

Eric

 

[OneHotV6]

After seeing those pics and reading all 7 pages, I'm a little hesitant on getting my 1972 dream vette. That was scary to see over the net, I would hate to see it on the driveway on fire. I've always wondered why all the Corvettes I see at car shows have steel lines all over.. now I know.

I wish you luck and hope it's rebuildable...!!

Ken

 

[69MyWay]

Rick...we need some updates. What did the insurance say?

You know, I have been thinking about your situation. I know that you love the "stock" value of that car, but I feel like in our past conversations that you would really like to do some mods....but feared destroying the original nature of your machine.

Well....no doubt it they don't total it, that it could be put back to stock. However, having been burned, it will never really be stock again......so, turn your lemons into lemonade!

Start out with a beefy hood---LT1 or L88 style. You can even switch to the long hood and eliminate your wiper door.

Now, on the engine....it is time we talk you into a fuel injection unit. Since you will need a new wire harness anyway, it is perfect timing to integrate an EFI system. There are plenty of SWEET bolt on units out there. This is also an EXCELLENT time to add air conditioning. I can take you through the steps to install a Vintage Air unit on the car like I did on mine. You passengers will thank you for it.

Finally, ditch the stock gauges, and go with some nice aftermarket units...and let's convert your headlights from vacuum to the electric acutators as I sell in the kit. You can top it off with a set of super nice large on large alloy wheels. You can turn that car into a real head turner, yet retain the overall clean stock look at a glance.

 

[50 4Ever]

That makes me so sad to see such a beautiful Vette go up in smoke like that. I had a '79 and it had a gas leak until I had to get it fixed because of California's Smog regulations, somewhere by the carb. It didn't catch on fire, but these pictures tell me it could have.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[c4ever]

This breaks my heart Rick. So sorry to see this. Keep us posted on what you'll do and like Vig says take your time to think about it. I just lost a car to fire (not my vettes) and it was pretty ugly. I can't even imagine what's going through your mind with such a beautiful car.
Here's hoping it all works out in the end.

Carlo

 

[joevette57]

Rick,
tried to call you the last night, any news yet?

Joe

 

[paintdaddy]

That made my stomach turn I am currently working on a 74 that had a dash fire.If you need any help let me know.I dont know it all but Im up to my elbows in it right now so my mind is fresh.