I was rear ended today in Flagstaff, AZ. A Lifted Chevy truck didn't see me in front of him and he rode right up on my rear deck. It was a slow probably 10-15 mph wreck in bumper to bumper traffic but he ended up on my rear deck and pushed me about 1/2 block before he hit his brakes and I popped out. All I could see was bumper and tires in my rear view. He couldn't tell why he couldn't steer.

Wiped out my bumper but worse it broke and cracked the rear deck and has small cracks in back of both wheel wells. Not sure if there is any hidden damage or not yet.

Is this type of break even fixable?? It is not like you can stick a new fender on it. I'm afraid it's history and I'm going to lose my shirt on it.

Does anyone know a good shop in Flagstaff that does good fiberglass work?? and has worked on vettes. Or possibly Phoenix, AZ???

The guy stuck around and has insurance - got a police report and after ripping the rest of the fender off was able to drive it home.

Called my INS company - and opened a claim- it's the weekend and no one is around to come look at it. I'm supposed to hear from them Monday and go from there.

I want to be made whole on this and not get ripped off because it is "just" a 1974 car. I suspect it will be pretty spendy to fix it so someone will want to total it.

Anyone go through before. My first time in 41 years of driving.

LBM

 

Replacement panels are available from the usual vendors.

 

When I first got my 'Vette, After a brake change, I took it to get the brakes bled. On the way home I I pulled up at a stop light next to one of those bozos. I knew he couldn't see me,, and sure enough,, he jerked the wheel when I sped off. thos things aren't street legal alot of the time. If I were you, I'd talk to a cop about it, and think about sueing above and beyond you repair costs. those things are a road hazzard. I think they are banned.

 

If it was a noticably lifted truck I'm pretty sure it was illegal. Most states have very strict laws regarding modifications like that.

I would check into it

 

Sorry about your vert. Good thing he didn't end-up with his bumper on the back of your neck I guess.

A picture would be helpful, also one of the rear suspension.

 

Thanks - How do I insert an image? - I do have digital photos.. I don't think it got into the rear suspension but I will look. I drove it home at highway speeds without a bobble.

Cops were there and did a report - he didn't get a ticket for being too high - just for going too fast for traffic conditions - his at fault. I also see a lot of highly lifted trucks in AZ so I guess it isn't illegal.

I have to wait for my insurance company to get the accident report. Cop advised me if I went for it myself I would only be given a copy of my side of the report but insurance company gets the entire report.

I was real lucky he didn't end up on my head just going slow enough.

If side pannels are available maybe they can fix it.

Still looking for a good shop that has done body work on a vette in Flagstaff or Phoenix AZ if anyone knows of one.

Thanks.

 

Glad you are OK. The car can be fixed, be sure to find a local shop that knows Corvettes. Not every good body shop has experience in fiberglass and corvettes.

 

Sorry to hear about the accident. I agree the truck is probably illegal and you have grounds for a suit.

To post pics, follow this link, read the paper, and give it a shot. It's really very easy and fun when you get the hang of it.

http://photos.imageevent.com/durango...g%20Images.pdf

 

Talk to 82XFIRE. He is in Arizona and is having his rear repaired. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1815098 http:/ and this http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1743684

 

Thanks for the link on photos and the link for the Corvette Restoration shop in Phoenix area.

If that one can be fixed - mine can - it is - I think a question of replacing the body from the rear of the doors back or patching the panels. And all of that is going to depend on my insurance company making sure I am taken care of.

I have Allied that is actually National as I find out. Still need to talk to them - probably in the morning. Anyone have any dealings with National???

They did call me at work today but I couldn't talk at that point. This is a small town - the guy who hit me is the son of a lady who worked where I do for years and I'm absouletely sure that eveyone I work with knows him - he isn't a young kid but every one generally has a mother. I didn't know him but he knows everyone I work with by name and neighborhood or so he told me while we were waiting for the Police to get there.

I guess a repair done right on fiberglass is as good as new but done wrong is misery forever.

If/ when I can get the photo link up I'll post a few picks. I don't think he got anywhere near frame or suspension. Just rode up on my rear deck and stopped about 6" from my head- His tires were just a little wider inside to inside then my Vette is outside to outside. There is tire rub on both sides. Scratches on deck where his sway bar rested - nothing hit the hard top I have on. I think the real damage came when he pulled off.

Thanks again.

LBM

 

Here is a photo - if this works I'll post some more. If this doesn't work I'll go back and figure out why.

LBM













Looks like this worked - cool tool - could of been a bit better though if I learned it another way!!

Thanks - LBM

 

Wow you even had tire rub. Always scary when you think how close he was to just climbing up and rolling over you. Trucks like that will climb most anything and that's why it's probably an illegal truck.

My Dad once got sandwiched between two semi trucks and had two identical pairs of black rubber circles on his doors....he was in a 4x4 truck, and still had the big black rims on both doors. VERY scary to just see instead of hear about.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Arizona law: Raised pick up trucks need splash
guards and headlights can’t be over 54” from road. Max height cannot exceed 13.6'.

 

Ouch!

 

My 82 had the front end damage and they started talking about totaling it. I hit the roof the damage was only about $4000.So they did alittle reseach and to my surprise they said the car was worth $12,000.00 At that time I said total it!!!! Ofcourse they said no!

 

Well I am progressing. Got the Vette to the Chevy Dealer in Flagstaff - I think they will do a good job - I saw at least 1 C3 there that they had painted and it looked good to me and I got one referal there from another vette owner.

The other guys Insurance company accepted responsibility, got me a rental car but would not rent me another vette - at least it is wheels.

It is taking a few days to get the estimate but it is fixable. Probably be around $10,000 to fix it with no blue sky in the estimate and the paint matched on the rear but not a complete paint job. Probably will need to buff out the front before color matching so it doesn't look two tone.

Bad thing is that it looks like some of the parts are 8-10 weeks out so it will be at least 3 months getting it fixed. So much for Fall Cruising.

The Insurance company said they would fix it - but I am waiting for them to get the estimate and give the OK to the Body shop to fix it or cut me a check based on the estimate or what ever they do. Then there is the little issue of 3 months worth of rental car.

Hopefully I will get something worked out this week.

LBM