Bad--crashed '71 Coupe
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Monroe,NC USA
Bad--crashed '71 Coupe
A sad day after. Unfortunately, I was stupidly driving my '71 Coupe (the Ontario Orange one that is dead stock with 62,000 miles) yesterday, and I hit some black ice, fishtailed, and got the whole nose clipped off by an incoming SUV. I need some support and advice. Am I screwed? I have a good local Chevy dealer who tells me they can fix it. Parts? Paint? I am thinking the whole car will have to be painted because the paint is 15 years old. The front fenders are split all they way back to over the front wheels. Any help and/ or advice is appreciated, Al.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Monroe,NC USA
Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (daily_driver)
I will post pics--it is still snowing her in NC--about a foot. No frame damage that I can see--all damage is just in the tip of the nose. Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 0
From: colorado springs CO
Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (Big Aldo)
if its just fiberglass damage then i wouldnt freak out too much!!
you can either repair it cheaply.... peice together fender wheel forward sections... but the spaces might come out bad depending on the bodyshop and the seams might come through the paint depending on the quality of the work....
or you can do it right and put on the whole frontend fiberglass...... of course its a bit more expensive... checkout ecklers for firberglass prices...
:)
you can either repair it cheaply.... peice together fender wheel forward sections... but the spaces might come out bad depending on the bodyshop and the seams might come through the paint depending on the quality of the work....
or you can do it right and put on the whole frontend fiberglass...... of course its a bit more expensive... checkout ecklers for firberglass prices...
:)
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (Big Aldo)
After an accident one always feel this way. I hit black ice before and totalled two cars 15 years ago. There is no way to avoid it with black ice. Think positive. At least it is winter and you can work toward having the car on the road for the spring.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
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From: Plano TX
Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (Big Aldo)
If there's really no frame damage it can certainly be repaired! A front clip (from the doors all the way to the front) is about $1200 or so. Add the work of installing it and painting... Looking at what? $3000? $4000? Still much less than the value of the car so insurance should pay it rather than totalling.
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Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (Big Aldo)
OUCH!!
Only body damage though? I think you'll be ok. It should be less to repair that than the car is worth. Is insurance going to over it all? You're looking a a hefty fiberglass bill and some other stuff underneath, but I think you'll be all right. Post pics if and when you can.
Only body damage though? I think you'll be ok. It should be less to repair that than the car is worth. Is insurance going to over it all? You're looking a a hefty fiberglass bill and some other stuff underneath, but I think you'll be all right. Post pics if and when you can.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Newport Michigan
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Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (ddecart)
I would ask your Chevy dealer for references of other C3s they have repaired. I've seen a number of C3s with front clips replaced that looked sorta "off" - they just didn't look right. If they haven't done any C3s lately - I'd start shopping for a shop that has. Good luck, hope you're back on the road soon :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,395
Likes: 6
From: Indiana
Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (daily_driver)
Man, Sorry to here about that. Don't worry though, if mine was fixable, yours will be fine. My 71 was totaled by my insurance company when I was dumb enough to let my friend drive it and park it on a telephone pole 13years ago. 4 months and $10k later($7000 from insurance and $3K out of pocket for complete paint), I was driving it again, only this time it looked much better. Just do what I did and visit the car once a week at the body shop. It seemed to help me through the Corvette withdrawl.
Good luck, Tom
Good luck, Tom
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,209
Likes: 33
From: Texas-out west
Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (70L46)
Bummer man, sorry to hear that. I would fix the car since you like it and it apprears to be body only, even frame can be fixed by pros. Good luck. :cheers:
Always Shiftin'
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Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (Big Aldo)
Al,
There is a real good Corvette shop in Mathews called Elgins Corvettes. Rick Elgin owns and operates the business. He is a little pricey, but he knows his Corvettes!!
Sorry to hear about your accident! Good luck!!
There is a real good Corvette shop in Mathews called Elgins Corvettes. Rick Elgin owns and operates the business. He is a little pricey, but he knows his Corvettes!!
Sorry to hear about your accident! Good luck!!
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,573
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From: Ga.
Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (Big Aldo)
I don't think I would take it to the dealer. I would try a bodyshop that specializes in Corvettes. When I got him on my frontend in my 1970
Corvette, I took it to:
JACOBS CUSTOM AUTO BODY
170 Linden Rd
Centerville TN 37033
(931) 729-4576
Gary Jacobs specializes in Corvettes (he owns a few) and did great work.
Before pic at his bodyshop:
He put on a whole front clip using all GM black glass parts. The labor rates
were cheaper than hear in Atlanta and he did a great job....see my pics
:cheers: :smash: :chevy
Corvette, I took it to:
JACOBS CUSTOM AUTO BODY
170 Linden Rd
Centerville TN 37033
(931) 729-4576
Gary Jacobs specializes in Corvettes (he owns a few) and did great work.
Before pic at his bodyshop:
He put on a whole front clip using all GM black glass parts. The labor rates
were cheaper than hear in Atlanta and he did a great job....see my pics
:cheers: :smash: :chevy
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 0
From: Elyria Ohio
Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (Big Aldo)
Sorry to hear about the crash.
As far as your car,, look very closely at the frame. These Vette frames bend easy. If you look at my web site you can see all the damage to my car was in the front. The hood was hardly damaged. The frame was bent in front of the fire wall. It was fun replacing it though. Good luck.
Bob
As far as your car,, look very closely at the frame. These Vette frames bend easy. If you look at my web site you can see all the damage to my car was in the front. The hood was hardly damaged. The frame was bent in front of the fire wall. It was fun replacing it though. Good luck.
Bob
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 831
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From: Reston VA
Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (Bob Jenkins)
So sorry to hear that buddy. I am with Bob I would not go to a dealership for anything. They always seem to jack you up. Find a Corvette Fiberglass guy with references. Your local corvette club would be a good place to start. Look at the bright side this is why you carry insurance. Assumming they cover it, here is your oppourtunity to fix that 15 year old paint job. I just went through a complete front end repair. Mine had been hit hard as well. IN hind sight I would not try and repair fiberglass. I would have replaced the entire front clip. Must faster and cleaner in the long run than trying to patch major fiberglass breaks. Let us know how you proceed and look at this as a chance to make it better than before.
:seeya
:seeya
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
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Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (daily_driver)
Black Ice is ice that forms so quickly, that it doesnt look like ice at all. You cant tell its there till you are going backwards throught it holding your b..... well...you get the idea
Ron
Ron
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,809
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Re: Bad--crashed '71 Coupe (Big Aldo)
If your car has more than $3,000.00 in damage, it has to listed at time of sale on the title I think in Iowa anyway. If this is the case where you live it will greatly reduce the cost of resale.
If the repair cost is too high maybe they can pay you fully what the cars insured for and then you can buy it back for a song. I'm not an insurance man just trying to give you some ideas. I'm sure some other will chime in with more info.
By the way thank God only the car got hurt buddy, better the nose clip than the driverside door. :cheers:
If the repair cost is too high maybe they can pay you fully what the cars insured for and then you can buy it back for a song. I'm not an insurance man just trying to give you some ideas. I'm sure some other will chime in with more info.
By the way thank God only the car got hurt buddy, better the nose clip than the driverside door. :cheers: