Last night/this morning my brother took my car for a drive. An hour later I was awoken at 5:30 am with a phone call. My brother was okay, not a scratch. The bad part is that his life rested on the roll bar, he had flipped the Vette. The most important part is that he is okay, alive and well... Unfortunately when they had to flip the car back over, the body panels which did not already had a palm tree through them were cracked. The T-top bar and A-pillars are bent, and the T-tops were pushed through the fiberglass where the roll bar is. The front passenger quarter of the car is shattered and split, taking out the passenger side headlight bucket as well. The oil pan has a crack in it, and oil spilled over the side of the car (while being turned back over). The front bumper was pushed underneath where there hood hinges, so I had not seen the engine. The 3 and a half quarts of oil underneath the car right now hints at disaster. The suspension is pretty messed up as well, it took a heavy fall when being tipped back right way. The interior is okay, the carpet in the back area all dislodged and shifted....


It is an absolute mess, and the insurance rep took about 30 seconds to declare that it is totalled. I asked if he needed to see the engine, but he said that every body panel is cracked except for the rear deck, and that alone would total the car.

Ironically my parents were going to have it painted in a week for a graduation gift.

I will have some pictures up of it after getting it scanned.

I was more concerned about my brother, but it sure does suck having the car you worked your butt off for beinf totally destroyed. I am going to college in two months, I had plans to put in a T-56 6 speed in the car for better gas mileage real soon, suppose I'll have to wait 6 more years.

I found a pretty nice '68 Firebird with a 5-speed OD, TPI 350, A/C, and 4 wheel disc that might be a suitable replacement. After spending my time and money on my Vette I cant justify starting over with another '77. I cant afford gas on a pre-emissions Vette, and while they are nearly identical, I dont want a 76 either. ::shrugs::

I will miss the wave though, and I'll miss the look from over that hood. I took all the emblems and shifter ball as mementos. I feel like I have lost a friend.

Save the wave, and drive safe :) I am blessed to still have my brother with me today, it could have easily gone the other way and I would be mourning the death of my brother. Fiberglass and metal can be replaced.

:seeya

(edit) Here is a pic of it after I bought it alongside my father's '77. His is prettier but mine would have ripped the paint off the doors of his if we raced :)




[Modified by ReydeSol774bbl, 5:15 PM 6/5/2002]

 

Glad your brother is ok...hey look at the bright side, maybe your parents will get you a new C-6 for a graduation gift. :yesnod:

 

Sorry to hear, glad your brother is ok.

 

Hehe, I think the chances of my parents buying me any car are about the same as winning the lottery and being struck in the head with lightning twice in the same day. :crazy:

 

A sad story but with a happy ending. It doesn't matter how much time and money you put into these cars, you can always replace them...you cannot replace your brother.

 

I hate that when that happens. :mad
You are far more philosophical about it than I would be. Once I found out my brother was all right, I would have killed him. :jester

 

Glad to hear that your brother is fine. Cars are replaceable, brothers aren't.

The 68 firebird is a sweet car though!

 

One of the reasons I bought a Vette is because of its safety -- relative to other sports cars. This accident proves it yet again! :yesnod:

 

that really sucks... :(

glad your brother is ok.

 

Glad your brother is all right. Bad news about the car, but you still have your brother. My youngest brother totalled out my '72 Monte Carlo a few years back. He walked away from a bad crash. Still got him around to pick on. :jester

 

Sorry to hear that...main thing is that your brother is OK. My 77 was in a front end collision last Sept....I know the sick feeling.

 

Dude,

You are wise beyond your years.

Good luck, it will all work out.

 

So sorry about your car Reyde.. relieved about your bro. Bet he feels just as bad about the car. Good luck in your new ride....
Eddie

 

Sorry to hear about your brother & the vette. Glad to hear the Vette kept him safe.

If any details are available as to how he rolled it, I have a professional interest in rollovers and I'd like LOTS of details.

Wht are you discounting an older pre-emission vette but you're looking at an old f-car. You should be fine with another vette of whatever vintage!

 

Sad to hear. :sad: Glad your brother is OK. :) No chance to replace it w/ another vette?

 

Main damage to my car was the front clip, hood, radiator, condensor and a headlight assembly and it was totalled. It doesn't take much! Glad to hear your bro is OK. :yesnod:

 

I would be glad to oblige. The old F-car has a fuel injected LT1 and overdrive, working A/C, and an adequate stereo system. My '77 was a daily driver, it was a hell of a ride but since I cant have THE car I put so much of my own and my friends (particularily my girlfriend) blood sweat and tears into, I thought I should buy something that gets better drivability and better gas mileage. I would resent every moment driving a car I dislike for the next 6 years. Ideally I would have liked to buy back the title, store the car and start rebuilding, but it would be a salvaged title, and it needs every body panel on the car replaced. My dad has his '77 that I can drive whenever I feel the inclination, and when I get out of school I will buy myself a purty white '77 4-speed L48 project car :)

As for the roll...
The car is an L48 with a 4 speed M-21, not sure of the rearend gears. Its got 225s on the back on stock wheels. It has a Comp Cams 268H, Dynomax headers, and 2.5" exhaust. Not incredibly quick, but it did alright for itself.

From what I gather from his story, which I believe as did the cops, is that he was going around a turn in a residential street at about 4am. The turn is a non banked turn, the two roads make a 60 degree angle or so. The turn itself is newly paved but 10 feet before on both sides of the turn is the old cement. It is fairly rough whereas the new stuff is smooth. He was going around the curve at about 15 mph, he took the left turn and as he was exiting the turn his floored it. The back end started to fishtail, he thought he could get it under control. When the car gained traction he was pointed toward a palm tree which is about 50 feet from the end of the smooth pavement on the right side of the road. The tree was grown at about a 55 degree slant. The tree went through the front fender and I assume that the front right wheel which was perfectly lined up with it just walked up the tree. When the right side got high enough it rolled the car over and it skidded about 10 feet before coming to a rest. The engine was still running until he turned it off. None of the tires were flat.

Lastly, if anyone has a pre-78 C3 with a manual tranny w/ OD and fuel injection they'd sell cheap, let me know! :cheers:

 

i knew i didn't want to click on this string :sad:
i've always believed that if you take care of these cars, they will take care of you, or whoever you loan the keys to while she's asleep.
glad your brother is o.k. almost makes me believe there was a :blueangel: somewhere around.

 

Poor car. Sorry man. Glad your brother mad it. I woulda smacked the poopie outta him though. I lent my vette to a friend and I got his word and his mothers word that I get a lung kidney and a ******** if he wrecked my car. The ******** is worth 25-50 grand for research. he he he he.

Hug your brother, rub his belly cause the boy is blessed. Good luck on a new ride man.

Jake

 

Ok, that's a pretty freak accident. Probably the first I've heard where someone rolld their car because they drove up a tree :crazy:

Gotcha on the fuel injection on the Firebird. That would make for a very nice ride.