I have a 2000 model convertible. Last week an old fellow hit it on the right rear wheel, skinned the paint a small amount. There are no visible scratches as the major damage was taken on the wheel. My questions are as follows:
1. Do the Insurance Companies take in account this devaluates your car when setteling?
2. What is the likelihood of spider cracks showing up later in the fiberglass?
Thank You in Advance
D Burgess

 

No such thing as a fender bender in a fiberglas car - more of a fender breaker.

I've never heard of an insurance company offering to pay for devaluation as a result of an accident. In fact, because these cars are getting into the age where some repaint is common, a little deal like you had shouldn't devalue the car at all. Frame damage, serious panel replacements, things like that, maybe. But my '69 Shelby has had the front fiberglas replaced. Twice. Still worth a lot more than I paid for it - just use OEM parts.

As far as cracks later, go to a good body shop that does a lot of fiberglas and ask them. Someone slammed a shopping cart into my left rear fender, scratched the paint, and cracked the 'glas where it turns into the wheel well lip. In that case, the crack was right through, and had a risk of spreading. A friend with experience in fiberglas repairs mixed up the appropriate material and fixed it, then repainted the entire panel. The only downside is that the metallic doesn't match the original, but since the cars were painted then assembled, there are other places where the metallic doesn't exactly match. I'm told silver is a tough one to match.

Anyway, sounds like a wheel, perhaps a tire, and maybe just a little rubbing out, maybe a bit of paint, and you'll be good to go. I would take it to a shop that specializes in plastic cars, have them check the panel, and make sure they paint enough to let them blend it in well.

Good luck, and I'm glad there were no injuries.

 

A 9 year old car with a scratch-wonder how much that COULD devalue your car-I think time has devalued it many time more.

 

I'd get a body shop to evaluate the hit and I'd definitely get the wheel replaced. No hit is a small hit on a Corvette.

 

OUCH! My neck!

 

The fender really isn't fiberglass it's SMC. It is also quite flexible and can take a lot of abuse before it breaks. Since you say there aren't even any scratches in the fender's paint it probably wasn't hit hard enough to matter so you will not see spider cracks. There shouldn't be any devaluation of your car due to being in an accident. There has to be some serious damage to consider a reduced value. Have the car checked for damage to the suspension (bent control arms/tie rods, etc) and get the wheel replaced. The wheel can be replaced for less than a thousand dollars although new GM thin spoke polished wheels will probably not match your thin spokes as they changed the design slightly. That could drive you to replacing all 4 or just going with a used wheel. Aftermarket wheels are not an answer unless you switch all 4.

Bill

 

Diminished value is so very hard to prove.

 

best to have a body shop check it out good luck