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There it was, traffic all around, nowhere to go. Here is the damage to lower front fascia:
Took it to a very highly recommended shop and they took this photo after disassembly:
This is what it looks like after the repair:
Not only does the repair look GREAT, they returned my car to me looking better than when I picked it up at the dealership almost 4 years ago with 5 miles on the odometer.
So now I am one of the people HIGHLY RECOMMENDING the shop that did the work. That would be Elite Automotive Finishes in Mesa, Arizona. Really professional folks doing first class work! Looks like they are fully prepared to do all sorts of custom work as well so I'd recommend giving them a call if you've got something in mind. Google their name for further info.
My stretch nose mask from CorvetteMods, which has served me well for 40,000 miles, also bit the dust:
The shop commented that the grill/radiator areas looked like a new car. The good folks at CorvetteMods gave me a discount on a replacement when I told them what happened.
Is that a new bumper or did they somehow repair the old one? In either case, it looks great.
I've always thought that the truckers should be responsible for immediately cleaning the dangerous mess off the highway. They have to know when a tire shreds. And they should face a huge fine. Retreads/recaps should not be allowed, particularly on large trucks. I'm sure the trucking lobby thinks differently.
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
A year or so ago I saw one on a bridge and the semi's were changing lanes to avoid it. It was pretty much the complete tire looking well over a foot tall. I've also been behind when one was created. Those piece you see sometimes go WAY up in the air when the tire explodes. And that big piece of rubber is going to come down eventually.
I understand the economics of retreads but we need regulations that they have serial numbers and fines for leaving them in the highway. Politicians love money. Why can't we use that motivation to get something done?
Anyhoo..., OP, glad you came out OK. Car came out looking better than when received from the dealer with 5 miles? Why doesn't that surprise me?
...Car came out looking better than when received from the dealer with 5 miles? Why doesn't that surprise me?
Interesting you say that...These are photos of the way my 'vette looked when it came off the carrier.
I asked, pleaded, and begged the dealer, to let me take the car as is, and I would detail it myself.
They refused. Guess what?
The day after I took delivery, I spent hours cleaning the car, and doing things they missed, like the LS3 was a quart low on oil, and almost no washer fluid.
Good to see a nice outcome to your story OP.
There was someone looking for a good shop in your part of Arizona about a week ago.
I hope he finds this thread.
Is that a new bumper or did they somehow repair the old one? In either case, it looks great.
I've always thought that the truckers should be responsible for immediately cleaning the dangerous mess off the highway. They have to know when a tire shreds. And they should face a huge fine. Retreads/recaps should not be allowed, particularly on large trucks. I'm sure the trucking lobby thinks differently.
It is a new front fascia and they fulfilled my only desire--- that I couldn't tell the difference between the way it looked before the damage and how it looks now.
I understand the retreads cost a lot less for the truckers but I fully agree they should be banned as a true safety and damage hazard.
A year or so ago I saw one on a bridge and the semi's were changing lanes to avoid it. It was pretty much the complete tire looking well over a foot tall. I've also been behind when one was created. Those piece you see sometimes go WAY up in the air when the tire explodes. And that big piece of rubber is going to come down eventually.
I understand the economics of retreads but we need regulations that they have serial numbers and fines for leaving them in the highway. Politicians love money. Why can't we use that motivation to get something done?
Anyhoo..., OP, glad you came out OK. Car came out looking better than when received from the dealer with 5 miles? Why doesn't that surprise me?
Sounds exactly what I had no reasonable alternative but to hit at 75mph. Not sure it was over a foot tall but it looked like the complete truck tire tread standing on its' side. Truly a potentially dangerous situation. If I had reflexively tried an evasive maneuver the results could have been catastrophic.
if you had the clear bra installed i wonder how it would have fared?
looks great glad it worked out for you and keep those pictures with all your documents so if you sell one day there's no hesitation from a perspective buyer!!
if you had the clear bra installed i wonder how it would have fared?
looks great glad it worked out for you and keep those pictures with all your documents so if you sell one day there's no hesitation from a perspective buyer!!
I believe I would have just had a ruined clear bra and a broken front fascia. The only thing that would have prevented the body damage IMHO would be something like this:
Is that a new bumper or did they somehow repair the old one? In either case, it looks great.
I've always thought that the truckers should be responsible for immediately cleaning the dangerous mess off the highway. They have to know when a tire shreds. And they should face a huge fine. Retreads/recaps should not be allowed, particularly on large trucks. I'm sure the trucking lobby thinks differently.
You might think so, but if the shred is on a rear tire on the trailer, and they have the windows up and running 70mph, they likely would not hear it. The truck is making a lot of noise, and the tire might shred cleanly without immediately blowing. In either case, better a car hit than a bike...that could be fatal.
Living close to two major seaports with lots of truck/container-trailers on the road, I constantly have to remind myself to stay well back from the vehicles in front of me so I can dodge one of these freeway nightmares if I have to.
Staying in the left lane reduces the risk as trucks aren't supposed to use them.
Repair looks perfect, kudos to your shop. It also helps that VR is quite possibly the easiest Vette color to match.
road gator attack!!!
