[ZWill70]

Well last night I was driving my 70 Chevelle past the airport where I live. A guy mistook the light he was looking at as a green and kept coming, saw it was actually red he said he slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting me but he still hit me. There were burn marks to indicate he did try and stop. Hit me in the drivers side front corner, which spun me around and the rear was next to get hit. everybody is OK which is the main thing. he confessed to the sheriff it was his fault. The Sheriff and the towing guy we know both said hes gonna have to pay for my car to be fixed or replaced.

The towing guy we know took it to his body shop, and they told me that they have to see what they can do and give me an estimate, and then someone from the other drivers insurance co. is going to value the damage done to the car.

the front fender on drivers side is destroyed as well as the rear. front bumper is twisted on the corner like you wouldn't believe, headlights obviously destroyed and grill is destroyed from what i remember. and i believe it buckled in the back where the rear windshield on the drivers side meets the body. and the main thing Would imagine is the fact that the frame is bent pretty bad in the front.

Does it sound fixable or are they gonna consider it totaled? if it is fixable, i'm obviously gonna have to use replacement parts correct? they don't sell true parts from a 70 Chevelle in "new" Condition? i'm only asking because from what i know the replacement parts just aren't as strong, and the fact that they are not the original parts.

And what if they consider it Totaled?

thanks guys and gals
-Zach

 

[droptop396]

There are many variables based on the condition of your car.
Is your car all original GM parts? Is there any rust repair on any of the panels? Do you have a $50,000 car or a $5000 car?

It is going to depend on who you are insured with as well.
If you have collector car insurance for an agreed value you are in good shape. If you are relying on regular insurance to do you right on a Collector vehicle than it may become a battle.
I have Hagerty collector insurance on my Chevelle. If anything happened to my car I would just have them handle the whole thing.

 

[Andy's Auto Repair]

These are all questions to be answered by your insurance agent, your body shop, and your claims adjuster. Good luck. Stay sharp and you will do good. It sucks to have a moron tear up a family member like that.

 

[countryroad82]

I hate to hear about crap like this, there are too many idiots on the roads. As for the damage, sounds like it took a pretty nasty hit glad everyone is alright. Also as stated how much is your car worth? Is it a nice old cruiser, a fixer upper, a high dollar ride, or something in between? That will have a big factor on what the insurance company will decide, and also what type of insurance to you have? Keep us posted and glad everybody made it out alright.

 

[Raven1]

A friend has two hard hit Chevelles in his shop now and both were tear downs to be pulled on the machine. A third was hit so badly it was totaled. One needed a frame replaced, the other will be pulled. Both bodies needed to be pulled and multiple panels replaced. Coverage is based on your insurance andthe value stated on the policy. The other insurance company assessing the damage does not fly. If your car is GM tin, your coverage is low and you want it fixed, you may not end up with GM replacements or the time to source good used panels.

One of the Chevelles at the shop is covered for $30K, and he's not getting GM tin but repros instead. Not unless he wants to pay out of pocket.

 

[CHELKAMINO]

Some pics of the damage might help us determine. I hit a tree last year in my Elco and it looked worse then it turned out to be.

 

[Jim Mac]

Its too late for you now. But I read somewhere at least in AZ that if you have historic plates on your vehicle the insurance company has to rebuild your car. Not sure if this is accurate though. Jim

 

[Hi-po SS 454]

Your frame damage is the most important here. Is it repairable or not is the question. If it is than you have no problem on replacing parts. If its not repairable than big problems ahead. And of course you need a good insurance company to follow thru.. Good luck man....

 

[Raven1]

Your frame damage is the most important here. Is it repairable or not is the question. If it is than you have no problem on replacing parts. If its not repairable than big problems ahead. And of course you need a good insurance company to follow thru.. Good luck man....

Locating a frame for the car in the friend's shop mentioned above was no problem.

 

[Bluegoose1970]

Locating a frame for the car in the friend's shop mentioned above was no problem.

I bought a frame last year as a back up as I have three Chevelles, did it because the good un-rusted frames seem to be getting harder to find at a good price. Still not a problem now, just less available.


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

[geo's 66]

Zach, have you mentioned how much insurance you have? I wrecked mine 5 years ago,,, BAD.... St. Farm paid for nearly a total rebuiid, including a new frame. $65,000.... Good luck

 

[1966_L78]

There are many variables based on the condition of your car.
Is your car all original GM parts? Is there any rust repair on any of the panels? Do you have a $50,000 car or a $5000 car?

It is going to depend on who you are insured with as well.
If you have collector car insurance for an agreed value you are in good shape. If you are relying on regular insurance to do you right on a Collector vehicle than it may become a battle.
I have Hagerty collector insurance on my Chevelle. If anything happened to my car I would just have them handle the whole thing.

Could be, but if the other guy is insured, his company will have to fix your car, and you get to choose the place/shop, and the quality of the parts... But they will try to lowball you, and tell you your car wasn't worth that much... So it really shouldn't matter what company you are insured with. But YOUR agent should be the one going after the other guy making sure its done correctly... With the value of classics, its really going to take alot to really be "totalled"...

IMO, I'd start gathering articles and web-posts regarding the poor quality of "repro" parts. Also start working on a realistic valuation for your car (pre-accident), because the other guy's insurance company WILL lowball you... Don't let them...

And never say YOU (and your passengers) are okay... You might not feel pain for a while. Plus, IMO, holding the prospect of medical/pain settlement might help them to actually pay for your car to be repaired properly...


Another thing to begin considering, is that IF your car does NOT have alot of sentimental value, maybe you'd want a replacement... And if so, how much to buy your car back from the insurance (could be parted out, sold to a body guy, etc).

 

[136679ss]

Trust me on this one. Don't ask me how I know. This all comes down to APPRAISED VALUE, AND AGREED VALUE COVERAGE. If you've got these two things covered than your golden otherwise.......

 

[PHX396]

Zach if you can post some pictures that would be very helpful. Do you know who his insurance is through? If you post some good pictures I can tell you what I would estimate the damage at. I work for Farmers. The new estimating systems have no way of estimating cost of parts so it is up to your shop finding parts and what they cost, at least that is how we do it. Parts that are repairable will be negotiated with the shop on what it takes to properly repair based on experience. If they try and hose you, you can always go through your own insurance and have them subrogate his carrier.

 

[64tempestwagon]

Trust me on this one. Don't ask me how I know. This all comes down to APPRAISED VALUE, AND AGREED VALUE COVERAGE. If you've got these two things covered than your golden otherwise.......

Is agreed value coverage offered by most insurance companies? Like State farm? How do you get an appraised value?

 

[SSR71]

Is agreed value coverage offered by most insurance companies? Like State farm? How do you get an appraised value?

I would say no. State Farm has "stated value" coverage, but that's not the same thing. No experience with other carriers.

 

[PHX396]

On my State Farm policy it states you and we agree that the value of your car is the amount stated on the Dec. page when before the contract was created unless you have removed parts or vehicle is no longer in same condition.

 

[Professor_SS]

unless you have agreed value coverage, they'll offer you 200 hundred bucks for a totaled 43 year old Junker and walk away. keep in mind, insurance companies are in business to convert your money into stock holders wealth, not pay claims.

 

[64tempestwagon]

Ok then WHO /Which companies offer agreed value coverage??

 

[136679ss]

Is agreed value coverage offered by most insurance companies? Like State farm? How do you get an appraised value?

Most major insurance companies offer an agreed value coverage. The appraised value justifies your argument for the insured value. This is why it is so important to take your car with any accompanying receipts and documentation to a licensed appraisal company. Consider the appraisal insurance for your insurance policy. Most if not all insurance companies will require the appraisal form to write the policy, exceptions usually being companies which deal with a large volume of classic and collectable automobiles, who already have a better understanding of the cost to rebuild or replace antique automobiles. You'll need to sit down with your agent to find out what they require to write the policy, I know state farm offers it; as my father's chevelle and Camaro are insured through state farm. I have Country companies, also an agreed value classic car endorsed policy.