So, I get out for a cruise early this morning. I'm stopped at the stop sign waiting to turn right onto the main road leaving my neighborhood. An Audi turns way wide into the street I'm stopped on and hits me right in the lower quarter panel. I saw it coming and hit the gas, pulling forward otherwise he would have hit me in the fender and door area and the damage would be a lot worse.
After I calmed down. I talked to the very young driver who was very apologetic and realized how he didn't hit just any ordinary car and empathized with with my grief. We got a police report, cop said he was at fault but no citation issued. I continued on with my ride to access any mechanical damage and happily the car drives fine.
Now the drama begins with having to contact Hagerty Monday morning, find a body shop and start that process. Parts wise, I need an original drivers side rear wheel lip molding and a marker light assembly.
I'm trying to stay positive, no one was hurt and I keep telling myself that that is the most important thing. I always drive defensively especially in the Cuda yet this happening in my neighborhood while I'm stopped is a reminder that crap can happen anytime, anywhere.
Quote from: Solarguy on July 21, 2024, 07:00:31 AMreminder that crap can happen anytime, anywhere.
I'm glad your OK and your quick reaction time prevented more damage. It's too bad one doesn't get reimbursed for time finding a capable shop, finding parts, etc.
It's unfortunate no citation was issued. The points on his license and extra insurance cost for three or more years would serve as a continual reminder that physics doesn't care about excuses or poor judgment.
WOW...Bummer. I hope you're ok. The car can be fixed.....Joe
Sorry to hear the bad news.
Disappointing the cop didn't ticket him, weird.
His insurance should pay, BUT, they can push back that he wasn't at fault.
I feel your pain, almost the same thing happened to mine 2 years ago. I'm just getting it back together and driving it now. Haggerty was really good with me. I hope they treat you well also. Biggest issue I had was finding a shop that wanted the job. Regular collision shops wanted nothing to do with it, too much work they said. Maybe ask Hagerty if they know and recommend anyone local to you. When I did find a shop I asked the Hagerty adjuster if they knew of them and was happy to hear that they had and that they did good work.
Try and round up all the parts you can and save that hassle from the body shop. They really appreciated me doing that for them.
Thanks for all the kind words, it really helps ease the pain. I was surprised there was no citation issued either and hope that doesn't complicate insurance matters. He was named the at fault driver.
Finding a shop willing to do the work properly is going to be the hard part. Hopefully, Hagerty can steer me to a good place, otherwise I will patiently search around. Thinking the quarter can be saved, Not original metal but a good hammer and dolly guy should be able to get it straight, maybe even straighten the molding too.
Duuude... that sucks! Glad you're ok. Hagerty will do ya right. Love that color btw! Don't see gold often.
Thanks Nigel. FY4 Citron Mist Metallic
Geeeez that sux Solarguy.
Hope Hagerty makes you whole without drama.
@Solarguy Where are you located? Maybe some of the people on here can recommend a shop near you.
That is unfortunate...beautiful looking car.
Did you lose a rallye wheel trim ring also when hit?
In some pictures its on the rim and some its not
I note you think that a good bodyman could repair that 1/4. I got my bodyman's licence in 1974 and if you ran that in my stall and said fix it, you'd be looking for my replacement. I get the mania about original tin, but that 1/4 is stretched to hell and the "wow" above and ahead of the damage is proof of that. You'd need to cut the skin off and spend days and days cutting, shrinking, stretching, patching and what would you end up with? a cut, stretched, shrunk, patched oem panel that might be able to be got back on. AND, that's figuring that your oem 1/4 was perfect before! A guy with good skills could splice it and finish the welds to make the repair nearly invisible. Your car, your call, but repairing that panel will be nearly impossible to do invisibly. Good luck whichever way you go. :cheers:
Sorry to see that .Your ok that's the main thing . I feel your pain hope it all works out :australia:
Quote from: jimynick on July 21, 2024, 07:53:21 PMI note you think that a good bodyman could repair that 1/4. I got my bodyman's licence in 1974 and if you ran that in my stall and said fix it, you'd be looking for my replacement. I get the mania about original tin, but that 1/4 is stretched to hell and the "wow" above and ahead of the damage is proof of that. You'd need to cut the skin off and spend days and days cutting, shrinking, stretching, patching and what would you end up with? a cut, stretched, shrunk, patched oem panel that might be able to be got back on. AND, that's figuring that your oem 1/4 was perfect before! A guy with good skills could splice it and finish the welds to make the repair nearly invisible. Your car, your call, but repairing that panel will be nearly impossible to do invisibly. Good luck whichever way you go. :cheers:
Thanks for that. The current quarter panel is a replacement done by prior owners. I am not married to the idea of saving it, whatever the shop I choose wants to do is the way I'll go.
Quote from: Cuda_mark on July 21, 2024, 05:54:42 PM@Solarguy Where are you located? Maybe some of the people on here can recommend a shop near you.
I'm in Ft Lauderdale, FL. I have a lead on one shop already but could always use referrals. Thank You
Quote from: mccannix on July 21, 2024, 06:48:27 PMThat is unfortunate...beautiful looking car.
Did you lose a rallye wheel trim ring also when hit?
In some pictures its on the rim and some its not
Thanks. The trim ring went flying but I found it and it was not damaged.
I feel your pain. Going thru same issue as you finding a good body shop that is willing to repair the car whether that is straightening that quarter or putting on a new skin. In my case its the front fender but same issue. Mine is going into a shop on Aug 29th..one more week.
Sorry to hear about your mishap Don. I'm glad you have a date set for the shop. Here's to a drama free experience
Looks like they will have to replace the quarter panel hopefully with AMD metal. If you were to try and save that it would be astronomically costly.
Very sorry to see this. Wondering if the original quarter can be saved in this case. Seems like a lot of work to replace it with a new quarter. Something similar happened to me around 1980. Got T-boned by an elderly lady at the PS quarter. The body shop did a bondo job which was not very good but avoided the insurance company writing the car off total. These cars did not worth much back then. Hope yours get fixed better than new and back on the road soon.
Sucks to see this but at least no one was hurt and damage isn`t too bad. A really good metal guy could probably fix the quarter but might be just as easy to replace it unless it`s original.
I met with one shop owner yesterday and he suggested sectioning in the damaged area. He wanted me to acquire all the parts, quarter panel, marker, trim, stripe, etc. and then he will take my car in. His shop mainly only does late model collision work. He is a neighbor on my street who I met over my car and his shop is right around the corner so that's a big plus. There is another shop that came highly recommended by 2 people, I haven't spoken with them yet. It's one town over and I don't know anyone there so I'm leaning towards my neighbor even before meeting with the other shop.
That wheel molding is going to be a hard find. The ones on my car are originals and fit pretty good.
@Solarguy sorry to hear, it always sucks but not the end of the world. I think I may have an extra OEM marker and trim for you, I have to double check but if I remember right I bought 2 sets for my resto
Bad news that you were hit. Beautiful car hit by a "distracted" driver. The driver should have been issued a citation. Hagerty should not be ultimately liable for the repair.
Can anyone elaborate how this works with Hagerty? Do they go after the "at fault" driver for their claim costs to repair the car?
Is
@Solarguy due "diminished value" damages now that his collector car has a replacement quarter-panel?
Quote from: 70_440-6Cuda on July 23, 2024, 08:48:04 AM@Solarguy sorry to hear, it always sucks but not the end of the world. I think I may have an extra OEM marker and trim for you, I have to double check but if I remember right I bought 2 sets for my resto
@70_440-6Cuda, :worship: Thanks. The molding would really help.
Quote from: MoparCarGuy on July 23, 2024, 02:49:40 PMBad news that you were hit. Beautiful car hit by a "distracted" driver. The driver should have been issued a citation. Hagerty should not be ultimately liable for the repair.
Can anyone elaborate how this works with Hagerty? Do they go after the "at fault" driver for their claim costs to repair the car?
Is @Solarguy due "diminished value" damages now that his collector car has a replacement quarter-panel?
Thanks. My car already has replacement lower quarters but that is an excellent point about diminished value.
The other driver had insurance, progressive, and admitted fault to me and the police. His insurance has already contacted me. How that works between Hagerty and Progressive if he doesn't get cited I don't know. I am only dealing with Hagerty and only gave progressive my side of the story regarding accident.
Insurance is only "obligated" to put you in the position you were in prior to the accident, meaning repair the car back to the same condition. However, insurance does not factor in or consider original vs. aftermarket parts and any past or future vale - if the car looks and operates the same as before it was hit the insurance co. has met its obligation. the owner can pay for the difference if they want OEM or the repairs done in a way other than current repair standards. I always just take the cash payout and then do the repairs to my satisfaction with the parts I choose, but insurance companies are starting to not allow the cash payout because people then don't repair the vehicle.
@Solarguy I have the trim and the lens I think - I will head over to my storage and see what I have - need to take an inventory anyway... what year is your car?
@Solarguy I have the trim and the lens I think - I will head over to my storage and see what I have - need to take an inventory anyway... what year is your car?
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Its a 1970 Cuda, left Rear wheel trim and left rear side marker bezel. Thanks
Man, that really sucks. Once the panel is replaced or repaired I hope they can match the paint color for you. Good luck
That does really suck. They will be in that project for a while.
Paint will have to be spread out pretty far to match. Roof, qtr, door, trunk.
I'd have another qtr skin put on myself.
My car got hit on the fender/door gap and I haven't fixed it yet due to now having to paint the whole car.
Summer in that car is over. Sorry man.
If it was me they'd never find the body.... I'll light a candle for you. Where u at ? I could buff that out...
I think I would start with hitting the local car shows. Talk to the guys with the biggest dollar rides and get info on where they would go and who they trust. I wouldn't call around to shops asking, because they're liable to tell you anything. Proven results are the best trail to follow. Glad it wasn't more serious and good move directing the hit to the back end of the car.
Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I spent some time yesterday with a small hammer and an assortment of homemade dolly's and got the original molding pretty good looking. It's aluminum so it's fairly malleable. I have a new AMD quarter panel arriving next week which I'll try to fit to that. Then maybe a good sanding and polishing may save it. A used marker light is also on the way.
The 2 body shops I met with both wanted me to get parts which is what I wanted also. I've already laid out $$$ for the quarter and the light which Hagerty said they will reimburse me for. We'll see how long that takes, I already submitted those invoices.
The shops gave differing opinions on how to repair. One shop wanted to replace the entire quarter saying that is the best approach. Again, the car already has/had lower quarters replaced. The other guy wanted to cut and replace from just above the Hockey stripe down. Obviously those are very different approaches with one involving removing the rear window, getting into C pillar and tail panel sections and door jamb and one does not. I'm leaning towards full panel replacement, its way more invasive but then the seams are where they should be. I want what's best for the car. What do you guys think?
I would try to save as much of the original car as I could. If it's already had a quarter panel then it really wouldn't matter. I had a guy work on one of my cars where the lower quarters had problem. He cut the problem out. Repaired that piece & welded it back in. Metal finished everything so there would be no bondo. That craftmanship is hard to find today.....Joe
I would want the entire quarter replaced, not just some welded in patches. But that's just me and I'm no expert.
Having done this job numerous times, there are benifits and reasons for either method.
Typical rust issues, like lower qtr and wheel arch, I like the perimeter cut method. I usually leave 3/4 or an inch, and this is the important part, butt weld the qtr skin on.
If you use a flanging tool, or overlap the panel, you mess with the surface tension of the skin.
This way you have the original hard edge fold on door edge, and crisp body line on qtr top.
Every time I put the full qtr on, you end up fighting some or all gaps.
PS. In my mind the information is all clear, if you want me to expound on details, I can. I have put on over 100 qtr panels
In this case too bad it doesn't have a vinyl roof to help with the paint blend. In spite of that I would want a full quarter put on it. Did this car come from western Canada (B.C.) by chance?
Quote from: RUNCHARGER on July 27, 2024, 06:51:34 AMIn this case too bad it doesn't have a vinyl roof to help with the paint blend. In spite of that I would want a full quarter put on it. Did this car come from western Canada (B.C.) by chance?
Can Mod Top it. Both shops said they are going to basically paint the whole back half, blend to middle of roof and doors. The color looks so nice in person and really flips in different light. Yes on the B.C. history. PM'd you
Quote from: Mr Cuda on July 27, 2024, 06:51:10 AMHaving done this job numerous times, there are benifits and reasons for either method.
Typical rust issues, like lower qtr and wheel arch, I like the perimeter cut method. I usually leave 3/4 or an inch, and this is the important part, butt weld the qtr skin on.
If you use a flanging tool, or overlap the panel, you mess with the surface tension of the skin.
This way you have the original hard edge fold on door edge, and crisp body line on qtr top.
Every time I put the full qtr on, you end up fighting some or all gaps.
PS. In my mind the information is all clear, if you want me to expound on details, I can. I have put on over 100 qtr panels
Thanks for that. Yes, I would like to hear your thoughts.
Quote from: RUNCHARGER on July 27, 2024, 06:51:34 AMDid this car come from western Canada (B.C.) by chance?
You have a photographic memory of all E-bodies from BC? :huh:
It's a curse! My wife remembers what meal we ate where 25 years ago, I remember every Mopar I ever seen.
The quarter panel arrived yesterday, Thanks for a great packing job AMD :bradsthumb: Only had time to unpack and inspect, looks great. Feels good gathering stuff to get her fixed. I'll try to fit my original molding while I meet with bodyshops.
Good to see you moving forward.
Yes, be sure to "fit" the trim piece.
Looks like you will need to shrink the flat portion a bit to un-stretch it. There are ways to "tuck" the face and then hammer it into itself.