88 replies to this topic

[NortheastGuy1970E300]

I am sick....absolutey sick about this and feel like pukeing.......this is my dream van.... I just don't get it... I can't figure people out....

This guy in a sedan ran a stop sign today directly infront of me......and BAM....my drivers side front end is destroyed...
Check out the pictures.....My grill is toast....the drivers side corner is toast... I don't know if the steering gearbox is okay... I have no idea how the i-beams look, or the linkage, but I'm sure it's a mess. I don't speed, I'm an excellent driver..
I guess my question here is: How bad does it look? Fixable? I'll get more details soon. Thanks guys.

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[NortheastGuy1970E300]

some more pics.....

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[69 classic pop-top]

Sorry, about your Van.

[Marlon]

Aw man, that's my worst nightmare. I'm glad that you're okay though. That's the real important thing. Everything else is fixable or replaceable, even our vans.

Do a search on here for a thread by a guy named "Spoti". He did a pretty comprehensive documentation of his resto, including the area smashed on your van.

[mik]

I feel for you... I'm sure the feeling is terrible, but since you didn't list your injuries to your body as you did the van and are able to describe the situation with a sense of humor, I say you are very fortunate.

[Bryce]

I am so very glad that you are all right - you (and your family/friends) are the most important cargo your van will carry and more important than the van itself, though she's a very close second! I can't speak to whether or not the van is repairable, that looks bad but not impossible to fix, so a competent resto/body shop could likely take care of it if you can't. Not nearly the same level of damage, though still extensive, but at the dealership I worked at a decade ago an idiot drove a 60s era Mustang off a lift and our body shop restored it to the same condition it was in when it came in... so it can be done. $$$, though.

To better help you fight any potential insurance hassles I am hoping you were able to get witness statements that he ran the light and possibly even a police report considering he was committing the most grievous traffic violation of all (they should have issued him a citation - in most cities they will as part of their report). That will help you fight them when they try and total the van for less than it's worth, then try and total it for what it's "worth", then try and adjust you out of any real compensation and it's even less than that because they're offering it on a 90%/10% pay-out, etc. If you have to go the route of having your own insurance's collision coverage pay for it and then let the insurance companies fight over it - go for it, if you have the coverage, but be prepared for that to drag on for months. If either that guy's insurance company or your own starts to bully you, immediately write a strongly worded letter, CC'd to all involved parties, to your state AG's insurance commission. That will get a response and a settlement fast. Your worst case scenario, if you are absolutely unhappy with any settlement offered to you, is to sue the driver/driver's insurance company for the estimated or actual repair/replacement amount, but that way likely lays madness. Still, it's an option. You likely all ready know all this, sorry if it's redundant to type it all out. Good luck.

About the guy running the red light... you don't need to read any negativity right now, so I'll simply say that people like that shouldn't be allowed back on the road... nor should they have been on the road in the first place, but that's a different rant for a different day. We have too many bad drivers in this country. He made his mistake, and he shouldn't be allowed to make another one. I'm so sorry some careless jerk-off did this to you and your van, I'm glad you're okay, and I hope your van will be back on the road again soon.

Bryce

[ratcollector]

sorry to hear about the van, but I think with some work it is fixable. those panels infront of the door to the grill were just on ebay nos. plenty of other parts. doesnt look like you had any rust so the rest of the machine is likely in good shape.
good luck and good to hear you are in one piece.

[Guitar Builder]

"To my surprise my motor was still running at a smooth idle, as I was laying on the ground....and I had to crawl back in to turn it off."

Were you thrown clear?

[yogreasygramma]

I am very sorry to hear about (and see) the gruesome story of your injured van. I'm glad you weren't. I'm glad our vans are such tough beasts. From the looks of it, your van is very fixable. I think you could go two ways, find a nice cheap one on craigslist (you'd be the one to find it! LOL) to start all over, or as parts to fix this one. Good luck and keep up the good spirits.

[madbrad]

similar experience with my 64 Chevy long bed stepside. An old man former prof at Akron U hit and killed it in front of my warehouse. He actually got out of his car after hitting another woman and came to rest on my mangled truck using a walker and had a kid and another person with him unreal. What happened next was nightmarish. His company Nationwide was not on my side. They offered me like 2500 for it to all go away. I had just put in a new engine, clutch, brakes, and exhaust at least 2500 worth of improvements. Luckily my boss's brother is quite a good lawyer and suggested we sue Nationwide and him personally. So after 2 years and much back and forth talk I ended up with 7000 1/3 of which went to costs making it impossible at that time to buy another equal quality vehicle. The worst thing was that after the wreck ( in Ohio anyways ) the vehicle becomes property of the insurance company after they make an offer so you can't part it out or improve on it for fear of them hauling it away in a potential settlement. If a vehicle is totalled which mine was Insurance companies in general will pay you the cost of a vehicle the year it was purchased which we all know is ridiculous 40 years later. I got Allstate to insure all of my cars with stated value which you can set so if the worst happens you get all your cash sooner. MAKE SURE THEY DON'T TOTAL YOUR VAN. If they do you'll play hell getting it back from the insurance company who now owns it and will either crush it or an adjuster or somebody in the know will buy it from the insurance company for a song and be driving your van with a smile. Glad you're not hurt and the van looks repairable. Be tough hang in there and don't let the insurance companies screw you. Their insurance company is who you will deal with at the start so be prepared to be insulted by them as to what your van is worth. Next your insurance company will probably give you an ever so tiny much better offer which unless acceptable to fix her up I would also decline and let the companies fight it out. In our 2012 society you really can't hope to come out even equal without a good lawyer. Best of luck to you if you need any more advice on how to approach this ugly situation drop me a line I hate seeing people get screwed when they are totally not at fault.

[joker]

I feel with you.

I think you can fix it.




Thomas, Germany

[Mat Mobile]

Sorry for your van. The important thing is you're okay... but those words can't help getting rid of that feeling of frustration.

[69econo]

anything is fixable. it just depends on how much work and money you want to spend doing it.

just look at this 1938 VW #6 proto type made that has had every single thing imaginable done to the car. including a front engined watercooled motor with a Volga chassis,


after cutting all the non VW parts off, this is what was left. included in this picture is a replacement frame tunnel and fuel tank that were used in the restoration


the same car 1 year later. almost every single part of the car was hand formed. from body to chassis, brake drums etc

[NortheastGuy1970E300]

...Hey fella's..... I just read everyone's reply above...You guys are awesome.. I feel like I just 'mainlined' some mental floss.....
Your suggestions have all been really helpfull and your comments very much appereciated....... Seriously, thanks.

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[NortheastGuy1970E300]

4 more pics........under the left front wheel...

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