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1968 One Less On the Road, RIP - 8R01C147881

mmarsalone

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
324
Location
New Orleans, LA
Hey everyone,

It is with sorrow I must post this. Returning home from a jog last Saturday morning, I was rear ended by a Ford Explorer as I was making a right turn on to my street. The impact sent me into a white Ford F250 that was on my street waiting to turn right on to the street I was turning off.

The driver of the F250 said he thought the driver of the Explorer was doing 90 MPH. And he said he had no reason to exaggerate. I'm sure he was do much more than the 35 MPH speed limit.

The pictures pretty much show the damage. The only fiberglass parts left undamaged are the left quarter panel extension and the passenger side scoop. You can see in the rear ward picture how the trunk lid is skewed from the quarter panels. I could not open the trunk. I had to remove the rear seat to get my items out of the trunk.

You can see the roof line dented and crinkled. I was surprised that it would cave like that. When looking at the damage to the top edge of the F250's hood, the driver told me that's what dented my roof. He said I was on two wheels when I hit him. He said I was lucky he was there, or else I would have flipped into the front yard of the corner house.

Besides losing most of the original fiberglass, both quarter panels on this car were original with the date stamps. After impacting the F250, my engine started revving and smoke came from all edges of the hood. I could not put the car in park. So I shut it down as is and jumped over the console and out the passenger door. Looking at the car in the wrecking yard, the compressor clutch was rubbing the radiator shroud. So this car is really twisted now.

I'm settling with Haggerty Insurance and all I can say is they've been great to work with. The car will be going to a salvage yard in Baton Rouge that is part of the Copart network to be auctioned. I'm told you must be a dealer to bid in the auction. Once the auction ends, I would get first right of refusal at the ending price. Although I have neither the time or desire to rebuild this one since so many original parts are now gone, and that's what made this one special.

The irony of it all is that I haven't driven the car much the past year and half. It's been parked in my garage needing a fuel pump. Although not hard to replace, I have three children playing travel soccer and just never had the time to get to it. I replaced it in June, and this was only the forth time I drove the car. Twice just up the street, and twice to go jogging, these past two weekends.

I'm not sure what I'll buy to replace it. I may be looking at something newer, maybe a GT500 vert. But we'll see.

I'll be checking in from time to time, and I'll be selling some of my extra parts.

It's been great to be a part of this great group these many years.

Take care,
Mike
 

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CougarCJ

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 17, 2006
Messages
2,186
That is a real shame Mike, I expect that you were pretty sore the next day?
 

somethingspecial

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 13, 2005
Messages
1,795
Bummer Mike. As long as you are OK, Cars can be replaced. Do you think the car can be repaired, or should I notate in the Registry to watch for VIN switch? Just curious, Is the broken hand from the crash, or from beating the crap out of the errant driver? LOL. I will mark the Registry it was totalled and save the pics. Take care.
 

mbsf1970

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Messages
795
Location
Calgary Alberta
that's awful. A terrible way for you to lose your car. I'm glad to hear you're o.k..
That guy had to be travelling at a high rate for your secondary damage on driver's door to be so extensive....yikes!
 

admin

Staff member
Administrator
Joined
Aug 18, 2002
Messages
2,049
I'm so sorry to hear about the crash Mike. Those pictures make me shudder. Considering the damage on the driver's side I really am surprised that you weren't hurt worse than a broken hand. But very glad to hear it!
 

stangfan

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 12, 2012
Messages
1,840
Location
Victoria BC Canada
That is a real shame. Looking at the driver's door, it is amazing that you were not hurt more. I think you got off very lucky (other than the car obviously).
 

gt/csj4

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 8, 2012
Messages
344
Location
Westminster,CO
Mike, I am sorry to hear about the car. All that matters is that your'e ok. What a beauty that car was too. All it takes is a bad decision from one person to impact many.
 

dalorzo_f

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2006
Messages
1,886
Location
Brisbane Australia
Wow.... you have some good karma to walk away from that! Sad to see, as with the extensive damage it looks like a write off.

If you can get it back there are still many valuable parts on the car, so while looking pretty gone, not a total loss.

To resurrect that one would require some major surgery. Doable, but not much of the original would be left.

What was the idiots excuse for going so fast and driving with their eyes closed?
 
OP
OP
mmarsalone

mmarsalone

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
324
Location
New Orleans, LA
Bummer Mike. As long as you are OK, Cars can be replaced. Do you think the car can be repaired, or should I notate in the Registry to watch for VIN switch? Just curious, Is the broken hand from the crash, or from beating the crap out of the errant driver? LOL. I will mark the Registry it was totalled and save the pics. Take care.

Mike,

I don't think it can be repaired. I'm going to watch the auction site to see what happens with it. At the very least, it will have a salvage title.

Mike
 

franklinair

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
4,740
I'm afraid there's only retrievable parts value to the car now. I'd even go so far as to remove & destroy the dash VIN tag to prevent any wrongdoing in the future.

Neil
 

di81977

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 15, 2006
Messages
438
Sorry about your car. Glad you are ok and hope your hand heals quickly.

David
 

x-codegtcs

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2002
Messages
549
Location
Kaysville, UT
It was a miracle that you are ok!!!

I would think you still have a lot of value in the car just in parts...it might not be worth the hassle to part it out though. You could probably get all the body work done for about $15K or so, but it is up to you...it is a shame.
 

Mustanger

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Messages
1,974
Location
So Cal
Mike, I'm sorry to hear about your accident ... I hope and pray that you heal up good, and that you make the best choice for your car ...
 
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