Restoration no longer possible (not for the faint of heart)

I don't really check FABO because I'm so busy with teaching.. But, I thought you guys might appreciate the lack of progress on my 67 Beatercuda restoration.. It WAS my daily driver..

This was the email I sent to the Barracuda Owner's Group..


Oh, cruel fate. I knew I should have skipped my school event and just
gone to the BOG get together at JYH's place..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57785272@N00/

...I got a call while I was at an academic competition with my MUN
students... Mom says "you need to talk to this police officer"... OH
CRAP.. Did I do something wrong?

...He's sorry to tell me that my car has been hit pretty bad by an 18
Year Old kid driving Daddy's '07 Mustang GT convertible. My parents tell
me later he already has 2 violations on his record (ie: I imagine they
mean speeding, red light, or illegal u-turn.. moving violations, yah?)..
Apparently he took the corner (residential neighborhood, 90 degree
natural right hand turn.. 25 MPH posted speed limit), probably clipped
the rear tire (hence the rim damage), spun it right into my car.. Pushed
my car into the curb HARD.. hard enough for me to find a chunk of bondo
from my curb-side quarterpanel in the bushes a few feet away.. The
underside of the passenger quarter (towards the wheel well) is jacked
up.. Front fender dented at the back.. Door punched in hard (sorry Alan,
that bench seat is done for...).. Ripped the door striker out of the
body.. Not even where it was metal fatigued (YEAH, Ma Mopar!!).. It tore
the whole sucker out.. Quarter panel is DONE.. Folded it in a way I wish
I'd never see again.. Mangled one rim (cop cap is okay.. but I JUST
powdercoated those rims 2 months ago).. Trunk is FUBAR (couldn't open it
to get my stuff out of there).. Passenger door won't close easily at
all.. Had to use all my force repeatedly to get it to even latch..
Passenger fender is okay (but mostly bondo anyway).. Tow hitch looks
great, though.. Definitely reusable.. Exhaust looks fine.. Engine looks
fine.. She'd probably even start and drive if I could.. But.. yeah..
She'll donate any parts she can to keep the rest of the school of
barracuda alive..

...The father is very apologetic to the police officer (he's in his
early 50s.. he understands the significance of losing a classic car),
but it's unlikely I'll receive full compensation for what the car is
worth without some sort of protracted civil lawsuit.. I mean, I wasn't
even there to witness my car's final moments.. If I had been in the car,
I imagine I'd be looking at (at least), a busted leg, sideways whiplash,
and maybe even a shattered pelvis.. My rear passenger would be in a
world of hurt..

The kid is lucky I wasn't there.. I would certainly have tested my
self-control.. Let's just say the police officer complimented my parents
on how calm and collected I was on the phone.. I'm still of the opinion
that "life happens"... And, at least I wasn't IN the car.. And, that the
ol' girl will be (with JYH's permission) towed over to the Rooster Yard
and disassembled for good parts.. I'll need to buy her back, of course..

So, what I'm saying is... In lieu of flowers, please make donations to
your local junkyard..

And, anyone got a lead on some old Detroit Steel? I'd like to stay
A-body.. I'd even go El Camino if the price and condition was right..
(read: good paint, overdrive trans or manual trans.. Air conditioning..)

...But, really, not much can bring back the Beatercuda.. She was my lil'
Frankenstein..

Mopar On, Brothers..

Raj

PS: I'll keep an eye out on the for-sale section.. I'd like to replace my daily driver with another a-body mopar.. something /6, 273-318, 360..

WOW! that is pretty sad.......sorry for your loss. i am sorry to see the loss of any classic car. i hope things work out for you.

[-( very sad

That's sickening. Your attitude about it all is very good. I know I love my beater even more than if it was in pristine condition. You will find another car out there that will make you happy. There are several very nice cars in the For Sale section right now.

I'm still of the opinion that "life happens".

Sorry to read your story and see the pictures...but you have the right attitude about 'life'. I envy your students they are able to benefit from some of your remarkable wisdom.

GregH

This is awful but i need some sheet metal .maybe if youre not far away your car could help breathe new life into my wifes car. i need a dutchman panel if its not rusted or may consider whole car for organ donor.Sorry to be like a vulture but when these cars are gone theyre gone.Sorry for your loss.

It can still be repaired! All's you nee is a new door, glass, quarter panel, door opening and probably a few new floor pans. Also doa some repair work to the roof.:cheers:

440valiant said:

It can still be repaired! All's you nee is a new door, glass, quarter panel, door opening and probably a few new floor pans. Also doa some repair work to the roof.:cheers:

Click to expand...

I agree. It's not QUITE as bad as my Barracuda. I hit a guard rail at about 60MPH the day after I bought it. The body shop told me the only way to save it was to cut the car in half and find a donar car I bet a good body man could have your fish up and running in a few months time...

Make this punk PAY!:angry7:

j

Don't scrap it REPAIR it. Scrap the mustang.

I will do my best to get the ol girl back on the road (though, it doesn't look good.. And, she was a bit rough here and there..) I intend on making the kid pay until I'm satisfied I've gotten a car of equal or greater value.. Hard-top barracudas without a vinyl roof is a tough find, it seems.. Though, there appears to be one in the Bay Area .. Says needs paint and interior, though the exterior looks nice.. Of course, its only one single 3/4 view from the front..

And, if she does get cut up for parts, I'll definitely be posting stuff here too.. Though, I have to ask ... What's a dutchman panel?

Raj

It's the panel just below the rear glass, but before the trunklid.

I would definitely try to save it !! It is not beyond hope. A good frame guy can pull out the main structure and I bet there are enuff people on this site that would help with parts to make it good. Don't give up hope.

Any other members want to pipe in??

This one is beyond hope, yours is not.

I am sure that will buff right out It looks really bad because it it really bad, but that could still be repaired. Why don't you get a repair estimate and get Mustang boy's daddy to pony up for the repairs, if you do some of the work yourself you might get a whole restoration for free out of it.

That car was doing just fine until he ran into it.

Edited in:
I checked out your photos a little closer. That car is jacked up pretty bad. It could be fixed but it would be cheaper and better to find another cuda. Amazing how well that Mustang faired out compared to your car, it looks far from totalled. At least nobody got hurt.........

You need to stand up to the insurance co. at this point in time,do not let them tell you what is to be done,you tell them that the car we be replaced and you are keeping the old one or they will make sure it get's crushed in it's entirety,I have had 2 cars get hit to the point they were said to be totaled,the first one my 64 dart convertable,I found the best body shops I could and got estimates and told the estimator not to cut any corners because the car was getting fixed properly and I had to repeat the word "NO" several times to the insurance co.this went round and round for a few months till finally they had to pay and then I got my car fixed.the second one my sons duster was rearended at a stoplight by a 2003 buick..they wanted to total my duster and whined about the cost to repair it 2400$,I replied to them they are getting off cheap that they are lucky It wasn't a 2003 buick that we be far more expensive to repair.they paid and the car is repaired and still in the family(it's my 12 year old son's car.find you a good barracuda to replace it with and make sure you get the old car back(they will deduct salvage value)about 200$ and they might wan't it to be totaled but make sure you get enough $ to cover labor and parts,paint to save your car,good Luck and don't forget the "n" word they have to pay for your damages,just be sure of how much you need and stand your ground and don't lettem crush the old one

First off, take that kid for everything he has got. WHY??? This is a consistent problem with him since he has priors. He needs to understand the full meaning of "consequence".

Secondly, I think my buddy Alan may have a 67 notchback for sale in Norcal. His number is (530) 934-7499‎. Not sure if it is for sale and what price$$, but make the kid pay for it and then you also have a car for parts.

That is a horrible site to see. Hope youfind yourself in another nice little a-body again.

Nail that punk.

Those pictures are some hard things to look at. nice swath of blue paint on the mustang though.

be nice but let him know that you expect a replacement of your pride and joy classic rare family member,and unfortunately the insurance co. will be the ones trying to stiff you,just let them know they'll be getting off cheap and they should feel lucky you didn't park your 2007 cobra mustang in that spot,they would have to pay for that so what's good for the goose's ride is good for the gander's ride.start looking for a replacement and what it will cost to tranfer all of the goodies from the one car to the other and don't agree to anything less.

Sorry, to see that. That is EXACTLY what my '67 Barracuda fastback looked like after some idiot hit it. Mine was a 47,000 original mile commando 273 car. TOTALED!!! I got the insurance company to pay for it though. Out of court. Good luck.

That really sucks, but I am impressed with your additude.

And I don't mean the car, I mean YOU. Your attitude is a credit (and a lesson) to us all. I know these old cars of ours do become like family members, but you've got it straight, at least you weren't IN the car. I haven't got much, but if you're going to repair it I'll make a donation. I bet a LOT of others on here would do the same. All the best to you and yours.

Here is my beloved 68 Dodge Charger that a lady ran a stop sign and T-boned me while I going about 40 MPH. Stupid B***H!

I had that car for over 14 yrs.

I know exactly how you feel! Luckily I had classic car insurance and got over what I had in it but not the labor I put in it though. I wanted my car more than the money... believe me!

I've noticed that classic cars, especially the ones you value highly, seem to draw bad drivers in like bees to honey. If anything is going to happen it will happen to the one you love the most. It is what it is.

I agree with the advice to keep saying "NO" to the insurance company. They will refuse to pay, hoping to wear you down. I went through this a few years back with a '63 Cloth Sunroof VW Beetle (like Herbie). Took months of "jumping backwards through hoops of fire" for the other guy's insurance company (ALLSTATE) but they finally settled for $50 less than I had offered to settle for in the beginning. Problem was, by the time they settled with me I was so tired of it all that I sold the car. Just didn't want to deal with it anymore.

that suck but Itll make an excellent partscar if you decide to get another...I do have to say that the 'stang held up really well:spam1: