My Traga was clipped and stepped upon...

[Jascha]

As of last night I have plenty of new grey hair even in the receding areas…

I was cut-off (this chap run the light making a left turn) and the passenger side of the p-car was clipped. He literally drove (Subaru Outback) over the corner of my pristine ’85 Targa.

This was an unusual event in many ways, particularly the overt and persistent apology and pleading of guilt expressed to me and the Police (NJ).

This chap is one of the ‘Officer and a Gentleman” types of times past (retired Coast Gurd Reserve)


1. Based on these pics do you have a sense of whether his Insurance Co will prefer to fix the damage or consider the Targa a ‘Total Lass’…?

2. How much (if any) structural distortion to the tower / front end might there be?

3. Any suggestions on how to protect my interest to get a fair resolution?

Thanks for the sympathetic ear... Jascha

[jkarolyi]

OUCH!!! Looks like a total loss, unless it's a low miles G50 model. Even then I'd be surprised if they fixed it.

[Emission]

First, glad to hear he didn't run over the passenger compartment and you are OK.

Your car, however, looks to be a total loss... Sorry.

Was the passenger door damaged?

[Jascha]

I don't exactly remember (selective amnesia) if my door flung open but I was able to close it when the Flat-Bed guy arrived he just did not want to take us to my home garage (just across the Delaware river from Trenton NJ, Washington Crossing area

Jascha

[john walker's workshop]

try to get them to total it and then buy it back cheap. it looks like if the offending sheetmetal was removed, there may be a reasonably straight inner tub under all that. if the tub has been tweeked to the side, and/or the cowl is twisted, there may be grounds for totalling it. did the door hit the quarter? is the measurement the same, w/s frame to rollbar on both sides?


__________________

[VaSteve]

[rrpjr]

As former Coast Guard Reserve myself it is at least heartening to hear of acceptance of responsibility. But that is cold comfort. Glad to hear you are all right, and hope the settlement process works out to your best interest.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Glad your OK, and I agree on the total loss.

Just think what a Hummer would do not to mention any big full size, or truck.
We're lightweights out there.

[Jascha]

Thanks for the concern... other than the expected aftereffect and some Girly-man jitters (I do scuba dive though!)

It is indeed a sad day that we have to applaud doing the right thing... dying breed to be sure

[KevinP73]

1. From the looks of it the front corner is down. Which means tub damage at least. Did the fender or the hood contact the cowl? Did the windshield survive? Did the door take any stress or an impact and did it include the rear quarter. All this has to be determined before one might guess if it's going to be a "total loss" or not. It would surely be a good rebuilder if they do total it and if you don't mind a salvage title car.
2. That "girly-man jitter" you speak of is actually your body withdrawing from an adrenalin rush. Nothing girly man about adrenalin. However if you pissed your panties and started crying, now that would be girly.
Glad your OK

[Oldporsche]

The big thing I would look for is cowl damage or alignment.

I am going to look at a '78 with similar damage. The tweeked cowl will make it expensive.

If the measurements on the tub are ok or can be straightened easily, this will be a component replacement job.

I would be cautious about totalling this. The insureance company may do this, however they could insist that the title be changed to a salvage one. This may interfere with the new owner, perhaps you, getting insureance in the future. I know in this state the insureance companies are starting to refuse to write policies on cars with a salvage history.

Good luck,
David Duffield

[bell]

i went through a good impact 1.5 years ago......
chances are they'll fix it IMO providing the chassis didn't get tweaked.
my part's/labor/paint bill was between 6-8k.
submit as many "pre-accident" pics that you have to your adjuster, and work closely with the shop doing the repair, be persistant but not a pest.
they will probably want to use "recycled" parts, i did with no regrets.....just make sure they properly strip/repaint the used panels.....remember that it'll be returned to pre-accident condition......may be worth the extra money for a full respray so everything will match, a lesson i wish i followed with my accident. there are pics here well........what can i say.......she's dented pretty heavily....

glad you're ok.....may the force be with you

[Todd Simpson]

I took my SC to Holbert's in Warrington after an accident and they gave a very detailed estimate and were super helpful.

My insurance company ended up totalling the car and I bought it back for $1500, you definitely want to ask about buying it back if they total the car.

My car was hit hard in the side, the roof was tweaked, even the opposite side of the car had crinkles...yours looks potentially fixable.

[kycarguy 935]

Sorry to hear of your accident and glad your ok.

Generally if the estimate of repairs are 1/2 of the value of the pre- accident condition then the insurance company will total the car.

[Jascha]

John,

Yes, the door did hit the quarter panel but that may be, as you said, the offending sheet metal

Which measurements are you referring to that I should make….?

This is very helpful guys.. all I want to do is be informed as to what my options are. I (as we all do) have invested great deal of effort in wrenching and preserving this well-cared for baby tub (1985 Targa)

[Jascha]

Here are some added profile pics...

[Emission]

Ugh, I forgot about the oil cooler... what a mess.

[KevinP73]

If you look closely the inner brace did it's job and saved the cooler, so now it's time for a new tire and strut and tie rod end and maybe a lower control arm and for sure a front end alignment.

[rcwaldo]

Really sorry to hear this! Glad you are ok. Hopefully it works out for you in the end..

Chris

[wrx paul]

Dan Petchel, will most likely have all the parts you need to fix her up. He's in Bordentown, 609-298-2277