Just Destroyed FFR #1069

[Richard Hudgins]

Hi Nuke427,

I think that you should have the chassis looked at by a proper frame shop. If the chassis damage is local to the front of the car, it should be quite easy to repair. (The FFR chassis is quite simple and there are no tricks in the fabrication. Also, 4 inch tubing is easy to find.)

I would think that FFR could send you the front crossmember and related bits so that repair could be done effectively.

Also, they should be able to send you a front fiberglass clip that any good bodyshop could bond in place. (They do this with Corvettes everyday.)

In other words, I do not see the car as a write off from the photos. Yes, you may have to do a bit of work and source some bits, but you had to do this when you built the car.

Just buckle down and do your homework on what it is really going to take to fix the car.

(Parts+fabrication+Labor+paint=COST) This is the amount that you wish to be covered by your insurance.

I understand that you are a bit overwhelmed after the crash and cannot see the end of this clearly. It is normal to be a bit depressed after a crash and feel that things will never be right again.

Now, I am sure that you have seen a bunch of NASCAR crashes on the tube. Virtually all of the cars look much worse than yours.

Guess what, they just rip off the body bits, cut out the bad, and repair them. Then they take back to the track and win races.

I am sure that you can do the same.

[ac andy]

Nuke, a little bit off the subject, how did the overall cockpit hold up in the accident, and harness for that matter?

Andy.

[Nuke427]

The cockpit really wasn't too bad. The transmission slid forward bending some of the tunnel aluminum along with there now being a large enough gap at the tunnel and fire wall area you can see the engine compartment. Harnesses look as if they are brand new. Mounting still good and all. They saved me from alot more physical damage. I can not stress enough how important it is to wear them. All of the harness, not just the lap. Always wear it all! The windshield frame cut through the fiberglass from the body sliding back or it sliding forward about 2". Besides the aluminum paneling and ripping my seat cover you can see most damage from the photos.

[4RE KLR]

Man I get away from this thread for one day and all heck breaks loose.

Nuke I again am glad no one was seriously injured, including you. Remember it is just a car and can be replaced.

Geeze guys Nuke ask a simple question, and for help, Isn't that what this forum was started for in the frist place! I was one who e mailed Nuke and TOLD him to edit his post. It was me, and my idea, NOT his. So as for someone crawling him over an edit bring it on baby, I can take the heat.

We all come to this forum for differant reasons. Some come to learn, some to question for advice and some just to harrass the daylights out of others. We could all do without those last few, but there are several in every crowd.

I have never met Nuke. He simply asked a question and I tried to help. That is the reason the original post was edited.

good grief

[Dsprint2000]

Do belong to this board and read it daily (hope my boss is not watching....). It is the 'intent' of the underwriter of whether the information learned here is good or bad for the industry. In my case (underwriter for SAFECO), I am a complete gearhead and cannot wait to join the Cobra family. I have also used the information I glean from this board and others to 'judiciously' hand out help or harm to one's policy. For every kitcar/street-rod that I have ok'd to write on one's policy, I have also denied others. Klayfish and David are both right in their statements of what may or may not happen for Nuke. As for the other side of the equation, a single car accident is not a good thing in a Cobra. Provided your current carrier keeps you (you will be lucky if they do) your insurance cost will rise dramatically.

I keep seeing statements on this thread of not sure how much they will pay or if they will pay..... Everyone, please make sure you buy agreed value policies, not stated amount policies.

Agreed value - car totaled - we agree to pay this amount.
Stated value - we will pay you up to this limit, but not necessarily.

Also, if you have not done so - it would be wise to have your car appraised by a professional appraiser, complete with photos. I do this every 2 years for my streetrod so there can be no question as to the worth and/or condition of the vehicle should the time come to use it....

Hope all ends well for you Nuke........

David - the other ins guy....

[Russ Dickey]

Well, we at least got some really good insurance info out of this thread. This is very helpful to us in the buying market.

Nuke:
Very sorry to hear about your wipe out. I've also had some hair-raising experiences on the tight & twisty roads at the Lake of the Ozarks, but have been lucky enough to escape any serious damage. Glad that you made it through to drive again.

Don't let these some of these guys get to you. I'm a newbie around here, but have noticed that the anonimity of being on an internet thread makes some of them a little more gruff than they probably really are.

However, with as many people flamed you about driving irresponsibly, I have to wonder: why do some of these guys own Cobras? The majority of them don't vintage race them, or even open track them, so they must just putt around town. If that's the case, who cares about a small-block or big-block...an inline-200ci six-cylinder would do that just fine.

My point being, if you're going to "wag your finger" (thanks Great Asp), you better be able to say that you've never done such a thing yourself. And if you have had such great self-control as to never lay down the throttle on a public roadway....well then, get a minivan and turn your keys over to someone who will drive your car the way that it was built to be driven.

Send keys and directions to your car to:

Russ Dickey
Kansas City, Mo

[Nuke427]

Well, the claim adjuster came by. He was with the "quick claims" department with checkbook in hand. He decided it was beyond him to add this one up. So he's transferred the claim to another claim department who deals with a little larger checkbook. He took a bunch of pics and I showed him what needed to be replaced and pulled up some pricing on the FFR site. He soaked it all in and said I should here from the other claim boys tomorrow. They probably just have more questions. He did ask the value of the car, so I did tell him what it appraised at. But I also stated that alot of improvements have been made since the 2 yr. old appraisal

[Nuke427]

Everyone has had me a little worried with the future insurance problem I may encounter. So I called my agent. He stated that since there was no ticket issued, no traffic violations/DUI etc. that all that is going to happen is my insurance premium will increase $37 every 6 months. This is the discount I had for never having an accident. And since I haven't made a claim in my life, until now and granted it's a big one. But he reassured me that I will still be insured by them and the increase will be minimal. Like I stated mainly b/c no violations/tickets issued.

[SpeedFreak]

GOOD GRIEF!

SF

[G.R.]

Nuke427
Sorry for your "shunt"--it happens accidents happen whether you are driving a Yugo or a Cobra---we've all driven a road faster than the posted limit, in the Cobra, in the daily driver, in the mini-van ---

God help us all


Glad you were not seriously injured

Hope everything works out for you

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Nuke;

Sounds like things are going pretty good so far..... You might want to make out a list of your improvements and expenditures for them for the "other" claims guy.... This is fairly normal,the appraiser you saw was not familar with the car so he has asked someone more in-line with things to handle the claim,done all the time,also, he may not have had the authority to write you a check for the needed amount,some have limits to what they can spend on a claim,some do not,usually depends on expirience and expertise in a certain field....

Have all the documentation you can for the new guy,it will only help him determine your car's value....Also, ask about "retaining salvage",you have the right to do that if it is a "total" and you may be surprised at the deal you may be able to make....Just a thought..

David

[RACERAL]

nuke..
Call Guy Thacker at www.whitbymotorcars.com
he is a expert at putting on front clips on ffr cars.. it can be done.ffr will send you the frame parts you need.. thats a fact..

[4RE KLR]

Bryan (Nuke) you are on the right track now. Sorry about the way this thread began but now that Ron( computerworks) stepped in seems we may all learn something from your ordeal, Hang in there buddy, Most of us are on your side.

BTW: You know damn well you can't be without a Cobra! If yours can be fixed do so, if not, start looking for another!

[Nuke427]

The claim rep just called. She said looks like we're going to call this a total loss. She had me fax her my appraisal and said we'll go from there. After going to the lower garage I did notice why my rear trunk paneling was so bent out of shape. The gas tank and mounts are bent forward about 2". The fuel filler line is kinked enough to where little fuel could flow through it. And this is on part of the car that looks like it came out free of damage. The overall damage is rather extensive, it's not just the front left. I'll keep this updated with new insurance info.

[Scott Mc.]

In a total loss like this, who gets the car? This thing could be "parted out" and probably raise a few dollars. Or be a good start for the next one!

[Nuke427]

Just a quick update on the insurance. I was given a value today, not an offer but a value of what they had written down from when the car was insured. It is lower than what my written appraisal is that I have provided them. They are eager to help me get a fair value. I believe they are bringing in an independant appraiser to look at the car. They have been nothing but willing to help and have actually stated the last thing they would want to do is underpay me. So far I'm feeling good about State Farm.
They're calling me on Monday.

We'll see.

[Excaliber]

When a car is "totaled" and you are re-imbursed by the insurance company THEY now own the car. Usually for some strange reason it is WAY cost prohibitive to buy the car BACK from them. It almost always will go to a salvage yard or auction. Good chance YOU will never see it again!

Ernie

[arctic-snake]

Actually, there will usually be a salvage value placed on the wrecked vehicle. You are generally allowed to purchase the car for that salvage value. Your settlement amount will be reduced by that amount. Your title however, will forever reflect that the car was at one time "totalled". Not a great selling point if your so inclined.

[xlr8or]

I bought one back before. Had a freshly restored Camaro got hit by a 73 Chrysler New Yorker. There were so many new parts that were still good I asked about purchasing it back. They sold it to me for 1/3 of the settlement.

[Bill Wells]

a case in point, not wishing to cast stones BUT IF you have AGREED VALUE insurance then there is NO hassle as to what is the value in a catastrophic loss as there can be with 'stated' value or 'actual cash value' insurance. Agreed Value pays out the amount the policy stated was the agreed value, nothing less !

AGREED VALUE is worth the extra bucks so as to not get 'penciled' by some adjuster or cheesy insurance carrier at time of full loss. not all get burned, but if it is just one person and that one person is you, then you will agree with me.

good luck with the claim...maybe you will get lucky as many others have been as well. bill.