10 Years to Find One 5 Years to Restore
Discussion
does this to it.
Yes it's a Type 3 Razoredge Ghia, Everything is repairable it just depends whether the insurance considers it's worth it. It cost me £20k+ to get it where it was and won't get what it's worth if they right it off. TBH it's been a labour of love to get it finished not sure I want to go through that again. Chances of get it fixed are remote as all the panels are non-existent or silly money like €3500 for a rear wing. Looking at the stress cracks the whole body is out of shape and most likely the floor pan too. Why do we bother.
If it is any consilation, i was hit from behind recently and it to is causing Loads of agg.
Re your car, hard to say without seeing it, but when an older car is hit up the rear ( or as here on a corner ) they fold up and bend Very easily ( Capris are Very weak here and when hit in the rear or on a rear corner, the door gap closes right up as happened to two of my 3 Litre Capris in the past )
Almost certainly they will write it off as uneconomical repair. If they do, INSIST on getting the salvage back. There are specialist firms who will Properly repair such damage. A pals 3.0CSL was hit hard on the right front corner and then pushed back into and along a kerb, the car folded up like a banana. Few were keen to take it on, but he found someone and the CSL is now almost finished ( i can give you the repairers details )
Re your car, hard to say without seeing it, but when an older car is hit up the rear ( or as here on a corner ) they fold up and bend Very easily ( Capris are Very weak here and when hit in the rear or on a rear corner, the door gap closes right up as happened to two of my 3 Litre Capris in the past )
Almost certainly they will write it off as uneconomical repair. If they do, INSIST on getting the salvage back. There are specialist firms who will Properly repair such damage. A pals 3.0CSL was hit hard on the right front corner and then pushed back into and along a kerb, the car folded up like a banana. Few were keen to take it on, but he found someone and the CSL is now almost finished ( i can give you the repairers details )
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 10th December 09:41
Same here, my SL was hit up the arse.
I had classic car insurance with agreed value. The repair cost at a MB dealer was a lot less than the agreed value so it was repaired.
Although you have insurance you still find yourself doing all the leg work and fighting your corner, insurance companys just want the cheapest way out.
Good luck
I had classic car insurance with agreed value. The repair cost at a MB dealer was a lot less than the agreed value so it was repaired.
Although you have insurance you still find yourself doing all the leg work and fighting your corner, insurance companys just want the cheapest way out.
Good luck
Spydaman said:
Yes it's a Type 3 Razoredge Ghia, Everything is repairable it just depends whether the insurance considers it's worth it. It cost me £20k+ to get it where it was and won't get what it's worth if they right it off.
That's a worrying statement, as it's written as if you don't have agreed value classic insurance......?I hope that's not the case!
18 months ago, not long after my car came out of the second restoration in over 30 years, this happened:-
Woman + Kia + telephone was the cause. The assessor hadn't a bloody clue and I refused to accept his ideas. He had no idea that old car panels need fettling and thought you just bought the panel off the shelf and painted it. Oh, and he considered my car was in poor condition because in places it was skimmed before painting. However, I stood my ground and refused to budge, and her insurers paid up promptly. The cost was £16,000. Recently I was talking to the man who rebuilt my car and he told me that where accident repairs are concerned he is finding that the insurers aren't quibbling at all, so maybe there is a ray of sunshine awaiting you at the end of this dark tunnel. I'd be prepared to argue your case for a complete respray if the paint is older. Mine was virtually new, so it was painted from the B-pillar back and is fine. Best of luck.
Woman + Kia + telephone was the cause. The assessor hadn't a bloody clue and I refused to accept his ideas. He had no idea that old car panels need fettling and thought you just bought the panel off the shelf and painted it. Oh, and he considered my car was in poor condition because in places it was skimmed before painting. However, I stood my ground and refused to budge, and her insurers paid up promptly. The cost was £16,000. Recently I was talking to the man who rebuilt my car and he told me that where accident repairs are concerned he is finding that the insurers aren't quibbling at all, so maybe there is a ray of sunshine awaiting you at the end of this dark tunnel. I'd be prepared to argue your case for a complete respray if the paint is older. Mine was virtually new, so it was painted from the B-pillar back and is fine. Best of luck.
Edited by lowdrag on Monday 10th December 11:05
lowdrag said:
Recently I was talking to the man who rebuilt my car and he told me that where accident repairs are concerned he is finding that the insurers aren't quibbling at all, so maybe there is a ray of sunshine awaiting you at the end of this dark tunnel. I'd be prepared to argue your case for a complete respray if the paint is older.
I made a claim about 20 years ago on my Triumph Vitesse,not my fault, their insurance asked for a 'betterment' contribution as they deemed that the car was in better condition as a result of the repair, I told them where to go........Edited by lowdrag on Monday 10th December 11:05
Ouch
OP I would focus on the colliding car and their insurers, they have to indemnify you for your actual loss not just what they fancy paying. You also have some pressure to apply as in principle you are entitled to a substitute vehicle until the repairs are complete or until they write off (which will obviously cost them). I would guess that they will just say it Is a total loss and look to negotiate quickly.
Obviously compile information re the cost of the car to you and the likely cost of replacement.
Of course, you should inform your own insurers but you may prefer to tell them you will try to settle with the other side first, assuming you don’t have an agreed value which you are happy with.
Betterment won’t apply, not only because the car presumably was already excellent but because it does not apply to a third party Claim.
OP I would focus on the colliding car and their insurers, they have to indemnify you for your actual loss not just what they fancy paying. You also have some pressure to apply as in principle you are entitled to a substitute vehicle until the repairs are complete or until they write off (which will obviously cost them). I would guess that they will just say it Is a total loss and look to negotiate quickly.
Obviously compile information re the cost of the car to you and the likely cost of replacement.
Of course, you should inform your own insurers but you may prefer to tell them you will try to settle with the other side first, assuming you don’t have an agreed value which you are happy with.
Betterment won’t apply, not only because the car presumably was already excellent but because it does not apply to a third party Claim.
jaisharma said:
Ouch
OP I would focus on the colliding car and their insurers, they have to indemnify you for your actual loss not just what they fancy paying. You also have some pressure to apply as in principle you are entitled to a substitute vehicle until the repairs are complete or until they write off (which will obviously cost them). I would guess that they will just say it Is a total loss and look to negotiate quickly.
Not really applicable *IF* OP has an agreed value classic policy.OP I would focus on the colliding car and their insurers, they have to indemnify you for your actual loss not just what they fancy paying. You also have some pressure to apply as in principle you are entitled to a substitute vehicle until the repairs are complete or until they write off (which will obviously cost them). I would guess that they will just say it Is a total loss and look to negotiate quickly.
If OP doesn't and has a classic on a run of the mill insurance policy, a world of hurt and hassle will follow.
Bebee said:
I made a claim about 20 years ago on my Triumph Vitesse,not my fault, their insurance asked for a 'betterment' contribution as they deemed that the car was in better condition as a result of the repair, I told them where to go........
Betterment??You should have asked for a sum to reflect ‘diminution’ ,as a classic that’s been repaired could be considered worth less than one that’s original.
I used to deal with insurance companies, and the majority didn’t know how to handle older cars(they weren’t called classics in my day).
OP stand your ground and don’t let your car out of your possesion
I've contacted my insurance company and they put me in contact with the claims handler. Is this how it's supposed to work or should I be contacting the third parties insurers direct. They've told me not to communicate with them if they contact me direct and to refer them to the claim handler.
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