Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

[Peter B.]

Guys

I need your help! I have a 1971 Conv 350 unrestored original in Miami. I drive it every chance I get. I went to home depot and someone slammed into me and took off when I had my car parked. I need to replace my hood-surround (I think). What do you guys recommend? I cannot find anyone here in Miami that will do the work for me. I need it back to original condition. What is the prognosis? As long as I need to repair this I will paint the whole car but what seems to be a minor ding is pretty huge. I am depressed big time. Please help!

[Patrick H.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

First -and most important - question:

Which insurance company insures your 71 Corvette?

[Chuck W.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

Don't know about down your way but up here our Home Depot stores have parking lot surveilance cameras. They might be able to help identify the culprit. Doesn't help your repair dilema but may provide some satisfaction.

[Jeff A.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

First off - Hope you are properly insured - what a pain.
luckily it is only a machine, and no one was hurt.

Then go see George at Fabulous Restorations in Ft. Lauderdale.
He specializes in Corvette and NCRS standards.

Painted my 66 in 99 still looks great.
tell him Pacecarjeff says hi.
Fabulous Restorations


711 NW 1st St
Ste A
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
(954) 462-9427

[Bill C.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

Sorry to hear of this damage !!!


I can vouche for the shop up here in Tallahassee - Mike did all the body work and paint/finish on my car. He is TOP NOTCH and 1000% more anal than I am (thats WAY anal trust me!!).

I would be happy to send pictures of the work he did on my car.

Here is his business name and PH#:

McGarvey's Inc.
30 Warehouse Rd.
Tallahassee FL
Owner: Mike McGarvey
ph#: 850-528-1325

Just tell him that Bill Chamberlain gave his name.

I hope all works out for you.

[Warren F.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

I would begin by searching for an original top surround fiberglass panel. There are some NOS examples floating around. I would then make sure that the repair facility will carefully remove the two front fenders from your original top surround and use them again. Make sure the facility knows how to jig up the three pieces and use the proper original type bonding adhesive to fit up the front nose. An original un-hit Corvette is not easily found anymore, so I would make sure it comes as close to appearing as it did before the accident.

[Peter B.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

Thanks Guys - I have Hagartys. They have been great so far. Even sent me a get well card. They state they will bring the car back to its original state.

Where do you think I can find an original surround?

[Michael L.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

Hi Peter
I was envolved in wreck with a young girl with NO INSURANCE or DRIVER lenience She told the Police she was wrong from the start. She pilled write in front of my path. I had no were to go. I hit her in the rear wheel at about 40mph I had Considerable damage on my 1972 The GOOD news was no one was hurt
I have Hagerty on that car and they have been incredible
When I called to report the wreck I told the representative that the Young Girl hand No insurance or Drivers lenience and was driving her friends car with NO Insurance I Got a Long Pause then was told do not worry they will handed it.
I was asked if I wanted the car fixed ? I said YES I was told someone would
Be out to look at the car that week . I had already brought the car into the shop. An appraiser was there with in two days told the shop to tear it down
And write up a complete estimate for which they paid to have done.
This has been a long up hill battle but it is going back together. There are suppliers that make the correct press molded fiberglass new Very $$$$$
Most all the parts are out there Do NOT except anything that is not Correct
It will take MUCH longer then you think. Make Sure you take the car to a shop that knows how to deal with Fiberglass and understands NCRS type work hopefully a restoration type shop
Feel free to e-mail me if i can help
Remember if no one is seriously hurt cars can always be fixed

[Jeff A.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

Your shop should have sources for the original parts.
That is not something you should have to do.

Don't use any repro parts if you don't have to - the repro fiberglass is different then original.

Hagerty understands exactly what you want (what you need) to do.
And you should not have to pay for extra paint to do the whole car.
The shop you choose should understand this - and go to bat for you.

Hagerty is not the cheapest around - but now that you need them, they will take care of you and make this as easy as possible.
the car should turn out as good, or better then it was before.
Good insurance company.

[Chuck M.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

Peter,
I am very sorry to hear about your car.

There is a company in Miami that might be able to help.

The Vette Smith
Craig Priest
10750 SW 188th St
Miami, FL 33157
305.252.1256
www.vettesmithinc.com

Craig restored our car back in the day (before we owned it) and did a very good job.

Good Luck,
Chuck

[Don G.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

Give Steve a call at Dynamic Corvettes 800 752 3188. A couple of years ago, he still had some NOS surrounds. Great guy to deal with.

[Joe C.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

Sorry to hear of the loss.
If you MUST replace the surround I would NOT, use anything other than a used original or NOS piece...........period.
Corvette Image is junk.
Shermersheims is a viable but distant second choice.
If you can, you should try to have your original surround repaired.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

Thanks Guys - I have Hagartys. They have been great so far. Even sent me a get well card. They state they will bring the car back to its original state.

Where do you think I can find an original surround?

Don't worry about where to find an original surround.

Find the place that will restore it AS YOU WANT IT DONE and let them figure it out. You've got probably the best insurance company out there; let the repair facility sweat the part acquisition details.

Patrick

[Bill C.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

here is a link on eBay for a NOS surround.
Has the header bar assembled ---

http://global.ebay.com/Corvette_NOS_1968_1969_-1972_top_fender_surround_RARE/310100124383/item

Nice item......

[Wayne W.]

Re: Vette wrecked - Please advise me guys!!!!

here is a link on eBay for a NOS surround.
Has the header bar assembled ---

http://global.ebay.com/Corvette_NOS_1968_1969_-1972_top_fender_surround_RARE/310100124383/item

Nice item......

That NOS panel is probably made by the same people that make the so called Junk aftermarket panels. Just because it is new, don't mean its correct or good for that matter. Note the header bar is bonded directly to the panel and has no bonding strip. Tells me it is of rather recent manufacture. Even some fairly old GM panels were pretty much junk. I used some in the 80s that were as porous as a sieve.