Coming home from visiting my brother in NC Sunday evening, around 6 PM, on I95 near Dillon, SC, a deer stuck its head in front of my car coming at her at 70 MPH. The right front of the car hit her head and must have spun her around as she then impacted the right side door and quarter panel. It's only been a little over a year since I got the car back from the restoration shop where it had spent the previous 11 months getting significant body work, new paint, new glass, new carpet, and rechromed bumpers to add to the already huge amount of drivetrain and other interior work my son and I did to the car previously. Fortunately, I have Hagerty insurance, so I think repair costs should be covered - it's just a matter of finding parts, which isn't easy for these cars anymore. Primarily I'm in need of a right fender, headlight bezel, and front bumper. I checked the parts for sale section already and found a couple possibilities, but if anyone has any of these parts lying around or knows where I can look, please let me know.
Bad time of the year, coyotes feeding up for winter, hunters in the woods, salt on the road shoulders and the rut in full swing. All account for a marked increase in deer movement. Here in NH , they have used salt on the roads already, so my car has been stored away til spring. Sorry to hear bout your car....Jim
Actually, the grill isn't so bad. The one that's on there came from The Parts Place, and as a matter of fact, I do need one - it was damaged. Fortunately, I can just get another one from The Parts Place. But you're right about the mirror! I was indeed considering myself lucky it didn't get messed up - those things aren't so easy to find!
Bumper can be straightened and re chromed. All the rest of what you need could be found at the Nationals swap meet if ya wanna wait till May
The bumper actually split at one spot, so I wasn't sure whether to try to have it repaired or see if I could find a better one. As for the Nationals, I was actually hoping to attend with the car.
Bumper can be repaired no problem,..I can get a fender ready to paint for you $750 ,..blasted jamb,..sanded down to bare metal,.body worked epoxied and 2k primed
Ha! It would be nice if it could repair itself like that, but I'm not sure I could live with the other aspects of Christine...
Fantastic! I will be talking with the body shop Monday or Tuesday - we are waiting for the insurance adjuster's report to make sure all the money is going to be there to cover the repairs. After talking with them I will get back with you on that fender. I think they had some ideas about getting a bumper, but if you can repair it or know a place that can repair and rechrome it in a reasonable amount of time, please let me know.
Wow so sorry, very lucky you are safe. looks like the hood survived. That's great. Send me a pic of your driver bezel if your looking for a 72 pass side. I'll see if my pass sides are in as good of condition or better. I have a few, but dont know about pit free, if yours were? I thought most of thec72s were painted? Again, glad your still with us. Richard.
Bumpers take 8 to 12 weeks from most places,..a good used 71 shouldn't be to bad to find,..cost around $85 to ship
Thanks, Richard. Yes, mine are painted - I have attached a *before* picture of my front end for reference. They both had a bit of pitting, but it was very minor and overall the bezels looked really good. And yeah, missed the hood by maybe 1/16" - I was really glad about that.