Skip to main content

Well went out for Breakfast with the Car Club that I belong to here in NC and coming home I was pulling out into traffic and "nipped" the back of a heavy-duty trailer that was being towed by a Ford F150. Fortunately, no one was injured, and no damage was done to the trailer, but Speedy took the brunt of the contact, on the driver's side. Accident was my fault, misjudged the timing I thought I had until the trailer cleared, so close. Called Haggerty up and filed a claim, they are supposed to get back to me in a few days to get more info for the claim process to proceed. I Just had a new Frunk lid painted and installed and was all ready for the car shows this summer. Very disappointing to have this now happen. Any suggestions, opinions, on how to proceed in getting the car back to normal?

Attachments

Images (3)
  • mceclip0
  • mceclip1
  • mceclip2
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Ouch! If it were me I would get with a local body shop that specializes in fiberglass vehicles like Corvettes. The problem is that is a large hole and it may be difficult to patch such an opening. The other option is finding someone with a CMC body for sale and just use the front clip but that might be just as difficult of a task as patching the hole.

I was broadsided many years ago in my previous speedster, so I know your pain. It was repaired by replacing the whole rear section of the car including another door.  It may be a challenge locating a repair section, you may have to buy a complete body front end from one of the body makers and harvesting the needed section from that.46E8D328-4F47-4127-8C7B-DF39E8688C66

Attachments

Images (1)
  • 46E8D328-4F47-4127-8C7B-DF39E8688C66

Larry - but the hood looks great .  Apologize for that remark!  Did you save the pieces?  Was it just one or two pieces --- hopefully not shards?   If just 2-3 pieces - it can be pieced back together.  Problem is you have a CMC wide body.  I don't know of anyone that makes that body.  There was a guy in Tampa/Sarasota FL area who bought a complete set of CMC wide body molds from local (to me) Crestview FL guy years ago.  He made a few bodies but then seemed to disappear.  Not sure where the molds got to.  Maybe someone here knows? This was the guy - sure contact info is old -

Bueno Designs 813-468-3372 saleens7bp@gmail.com www.buenodesigns.com

Here's one Miata based speedster he made -

Porsche 356 Speedster with a Mazda Miata Donor | Rare Car Network (rcnmag.com)

I did find this on Facebook but nothing posted since 2014!

(20+) Bueno Designs | Facebook

Local Crestview guy does have a complete body that a plug could be made from for that hunk.  I've read on doing it but never attempted.

Last edited by WOLFGANG
@LeadPedal posted:

I was broadsided many years ago in my previous speedster, so I know your pain. It was repaired by replacing the whole rear section of the car including another door.  It may be a challenge locating a repair section, you may have to buy a complete body front end from one of the body makers and harvesting the needed section from that.46E8D328-4F47-4127-8C7B-DF39E8688C66

Hard to believe that that wasn't a total loss. Or did you buy it back and fix it yourself?

The pan was undamaged, only the square tube engine surround needed replacing. The whole rear section of the body was replaced, spliced at the rockers. A new door, bodywork and paint and it was on the road again. The right rear brake drum was shattered but the swing arm was still ok. It was well over 25 years ago, and it was under 2500 to fix. I was hit while making a left turn. I had a friend do the fabrication and the paint was done by a bodyshop. Those prices and days are gone now. Now you have to bring some lube before you get painting estimates. The car was so light that it actually minimized the damage by bouncing away from the impact instead of holding its ground like a heavier car would do.

Last edited by LeadPedal

Sorry to hear about your accident. When my GT40 replica got hit last year I had to call 10 or so body shops until I found a shop that did repairs on fiberglass cars. They took a long time to repair the car but they did a great job. I have a feeling your repair is going to be a journey. I have Hagerty insurance as well they covered the cost without question. Your repair is going to be a challenge, but they will rather repair than total it and pay out. The first step with my repair was having a Hagerty adjuster come look at the damage. Good luck and I hate that it happened at the start of driving season.

GT40 accident 2

Attachments

Images (1)
  • GT40 accident 2
@LeadPedal posted:

The pan was undamaged, only the square tube engine surround needed replacing. The whole rear section of the body was replaced, spliced at the rockers. A new door, bodywork and paint and it was on the road again. The right rear brake drum was shattered but the swing arm was still ok. It was well over 25 years ago, and it was under 2500 to fix. I was hit while making a left turn. I had a friend do the fabrication and the paint was done by a bodyshop. Those prices and days are gone now. Now you have to bring some lube before you get painting estimates. The car was so light that it actually minimized the damage by bouncing away from the impact instead of holding its ground like a heavier car would do.

"Now you have to bring some lube before you get painting estimates."

You WILL be bringing the "lube" for your insurance agent, won't you?

Thanks Alan that would be much appreciated......

@WOLFGANG posted:

Larry - but the hood looks great .  Apologize for that remark!  Did you save the pieces?  Was it just one or two pieces --- hopefully not shards?   If just 2-3 pieces - it can be pieced back together.  Problem is you have a CMC wide body.  I don't know of anyone that makes that body.  There was a guy in Tampa/Sarasota FL area who bought a complete set of CMC wide body molds from local (to me) Crestview FL guy years ago.  He made a few bodies but then seemed to disappear.  Not sure where the molds got to.  Maybe someone here knows? This was the guy - sure contact info is old -

Bueno Designs 813-468-3372 saleens7bp@gmail.com www.buenodesigns.com

Here's one Miata based speedster he made -

Porsche 356 Speedster with a Mazda Miata Donor | Rare Car Network (rcnmag.com)

I did find this on Facebook but nothing posted since 2014!

(20+) Bueno Designs | Facebook

Local Crestview guy does have a complete body that a plug could be made from for that hunk.  I've read on doing it but never attempted.

Isn't that the same guy Greg alluded to in his post?

Maybe 6 years ago SOC guy in Crestview FL sold his set of original CMC molds to Bueno Designs in Tampa FL.  Not sure where Bueno got to - his Facebook site is quiet since 2014 and web site no longer works.

As Mike Mc said in other thread - the flare appears to be intact -- as is the hood opening and below the horn grill.  I'll send Larry an extra horn grill I have - ight have VS turn signal assemblies.  Headlight is easy $35 pre-67 VW bug headlight - glass lenses may not match.

Post Content
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×