Stingydonut

Well i think its time i tell my corvette story and thank you all, as there is a little peace of all of you in this car who helped me along the way directly and indirectly and there is some extremely important information here that you MUST consider (insurance payout included).. This car has changed my life in many ways for better or worse. I always wanted to work on cars but unlike many people who had fathers that knew about cars to teach them i didn't have a father who knew anything about working on cars, and we never really did much together. but i always remembered hearing about his 1971 Ontario orange stingray corvette with a 454. I got the itch for a project but there was no way i could afford a 71 as they go for far more than i had to spend. so instead i spotted a a 1981 with 85k miles. man was this thing beat up it looked like it had a disease with paint flaking off every inch of it. But it ran drove and stopped with the exception of a flattened cam shaft. rust free and good enough for me at 2500 bucks.
i got it home and the first thing i did was body work which took me forever (sorry but i need the car to look good first so im motivated enough to finish the project). the paint job you're looking at is a maaco paint job... yes MAACO . So to those people who doubt those paint jobs... do your bodywork yourself and you might be surprised if you buy the higher end package. as this car definitely looks better than some ive seen with 8000+ dollar paint jobs. i addressed the camshaft issue and essentially wound up rebuilding the entire top end while i was at it ( mind you i never even changed a spark plug before i found this forum and i was doing this with hand tools and a headlamp in a freezing storage unit with no electricity.) when that engine finally lit back up for the first time and ran perfect i have never been so proud of myself! i called my dad and he could not believe i didn't blow myself or the car up. After that i completely re did the interior including re skinning the doors (see my old posts about it). much of the front end was rebuilt.... just about everything besides pulling it off the frame was rebuilt or restored in some way or another.
Me and my father took it to a bunch of shows and really reconnected over this car. people really went crazy over the interior. unfortunately about 10 months ago i took it down the road just to test out my new alignment. and while going about 35mph a woman not paying attention and looking at her phone ran a stop sign and smashed into my passenger side HARD... spun me around and sent me over 4 lanes total into oncoming traffic. Man that hurt. and what hurt worse was when the ambulance got me out looking at the damage as i was taken away. (i was/am still injured but im alive). for those curious to know i was in this car for 8,500 dollars total with the car included, and because i documented everything i did to it and kept receipts insurance payed me out $18,880 dollars for the car. i let it go and didnt buy it back, it was knocked off the frame slightly and the whole car was bent down the middle it was beyond what anyone would be willing to spend fixing an 81. the axle took most of the impact so thats why the car itself doesn't look that bad but it was a hard hit.

MORAL OF THE STORY! i really learned a lot about myself with this build. If you have children... teach them spend time with them even if they are grown. KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS AND DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. insurance cares about that stuff. and keep this forum alive...i have never seen a community as helpful and involved as this one. thank you so much. and if you wonder how yours will hold up in an accident..... well mine was pretty bad and im still alive.


ys

Bill781

So sorry for the loss of something you obviously put so much of yourself into. Glad you're OK from the accident. It's a great story--thanks for sharing.

Stev-o

Sorry to hear of your loss. Silver lining is that you did document everything and received a fair payoff.

So...are you shopping for a replacement?

PS. I grew up working on cars with my Dad and can hold my own in the garage wrenching. When my daughter recently got her first cat, I taught her to check the oil, tire pressure and to change a flat tire.

Crimson Thunder

Glad you're OK. Now take that $18,000 and buy the 71 Ontario Orange you originally wanted.

Greg

orourke

RIKKI Z-06

This just sux, people distracted on their stupid phones should be prosecuted just like a DUI. What a beautiful car now totalled.

jr9170

doorgunner

EXACTLY! The Ignorant *itch......and that term goes for male drivers too. Now... let the lawyer collect your next check to cover medical costs/also, so you can buy/cash sale the turn-key Vette of your choice.

Stingydonut

thanks alot guys! yea i dont think i can ever put that much work into a car again. too much of an attachment to it. im for sure going for something turn key and just do a few things to make it my own.... like possibly tomahawk cruise missiles for those who can barely walk and chew gum at the same time but decide to text and drive.

hdeyong

I absolutely agree, it should be a criminal offence. She could have killed this poor guy.

Rescue Rogers

I think its awesome that you and your dad got to go to car shows together and hang out. Thats swesome. To bad about the car but you can buy another one now

Rescue Rogers

Who is your insurance company, I may considerr a switch

bikesnbroadheads

sorry you have become another victim of an unattentive driver because of a cell phone. the car can be replaced but people cant. hopefully you will make a 100% recovery. I to am impressed with the payout from your insurance company.most of them don't care what you have in the car and go by bluebook value unless you have collectors insurance with an agreed value.

leadfoot4

DaGuvner

Very sorry for this horrible luck and I hope you don't mind me asking. What company was the insurance provider? Who set the insurance limit / car value? And did the company total it? (assume so since you mentioned buy back)

BlueL82

The fact that they were on their phone makes my furious. Hope to see you back in a vette soon

BigBlock77

Glad to hear you made it through okay, I hope you fully recover from the injuries. I quit riding my motorcycle thanks to close calls with cell phone using idiots. I'd also love to hear more about your insurance company, as I think there is a very good lesson learned here on value.

ajrothm

Now with $18,800 in your pocket, you can pick up a nice 71’ Ontario orange SB car....

Lemons : Lemonade.

billcarson

thank god there was no fire as the tank and vent are close by.on my modified version anyway.(ext fuel pump there too) glad you are ok.likely need time to rethink things too.best of luck on your choice.