Disaster Struck. I think my baby is gone. :(

Hopefully this car gets fixed, either by you or someone else. Too many ****ty shops that deem this car a write off. I'm with other who mentioned its a relatively easy fix. All the great 355s are slowly disappearing for no good reason.

 

So sorry for you, Eric, that hurts!
Make a project out of it. I have seen race cars with way more damage who got rebuild in shortest time and won races again afterwards. It would be a shame to see your car disappearing.

 

It would take a very mightly force to do that, but anything is possible.

I would say the mounting point on the alloy front upright that holds the bottom wishbone has snapped clean off just like happened to the one in my photos, thus allowing the wheel to push back.

Its a narrow alloy hoop on the upright, very little strength in it, that would let go way before the steel wishbone mounts in the front of the chassis.

I still have the upright, will take a pic and post it up on the weekend.

With regards the screen, I imagine the outer wing snicked the corner of it as it went backwards rather than the bulkhead twisting.

The damage to the one I posted pics of and this car is very similar, no bulkhead damage on that one either but the screen let go from debris hitting it in the impact.

 

Well that just sucks. Sorry to hear about the accident.

 

Sorry for the accident, but glad to hear you have an agreed value policy. I hope the amount is satisfactory to you. That would be the best result, to have them total it, and move on. If fixed, you now have a storied car, with lower value.

 

+1.....best to move on.

 

Trying to figure out my SDL situation I totally missed this. So sorry Eric. Obviously there are a lot of people here who care about that car and more importantly, and a feather in your cap, you.

 

Ill bet a case of beer its the wishbones, they are the week link at that area.

 

Sorry to hear about the accident Eric. Glad you are ok though man, that's the main thing.

Your car was beautiful, it sux seeing it smashed the way it is. I am sure it will be very hard to find another one just like it in that colour combo.

I also have a fear of hitting kangaroos where I like to drive my car. I enjoy driving a 60 km round trip on one of the main roads out of town.

It's a beautiful stretch of road with hills and twists, but it's littered with cattle and kangaroos day and night.

It's easy to see the cattle as they are so big and slow you can avoid them.

The kangaroos on the other hand are extremely fast and very hard to see as they blend in with the surrounding hills and dirt.

I have hit a few roos in my time, glad I haven't been in the Ferrari because they can cause massive damage and hitting one of them would definitely destroy my Ferrari.

 

Agreed. It's painful to think about how many great cars have been written off over the years because they were deemed "not worth repairing", when today collectors would pay pretty much anything to restore those same cars. While the 355 will never be a 275LM, there will come a point in time when people will look at those pics and ask, "Why wasn't that car fixed?!?!?"

Lots of people are perfectly willing to put way more money into their cars than can be recovered at resale value, so why is this any different? The car is imminently fixable and even if you were out of pocket after all was said and done it wouldn't matter at all over the fullness of time, and you'd have the satisfaction in knowing that you saved a nice car.

Lots more involved here than just cash, at least to those of us who love cars. I hope someone saves it unless the damage turns out to be worse than it appears.

 

Hello Eric. I am feeling pain at this.

I know you'll get most if not all of the help you'll need right here.

Even if you have to walk away from her you will have been hers for a time. That will never go away.

May your guidance be true.

 

Sorry to see such a beautiful car with that sort of damage. Hard decision as to what to do. Damned if you do and damned if you don't decision.
Keep her and it's a damaged car that will always haunt you. Give her up and risk not getting another one like her again.
Tough choice buddy.
Really feel for you.

 

Nice post. Totally agree.

 

It's a moot point because the only way to find out if the put the chassis on a frame machine and check it. And I seriously doubt that is going to happen.

If it were my car I would certainly be hoping for it to be declared a total. In fact, I would lobby the insurance company to total it. Better to take the settlement and start fresh. The reality is that the only thing rather unique about Eric's car is the color. Granted, it is pretty, but it doesn't make the character of a 355. Just being realistic. Eric is ok. That's all that matters. The rest is just an emotional response to bent sheet metal.

 

That's completely repairable. We are repairing one that destroyed the whole front end including all the front frames.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

I'm happy to hear you're okay, Eric.

I agree with John and Robert. The car is fully repairable. I frequently see this type of damage, and worse, to Challenge cars at the shop where I have my car serviced. They're repaired in time for the next scheduled race.

For example...





[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2xd7Gf6Qnw[/ame]





When my F355 Challenge was raced, it wound up at the facility several times. They live to see another day...

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That seems strange. See if you can make a call and find out why?

 

Eric - If they have not totaled the car, and you have not agreed to it or any other settlement / repair options, I'd put a stop right now to them touching or moving the car. Further damage is likely if it gets moved around.

 

Pay me first, then you can do whatever you want to do with the vehicle, given that I do not wish to buy it back.

 

Probably not Hyperion Berlinettas. There were either 4 or 6 Hyperions built, including Eric's Berlinetta & my Spider.

 

I assume the car is currently at some garage or other storage facility. The insurance company wants to move the car to somewhere where they won't have to pay for storage. However, they need your permission to move it. They should not be able to move it w/o your permission unless it says something about that in the policy.

I went through the same thing with my BMW except I met the adjusted at the initial storage facility and after he looked at the car and told me it would be totaled, he ask if they could move it which, upon me agreeing, he handed be a form to sign stating such. Like your case, it was to be taken to an auction site yard IAAI, https://www.iaai.com/. Ultimately it sold for $750.

 

Sorry to hear this news. It sucks bad, but you're ok and you can get another car.

I would not repair it if I were in your shoes.

Best of luck.

 

Eric,
I haven't been on the forum in quite a few days or I would have chimed in earlier. I, more than most, share your pain, but don't forget: "Any landing you walk away from is a good landing."

johnk said, "The reality is that the only thing rather unique about Eric's car is the color. Granted, it is pretty, but it doesn't make the character of a 355. Just being realistic. Eric is ok. That's all that matters. The rest is just an emotional response to bent sheet metal." I have to agree with him.

Does your insurance happen to include rental car protection? It is a minor point, but you 'might' be able to use that to help push them in whichever direction you decide.

PM is coming.

 

Every man expects to face pain and agony in his lifetime. Loosing a hot girlfriend, a nasty divorce or caught cheating with your girlfriend friend. These are some things we can recover from rather quickly and back on our feet in no time but having to put down a 355 is heart breaking. No man should ever have to make that decision. And sadly damaged goods will never be new again. At this point It is better to have a memory of the love you lost than to live with the lost you once loved. Put her down is the only sound solution. I hope you find love again. Condolences from all of us 355er. ��