From the pics you are showing, it doesn't look too bad, but the door looking tight means that all moved. How about a pic of the whole quarter from the door back. It will probably need time on a frame machine to pull the chassis back out. While that may sound bad, I the hands of a guy with some skills, it should be fine. My white Comet was wrecked a couple times before I got it (as a 9 year old car). The entire front end sheetmetal had been replaced. Even aligned as well as could be, you couldn't drive 50 without a hand on the wheel. The only remaining original straight metal on the car was the pass rear quarter and the roof. We got into an accident where a large truck shoved in the passenger side front, shock tower and all. The car spent 4 hours on a frame machine. It was arrow-straight after that ... probably better than most of these cars were made .... 75 mph.... no hands on the wheel ... no fear. I don't think your car will be nearly that kind of challenge. Just got to convince folks that it warrants the work to make it good. RazorSharp (Ray) can tell you a lot better.... auto body is his biz.
I guess it'll all come down to, how you have your car insured, and what value they based the insurance on. If it ends up getting repaired at a shop, you'll be looking at a grand easily, if the valve of the car is close to that....you'll have to wait and see. Since you don't have collector car insurance, or agreed value insurance, you'll just have to see what the insurance company feels like doing, if they decide to total it, hold out, and don't take the first offer.
Also, look into the laws in IL regarding salvaged/rebuilt vehicles. Here in FL that is a death sentence ... the car can't be registered again in the state if labelled that .... it can be fixed and shipped off somewhere else ... :16suspect If you can only get the insurance to settle for so much, but IL will allow you to fix the car and inspect/re-register, and you can fix it for close to that, it may give you another option.
I would be getting repair estimates from some shops ASAP, I always went to the higher end shops and got three different estimates.
I all depends on the insurance company. I have had 2 minor accidents and 1 moderate one, all the other drivers' fault, and all of the ins companies handled the situation differently. The 2 minor ones I had to fight like he77 just to get a few hundred dollars out of them and the moderate one the adjuster came to where I worked and looked at it, made a call and cut me a check for more than I thought it was worth without so much as a cross word. I would definitely get estimates and keep them handy in the event you have to do battle. Good luck!
Well it's going to be interesting the guy didn't want to go through insurance so he sent me one last email before I call in the morning saying that my car is basically a piece of crap and it's worth no more then $300 on a good day and that to avoid insurance he would give me $500 which is utter bs so I guess let the fight begin ;(
He also said that the reason he only wants to offer $500 is because and I quote him "you can buy a completely restored 73 maverick grabber for $7k" I laughed really hard
Seen them for 7k and less, but that is neither here or there , he's trying to strong arm you don't let that fin happen. If he wants a fight give him one, heck gonna suck to be him when karma comes back around
when i got into my car accident two years ago the people had 1700 dollars in damage but it looked like nothing. still waiting for the insurance company to come look at my car to tell me if its a write off or not. Im happy to hear your okay and stuff hold out and get as much as you can. I know here in canada they wanna close ASAP as low as possible. the longer you wait the more they will pay, here in canada at least. wish you all the best!
Getting my first estimate tomorrow or wedsnesday I believe from a mustang restoration shop that all they do is mustangs ( and cars of similar aka maverick lol)
I'm getting into this late, but DO NOT ACCEPT anything less from his insurance company then what it cost to repair it properly and any other out of pocket expenses you have. He was at fault not you. You do not have to accept less. If they balk, turn them into your state AG office. In California they would be charged with triple damages for trying that crap. The claims person may try to cut you down because that is their job..SAVE money. They must make you whole. I just sold my UNRESTORED Maverick for $7k, telling you they can buy a restored one for that means nothing. Not relevant. You have suffered a loss by their insured. If he has not got insurance, then small claims is the way to go and when you win due to his failure to pay, you can lock up his bank accounts and garnish his wages. If you have to get an attorney, they will have to pay for that too if they keep stalling you.
Nope trust me I dont plan on it personally I found what he had to say about the value of Mavericks insulting..
