He didn't look. Backed right into me!

[HighMileage]

This is the last thing I need right now... I was about 20ft behind a Dodge p/u,sitting at a redlight when all of the sudden he puts it in Reverse! I guess he missed the driveway he was going for. (Contractor..plywood in the bed)

I layed on the horn and scrambled for reverse,but he was coming too fast.

Cops came and filled out a report. Luckily he admitted fault and didn't say I rear-ended him.

Ugh... The new NOS fillers from nos4gn. Ugh...the light and bezel from g-body parts... The aluminum reinforcement! The upright on the header panel!

There will be a phone call to his insurance company first thing Monday!!

No expense is spared to keep this 80,000mi car pristine.

It looks like I'll be looking for parts soon here. Thinking about a fiberglass bumper.
I'll need a *quality* header panel.

I'm sick about this!

 

[TurboDave]

Holy crap!!!!!!

 

[BOP4ever]

Wow that sucked!
At least it is fixable !

 

[whitehot1]

Sorry about your car but glad you didn't get injured.

It can be fixed though,make him pay !!

 

[Phoneguy]

Man that sucks !!!
I think the trailer hitch kept you from a lot more damage ...
Good luck with the repairs

Bryan

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Same thing just happened to my bud's $130K street rod. Some bozo backed into the dr ft fender, @ the car show.
1 dent, exotic paint = $1900 @ the street rod shop that painted it to begin with..
Sorry bout the wreck.. At least he didn't try to screw you. That'll be the ins co's job.
State farm tried to stall, multiple pics, adjuster {2}, estimate, etc. Wanted hiim to get 3 estimates. That $hit lasted just about 10 sec. Then they demanded a pic of the odometer, B4 they'd issue a demintion of value check.
Hang tuf, don't let them bully/bs you.

 

[HighMileage]

Thanks everyone for the condolences.

I'd really like to take the pressure off the bumper filler,but I think it's best to wait for an adjuster.

What sux also is that I won't drive the car like this.

Has anyone had good luck with aftermarket header panels?

At least I have a *before* pic.

 

[HighMileage]

After:

 

[BEATAV8]

Mine got doinked last year exact same way, but not nearly as bad as yours. Repair was nearly $2K. All I needed for parts was a new filler, bumper strip, and bumper shock, signal lens.

 

[DarthBuick]

My wife backed into mine about an hour ago

 

[BEATAV8]

I had to rate that post "dislike" cus dents just suck! At least we are keeping the body shops wealthy.

 

[BEATAV8]

If it's any consolation, the car usually looks better after fixin' than it did before the accident.....

 

[HighMileage]

If it's any consolation, the car usually looks better after fixin' than it did before the accident.....

That should be true in my case. When I bought my GN,it had the wrong header panel. I can still see where a hood ornament hole is. No one else has ever noticed. I see it.

My Q is where to get one?

My perfect bumper "cover" is wasted now. Had it powdercoated gloss a few years ago.
I'm thinking of going fiberglass if it looks exact.

Any tips on where to get a header panel or if a fiberglass bumper is a good choice?

Luckily he didn't hit me on the Alky pump side. How do you explain to an adjuster what an Alky pump is?

DarthBuick... Sorry to hear about your car. I can empathize.

 

[BEATAV8]

A good used header is probably your best bet, locally so you don't have to ship. The body shop I used took care of getting the parts for me and they found stuff off the shelf that I thought was nearly impossible to find, like an NOS front filler. That way they have the receipts and they just bill it to the insurance. The most important things for you to worry about is finding a great body shop and getting a valid claim number from the other guys insurance company. As expected, the insurance co will low ball you and the shop in the beginning with a lame estimate, and only the shop can make an "adjustment" and justify it with the insurance. The insurance company won't give 2 shits what you or I have to say.....

When I got hit, the young lady that hit me had Kemper and they turned out to be OK. But the only thing I ever told Kemper was my own VIN and insurance policy number with state farm. Once they looked it up in their system and saw that I had full coverage on an old car, they knew they were going to have to fix it. From there on out everything that happened was between the body shop and Kemper (Kemper adjuster). If you want good parts, you have to tell the body shop cus they're working for you and they'll get you the best they can.

 

[skidlid]

That should be true in my case. When I bought my GN,it had the wrong header panel. I can still see where a hood ornament hole is. No one else has ever noticed. I see it.

My Q is where to get one?

My perfect bumper "cover" is wasted now. Had it powdercoated gloss a few years ago.
I'm thinking of going fiberglass if it looks exact.

Any tips on where to get a header panel or if a fiberglass bumper is a good choice?

Luckily he didn't hit me on the Alky pump side. How do you explain to an adjuster what an Alky pump is?

DarthBuick... Sorry to hear about your car. I can empathize.

In April an employee backed into mine in my parking lot. It damaged my impact strip and ruined my header. I own a body shop so I called all my suppliers but could not locate a used header or an aftermarket one. I purchased one off eBay after calls to supporting vendors did not turn any up. One said in 90 days maybe he would have some. The one off eBay was of poor quality but with much work looks good now. If I was to charge out the labor to make the header correctly fit and fix flaws it would have been another 400 dollars. I would try the used route if I did it again but I just could not find one and wanted the repairs done in a timely matter. Nothing against State Farm but the Estimate may take a while to resolve between you and them since it is a collector car and quality parts should be used!

 

[skidlid]

I do have a post somewhere describing all the work required to make the aftermarket header acceptable. It was either in general or restoration in early May.

 

[DarthBuick]

If it's any consolation, the car usually looks better after fixin' than it did before the accident.....

I was going to strip the car and repaint it next week anyway. A good friend owns a body shop and I have use of it at night. I will paint it myself. OH and thanks for the dislike

 

[skidlid]

Looking at your picture the best option may be to repair your header. It is hard to see how much damage there is but if I could have repaired mine I would have !

 

[HighMileage]

My header has been repaired many times by the previous owner. Or maybe the previous owners of that header panel? It's a regular Regal one. Both sides of the header where the marker lights go in is all glued together pieces.

This header panel has many flaws but fits correctly. ...but this accident finished it off.

I know one vendor here had aftermarket header panels,but I don't see them on their site anymore.

The insurance company the guy in the pickup who backed into me is Allstate.

Today I noticed the bumper is tilted up.

I need an adjuster here soon so I can start taking this thing apart to take the pressure off the grille and nos filler.

I'm glad there isn't sheet metal damage.

I've totaled up about $1,700 in parts between 2 vendors here who I have used many times.

That doesn't include a header or aluminum reinforcement. That's just in parts. No shipping.

First thing Monday morning they will be getting a call!

 

[87GNSteve]

Stay away from the aftermarket ones fitment is terrible and nothing lines up.
You need to search and find a regal one and fill the hole unless someone has a nice GN one.