I got hit in a rear end collision today. The young chick couldn't stop fast enough in the rain while I sat at a stop light. I'm negotiating with the insurance carrier now. Anyway, the car should be salvagable, but I'm looking for the 2 rear tailights and maybe a tip or two for pulling out the rear body a bit. I will need a new driver seat also unless I can fix the original ( won't stay up now). Any ideas? You guys have always been a big help. A photo can be seen at:

http://hometown.aol.com/jerjensen

I can email other photos if that would help. Thanks and have a great day! Oh yea, if it has to be written off what would be a "negotiable" price for such a valuable antique?

that doesnt look to bad! the boot looks ok and the tail lights dont look broken. it will have a rimply backboot floot but you should beable to get the back pannel pulled out. I dont know what its like there but here in nz insurance co's seem to hate old cars and will write them off any chance they get. the problem about writing it off is if you want to keep it you have to buy it back and it will have a record of being written off. My advice would be talk to the lady and tell her its not good for her to go through the insurance co coz it will put her costs up and see if you can reach an agreement. it still might cost you a bit but you keep the car it gets fixed and both of you dont get stuffed arround.

my 1000 was like that when i bought it (back in 1999, i think). Probly a bit worse, the boot lid (thankfully) wasn't damaged (or had already been fixed) but overhang in the middle by about 12-15cm (hmmm, thats about 5 inches).

I used a few bits of wood, 2 jacks and a few hours with a hammer and my collection of random panel beating dollies, hammers and random steel bits, etc to straignten it as best as i could. My lights were/are a bit second hand but still work and don't leak. The boot seals again and i straigntened my bumper but haven't refitted it.

So they can be fixed pretty easily - even by someone with no previous experience (but access to a wealth of info on the web).

Lots of good advice so far and emails. I'll get this baby up and running again I think and yes, I have no bodywork experience, but I think I'm gonna get some real fast. I'm using this board to prove to the insurance that these cars are still very much alive even though they are old. They are talking of writing it off and letting me buy it back and that depends on the money that changes hands. The car got hit at about 40 mph and I'm surprised it didn't get damaged worse. I felt like a "crash dummy" getting knocked back then when hitting the car in front of me getting thrown forward again. That deserves a drink!!! Thanks to all.....

Sorry to hear about your smashup, oldman but, say, was this young lady a hottie? Okay, I know, that was inappropriate

Hey OldDatsunman,
Have a look down along the side panels above the rear wheels (wheel arch area).
If the body shape is undamaged there, no protruding distortion, then the damage should be fairly easily repaired as it is local to the rear.
Dig your heels in against the insurance co., it is your car not theres, they will only be interested in the cheapest solution not the best solution.
If you can't avoid a total loss situation then insist on a cash settlement and retain the car.
Don't let them take the car and make you buy back.

Id say that $1500 might be the upper limit of repair before the insurance "totals" it. And it looks like getting it repaired without paint might be more.
Get some estimates right away. You can use those to negotiate with the girl and maybe settle with out going to the insurance.
If she does go to the insurance, and they total your car, you will need to find classified ads(newspapers, internet, whatever) of your car to help establish a value.
Your car is a valuable, historic antique...to you (and us). To everyone else it's worthless. you might get $1500

My car was hit something like that in 1984.
thats when it got resprayed..soon to get
resprayed again.. "Tens and Twentys" and
Dimlight65 are in Ft Worth.. Dimlight has like 10 1200s in various stages.. you should
see about getting his help....
Wubbits

Yea, the young girl that hit me was half my age and a hottie and she is 24. Anyway, I'll have to email Dimlight. I meant to visit him this last summer, but like everything else something kept coming up to go over there. My rear bearings went out early in the summer if you remember those posts. I figured about $1500 to $2000 for a settlement and I won't bother them (the insurance guys) anymore. Wheel wells are clear. The trunk lid is stuck down at the moment, but is not warped itself or anything. Also, the front end was mashed up about 1/2" so it should be easy to pull back. I had to remove the grill to access the hood latch to pop it. Radiator is intact and no engine or drive train problems. Thanks to everyone once again.

Good news. The insurance will settle without hassle. The lights all work except for the blinkers (turn sigs). I pulled out the bumper and the last thing is to pull out the body panel. So we are about ready to be road worthy again. Thanks for all the help to you folks.

Web page; http://hometown.aol.com/jerjensen I prefer homebrew wine and I'm enjoying a bit right now.