Not a good day yesterday

[RICH MUISE]

one more...dent in the doorhandle was surprising

[Ford Blue blood]

Go away for the weekend to a "no techno" house and the world comes apart.....really sorry Rich, stuff happens, no one hurt, plenty of metal bent but it can all be fixed.  Just really glad no one was hurt!

[JPotter57]

It really doesnt look as bad as I was expecting it to.  That should be quick work for an insurance shop...  Still hate to see it happen to you though Rich..

[hiball3985]

Not good but not as bad as I had visioned.

[Jeff Norwell]

Heartbreaking..... but glad you are not hurt Rich.

[gasman826]

a little rubbing compound and ..........

[hotroddonnie]

Wow Rich! I'm still bracing myself for the first stone chip! Good luck on the repair. HRD

[billd5string]

Been offline for a few days, just saw this - as everyone said, thank God no one was hurt, but oh man that just makes me physically sick to hear about that. I had a '65 truck project I had just finished up with putting in a big block, power steering, disc brakes, air conditioning, etc. and someone ran a red light and totaled it at 450 miles (I still have the new speedo to prove if). So I feel your pain and am thankful the damage to you and your car wasn't a lot worse.

Bill

[RICH MUISE]

Definetlly could have been a lot worse, but as I mentioned I think the real hard part is going to get the wrinkles and waves out.

[djfordmanjack]

Rich, agreeing with that it's hard to understand or see the wrinkles and waves in pics, but it seems the rocker and a and B pillars were not disturbed, so you are very lucky with that sheet metal repair too. I know that it is hard getting rid of waves for the average home builder, but a dedicated professional will get your og sheetmetal back to where it was in no time. a 57 body, fender and door give very nice access from the inside so all the dents can be properly removed. I don't have to repair it nor pay for it, but that is only half bad. She'll be like new in no time.

[clusterbuster]

Sorry for all your trouble Rich. Glad no one was hurt. Looks to me like you wouldn't need a door skin on that kind of damage, but you cant see the entire damage with your picture I guess. We all get things like this happening, and I have had many similar to yours. Get her fixed up and she will be good as ever.

[Limey57]

That is awful.......  A few years ago a guy in the UK was killed when a ho rod with no neutral safety switch was started in reverse, it's something I'm always concerned about, a runaway car is deadly.

My 2013 Mercedes is manual and that won't start unless you depress the clutch pedal, as others have said it must be possible to do something similar using the brake light circuit?

Hope it gets sorted Rich, there's nothing more depressing than a freshly built car suffering damage.

[rmk57]

I wouldn't wire an automatic trans cars neutral safety switch in with the brake switch. You could still potentially still start the car in gear.
I think originally with the ford o matic they only start in neutral, that's the way mine is setup anyway.

[RICH MUISE]

Grundy seems to be taking care of things. I talked to the rep handling the claim and he has passed my contact info on to two adjusters. One is for the building damage and the other is for my car. The building appraiser called tonight and will be there tomorrow. It may be a few days before I hear from the auto damage appraiser. Apparently he's out of town.
I did bring the car to two body shops, as well as talking to my friend about him doing it. Kinda caught between a rock and a hard spot on my friend. He's an excellent body man and painter, but he's headed out of town next week for a month or so. I feel obligated to bring him the work because he's been my mentor for the past 8 years or so, but I have a feeling it'll be at least few months before it gets done at his shop....and there goes the summer. One of the two  shop I went to  does upper end cars and painting for shops like Pinkies in Denver. They recently did work on a car that had a 12 page spread in rodders journal. Once everything is cleared with Grundy, he said no more than 3 weeks.
It's looking like I need to have a serious sit-down with my friend. If he really needs the work, I'll wait on him.

Jeff...if you're reading this,the other shop is Mark Warrick's shop. (I got a tour of his dad's private shop today and got to sit in that gorgeous 51 Merc Bill bought from Bob Owens. I love that car.) I found out Bill went to school with Bob's dad in Wellington. The world keeps getting smaller.
forgot...both shops told me it would be easier to repaint the sheetmetal on the door than to replace the skin, so I won't need to take Outlaw up on his offer. Thanks again Rick!!

[RICH MUISE]

Forgot this too.....Zap...it IS looking like I'm going to need that spear. I only need the front section though...will save on a bunch of packing time. I'll send a pm.