In response to Thrillrider's admonition to include pics with our posts, I decided to post an update on The Banzai Runner. Some of you may be aware that just over a year ago someone in an SUV backed into my Pantera while it was parked. The SUV backed into the driver's side front fender and folded it in atop the tire. I contemplated going with an expert paintless dent repair guy, but the fact was the paint was scraped, cracked/split and popped off the fender in several places and I didn't want to live with an unsightly touch-up. So the decision was made to have it repaired by traditional means. Since the original paint is not available in California and cannot be matched, the body shop was going to repaint the entire fender, the entire hood, blend across the top of the passenger side front fender, the A-piller (adjacent to the windshield) and the entire roof (since there's no "cut-line" from the fender to the roof), the driver's door would be repainted, and the driver's side rear quarter panel would be blended/repainted. Literally 2/3's of the car needed to be repainted to make things look uniform from the front 3/4 view after repairing the front driver's side fender. Unfortunately, thing's won't look so uniform from the opposite rear corner as the back half passenger side and rear decklid would all be wearing original paint, so I made the decision to have the whole car repainted.
The insurance saga was interesting to say the least. I tried to work directly with the other guy's insurance (Farmers) since there was no question of fault (he/they both admitted fault). Reputable local shops who are experienced with specialty and exotic vehicles gave me estimates ranging from $6,500-$9,500, but Farmer's claims adjuster came up with an estimate of only $1,500 to fix the damage. So Farmer's sent me a check for $1,500. Sure, they said they'll work with the shop on any "adjustments," but when I was at one of the aforementioned shops for an estimate there was another adjuster their arguing the repair costs for a Jaguar and proposing substitution of import parts to get costs down. It didn't inspire confidence and I refused to be held over a barrel by an insurance company and body shop as they look for ways to cut corners (I mean 'cost'). So, I called Hagerty, my insurance company. They were great! Their claims adjuster came out and wrote up an estimate of "at least" $6,800 with an "up to $2,500 additional cost expected/anticipated" once repair work was underway. Hagerty said to send the Farmer's check back and let them know that Hagerty will follow-up the claim, and to take my Pantera to the shop of my choice. They "want to make sure it's fixed to my satisfaction, and if costs exceed their estimate, the shop will merely submit an adjustment."
I had to wait several months to get my car into my shop of choice, but I dropped it off at the end of February.
The good news... The body guy (who's a Pantera owner, know's Panteras, and has painted a number of Panteras) loves my car! I've lost count of how many times he's told me just how nice my car is! He's taken it down to bare metal and there is NO rust! Panel gaps are excellent and consistent throughout. There is no evidence of any prior accidents/repairs. And, there's NO rust under the windshield or in any of the usual places!
Anyway, the car is now in primer. Doors, hood and decklid have been blocked and are in primer-sealer, ready for color. He's finishing up blocking the body, and we expect to have the car finished by the end of November!
But, it's a slippery slope... New windshield, re-chrome the bumpers, side marker lights, all new rubber seals and body gaskets, window channels and cat whiskers, etc.
Ok, that's a LOT of text and backstory before getting to the pics.
The extent of the damage is not visible in this pic. Top of fender is bowed/buckled, as well as lower fender in front of and behind wheel opening.
