Photos: warning - will make grown men cry
 

I'm not a very religious person, so I always wondered what people meant when they said, "God works in mysterious ways," well today I think I found out, and I think it really just means, "God took a huge crap on me Today."

Chris at Best of Show and I were working out the last round of gremlins on my '69. He fixed the laggy throttle pedal, a crimped vacuum line, and we had just finished bleeding the new rear calipers I ordered to help address my knock back problems. He takes it around the block with me and everything is great. There is no delay on the throttle, the brakes work as they should and don't have any air in the system. we get back, Chris hops out, and I get in the driver's seat. I'm psyched. I'm headed out to the track with the SoCal guys this evening. I pull out of the shop, wait at the light on the corner of the street for a minute, finally it turns green. I nudge the gear lever into first letting it make its familiar little clank, and ease the clutch out while feathering the right pedal. The car feels solid, everything about it finally exudes a natural quality about it. The steering is precise, the brakes firm, and the throttle crisp. I head out into the intersection, roll over the train tracks, and get almost through, then BAMMM!!! Some lady in a Saturn just blew through a red light. This light had been red for so long even Stevie Wonder would have seen it, but no, she just drove through that intersection like I never even existed. First thing I thought was "what the F*** are the odds of this. I couldn't have been in my Mustang. then I realized what Steve Rupp must have felt like...Ugh.

If you have sensitive stomachs, avert your eyes.
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It's ugly but I walked away from it unscathed, without even so much as a single scratch, which makes me extremely fortunate. I think I really have to attribute it to some of the high end, well designed parts on the car. The Forgeline wheel that got the direct impact of the other car has minor scratches in the powder coat. That's it. It might be bent, but it sure as hell didn't crack or break, which is what I would have expected. The subframe might be tweaked, but it held together for the most part. On impact the control arms got pushed all the way into the headers and bounced back. It was the bolts that got pushed through the mounts though. Unbelievable. I would have figured everything would have crumpled like an aluminum can in an old car like this.

As for the preliminary damage report, I need:
a quarter, and we've got to remake the gill openings, front fender, headlight door, an entire RS nose, Marquez valance, Forgeline wheel, Anvil inner fenders and hood, headers, Ring Brothers hood hinges, and a new subframe. The list just goes on, and doesn't include tweaked fixable parts. Hell the entire car needs to be repainted. Hopefully the engine is fine, but it apparently made a horrible noise when Dick turned it over. Might just be the crushed header primary. Hopefully it is nothing more.

So for all of you out there reading this, make sure you have a good insurance policy. As upset as I am, at the end of the day the car is just a big metal money pit, and can be fixed. I think we all dread an event like this ever happening, and I can't express how glad I am to have an agreed value policy with Hagerty right now. That and my well being...

Matt

so sorry to read this Matt, this really sucks. Very happy you're okay. What did the lady have to say?

Jody

Welcome to my little club.. the membership is exclusive, thank God.. I heard you called Dick at BOS and said you'd been "Rupped"..

Glad you are ok, the guys at BOS will have her back better than new in no time.

Just remember to keep a good attitude and let me know if I can help in any way at all.

I heard the front spoiler survived.. in other words look at the positive.

If the engine has any issues (which I doubt) I will help ya get that sorted out. More than likely part of the drive system is hitting part of the frame/rack.

Again, glad you are ok, metal can be fixed.

Sorry to hear she had Mercury Insurance.. but Hagerty will make sure you are ok.

Might be time for another insurance story and sorry about the accident.. huge buzz-kill bummer.

women drivers :willy: Somebody had to say it :)

Seriously at least you're OK and the car's in good hands.

OMG!!!!!!!!! :faint:
Matt, I can't tell you how sorry I am to hear/see this! After all you guys went through trying to get to SEMA last year, and then taking your time sorting the car out this year, and now this! I just can't believe it!

Bottom line is that you are ok....and that's most important!

From the pics it looks like the one-off front spoiler is ok? <---- I'm trying to find more positives here! :(

Holy crap! I feel for you,and glad your ok. Looks like a lot of expensive carange

holy shi* matt! you werent kidding with the grown men cry comment, i was scared to scroll down.

but like mention above glad your OK

Yea, I feel safer on any track or autocross track compared to driving on the highways with "joe public" (or josephine in this case)

Car will bounce back better than ever..

Sorry about your car. It is by the grace of god that you walked away unhurt.

Damn, Matt....So sorry to hear, but most importantly, glad to hear you are OK.

Did she backup and hit you again?

Matt, glad your ok.......hang in there bro.

Glad your OK. Cars can be replaced no matter how much we love them.

Wreck
 

Wow! I am glad you are OK.

Matt,

This is terrible. The good new is that you are alright. Also, you are handling this much better than I would. The guys at BOS will get that Camaro right where it was before this whole thing happened.

yeah really! I think what happened is that she hit me, and did so with enough force to push my car to the left, making the tail kick out into her car.

Holy ****!! That is insane. Unbelievable really. Did you take your shoe off and smack the lady silly?? I would have have. That sucks, man. I was looking forward to getting our camaro's together. Damn..its going to be a while now.
Was the lady alright?
Also.. glad to hear you came out unscathed. Looks like she spun you around. That steel couldn't have been nice to her car!! How fast was she going?

Sorry to read about this, and, looking at the bright side- it could have been worse. Hopefully everything will turn out OK for you.

Wow, your title is right. Glad you're OK too. My hat off to you for staying positive!

I'm speechless. The situation sucks, the timing sucks and the time without the car really really sucks!!!

wow!! really is my worst fear running around on the streets.....its scary to see someone staring at your car and not the road ,people dont take driving serious ...glad your ok man!

That is just sickening. When can you start ordering new parts? Her insurance agent is gonna crap when the bill arrives.

She was probably sending a very important text message at the time. :rolleyes:

Matt........ Sorry! Thats all I can say!!!!! If for any reason you need paint products for this car (ANYTHING) please don't hesitate to give me a call!!! It sounds like you have it handled though. I'll help in any way I can to get my fellow BRO TOURER back on the raod...:D

Mark its funny you say that... The last four accidents that I recieved in my shop were do to cell phone or texting while driving!!! I get aleast one a month usually thats one to many!!!

Wow. Sorry to hear about your car Matt. This is my fear about building a car and driving it on the streets. Good to hear that you are OK and that Hagerty will be taking care of you. I am interested in how Hagerty treats you so please let us know. Hang in there. Now is the time to change anything on the car if needed.

OMG- I'm sick, Matt I feel for you, real happy you came out of it ok. I'm probably the only person in the world that doesn't own a cell phone(nick name Fred Flintstone). If this was the result of a phone call or text I would make her eat the damn thing. Don't want to jump to conclusions but this subject is a pet pieve of mine. My trek to work leaves some punk ass, head on in my lane at least once a month while commuting to work or home. Im thinking about welding a huge piece of I-Beam to the front of my Ram for protection.

I am so sorry this happened to you, you will have her back together even better than before! - Rich

After I threw up I went out and in the parking lot and flipped over ever Saturn in sight!

So glad you are okay my friend... :thumbsup:

BOS "can rebuild her"... they "have the technology!"

Damm Matt.. I can't believe this happened to you.. Most important is that your ok..

DAMN!!!! Sorry Matt! That sucks royally. At least you didn't get hurt.
Hope to see it repaired and back on the road again really soon! TAKE CARE!

Wow Matt, Sorry to see this. Thank goodnees your ok. At least you know your car is in good hands at with Dick and the boys at Best of Show.
Jeff,

Sorry man, glad you made it through un harmed. That's always been a big fear of mine. About a year ago I was cruising in the Camaro down a 4 lane road and a lady on a cell phone pulls out of an apartment complex and didn't even look right! Luckily I noticed and changed lanes and slammed on the brakes. I pulled up beside her and told her to get off her ****** cell phone. They really need to come up with a stiff penalty for texting while driving. I think it should be mandatory that it's hands free as well. It's a huge contributor to me selling my motorcycle last month. Everytime I rode that thing my ass puckered watching all the morons attempt to drive to their destination.

Glad you're ok Matt and sorry to hear about (and now see) the accident. I'm sure that the guys at BOS will have you back on the road in no time (fingers crossed).

Look at the bright side - you can debut a new car at Del Mar again next year! (hopefully sooner)

Wow that sucks. Glad health is ok, look forward to seeing it back together. Positive thing is maybe put her back together even better.

Glad to hear you are OK! Keep us posted on Hagerty's involvement. I have them as well with a stated value policy and appraisal, etc. I hope for the best, but fear for the worst driving behind these yahoo's on their cell phones.

That is just BAD NEWS!!
after all that hard work and time, i hope your insurance company is paid up. and that they don't turn into D!@ks
glad ur ok

Man those pics are rough. Glad to hear your Ok. Be glad that lady was not driving her Peterbuilt. It can always be worse.

Oh man, I really feel for you. You could paint it a different color and it would be like you got a new car.

Thank God you are alright. Sorry to hear/see the damage to your car, it's one of my favorites. Keep your head up, it will be better than ever in no time!

Michael.

Wow...holy crap.

My "car vs wheel on the highway" incident pales in comaprison to that.

Glad you are okay........

So...gotta ask.....what were your first words to the lady when you got out of the car ? :)

Look at it this way....you can make it even better this time.