A moment of silence for a fallen car.. Penny goes down..
 

It was the best week. Penny was done, on the road, and any issues were minor. She ran fast, ran hard and felt great.

The people on the road like her, they snapped pictures and tossed "thumbs ups" wherever she went.

It was the culmination of 1.5 years of re-doing her into what I envisioned. A lot of people put in a lot of time and it showed, I was tired but proud.

Since last Friday I had been driving her a lot. Nearly 500 miles so far. Today (Saturday) I was going to take her down to Best Of Show Coachworks so we could rack her up and do a "bolt check". Mainly just to make sure everything was nice and tight. We were also going to fix the window trim that came loose and fix the resulting nick. Small stuff. Was also going to take the guys for a ride in the car.

Got on the 91 fwy and headed off. Car was running sweet and it was nice. In Corona I hit traffic. No surprise, this is California. It was the type that went then stopped, then went then stopped.

I was stopped in Penny.. fully stopped when I heard the screeching of tires. I never saw the full sized GMC 4x4 truck... but I felt the impact.

Luckily I had my foot on the brake rather than just sitting in neutral. That kept me from eating the car in front of me. That and the large gap I generally leave as a cushion.

I knew I was screwed.. royaly.

The guy was sorry, I was furious. At first I thought he pissed himself then I realized he had spilled a drink all over himself. I wanted to choke him.. to death.. repeatedly. After many curse words I calmed and realized that he was sorry. Hey, it's not like he set out that day to screw up my life. The good news it that it was a fully (and I assume heavily) insured company truck. If you live in SoCal you know that was a relief.

He admitted full fault to myself and the CHP. What else could he say with the back of my car creamed? Nothing... I had the flatbed truck carefully load her up and take her to Best Of Show for repair. I'm sure it will take months.

The bad: Needs all new sheetmetal in the back except the roof. Both quarters, both valances, trunk, etc.

The good: (there's always good) the hit was high so all the energy went into the quarters and not the frame which on cursory inspection looks fine. She drives and moves... Oh, and I'm ok.

I was wearing my full harness, it kept me in place and also kept me from banging the cage. I'm sore, I have a headache, but I not in the hospital.

There was really nothing I could do, I was fully stopped in traffic. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I guess that's life. I'm sure his insurance will pay (after being a Pain in the ass). BOS is very versed in dealing with insurance companies, so I'm not concerned.

Penny will live again, with fresh sheetmetal and even nicer body work. I joked with the BOS guys that the only f'd panels are the ones that they didn't paint. lol

I will post a picture.. but it's not for the faint of heart.. Remember to be safe out there. You can do EVERYTHING right and still get tagged by someone yapping on a cell phone, sucking down a latte or putting on makeup. It's an inatentive world.
here's the bad part....

ack!

http://picsorban.com/upload/deadpenny.jpg

HOLY ****!!!!! dude i would of **** in his mouth, man i am glad to hear your ok, and at least it does not appear that it got into the rails or roof, damn
on second look, you sure the rear of the drivers rail did not get pushed or folded?? thats right where it attaches to the tail panels inner panel.

WOWthat sucks, I cannot say that I would be the same, I would have flipped his car over and over and over. I cannot imagine the heartbreak, all that work.

man that sux, i feel your pain

The worst part is that those were OEM factory, rust spared original body panels.. :(

The good part is that it can, and will be fixed.. Just a pain in the ass.

Would have done no good to beat down the guy. I'm sure he didn't want to him me anymore than I wanted to be hit. He just zoned out and I had to pay the price.

Unbelievable Steve. At least you came out relatively unscathed. Like you said, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Penny was - and is - and will be again - a masterpiece.

Man that sux. Glad that no one was hurt. hope everything works out.:)

That is my worst fear with my car.

OMG!! That honestly made me sick to my stomach!!

I'm glad you are alright!! To show her crazy bitch attitude she wouldn't let her name (licensee plate) get defaced!! It looks like most of the high dollar parts survived. I guess the fuel system is safe....not that Larry wanted to test a cap this way!

Well on the positive side (if there is one) you got the shoot done last week and you did get to drive her a bit...before this setback.

If that guy was a car guy at all I bet he was feeling REAL bad!!

SOAB this sucks!! :mad:

Yep, and thier's no defense.. like getting hit by a meteor. You just hope you're not sitting in the target zone.

She took the hit and sucked the damage into the best areas. At least the frame and suspension is fine. (I hope)

In positive news. I finished shooting her for Super Chevy friday night.. Her feature will still go on :)

Oh man Steve, that totally sucks.

I am sure Penny will come back better than ever.

I told the guy that I wouldn't post his picture online.. people might hunt him down. lol

Yea, the fuel system never spilled a drop. I could have drove home except one LED board bit the dust. The license plate is in perfect shape. An island of perfection in a sea of distruction.

I told the guy to look for the August Super Chevy so he can show his friends which car he destroyed.. lol.. That made him feel really bad.

That and the shouts from the passer-bys saying "OH MY GOD!!!" and other shouts of sympathy for Penny.

man Steve sorry to hear this
atleast your OK the car can always be fixed but geez that guy needs a few slaps

WOW!!! My stomach really hurts seeing that. Like everyone else has said, at least you are relatively ok. Knowing your past, I'm sure Penny will come out bigger and better. Since she still runs, and has a couple scratches, now might be the time to run her around a track without worrying. Sorry....

Hey, I should call BULLRUN... :rofl:

The painter at BOS almost cried.. Now they get to say they painted the WHOLE car.

Here's a shot I took 15 hours before... Sorta sexy with the rain clouds in the background...

http://picsorban.com/upload/pennytime.jpg

MY MY MY MY MY......:wow:

Go to a Dr. in the morning if you feel any internal...or any pain for that matter! My wife is still hurt from getting rearended a few years ago! She has a screwed up sholder for life....and you took a WAY bigger hit!! Keep track of all expences, you'll need it in the end!!

A couple years ago a friend of mine told me of a 'very nice' first gen Camaro on the side of a freeway near where I live that just got rear ended. It appeared the car was just finished and the poor owner was in tears on the side of the road! Man, I'm not sure how I'd feel if this happed to me. I've been working on mine for 5yrs and still have a ways to go! That's work/time they can't pay you for in my mind!

At least BOS knows you and Penny real well and you both are in good hands!!

Simply sickening. :willy: :( :mad:

Thanks guys.. I'm trying to keep a positive attitude.. and I will see if I feel any better tomorrow.

Thanks!!
 

That helped put a smile on my face! What a Bad Bitch she is!!

so sorry brah, good to hear you are OK, sheetmetal can be replaced and so can that brand new complete subframe:unibrow:

wow
 

damn steven

thats terrible
i would be in a state of shock !!! ida probably stroked out...:omg:
so it appears just sheetmetal damage? cause thats a hard lick ....
damn sorry to hear that this happened......i guess the good part was you didnt make a sandwich outa her by hitting the car in front of you .more freakin work
just what you needed!!!
good luck..post some cut up picks ..

radrambler

The hit was nearly straight and dead center. The frame is pretty stout with the cage and all. We crawled under and it looks square. so far.

The hit was high and that was a blessing. Most of the energy traveled through the quarters and soft rear valances.

Been there, done that...

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/da.../DerekOuch.jpg

Cars can be fixed. Don't let this kill your enthusiasm for the car... it did for me for a while. Even after it was fixed, I couldn't enjoy driving it because I was so paranoid. I was even really close to selling it at one point, then I realized how fun it is to modify it, and the enthusiasm and fun of driving it came back. :thumbsup: When I realized I fixed it once (er... twice if you count the resto), and I could do it again, the paranoia went away.

BTW, that's Keith Anderson's El Camino in the background before it became a bitchin' PT ride. :)

I forgot the BESTEST part...

I got a ticket for no proof of insurance. It was in my bag in the trunk and it wouldn't open.

:rofl:

Glad to hear you were not hurt too bad. Keep up the positive attitude and it is still one of the baddest cars out there. That picture is sick, my new background.

steve , when it rains it poors. if i can help let me know.
rick k

Bummer
 

Steve,
Glad to here you are OK, bummed about Penny, but as they said about Steve Austin "we can build him faster, stronger, better".
Kevin

i got one
 

thats crazy
on a lighter note
....every part on the back of the car got squished..but the custom tag...
go figure....

damn lucky he didnt hit those pretty fuel lines i see....:wow:
did ya get my last email?

radrambler

hell i guess you have to laugh to keep from crying..:wow:

It's f'd up, no doubt about it, but it can be fixed. I just get a bunch more drama in my life and I have a killer headache..

:censored: Very sorry

Man that sucks!! I'm so sorry Steve. :(

You can use this experience for an article on how important it is to carry good insurance and making sure you have a valid appraisal to back up the value of the car. Just in case the other guys insurance tries to screw you then you will have the protection of your own insurance. This would be very helpful to people because I bet most readers just don't understand how important it is to carry the right insurance for a classic car. Especially for those people that have cars with significant value. I bet if you look at blue book vs. what someone has in the car....there is going to be a pretty good gap.

Just an idea. Penny will be back!!;)

Sorry for the loss Steve. I know you poured your heart out into building Penny to the point you sometimes considered selling (but not seriously) due to all the frustration.

Look to the brightside, you will probably have some money left over for that Z06 you always wanted. :) Penny might now get a new friend LOL.

I just got home from the local Japaneese steak house and checked the site. I want to puke! Not from the food. Almost the exact same thing happened to me in my Camaro back in 94, only it was a 71 Jeep Commando and a 16 year old girl. I went a whole summer without my hotrod. The damage was not quite as severe as Penny but 8 months later I was back on the road again. Since that day I watch my rearview mirror like a hawk when I am driving. Man that sucks so bad. I hate that happened to you and Penny. Im speechless.

Steve, I am so so sorry to see that your baby is now in pain! When I opened this thread my heart sunk and and said "oh my god what the F happend". Like you said, it doesn't do any good to sock the guy. As much as it sucks, Penny can be fixed. At least you are okay!!!!! Hang in there Steve we all feel for ya!

Horrible story. Glad to hear you're ok, but I second the trip to the hospital tomorrow. Make SURE you're ok while it's on Mr Careless's tab.

That sucks. At least you weren't all signed up for Power tour in a few weeks. I would insist on NOS GM sheetmetal. Start looking for it on Ebay. Damn....

I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

I will call it a "pass" on the welding and impact test for the Trunk Latch kit.

.....I think...LOL:D


BTW. This made me gasp when I saw the thread title. I feel your pain.

You need to use the opening riff from the "SIX MILLION DOALLR MAN"...."We can build him(or in this case her) stronger and faster".

Now all you need is the nuh,nuh,nuh,nuh sound for your horn?????

Worst fears!!!! I am sorry Steve....we have all watched for years as that car came to life! Even though it will get fixed it is in some ways not same.

Best of Luck...hope the insurance works out to the fulllesstttt!!

Steve, sorry to hear about the damage. At least you weren't seriously hurt, car parts are easier to replace than body parts.