471_Magnum's Roadrunner takes a lick

[471_Magnum]

I've been in the hobby for over 15 years now, and have always prided myself in being willing to drive my collector cars. I don't own a trailer, so unless something is broken, they've always traveled where they are going under their own power. I'm had more than my fair share of major mechanical issues along the way, but I've always written those off as part of the adventure. I generally drive it a couple times a month to work.

So the weather is really nice today and I decided to drive the Roadrunner to work. I'm getting ready to take it off the road for an engine swap and figured this might be my last opportunity to drive it for a while.

Along my route this morning, there was a traffic accident involving another motorist driving into a house. Not sure what the circumstances were, but it was definitely attracting the attention of other drivers in the area, including myself.

I found myself in a situation of having to stop short to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of me, which was at the end of a long line of vehicles that had slowed down to rubber neck and stop at a traffic signal a little further down the road. With some tire squealing drama, I was fortunately able to stop well short of that vehicle.

The young lady in the car behind me was not so fortunate and plowed into the rear of my Roadrunner. Upon checking up in my mirror and seeing she was not injured, I drove into a nearby driveway and she followed. The officer working the previous accident indicated another officer was on the way to tend to our situation.

I exited my vehicle and immediately noticed her car (a late model Grand Am) was heavily damaged with two very distinct exhaust tip impressions in her hood. I then took a deep breath and looked over at my Roadrunner. Initially I did not notice any damage. Bumper looked fine. I then looked under the bumper to realize the valance was caved in extensively, and the N42 exhaust tips were crushed.

The second officer arrived within a few minutes and began taking our information. I suggested that they really needed to get another patrol car further up the road to get traffic slowed down. He did heed my suggestion and radioed for another car. He hadn't even unkeyed his mic before another distracted rear-end collision occurred right in front of us. This one was far worse and both cars appeared to be disabled, but both drivers uninjured. They ended up shutting down the road completely after that.

I have yet to closely inspect the car, but a quick look inside the trunk did not reveal any damage to the floors. The exhaust tips are toast as are the hangers. At least one side of the exhaust system is shoved forward and bent down. I think I detected a header leak. Rear valance is toast. License plate holder is bent a bit. The bumper definitely has a mark on it and might be flattened out a bit.

The good news is the damage all appears to be limited to bolt on parts. The only paint work required will probably be the valance. All of the parts are readily available. The situation would have been exponentially worse had I hit that vehicle in front of me, or been knocked into it. I'd be looking for a 72 Roadrunner grille and Air Grabber assembly. Not to mention the fact that everybody was fortunate enough to walk (or drive) away uninjured.

I've already spoken with Hagerty and a claims adjuster should be paying me a visit in the next 24 hrs.

I'll post some photos later. Crappy camera on my cell phone doesn't do justice.

[twodko]

Aw hell man, I'm sorry to hear about this. Hope you're OK.

[PocketThunder]

I'm right there with you brother!   

[Drache]

Glad you're ok.

I was in a car accident where I was in a friend's car and he rear ended a new pickup. The car was a writeoff and the pickup needed a new bumper, thats it.

Hopefully your roadrunner is an "easy" fix.

[tan top]

oh noooo !! glad your ok  !!     ,  had that happen three times  !! drivers not paying attention !! one of them !!  i was waiting in a traffic  jam  !! & saw him in the mirror looking every where , but what was in front !! even the look on his face when he realised  he could not stop ,  been driving over 22 years  , only time i have had a wreck is where another driver has hit me when i have been queuing  in traffic  jam  or at stop light     one time  i was at a stop light , minding my own business  when  in the rear mirror   saw the guy lock up his front wheels up cause he was not looking & slide to a stop at the side ,  i'm always in the habit now of leaving half a car length  & keep flashing the brake lights    worse now with the younger drivers !! they always seem to be on the damn phone  

[471_Magnum]

Only concern parts-wise is the rear valance. Not currently being repopped. Should be a relatively easy fix and I can contract most of the work to myself or friends.

[Ghoste]

Sorry to hear this man.  Really.

[rt green]

wow. sorry to hear your bad luck. hope you can find a rear valance. does sherman make one maybe?

[69rtse4spd]

Glad all are OK. Sad to hear about your car but sounds like an easy fix, keep us posted.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

When it rains it pours eh Jim?   Glad to hear you're OK & that the RR faired pretty well...

Could have looked like my friends TB3 '72 RR

[tan top]

When it rains it pours eh Jim?   Glad to hear you're OK & that the RR faired pretty well...

Could have looked like my friends TB3 '72 RR

  oh crikey thats a shame !!  & the grill by the looks of it 

[471_Magnum]

The carnage.

[Ghoste]

Energy absorbing?

[471_Magnum]

Here's a pic of the car that hit me. It's a shame that you can't make it out in the picture, but there are two perfect impressions of my exhaust tips in the bumper cover.

[tan top]

 not as bad as i thought !! but bad enough    is the gas tank damaged  

[Ghoste]

Hey, since the Road Runner is totaled, would you be interested in a 71 GTX, factory V code four speed car with Air Grabber, colored bumpers, rear window louvers, deck and chin spoilers?

[TruckDriver]

not as bad as i thought !! but bad enough    is the gas tank damaged  

[471_Magnum]

Hey, since the Road Runner is totaled, would you be interested in a 71 GTX, factory V code four speed car with Air Grabber, colored bumpers, rear window louvers, deck and chin spoilers?

Sure. Let's see what the insurance settlement is.

Finally spoke with an adjuster. They will be sending out an appraiser today or Monday. Hope we can get the ball rolling quickly.

I have managed to locate all the necessary parts, including a rear valance. I can probably get it turned around pretty quickly once I've got a check in hand. Between that and the motor swap, I'm going to be busy in the garage for the next several weeks.

[Ghoste]

It's hi impact paint as well.

[TUFCAT]

Cell phones, bimbos, and gizmo's = recipe for disaster. Glad it was only minor damage . Could have been worse. 

[TUFCAT]

Who would have known back then bazooka tips would double as collapsible bumper guards!  ....another great Mopar idea! 

[471_Magnum]

I'm not placing too much blame on the driver that hit me. It was kind of a messed up situation. I almost hit the car in front of me. There were just some dangerous circumstances that conspired. In the end, the root cause was driver distraction, but there were other contributing factors. Texting or talking on the phone were not involved.

Of course, had the damage been more significant, my level of sympathy would probably be entirely different.

I've got to hand it to the teenage girl that hit me. I fully expected her to start bawling at some point, but she kept it together. She just asked me, "how much is this going to cost?", to which I responded, "whatever your deductible is". The first thing my wife asked after making sure I was okay was whether or not I made the girl cry.

[bull]

I've got to hand it to the teenage girl that hit me. I fully expected her to start bawling at some point, but she kept it together. She just asked me, "how much is this going to cost?", to which I responded, "whatever your deductible is". The first thing my wife asked after making sure I was okay was whether or not I made the girl cry.

She must not have been emotionally compromised.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Hey, since the Road Runner is totaled, would you be interested in a 71 GTX, factory V code four speed car with Air Grabber, colored bumpers, rear window louvers, deck and chin spoilers?

ooohhh I would

[TexasStroker]

Man, sorry to see that...but I guess it could have been a lot worse as you mentioned.  Hopefully they get the claim settled, and a new valance in place to folks can enjoy it after the motor swap