Death of the 1980

[Chihua33]

Man that's too bad. At least you are "okay" for what it went through!
Just took mine for the first good ride tonight, and they are fun! I can only hope mine looks half as good as yours did before the accident.

Hope you get it fixed or get a new one.

[Texasbull]

OOUCH!!! Glad you're okay. Unfortunately for you, a 17 y/o girl's "word" isn't what matters, only her insurance company's word (or her Daddy's word...)... R.I.P. 1980..... At least you can think of it as the beginning of a new Spider adventure!

[RRoller123]

There's a pretty nice looking 1980 advertised on CL here in Massachusetts. I don't know the car or the seller, but it looks like a good one.

[Texasbull]

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/2935931500.html

Must be your lucky day, there's one here as well. Again, I don't know the guy or the car, but it looks nice.

[leeputmanjr]

So glad that you are ok!

...but I am so sad to hear of this.

I have long admired your car, the way you beautifully retro-fitted the early bumpers & turn signals...it was truly a wonderful car. This accident just sickens me! Please keep us posted on how well or poorly your insurance company handles it all. At the very least, I hope they let you buy your own car for salvage so that you can transplant as much as possible onto your new Spider.

What are your thoughts on what a roll bar or LED 3rd brake light might have done to mitigate these circumstances? I worry about this exact scenario all the time (I drive my Spider a lot in suburban traffic), and I have installed both on my car, trying to get any slim margin of safety advantage I can scrounge up.

-Lee

[narfire]

Do you have the option to buy back from the insurance? As mentioned, lots of good parts there if the next car needs some parts freshened up. You're right it does look like a write-off but can be replaced unlike you. Now over the next while I can see you being inundated with quality fiats for sale... I love that colour as well.
Glad you're ok
Chris

[2ndwind]

George, Glad you are ok. That Texas car looks mighty nice for the price.

[grittracing]

not sure that even a 3rd brake light would help against a texting teenage driver.

[NJFIAT1981]

Well got the word today. The insurance company proclaimed it a total loss. Waiting to hear how much they want from me to buy back the spider as salvage.

[NJFIAT1981]

Hi Lee,
I do like the idea of a third brake light. I don't think it would have helped in this case. She was looking to the left and waiving to her friends.
Any additional lighting to the rear can't be bad.

[leeputmanjr]

George,

Any word from the insurance company? Any after-effects like neck or back pain? I sure hope you feel ok, but I know your heart has to be broken

Any thoughts on what's next? Your crunched Spider sure has a lot of very usable bits on it - will you look for a later Spider & do another 'early-look', or find an early Spider & drop in a later motor?

I've done it both ways...there were pros & cons each way.

Keep us posted...we're worried about you, man!

-Lee

[NJFIAT1981]

Hi Lee,
So far so good with the insurance company. Spiders totalled. I'm awaiting a buyback price from the insurance company. I'll post when this is resolved. Should be fine. I am insured by American Collectors Insurance co. from Cherry Hill, NJ. My right knee is swelled up and my neck is still sore. I'll survive. Thanks for the knid words. Regards, George

[NJFIAT1981]

Hey Chuck,
The wheels will go on the new spider. You certainly brought a smile to my face. Mosy of us do have a good sense of humor here. Thanks

[NJFIAT1981]

Hi Craig,
Shooting was out of the question.
Here's the story. I was off from work so I called Doug (Exit98) and we went to lunch at the Riverhouse. Nice place. Great view of the river.
My route home passes the local high school. Traffic had come to a complete stop as vehicles were exiting the high school parking lot and there was also a red traffic signal. There were lots of witnesses to the accident (Also lots of distractions for a 17 year old girl). 17 year old driver exits the high school and gets up a good head of steam while waving out the drivers side window to her friends that are walking home. Runs directly into my spider that just happens to be the last vehicle in line.
I don't think she hit the brakes and I didn't know she was coming. Initial contact broke the drivers seat and I was thrown into the rear seat. Then the secondary collision into the Tahoe threw me foward and I hit the dashboard, steering wheel and the rear view mirror with my head (broke the rare working Fiat mirror ).
So I'm laying in the spider and the Tahoe driver comes out and boy does she look pissed. She looks like she's on a mission and I'm it . The starts to yell at me and then stops when she realizes that I was pushed into her.
I hear this whailing from behind me. It's really loud. Mad driver turns away from me and heads to the rear and starts yelling at someone. The whailing continues and is really loud. I'm laying there thinking that someone must be seriously injured or had gone throught the windshield so previous training kicks in. I take off the seat belt and hobble out to the rear to find a crying uninjured 17 year old. Mad driver is giving her a verbal beating. No need for me to add to the verbal carnage.
I then took a look at my spider and realized it was toast. Cops, ambulance, tow truck , doctors office and then home. Life sucked for a week but it's getting better. Back to work and looking for a new spider. I'll give you the insurance update. Seems to me this company is first rate. Thanks, George

[DinosFiat]

Sorry to hear about the accident from you yesterday. As said before, both by others and by me on the phone, glad you are ok since cars can be replaced. It is a shame though to see the Fiat gone since it was beautiful, feel better and hoping you get to 100% very soon!