This is what it looked like when I got it: http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/c/l/clindh/elk4.jpg It had a cheap-o paint job at some point. You've heard of a 20 footer? The '80 is more of a 50 footer. The tail gate and drivers door have bondo cracking, and there is a fair amount of rust popping up all over. I look at nice paint as a liability. My Malibu had nice paint and it was stolen. The '80 may be going more race and less street. I've been thinking about a flat dark blue color, something I could easily touch up if necessary. The worry with a flat paint is it is attracts mildew, which grows here due to the shade and humidity. It would be nice to remove all the chrome trim... I called the insurance company and they are going to cut me a check for $583.30. I know a professional repair would cost more, and the claims person said if more damage is found they will have to reassess it then... but I don't know that I want the hassle. I offered Grandma the cash option, I bet she wishes she had taken it now! On Thu, Oct 13, 2011 at 10:51 AM, CTSVMONGO <ctsvmongo@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Obviously the guy didn’t like your car…. Does that really describe your > Elky? I don’t remember what yours looks like J**** > > ** ** > > *From:* elky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:elky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On > Behalf Of *Chris Lindh > *Sent:* Thursday, October 13, 2011 9:26 AM > > *To:* elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > *Subject:* [elky] Re: Crash!**** > > ** ** > > "Pre-existing damage: damage all over, peeling paint, peeling bondo, rust, > car is need of restoration" > > > These are the comments from the Toyota dealership body shop. The estimate > is $583.30 to repair. The appraiser said it would probably cost a little > more to repair, and they would bill the insurance for the difference. I'm > actually glad the estimate is low, the claims person at the insurance > company mentioned the possibility of a total loss. Surely I can prove the > '80 is worth more than $583.30...**** > > On Mon, Oct 3, 2011 at 9:30 AM, Chris Lindh <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:**** > > It was Grandma, taking her grandson to his baseball game. She was in a > hurry and didn't see me stopped... (maybe I need a 3rd tail light). > > She had her daughter come pick up the grandson, but when they tried to > leave the officer announced through his loudspeaker that the occupant could > not leave until he was finished with the process. Grandma received a > citation for following too closely. (I have learned that sometimes it is > best to slow down to get things done quickly.) > > Weather: clear, time 6PM, she was driving a Honda Accord. Her bumper cover > received minor damage. Her hood had dents from a previous incident... > > While I was waiting to turn in my wife and boys turned in coming the > opposite direction in the G35, then it happened. My oldest was upset > thinking I got hurt. > > The crazy part is Grandma wanted me to just let it slide... she thought my > bumper could just be "pulled out". I'd like Grandma to work in a body shop > for a few months... > > ...and, at another time in my life it might have been a bummer, but I'm > mellowing... it could have been worse (it wasn't an 18 wheeler!). The > damage is minimal. I would have been aggravated if it was any of the other > cars. The El Camino paint is rough, there are rust spots popping up all > over, the drivers door is full of bondo (I have a spare) and the tailgate > has bondo cracking off AND had a giant limb fall on it (I have a spare > tailgate too).**** > > ** ** > > On Mon, Oct 3, 2011 at 9:08 AM, <STILLFRANKSFAULT@xxxxxxx> wrote:**** > > Bummer, never a good time for that. was (she) on a cell phone? Putting on > makeup? Are you OK? Weather conditions? Wet?**** > > what was (she) driving?**** > > **** > > **** > > Smokey Mt Frank **** > > **** > > In a message dated 10/3/2011 9:01:21 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:**** > > "Vehicles 1 and 2 were traveling south on (Main) Road approaching it`s > intersection with > (Neighborhood) Drive. Vehicle 2 stopped in preparation for turning left > onto (Neighborhood) > Drive, waiting on oncoming (northbound) traffic. Vehicle 1 was not able to > stop in time, > and struck the rear of vehicle 2 after swerving to the right in an attempt > to avoid > impact. > Driver 2 stated that he was waiting on oncoming traffic to pass so he could > make a left > turn onto (Neighborhood) Drive when his vehicle was struck in the rear. > Driver 1 stated that she did not see that vehicle 2 had stopped in time. > She said that > she attempted to stop in time, and tried to swerve to avoid striking > vehicle 2, but she > was not able to do so in time."**** > > ** ** > > ** ** >