My minor problems got bigger. Thursday an SUV made a left turn in front of me and I hit him broadside with my 52 Buick Super. (No one was hurt) All front sheetmetal is destroyed and the front suspension is destroyed. Has anyone used a frame stub on an old heavy Buick? What did you use? Fortunately the doors shut like they had before . I am waiting for an adjuster to come and look at it so I can't do much to it. I remember maybe 10 years ago Fatman advertised frame stubs for 52 Buicks but I can not find any mention of frame stubs for 52 Buicks now.
I put a FatMan stub on my 49 Buick. I also put a 4 link with panhard in the rear. Coilovers at all 4 corners. It drives like a dream. You can find my build thread on the HAMB. PM me if you need help. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1949-buick-sedanette-mild-custom-build.1143211/
Let Hagerty subrogate the claim. They guarantee you your insured value. Deal with Hagerty. You will not win negotiating with the driver's insurance company. Trust me.
I'm an insurance agent and represent Progressive. Flo is NOT your friend, let Hagerty adjust the loss. You will be much happier and have much less stress. Trust me.
Questions: 1) I assume the Hagerty's policy will pay agreed value, but just give you a check if damage exceeds value just like any other policy, correct? 2) Did you have modern / upgraded brakes? If not, would it have helped? I assume we all drive our classics more cautiously in traffic, and have been mulling upgrades to 4w drum on my 65 riv. I hate to go non-stock, but...
You know Steve.. I really doubt it... I have driven a few of those old Buicks, and they stop pretty well. The only advantage in stopping with front disc brakes is that they don't fade after repeated stops like the drums will. In that situation, assuming his brake system was in good shape and functioning as designed, I would be surprised if there would be any substantial advantage to a "modern" brake system with similar size drums/rotors... in stopping distance. And if he hit her hard enough to do that much damage to a 52 Buick.. I would suspect that was one of those deals that the brakes really were not a factor. Your into them about the time you realize what it happening and react. I have 4 wheel drums on my 68GS 400 ragtop, and that sucker stops on a dime.. just don't ask it to do it more than a couple times. And the drums are a pain only because they warp... they are the big aluminum finned jobs on the front. That's the only reason I am going to switch to one of my "in stock" disc brake setups on the front, when I get it out and start driving it again. That, and being a child of the 70's, I like the feel of front disc brakes. the front drums kinda startle you if your not used to them, when those suckers grab. JW
I got rear ended by a progressive customer last Friday, they are no fun to work with. They are sending me information and stuff I need to fill out from 3 different sources and it's my job to keep everything straight. Not sure why they don't have one point of contact for me. Their computerized customer interface means they do nothing and the customer does everything. BTW, back in the 60s and early 70s all modified stock cars had Buick brakes. They were the best back until disk brakes came out.
They (Progressive) are a necessary evil for an agency, we don't want them and do our best NOT to write with them. Sometimes you have to I'm sorry to say. Some people just don't fit anywhere else. Just don't have a claim with them...
I hit a Toyota Tercel 25 years ago that turned in front of me. I had Haggerty at that time and they paid me the full stated value. Fortunately, I had parted out a couple of cars and had all the pieces I needed stored in my basement. Only thing I had to get was a hood. The collision shop had to put it on a frame machine and straighten the front frame horn on the passenger side and there was a small wrinkle in the cowl that it still has today. The A pillar was bent backwards enough that it cracked the windshield.
Pictures of my wrecked 52 Buick. Hard to put a price on the damage. The estimator came up with 50K. Our insured value was 52 K. We are waiting for a salvage value, the insurance company said maybe Monday. I have a new camera so here goes.
