Absolute Catastropy Today

[Alex D]

An absolute catastrophe with the car today, I'm still in stock and can barley function. Pagoda was hit by a UHaul truck that did not stop at a stop sign today and T-boned the Pagoda which went air born on two wheels and ended up in the median.  I was not driving, a very good friend,Tom Lewis, 40 yr MB member, MB Concurs Judge, who was at Virginia PUB was driving.  After getting all new motor mounts, subframe mounts, tires and the last thing would be  to get the alignment for which Tom offered to drive the car to a MB specialty alignment shop that does it right for me due my schedule. Driver of the UHaul was cited by police for failure to yield at a stop sign. The impact was so severe that it twisted the rear axle, destroyed the rear quarter panel and passengers door, and how it broke the fan blades behind the radiator is beyond me and that is only the visible damage.

After being notified I immediately went to the accident site. Although not critically injured, I had to take Tom to the hospital for sore neck and shoulder pain as well as a precaution measure, and while waiting to be seen by the medical staff,  Tom's said the only thing that saved his life was the retractable shoulder seat beats that Joe Alexander (ja17) installed on the car 10 years ago, that kept him from being ejected from the car.  Of all thing Joe Alexander has done on my car over the last 10 years, rebuild engine, rear axle, adjustments, so many things we can not remember for which I am greatfull, his recommendations for the retractable should seat belts and installing them is something words can not describe and i can not thank Joe enough for.

As to what will happen to the car is unknown at this point, to early to tell if it will repaired or declared total loss, time will tell.

LESSON TO ALL - WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS !!!!!

Alex

[Mike Hughes]

Alex -

OUCH!  The good thing is Tom wasn't badly hurt.  Seatbelts save lives.

After seeing multiple examples on these forums what can be done to bring back a truly rotten Pagoda, it is not inconceivable that your family heirloom can be resurrected, in the right hands. The folks at K&K will be your new friends.

I have a trailer if you need it.

[ChrisInNashville]

So sorry!   I can’t imagine the shock!  Glad Tom is ok!!

[Garry]

Glad nobody too hurt.  Would be a shame to see this car written off, it had such a unique interior..hope if comes out ok for you Alex

[mdsalemi]

I got the phone call from Alex as he was rushing to the scene. Then I got the photo and story…

As a courtesy I called our friend Tom Lewis this morning and thankfully once the shock of the event has transpired, a little ibuprofen cured his soreness.

Like Alex, I had three point retractable seatbelts installed at the time of restoration in 1999. Having basically gone through the windshield of an MGC in 1975, for almost an identical situation, the thought of being in a car without them is just not fathomable for me. Alex‘s decision to install them probably saved Tom‘s life yesterday. Anything can happen at any time. Tom told me this morning with a clear head that both weather and visibility were darn near perfect.

Alex will probably be on a huge parts hunt over the next few months…any assistance we can offer him i’m sure would be greatly appreciated.

[Alex D]

Thank you all for the support, greatly appreciated as only fellow Pagoda owners can understand the pain and grieve involved here.

I will be reaching out the the group in the next few months looking for help in finding parts, as the mission is to return the car to the extact condition prior to the accident will be my number one priority outside of family and work. 

Alex

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

So sorry to see this Alex after all the time and money you devoted to keep this car you inherited within the family in top shape.

The main thing is your friend Tom is okay and got away with only light injuries, thanks to your wise decision to have those seat belts installed. As said by others they due Save Lives.

I do hope you get over the material damage of this Catastrophe and the car can be restored to her original shape. Let us thank God that Tom is okay.

Wishing you all the best,

Dieter

[EeVeeWee]

Horrible! 

[Rahul]

Very sorry to see this happen, and glad that nobody was seriously injured. Hopefully you can get the car back to fighting shape soon enough.

With respect to the importance of seatbelts - mine is fitted with the fixed three-point harness, are these considered materially less safe than the retractables? Had not really given it much thought, and assumed they worked similarly as long as buckled tight.

[Leester]

Sorry to hear of this misfortune but as others have said, thankfully it appears injuries are not permanent. Having seen some of the examples of our cars that appeared beyond repair, undoubtedly the car can be repaired. Finding a qualified shop is most likely one of the biggest challenges. Good luck and once again glad no one suffered serious injuries.   Lee

[neelyrc]

So sorry to see this Alex.  Thank goodness your friend Tom is ok.  Let’s hope you will be able to bring the car back to life and continue to build on the long history it has in your family.

[zoegrlh]

Alex, OMG I am so sorry to hear this news, glad only the car suffered the damage, not Tom. Just think of it as another adventure of restoring another Pagoda. Think of it as being a better car then it was before. I am sure it will. Anything I can do let me know. Bob

[austinado16]

I'm so sorry this happened, and glad your friend is doing so well.  That is a hard hit, both for the car, and a human body.  Really goes to show how well the cars were engineered and built.

Sounds like you're planning on rebuilding it, and I'm glad for that!  I think once you drill out the welds and remove those wrinkled panels, you'll see that it's very rebuildable.  It'll take a session on a frame straightening machine, to square it all up.  Sux to see such a beautiful car get wrecked, let alone so bad.  And honestly, what are the chances, compared to the average "daily driver?"  Just heart breaking.

My coupe has only ever had lap belts, and just last week I ordered a set of modern belts, custom made by seatbeltplanet.  Looking forward to having them.

[su8pack1]

Sorry to see that. Hope it all works out for the good.

[Jowe]

Very sorry for this Alex. Thankfully, Tom didn’t got any major injuries. I really hope that your unique SL will resurrect to its former appearance and mechanical state.

When I aquired my 230, it was fitted with old, 2-point belts. I immediately exchanged those with new 3-point, retractable ones. Safety was far more important for me than originality in that matter.

Actually, the most fearing when driving my Pagoda is to be hit by another vehicle, driven by an idiot. Modern cars are both even safer and more ”disposable” compared to our beloved Pagodas.

[Jordan]

Wow Alex, that is heart wrenching to see.  I would have been hyper ventilating.  Glad to hear Tom is OK.  I hope you get satisfaction with your insurer and can bring that beauty back to life.

[Amy McKenna]

I am so sorry for all.....speechless! Hoping Tom is still okay! Prayers!

[johnk]

Alex
Pat Price texted me about it first this weekend. I must admit I worried about the condition of the car before I thought about the driver. Of course I asked about him to and hope he has no lingering issues.

Best of luck with it.

John

[Peter van Es]

Alex,

sorry to hear/see this. Good that Tom is ok. How is your insurance co dealing with it?

Peter

[Alex D]

Hi Peter,

Will be working with insurance all this week to figure it all out and will take time after that for estimating,,   Body shop told me 8-10 months once they start.  Looking at year if not longer with no car.

Tom Lewis is fine, but feels terrible about it, but their was nothing he could do.  Told me it was the most terrifying 20 seconds of his life, when the car was airborne on two wheels he thought it was going to flip over and he would not survive.  Tom was introduced to me 5 years ago by Pete Lesler who was founding member of this group.  Since then we have become close friends and has helped me sort out many issues with car and other things in life one needs to know when they move to a new city.

Another testament to the camaraderie and life long friendships we develop just from being part of this group. 

[ctaylor738]

Glad to hear that no one was seriously injured, and very sorry to see the damage to your car.  You put an incredible amount of thought and work into it.

Don't forget about diminished value when you negotiate with the insurance companies.

CAT

[Jonny B]

Chuck, excellent point about the diminished value.

[zoegrlh]

Alex what insurance policy do you have?  I’m sure it was an agreed upon value. That Eve. Goes to what ever/were ever you have repaired. A friend of mine had his 190SL smashed by a tree falling in his garage. Insurance paid for all new sheet metal and all new total paint. Some insurance companies will only price the panels that need painting. You do have agreed value?

[JamesL]

I assume the way it works is your insurer foots the bill then argues it out with the U-Haul insurer?

[Alex D]

Still trying to sort thru it all, but as of today I understand it as the UHaul drivers personal insurance will be the first to pay, then the UHaul insurance will pay what the Uhaul drivers personal insurance does not cover, then it will be my insurance to cover any remaining costs.