Car Value and Roof Repair Advice Needed

Discussion in 'General Maverick/Comet' started by Scoot110703, Dec 2, 2021.

  1. Scoot110703

    Scoot110703 Member

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    I have a 1973 2-dr base model Maverick.
    My grandfather purchased it as my mother's first car when she was turning 16 and eventually two of her sisters each drove it while in high school and college. Later, it came back to us and my dad used to drop me off in it at elementary school every day. When I was 15, they told me that it would be my first car as well. It was sitting in our driveway, not running, four flat tires, and very rusty. I spent a lot of time shoulder to shoulder with my dad getting it running again, replacing the brakes, learning so much about working on cars... My grandfather, being a senior citizen, was able to take classes for free at the local community college. He took a body shop class and they let him bring the car and fix the dents and repaint the whole thing himself. He then took an upholstery class to reupholster the seats for it. My mom likes to always remind me of how much time I spent working on it and how much of my minimum wage paychecks I blew on that car back then. I have always had a dream of what it could be when it's fully restored and upgraded. I've spent countless hours as an adult working on it and also here on this site trying to absorb as much knowledge and experience as I can to help bring my dream into reality. My son is anxious to work shoulder to shoulder with me on it and constantly asks when can we start!

    Back in July of this year, we had a small fire in the garage. The fire was put out quickly but it had generated a great deal of thick black smoke. We filed an insurance claim with Allstate who had us bring ServPro in to handle the clean up and repairs. ServPro did the cleaning themselves but hired a contractor to do replace the ceiling, doors, paint, etc. They also hired a garage door company to repair/replace the garage doors.

    This whole process of getting the fire and smoke damage fixed has been a mess from the beginning. We received very little communication from any of these businesses throughout the process and in fact, the story of what's going on seemed to change every time we did hear anything so it has all been confusing and chaotic. One thing that we did keep being told was that Allstate and ServPro did not intend to do anything with the garage door that the car is in front of. They said the other one had the most damage and that was the only one they were going to cover. Later, when ServPro came out to do a final walkthrough, they briefly mentioned that they may try to get just the insulating panels replaced on the other door but we never heard if that was approved or not. We were never told by anyone that they intended to fully replace the other door and it's motor above the car. Had I known ahead of time that any work was going to be done on that side as well, I would have had the car pushed out into the driveway or something while the work was being done.

    When I got home from work on the day they had come to work on the garage door(s), I found the roof of the car caved in. They apparently thought it was acceptable to just climb on top of the car and sit/stand on the roof to get the job done rather than communicate with us or reschedule for a day when I could have had the car moved out of their way. Again, we were never told for certain that any work was planned for that side of the garage.

    I called the garage company and Allstate and both pointed their fingers at ServPro. ServPro has asked me to obtain a quote for repairing the roof and they'll take that amount off our bill. I've consulted with 4 local body shops and all 4 stated that they consider the car to be totaled. They all agreed that the roof would have to be replaced, can't be repaired, and a suitable replacement would be difficult to find and it's impossible to predict the cost of one. They said that IF one were to be acquired, it would be $1,500-1,600 to do the replacement.

    My question for the experts here is: what should I say to ServPro about the cost of repairs, the value of the car... what would you all consider to be fair compensation for this? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!


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  2. CaptainComet

    CaptainComet Large Member

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    Absolute Idiots!
    The level of STOOPID shown here is over the top. They had to realize the top was caving in and they just kept going.

    Is the rest of the car pretty rust free? Being a southern car, I would bet it is pretty solid.
    I would tell them to find you a rust-free shell that you can swap all your parts into. They would quickly figure out this is about a lot more than money.

    You might want to get the car appraised by a professional classic car appraiser. It will carry more weight, even though a lot of the guys here probably know better through experience. These cars are a struggle. You can't build one with a credit card and UPS bringing parts to your house, like a Mustang.

    I would hit them with $4000. .... if I didn't hit them with something else first. LOL.
     
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  3. Constable

    Constable You have the right to remain silent....or not!

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    This is the reason that owners of classics shouldn't insure through regular insurance companies. They just don't understand classics and the differences of value between daily drivers and classics. Homeowners insurance creates the same issues. As far a a real world estimate, I'd recommend going to a shop that does restorations rather than a regular collision shop. They get the difference and routinely fix what a collision shop won't. Collision shops rarely have panel beaters. They would rather replace a panel than fix one as it takes less time and skill. An experienced panel beater can fix that roof. I wouldn't give up the fight and as much as I hate to say this, you may well end up having to retain an attorney to get any satisfaction in the end and get the car fixed properly. Who do you have your car insured through? If it's someone like Hagerty or Grundy, they should be able to help you or at least advise you. As far as usual responsibility for claims when a structure is damaged and a vehicle inside suffers also, the insurer of the garage is ultimately responsible. Your auto insurer can take over the vehicle claim once they understand the entire Charlie Foxtrot and go after Allstate for ultimate payment then they can go after the contractor. It's worth a try. If you have the Mav insured through Allstate, bail after this and get a classic insurer. It'll cost you less and give you more peace of mind.
     
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  4. BruceS

    BruceS Member

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    The person that damaged the roof Was the ceiling installers. Garage door installers have no need to get on the car to do their job including winding the torsion springs. The insulation on the doors just pops in and out and can be obtained at any garage door wholesaler.
     
  5. TeeEl

    TeeEl Member

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    That story makes my blood boil.
    Whoever did that needs their @$$ kicked. That roof skin will need to be replaced with one from a parts donor Maverick or Comet. Another member here has videos of him replacing his. I would at least try to save that car...
     
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  6. jasonwthompson

    jasonwthompson Member

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    So sorry dude. This is like a stab in the heart, except more painful. Find out where he lives, put on the golf shoes and go jump up and down on his roof.
     
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  7. Vestrimatrik

    Vestrimatrik Member

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    I would be leery of whoever you get to fix that because it looks like the middle brace is bent as well. Make sure in the bid that they are going to replace it. Either way to fix it or replace it is going to cost a good chunk. I would suggest getting legal advice.
     
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  8. BBMS18

    BBMS18 Member

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    “Fair compensation” my A-S! Take ALL involved to the cleaners!!
     
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  9. COMETIZED

    COMETIZED Member

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    Straighten the roof as well as you're able .. then put a Vinyl top over it ! HAGERTY HAGERTY HAGERTY !!!
    I also have two Chevrolet Pickups that are insured with other companies ! But for a ' Classic ' Car like ours ..... They just
    will not do !! Sorry about your loss !

    Cometized
    Chip
     
  10. xpsnake

    xpsnake Bruce

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    They saw the car as trash and treated it as such, I'm sorry you have to deal with this. When you're talking the cost of repair you need them to consider the time and money involved in finding a clean roof (if you were to replace it) on another car, removing it, transplanting, and making it all safe.

    I wouldn't let anyone with that little situational awarness near your property in the meantime.

    I hope you get the dollar value you need to make this right, they're a large company, they can afford it. Document everything.
     
  11. William623

    William623 Member Supporting Member

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    You may have a hard time getting out some of those dents as they will be under the main cross structure of the roof. You may be better replacing the whole roof. Either way you will need to go to a shop that is able to do that kind of work. Likely that is going to take 3-4K to repair… I would be very surprised if they did it for any less that that. I see you are in Alabama, if you are up for a road trip you can have a roof for free. I am in Orlando Fl. The roofs aren’t perfect but should be better than what you have. I would be contacting several lawyers and would start filing a lawsuit now for damage claims once you have an accurate quote. That is by no means a write off car. Especially since it has such sentimental value.
     
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  12. TeeEl

    TeeEl Member

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    They should be prosecuted for vandalism. Anyone with the most basic of common sense knows you don't stand on a car that doesn't belong to you..
     
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  13. RMiller

    RMiller My name is Rick

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    You need to find a true restoration shop, not a body shop, they are more about panel replacement than body work. A good body man can fix it.
     
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  14. 71Mavrk

    71Mavrk Member

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    My car had a sunroof that I later wish I had never installed. The shop messed up the first attempted repair. Pick and pull happened to have a Maverick in the yard (302 Grabber. One I could have bought before she got junked) We sliced off the entire roof skin and grafted it on to mine. You cannot tell it has been done.
     
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  15. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    As others have suggested, always insure old cars with CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE. It will have some requirements/limitations, but it will bring you peace of mind for the future.

    Now my advice....don't bother with lawyers, courts, and legal posturing......it will all be a waste of time and a money pit.

    Want this to be over and be able to move on? Tell them to cut you a check for $2500 and move on.
     
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