67 Corvette dimished value

[Ed Farmer]

I bought a 1967 Corvette from a car collector in Colorado about a year ago. The car was in excellent driver condition: interior very nice, engine compartment very clean, all original hardware intact, and one of the best paint jobs I have ever seen. The paint and clear coat were deep and smooth as glass - I continually got compliments. Not bad for a 10 year old acrylic laquer paint job.

I had the car 4 months when a pick up truck backed into the drivers door and put a 2 foot crack in it. As it turns out, here in the San Francisco bay area the EPA doesn't allow for the chemicals & solvents to match my laquer based paint. So the insurance company finally agreed to pay over $15,000 to repair the door & strip and paint my car at a shop that specializes in Corvettes and other high end vehicles. I foolishly let the shop talk me into paying in advance.

I made it very clear initially that I was going to have my Corvette NCRS judged and all hardware must be reinstalled where it was removed. I also let them know that I bought only NOS (no reproduction) parts (grille, parking lights, tail lights, rocker panels, & license plate light) to complete the project. They said they knew about NCRS judging & what was required.

After 4 months the shop called and said my 67 Corvette was finally ready. I was shocked when I found out that both my power window harnesses were cut when they removed the doors. They lost the hinge pillar weatherseals & hardware, the bolts & screws that attach the front grille, cowl vents, over the door weatherseals, headlight buckets & bezels. These original fasteners were replaced with new shiny (not NOS) hardware. Also the back glass has scratches from their sanders. I won't go into problems with the paint.

The shop & I are trying to work out a deal that would allow us to both close the books on this project. I want to be fair and do what's right for my Corvette.

My question is: Can anyone in the NCRS world put an approximate number on the diminished value of my 67 Corvette original / complete before paint verses non-original / incomplete after paint. Thank you very much for your time!

[Jay Hastings]

Re: 67 Corvette dimished value

Ed

that is a tragic story. It would be hard to put a price on your car unless
a person had seen it before and after. it sounds like they have taken a chunk out of value even based on scratching just the back glass, concidering i think it is date coded to your car. you or the ncrs dont want to see a scratched window It may be dificult to find a used glass with the date.
you need to make a list with all the (damage) the shop has done and demand it be repaired to your satisfaction. they will do this if you push enough.you will likely have to find the correct screws and wireharneses yourself for the proper repair. you didnt get into the paint job, but you dont need to say anymore, most likely another strip ( because you dont know how bad their prep job is)
and another repaint. sad you had the whole car repainted for just a door I love the look of a laquer paint job. (quick trip to Oregon we still have it in the shelf) Also go see your insurance agent, and call the company that wrote the check, if you throw a fit about the damage caused at the shop they can be very pushy to the shop to get the repairs done.

jay
for the proper repair

[Wayne P.]

Re: 67 Corvette dimished value

Talk to your insurance company about the loss in value of your car due to the loss in originality. The initial damage, the shop damage, and the incorrect paint will reduce the resell value about 20%. I would be lookng for this compensation in addition to the repair cost.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 67 Corvette dimished value

Ed, calculating the reduction in value is easier than you might think. You don't even need to know precisely what the car was worth before the accident.

Simply take inventory all that the shop did incorrectly, and calculate the amount that it would take to restore the car to it's former condition. For example, they stupidly cut the power window harnesses...figure out the cost of two used harnesses, two NOS harnesses, or two reproduction harnesses (your choice for acceptability), and estimate the replacement labor manhours at their shop rate. If they used cheap repro hardware, figure the cost of replacing with acceptable high quality repro hardware or NOS hardware. The problem is that much of the NOS parts have pretty much disappeared. If the paint cannot be corrected to a condition suitable for NCRS judging, then they pay to repaint the car (another paint shop would seem a good idea).

The task will require you to get fully involved and it will seem daunting, but you won't have to sort out subjective values from different appraisors. I could see the insurance company trying to shop "expert witnesses" to try and reduce the hit, and believe me, there are plenty of "experts" ready to give a low ball number.

[Wayne K.]

Re: 67 Corvette dimished value

Ed,

First I have to say I feel for you in your situation. I am an independent insurance agent and work with compainies and adjusters on a daily basis. This is a loss that got way out of hand. I am astonished that the insurance company agreed to spend that kind of money to repair a door. They should have made an attempt to find out what states allow lacquer painting and either shipped your car there or removed the door and had it shipped for repair. You may have been able to find out who originally painted the car and got them to do the repair. I just think that this could have been handled for less cost and less grief. I personally couldn't let someone take my whole car apart to fix a door. It just doesn't make sense. Wishing you the best in coming to closure on this nightmare.

Regards,
Wayne

[john Pickens]

Re: 67 Corvette dimished value

I would certainly be prepared to calmly and matter-of-factly let the shop and
the insurance company know that you have sought legal counsel in this case-and
I would do it. This is after all not only your car but a sigificant investment
which has been diminished. Agree with thought for consideration of damages as well as repair costs. Time to try to get over the disappointment and aggressively seek relief.

[Rich Benjamin,jr]

Re: 67 Corvette dimished value

I would hire a independent apraiser with experience with Corvettes( Hemmings and other car books have many) and let him recomend an experienced lawyer if need be. The whole situation is already out of hand. Good Luck!