Well my Cuda died on me last September and between working on getting my house ready to sell and holidays I couldn't get back to fixing it until 2 weeks ago. Anyway this past Satyrday I was on a 5 minute test drive to check where I was with dialing in the six pack. Sitting still waiting to turn left back into my neighborhood. WHAM!!! 22 year old kid delivering for Dominos didn't see me cause he was messing with his GPS and rear ended me at full speed, road is 55 mph and he was going every bit of that I am certain. He was in a Hyundai Santa Fe and it is of course totaled too. Luckily neither of us were hurt, however, the car I dreamed of having for 30 years and now have a lot of time in, is in pretty bad shape. It is insured for everything I have into it through Hagerty so I should come out ok. I do not think I am interested in keeping the car to repair. It will be a big job and I don't know if I've got the time or energy to take care of it. Not to mention how major it will be. But I also am not willing to let it go to great beyond and am going to try to facilitate it going to someone's loving hands who will utilize it properly. In case anyone here has an interest in it I will give some info for you.
72 Cuda, originally blue, now plum crazy, numbers matching 340, 4 speed, 8 3/4 rear. Was factory stripper with manual drums, manual 24:1 steering. 2nd owner added rally dash - of which I have all the gauges working, console, 3.91 gears and a complete six pack set up off a Purple AAR during the late 70's that was in his hometown. Car still has six pack, it is best I know, an original intake air cleaner base and top. Carbs have all been replaced through the years including 1 I did 2 years ago. The base is a true steel AAR/TA base. Since I have had the car I have replaced radiator with Champion aluminum, clutch, added TTI headers and X-pipe, viper front disc brakes with DR Diff kit, Firm Feel Stage 3 16:1 power steering, fast ratio arms, 1.06" torsion bars and adjustable strut rods. 1-1/4" Hellwig fr sway bar, 11/16" tie rods, Vintage Air a/c, LED taillights and tons of the accompanying small stuff. Two weeks ago I replaced timing chain, water pump and oil pump. I conservatively have $12,500 in parts and car was running, basically complete and painted when I got it. I have some old documentation, no fender tag, and some history with names and a few phone numbers. I do not have any idea yet of the salvage value that they will allow me to keep it for but I will be finding out within the week. The appraiser should be here Friday and I will see from there.
Just wanted to put it out here in case anyone is interested or has any advice from dealing with Hagerty on a situation like this.
Now for the bad part. Based on my cursory look it damaged, rear bumper and brackets, lower valance, tail panel, deck lid, both rear quarters, trunk floor, possibly rear floor. passenger side looks like the windows are down about 3" but they are not, the roof is up, drivers side is more like 1". Drivers door pushed forward to just overlap front fender so it wont open. Fuel tank is ruptured - which is why it couldn't come here last Saturday and has been at the wrecker yard. However it is being towed here tomorrow to sit until we reach an agreement. I didn't wat it sitting at Copart while everything was happening.
