NationStates Jolt Archive

Yesterday, immediately after leaving work, a (expletive deleted) woman ran a stop sign and ran directly in front of me. I hit her broadside, spun her car around, and into a city bus. Neither one of us were hurt seriously, I have a broken arm and screaming muscles (that's why I'm up so early...I hurt too bad to sleep), but both vehicles were totaled. She was driving a late model Buick. I, however, was driving a 1978 Chevy Silverado....cherry. Aside from its being a classic antique, that old truck had great sentimental value. Back in 78 while my husband (Iwannabeacowboy) was on leave from the Marines, he and his Dad went to buy his Dad a new car. Instead Pops decided to buy the "most beautiful truck" he had ever seen. Pops restored old roadsters for show, but this truck was his pride and joy and he babied and loved her for over 20 years. My husband has tons of memories of roadtrips that he took with his Dad in her, and the hours they spent washing and waxing her every week. When Pops died almost 5 years ago, he left her to my husband. He has carried on the tradition of loving and babying her. Now she is a mess of crumpled metal and leaking fluids. The frame is horribly bent and her front end and motor are mangled beyond repair.

My sweetie has been very solicitous and is doing everything he can to help me deal with my injuries. But, I know that he is hurting as much, if not more, as I am, knowing that this link to his Dad is now gone. Any suggestions on what I can do to help alleviate his pain?

Buy him a rotisserie, find someone who can straighten frames and, if you have kids, have him start a project bridging that truck another generation. That presumes a lot, though...

I wish you a speedy recovery, and I agree with the last post... a restoration project would be a way to continue the lineage of the truck, and it is a shame that it was wrecked, It is possible to totally restore it as ive seen many Land Rovers over here in england that have probably been worse off and have been totally restored back to origonal specs... and pushing to get the truck finished and looking at the truck in its complete and restored state is one of the most rewarding things ever :)

Buy him a rotisserie, find someone who can straighten frames and, if you have kids, have him start a project bridging that truck another generation. That presumes a lot, though...


Kids are grown and we have a granddaughter starting college this fall. We'll have to see if the insurance company will allow us to try to fix it or just declare it a total loss. I highly suspect the latter as the damage was massive. As for the rotisserie, he thinks he's the grill guru and has every imaginable grill, smoker, rotisserie, and what-not to cook charred dead animal flesh cluttering up our patio. You did give me a good idea, though. He's a cabinet maker and loves tools. Maybe a tool shopping trip would take his mind off it for a while.

One positive side. I used to drive an MR2, but the motor blew and we have been commuting together in his truck. If I had this same accident in an MR2 I would probably be totaled too. *shudder*

Kids are grown and we have a granddaughter starting college this fall. We'll have to see if the insurance company will allow us to try to fix it or just declare it a total loss. I highly suspect the latter as the damage was massive. As for the rotisserie, he thinks he's the grill guru and has every imaginable grill, smoker, rotisserie, and what-not to cook charred dead animal flesh cluttering up our patio. You did give me a good idea, though. He's a cabinet maker and loves tools. Maybe a tool shopping trip would take his mind off it for a while.
I actually meant the kind you mount the frame on to do frame up restorations. But whatever works, serindipity and all that.

I actually meant the kind you mount the frame on to do frame up restorations. But whatever works, serindipity and all that.

Oh...I didn't know that they had rotisseries for vehicles too...course, I barely know how to check my oil. :rolleyes: Anyway, when it comes to car repair and such, my hubby doesn't know that much more than I do. He can build a beautiful hutch to display photos of his truck, though.

Kids are grown and we have a granddaughter starting college this fall. We'll have to see if the insurance company will allow us to try to fix it or just declare it a total loss. I highly suspect the latter as the damage was massive. As for the rotisserie, he thinks he's the grill guru and has every imaginable grill, smoker, rotisserie, and what-not to cook charred dead animal flesh cluttering up our patio. You did give me a good idea, though. He's a cabinet maker and loves tools. Maybe a tool shopping trip would take his mind off it for a while.

I somehow don't think he was referring to barbecue gear. IIRC, a "Rotisserie" is also a device made of steel, big enough to bolt the car to, that turns it over for work at odd angles (so you don't have to).
They're advertised in the back of Hot-Rod Magazine, Car-Craft, etc. (or used to be...)

Work with your Adjuster a bit more before giving up on the old gal entirely-but remember that restoration of cars is more expensive than owning a boat (which is damned spendy-"Boat" is really an acronym for "Bring Out Another Thousand".) Auto Restoration for a '78 Chevy truck (at least, body panels) is probably cheaper than most, since so many were made. Likewise, the drive-train components are fairly available because GM didn't start phasing out most of those units until the late 1990's. Light bezels,etc. are also pretty widely available, since that body-style was common between the Chevy and GMC lines. Repro grilles might be difficult, since GM used a lot of plastic molding, but a tour of the local scrapyards and custom-shops could be in order.

"Un-Munching" the frame is a whole order of difficulty, though. Get estimates from several shops, look at what they detail in those estimates, before selecting one to do the work. See if you can find other customers of the shops on your "Short List" to see how well or poorly they've served their previous customers. This car was your old man's 'baby', you don't trust a valued pice of merch to some flybynighter.

Serious answer:

Restore the truck, project style.
You should help too, it will help the two of you bond, and it will alleviate any suppresed resentments he may have towards you for being the one who did it.


Non-serious answer:

He should have known better than to let a woman drive his truck.

As the owner of a vehicle that is the result of a decade long restoration effort shared by my dad and myself, my heart goes out to you and your husband. I hope you have a speedy recovery. Car accidents when you're in the later half of your life have a nasty tendency to do more damage to you than you initially thought. (After 40, soft-tissue damage becomes much harder to overcome)

I think the suggestion of another restoration project is a good idea. But if your husband isn't as mechanicly inclined as his dad was, then its problematic. But some kind of trans-generational project would definitely help take his mind off the loss and focus on creating a whole new set of experiences. I'm sure your kids would be up for something like that too. Being grown up and out of the home, they're old enough to appreciate that kind of a project too.

ITS NEVER TO LATE TO LEARN. From what you've said, your husband sounds like he's perfectly capable of learning the art of vehicle restoration and the nitty-gritty of mechanics as he goes along. That would definitely keep him occupied, but be warned, restoration isn't just a labour of love. It can take a lot of money, especially if you're building up a shop while restoring the car.


Talk to his buddies to, I'm sure they'll have some pretty good ideas on how to handle this.

Hey Zooke-glad to hear you walked away from that and I hope you recovery quickly and completely.

I put myself in your husband's shoes for a minute and felt that I would thank God my wife was in the Silverado and not the Toyota. From what you said, it sounds like you would have been a whole lot worse off if you werent in the truck. So-while it might be tough to lose that link to his father, it would be a hell of a lot worse to lose his mate or have her crippled.
I'm sure he's relieved to have you intact.


When I was a teen, I had a 1971 Chevy K5 Blazer. I loved that truck.

Yesterday, immediately after leaving work, a (expletive deleted) woman ran a stop sign and ran directly in front of me. I hit her broadside, spun her car around, and into a city bus. Neither one of us were hurt seriously, I have a broken arm and screaming muscles (that's why I'm up so early...I hurt too bad to sleep), but both vehicles were totaled. She was driving a late model Buick. I, however, was driving a 1978 Chevy Silverado....cherry. Aside from its being a classic antique, that old truck had great sentimental value. Back in 78 while my husband (Iwannabeacowboy) was on leave from the Marines, he and his Dad went to buy his Dad a new car. Instead Pops decided to buy the "most beautiful truck" he had ever seen. Pops restored old roadsters for show, but this truck was his pride and joy and he babied and loved her for over 20 years. My husband has tons of memories of roadtrips that he took with his Dad in her, and the hours they spent washing and waxing her every week. When Pops died almost 5 years ago, he left her to my husband. He has carried on the tradition of loving and babying her. Now she is a mess of crumpled metal and leaking fluids. The frame is horribly bent and her front end and motor are mangled beyond repair.

My sweetie has been very solicitous and is doing everything he can to help me deal with my injuries. But, I know that he is hurting as much, if not more, as I am, knowing that this link to his Dad is now gone. Any suggestions on what I can do to help alleviate his pain?
I know somewhat of how you feel, hon. It's amazing how attached we can get to things, but I have to say that I'm overjoyed that you weren't seriously injured or worse. Trucks can be repaired, if you've got the money. A good bodywork man can do amazing things, and the frame can be straightened. The rest you may have to replace.

But there is only one "Zooke," and they aren't nearly as easy to "repair." I, for one, would hate to lose her. ( HUG )

But there is only one "Zooke," and they aren't nearly as easy to "repair." I, for one, would hate to lose her. ( HUG )


I have a feeling her husband feels the same way.

And maybe he has a good excuse to go out and find another classic.

Yesterday, immediately after leaving work, a (expletive deleted) woman ran a stop sign and ran directly in front of me. I hit her broadside, spun her car around, and into a city bus. Neither one of us were hurt seriously, I have a broken arm and screaming muscles (that's why I'm up so early...I hurt too bad to sleep), but both vehicles were totaled. She was driving a late model Buick. I, however, was driving a 1978 Chevy Silverado....cherry. Aside from its being a classic antique, that old truck had great sentimental value. Back in 78 while my husband (Iwannabeacowboy) was on leave from the Marines, he and his Dad went to buy his Dad a new car. Instead Pops decided to buy the "most beautiful truck" he had ever seen. Pops restored old roadsters for show, but this truck was his pride and joy and he babied and loved her for over 20 years. My husband has tons of memories of roadtrips that he took with his Dad in her, and the hours they spent washing and waxing her every week. When Pops died almost 5 years ago, he left her to my husband. He has carried on the tradition of loving and babying her. Now she is a mess of crumpled metal and leaking fluids. The frame is horribly bent and her front end and motor are mangled beyond repair.

My sweetie has been very solicitous and is doing everything he can to help me deal with my injuries. But, I know that he is hurting as much, if not more, as I am, knowing that this link to his Dad is now gone. Any suggestions on what I can do to help alleviate his pain?you can look at getting the truck restored. if it was in great condition, the insurance should help.

Glad to hear you were not seriously hurt. that in it'self is a great thing.

I have a feeling her husband feels the same way.

And maybe he has a good excuse to go out and find another classic.
Now there's a thought! :)

I'm sorry for what happened Zooke. I hope you get well soon.

*gives you a hug*

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Argh! I went "78? That's a classic?" Then I counted up the years. Holy shit!
I thought of my 71 Thunderbird as a pain in the ass, not a classic.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Argh! I went "78? That's a classic?" Then I counted up the years. Holy shit!
I thought of my 71 Thunderbird as a pain in the ass, not a classic.

You have a 71 T-bird????? Holy smokes....you're driving a super classic. Ever seen American Grafitti? Park it quick before some idiot hits it.

Save the licence plate and hang it on a wall.

I wish you a speedy recovery, Zooke.

I know nothing of cars, much less about trucks, but i guess i'd say... restoration? or at least shopping for a new classic?

I wish you a speedy recovery, Zooke.

I know nothing of cars, much less about trucks, but i guess i'd say... restoration? or at least shopping for a new classic?
I'm going back to driving jeeps. Drive OVER the fools next time.

My sweetie has been very solicitous and is doing everything he can to help me deal with my injuries. But, I know that he is hurting as much, if not more, as I am, knowing that this link to his Dad is now gone. Any suggestions on what I can do to help alleviate his pain?

Go to a doctor right now, get a diagnosis of permanent neurological impairment &c. Find the most sleazy shark like lawyer you can, and sue the other ladies insurance company for the policy limits.

Take proceeds and replace the truck.

Edit: and get well soon.