Car Damage (Minor) & AutoBody Recommendation

[NX-01]

Hey Guys & Girls,

My 90 Coupe was hit by a RV parking next to it yesterday at the storage place (I got the call this afternoon telling me this). I have attached a pic of the damage. The cut into the fiberglass is about 3 inches long, about quarter of an inch in width. :(

1. I am using Progressive for insurance. I have read/heard that insurance companies may drop you if you get "too many accidents". I was not at fault for this damage. In 8/03 someone hit me lightly (not the C4) and I reported it to Progressive. So in 2003 I had one accident, the previous accident I had was in 9/98 (someone rear ended me, whom was drinking). Could Progressive drop me due to the accidents I had?

2. Do you guys recommend a body shop that does good work?

3. I am sure that the whole hood will have to be repainted, the front bumper area. Since that is half the car, what do you think about whole car getting painted? The only other damage to the paint that I wanted to take care of was the area around the rear hatch, the clearcoat is just starting to peel around the weather stripping.

Thank you for your responses, take care...John

[tproth]

John, I feel the pain. My 2003 was keyed last fall, driver side front to back. My insurance company is New Jersey Manufacturers and they sent me to :

BOB MAGUIRE CHEVROLET, INC.
840 US HWY 206
BORDENTOWN , NJ 08505 -1516
Phone: (609 ) 298-0234
Fax: (609 ) 298-1392

They did a wonderfull job, took three days. I can't say for sure they won't eventually cancel me. My last claim was in 1996. I got side swiped on the N/E extension. I know its hard to believe, but a very long story.

Best of luck to you.

[Tony B.96LT4]

One of our members, Dennis Winokur, at Alans Collision 215-677-7773 on Red Lion Rd. has done quite a few of our members cars. His shop does excellent work. Another is Kenny Mondello on Wyndott rd in Willow Grove, just south of the Willow Grove TP exit. he also does excellent work. As far as getting dropped from your insurance as long as you aren't at fault then you should have nothing to worry about. Your insurance will get the money they have to put out from the other guys insurance. As for getting the whole car painted if you can afford the balance go for it. A good paint job is going to cost so don't be shocked.

[Glennm27]

Bill McElroy Body Shop
419 Station Ave
Bensalem, PA 19020
Phone: (215) 639-0806

I've seen many Corvettes that they have done body work on and custom work on. A couple were in last years Cavalcade of Corvettes (that's where I first learned about McElroy's)

They will have my Corvette for a week in March.
And I searched high and low for the right place to take my car too. Not just anyone was going to touch my car.

Bill McElroy has some National Winning Show Cars of his own.

[RichRog]

Glenn,

Good choice - Bill does great work. I have had work done by him also.

What is he doing to your Vette?

[hcvone]

Bill McElroy Body Shop, they do good work, I have seen several customers cars that they have done and they looked good.

[Glennm27]

Originally posted by RichRog
Glenn,

Good choice - Bill does great work. I have had work done by him also.

What is he doing to your Vette?
:D :D :D :D :D :D

[NX-01]

To tproth:

I am sorry that your '03 C5 was keyed. I am happy that Bob Maguire Chevrolvet took care of your C5 and you were happy with them. I want to thank you for the reference and I will keep that in the back of my mine if anyone asks me about a auto body shop in NJ. It's a bit far for me. Thank you again.

Dear Tony B.96LT4:

I want to thank you for the two references.
1. I went to Alan's Collision today and met Larry. A really nice guy (he was about to sit down to eat lunch when I stopped in the shop, I felt bad) and we spent about 10 mins talking about the damage. I also met Bob (I do not recall his last name), he was sitting by the front desk, he is a member of the CCDV. Larry was telling me that he had in the shop a Callaway Corvette, that 1) had $60K with of damage 2) the owner had shipped the Callaway from CA and the owner was currently in VA and traveling up to pick up the car (I assume to drive it back to CA :) 3) when Larry called Callaway to get the front bumper replacement, Callaway told him that all the molds were destroyed in a fire and asked Alan's Collision to fix the bumper and ship it up to Callaway, so they could make a new mold. I wanted to see the engine of the Callaway, but Larry checked and found out that the Callaway was out being driven for a test drive.
2. I also stopped at Mondello's, on 2521 Wyndott Road. I spent 30 mins talking to Kenny! He is a great guy and explained what he would do to the car to repair it. Also, he told me a story that I want to convey to you and I should post it in the C4 forum on CCDV. Kenny said starting in the 80s, GM started to mix in, when making fiberglass, something called SMC (or SMG). Previously, GM would spray a mold release agent before pouring the fiberglass. With the SMC mixed in the fiberglass, then poured into the mold, the fiberglass panel would be easy to be removed and the mold did not have to be sprayed before pouring the fiberglass (a side note: subaru is using the same SMC in their fiberglass!). Now, Kenny looked at the front of the hood, on both sides & noticed a bubbling at the surface. He told me that he has a 85 that the hood was painted 5 times, before he bought it, then he painted it a pearl black and one year year the bubbling came up again. He indicated that it was the SMC that was coming up from the fiberglass.

To: Glennm27, hcvone, Bill Burkholder, Bob Rosenberg, Ellis

Thank you for the reference to Bill McElroy Body Shop. I was going to stop in today since I was in Willow Grove. But I am going to stop by on Friday. Thanks again!