My poor Z...

[CarCrazy24]

After spending a grand on fresh carbs and getting a lot of little mechanical problems straightened out, I was driving my Z back home. Literally half a mile from my shop, I got rear ended at a red light. Overall I suppose it could have been a lot worse, but it still hurts. Badly.

I was wondering if you guys could point me to a body shop in southern california that does some great work on these old Z's. Also was wondering if that chrome hoop on my rear bumper can be transferred onto a new rear bumper...or is there a way to somehow straighten out my bumper? Also you guys can see how in one of the pictures the bumper dug into the paint and chipped away at the fiberglass...was wondering if you guys know a shop that does good work on both the bumper and the fiberglass. Do you guys know a good place to buy a new rear bumper even one with a hoop like mine?

I'm trying to help the guy out, says he wants to not involve the insurance company if possible. I got an estimate of 950 bucks for the work not including the cost of the rear bumper at Maaco. I also got another estimate at another place for the same work as maaco for $1250. Let me know some good places to go for bodywork and some places to buy the same bumper i have. Appreciate your input guys!

[bigoak]

That sucks dude...sry to hear it...

[DeMoore]

This is what people have insurance for. Even though I'm sure he's a nice guy, I would go get the work done at a good body shop, regardless of how much it's going to cost his insurance company. You deserve to have the car put into the exact condition it was in. Given the cars age, i would take it one of the Z shops around here, not a general mechanic. I'm sure the guy will understand, take it from a guy who's been in A LOT of car accidents (totaled my first 3 cars-not at fault).

[Arne]

I'm with DeMoore. Every time I or someone I know has tried to help a guy out by not doing the insurance thing, I/they have gotten burned to some degree or another.

Don't know about shops in your area, sorry.

[a7dz]

I agree turn it over to the insurance people. I just received a check from a deductible I paid ten years ago. When I was hit by an uninsured driver not in the Z.

[EScanlon]

...bumper dug into the paint and chipped away at the fiberglass...was wondering if you guys know a shop that does good work on both the bumper and the fiberglass. Do you guys know a good place to buy a new rear bumper even one with a hoop like mine?

...

If your car has fiberglass you have much more hidden damage than what is shown in the pictures.

The Z did NOT have fiberglass applied to it at the factory, that would have to be a prior repair that was damaged. That in turn, says that your estimate of $1250 may well be very optimistic.

The chrome bar, or over-rider as some call it, can be transferred, after you prep the new bumper. As far as straightening out the old... that may be more difficult, especially nowdays that most cars do NOT have chrome bumpers.

2¢

E

[Unkle]

Please follow through with a proper claim to your insurance company.

If insurance companies did not exist, Judge Judy wouldn't have a show .

Don't ''help'' this person out , because it will cost you .....

[biddljj]

http://www.denverbumper.com/

There still are businesses that repair bumpers.

Jay

Not just a Z - zdisease

[JonnyRock]

Because of the fiberglass I'd probably get insurance in on this. If it was the stock sheet metal back there a repair would be a known quantity. But E is right that the fiberglass is not a good sign. It should just be metal back there and it sounds like there was a previous repair.

Attaching the overrider bar to a new bumper shouldn't be a problem.

[mikewags]

Unrelated, but I wonder how a 280 would of taken that hit.

[mgood]

I was wondering the same thing. I like my big fat bumpers to help in staving off the little bumps.

[ajmcforester]

With how that looks at the mount, that is more than $1200, I'd recommend using a restoration shop not a collision specialist. Collision specialist fix it to look good not what will last over time take this up with insurance company also if the cost of repair goes over the estament the insurance will usually cover it (with some pushing). Also don't let the insurance company tell you where to take it they want it done cheap and with most things in life you get what you pay for.