It's Official: 1966 Crown Convertible Coming This Way

An estimate from a reputable collector car restoration shop, (not a body shop), is very important. Do not even talk to the insurance company until you have an estimate in hand. Not being able to match the paint could lead to a complete repaint. Or a higher payout then just straight up repairs.
Like Jeff suggested, Tri City for a bumper. (avoid bumper boyz).
That drivers lack of experience can work in your favor.
 
Late to this thread. First congrats on the nice car. Hopefully insurance comes through for you. You may have a decision to make if they write it off.
 
[QUOTE="Fratzog, You may have a decision to make if they write it off.[/QUOTE]



I don't think the insurance co has the option to "write it off" as a loss. The transport co should be bonded to operate and will be responsible for what the insurance company won't pay.
 
Sorry to hear about Imp vs Tree. But The parts should be easy to get, Bumper can be straightened and chromed to like new. Get Estimates and Don't let the Insurance adjuster Bastard screw you, He will try, it's his job. I am sure labor will be high. Shipping for bumpers and trunk lid needs to be included.Remember they only made 514 Imperial Convertibles in 1966 !
 
Thanks Gary and everyone else for the kind words, tips, and encouragement. I know this is a low production car but even if it wasn't, I have no intentions of letting it go down the road over a claim. I'd eat the cost and move on. It's really not that bad overall, bumpers being the main damage with a slight push in the back of the trunk and on the lid. In fact, when I tried to pry the lid open Saturday about 3/4 of the dented area on the lid popped back out. Getting the bumper off will be the biggest thing once I can figure out how the get the trunk open.

Sent in the claim forms Friday with a $6K estimate, called today and was told they turned it over to an adjuster who should be calling me this week. We'll see how that goes. Need to postpone sending it in for the mechanical stuff until after that gets taken care of.

Anyhow - a couple more photos of the car being hauled the quarter mile or less from the side street to my yard Thursday night. Now it's time to move forward with the rebuilding process and get away from the bad juju of the delivery.

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bluefury361 said:
[QUOTE="Fratzog, You may have a decision to make if they write it off.
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I don't think the insurance co has the option to "write it off" as a loss. The transport co should be bonded to operate and will be responsible for what the insurance company won't pay.[/QUOTE]
Agreed, your own insurance company may have that option, not someone else, even if the repair cost exceed the value of the car.


Alan
 
Just found this thread. Glad to hear you got it home. Sorry to hear about the damage. Hope the insurance comes through on covering the repairs.
 
Boomer said:
Thanks Gary and everyone else for the kind words, tips, and encouragement. I know this is a low production car but even if it wasn't, I have no intentions of letting it go down the road over a claim. I'd eat the cost and move on. It's really not that bad overall, bumpers being the main damage with a slight push in the back of the trunk and on the lid. In fact, when I tried to pry the lid open Saturday about 3/4 of the dented area on the lid popped back out. Getting the bumper off will be the biggest thing once I can figure out how the get the trunk open.

Sent in the claim forms Friday with a $6K estimate, called today and was told they turned it over to an adjuster who should be calling me this week. We'll see how that goes. Need to postpone sending it in for the mechanical stuff until after that gets taken care of.

Anyhow - a couple more photos of the car being hauled the quarter mile or less from the side street to my yard Thursday night. Now it's time to move forward with the rebuilding process and get away from the bad juju of the delivery.

View attachment 140509 View attachment 140510 View attachment 140511
Click to expand...
Glad to hear you're moving forward with the claim, you probably should have left the dent alone until the adjuster was finished... but not the end of the world. I hope that repair estimate takes her a long way closer to becoming the car you want her to be. Good luck with the rest of the process.
 
Boomer said:
Thanks Gary and everyone else for the kind words, tips, and encouragement. I know this is a low production car but even if it wasn't, I have no intentions of letting it go down the road over a claim. I'd eat the cost and move on. It's really not that bad overall, bumpers being the main damage with a slight push in the back of the trunk and on the lid. In fact, when I tried to pry the lid open Saturday about 3/4 of the dented area on the lid popped back out. Getting the bumper off will be the biggest thing once I can figure out how the get the trunk open.

Sent in the claim forms Friday with a $6K estimate, called today and was told they turned it over to an adjuster who should be calling me this week. We'll see how that goes. Need to postpone sending it in for the mechanical stuff until after that gets taken care of.

Anyhow - a couple more photos of the car being hauled the quarter mile or less from the side street to my yard Thursday night. Now it's time to move forward with the rebuilding process and get away from the bad juju of the delivery.

View attachment 140509 View attachment 140510 View attachment 140511
Click to expand...
I wonder whether you or a small child could gain access to the trunk via the back seat? Remove the backrest, then enter the trunk and dismantle the lock and pop trunk open.
 
LeBaron1973 said:
I wonder whether you or a small child could gain access to the trunk via the back seat? Remove the backrest, then enter the trunk and dismantle the lock and pop trunk open.
Click to expand...
We know it can be done on a '67 coupe...:rolleyes:

Might be a different story on a convertible though unless the well liner comes off easy and all the convertible goodies aren't in the way.
 
Boomer, was poking around Murray Parks website and saw this, this particular car parts may not work on your Vert, but Murray may have all you need, one stop shopping.
IMG_1680.PNG
 
The top bumper would work fine, bottom houses the backup lights on the '66 so it's different. I'll bet shipping is fun. :wideyed:

I didn't actually remove the dent in the trunk on purpose, it popped out when I was trying to get the lid to open. Surprised the hell outta me! Wouldn't take a lot to fix the lid assuming it's not stretched or damaged in some other way.

Tried removing the seat back t'udder day but obviously am doing something wrong. The bottom edge lifts up and it pivots but doesn't pop free. I'm guessing it needs to be pushed down or up or something else first.

There is a criss-cross brace across the back and the lift motor as well. And as Jim pointed out, vinyl or canvas across the gap as well. I don't want to tear it trying to get the seat back out. The boot is attached along the top as well, looks permanent? I expected snaps.

Will be calling the insurance folks back Friday AM if the adjuster hasn't called by then. Not holding out a lot of hope due to the way things have gone, but not about to give up, either.
 
Well, that was interesting. Went to reply in my other thread and the phone rang. It was the adjuster. Very nice guy in Arkansas with a lot of information, some not good. Worst part for me is that the driver left with my paperwork for the haul still sitting on the truck seat because we got distracted dealing with emailing the form, the 'discount' to the fee, etc. That my be the end before it begins. I'll be calling the hauler as soon as I finish here.

If not that, the next news is about as bleak. Seems the hauler has a deductible for the policy which is issued by Lloyds of London. The amount? $7500! Jeff told be that the hauler is responsible to pay that but not to get my hopes up.

Lastly, even if everything goes well (he mentioned these claims being 'document-heavy'), he said be prepared for a long process.

In the meantime, he's sending someone over to view the damage and get that part rolling, at least. I need to send him page 2 of the claim because the insurance company neglected to do so.

Glad I decided to move on, it's a lot less annoying or disappointing that way. :rolleyes:
 
The trunk lid is different on the 66 then it is on 64-65. The hump on the trunk on the 64-65 is meant to look like a spare tire is directly underneath. On the 66, the hump is more squared off.
 
Most 1964 - 1966 parts are 99% the same, concerning body parts. The four-door, coupe, and convertible rear body parts swap straight-up between cars and years.

BUT - the '66 deck lid does not have either the bustle or the lettering of the '64 and '65 cars.

The '66 lower rear bumper is unique in that the reverse lights are mounted there, and not with the taillights. The upper portion (what I call the "propeller", because it looks like one!) is the same all three years.

The chrome extensions that bolt to the body (behind the bumper ends) are the same for all three years.

The aluminum garnish moldings on the bumper interchange, but I believe '66 has a different pattern than the earlier cars.

The outer lenses are the same all three years, as is the trunk latch and locking mechanism.
 
The chrome extension moldings are different for '66 .the "64 & "65 are same.It's Because of Different molding peaks on fender tops.

The Aluminum garnish pieces were the same for '64 and '66. For 1965 they were cast & chrome plated.
Trunk key cylinder assy.Is same for '64 and '65. The '66 had a New modern Lock assy.The Latch and striker were same all 3 years,as stated.
 
TNX for all the tips and pointers, guys. Been outside today enjoying some quality time with the chainsaw. Wife said I was taking the 'labor' part of Labor day the wrong way - says I should be taking it easy, not working. Holiday and all that. Okay then, a chance to catch up here.

It's looking to me like my claim is dead based on my own stupidity of leaving the paperwork in the guy's truck. Tried to call him twice last week. First time he hung up when he heard my voice. Second time it went to voicemail. Then I started getting texts asking if I was interested in some real estate, wrong number, they just got it from T Mobile last week, blah blah. Clearly the hauler has no intention of honoring his obligation. I made it easy for him to be a crook, I guess.

Someone had asked the name of the business. Didn't want to share it previously until I knew one way or the other. Since it seems clear, the hauler was Bos Auto from Quincy, MA. Just down the road from where the car was which was a big part of my choosing them. The driver is Edwin Giang, he and his brother are somehow involved with the business which also has a store in Boston (no doubt the 'Bos' part). The insurance form listed Kwik Trans aka Kwik Transport as the responsible party, but of course they claim no knowledge due to lack of paperwork, and say Bos Auto is responsible. I asked how Edwin Giang was able to email me an insurance form with their name on it, but again - the guy on the phone played dumb.

I can pursue this through legal or other channels as the seller would give me an affidavit that this crook picked the car up. I also have phone records as well as the email of the form. Unfortunately, it would likely cost me more than the repairs, with no guarantee I'd get my money at the end of it all. Payback(sometimes politely referred to as karma)'s a *****, as they say. They'll get theirs eventually.

Anyhow - screw the crooks, I figure I got off easy for being so stupid. The trunk lid and bumpers are bolt-on parts, damage to the body is minimal. Talked with Murray last week about replacements, he said he had a good trunk lid and was checking on the bumpers for me. I'll check back if I don't hear from him tomorrow. Freight costs might force a trip north.

At the end of the day, I'm continuing forward; the car will get done. Last Mopar I bought had a less-than-honest seller and fantastic hauler. This time I had a fantastic seller and slimy hauler. It all evens out. This time is better because the wife likes the car. Progress!
 
Forgot to add, aside from the bumpers and lid, the only things damaged are those two inner aluminum trim pieces and perhaps a cracked right backup lens. Gas door and trim are fine, light trim and lenses are fine, Imperial logo is fine. The tree seems to have found about the best spot to bite the car.
 
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