my 67 display van got taken out by a drunk driver last night

it happened around 11 something in cardiff by the sea in front of the campgrounds. i was walking back after a day of surfing n visiting friends in the campgrounds n saw cop lights n thought i was getting a ticket or being towed. i hustled over thinking i was about to start arguing that it wasnt past midnight yet (you cant park on the road there after 12) but it was much worse. definitly not driveable and the van is at a tow yard in del mar now. glad i wasnt in it but i dont think the van is going to survive the insurance process. super bummer.

more / better pix??

Sorry to hear that...is the drunk driver's insurance going to compensate you?

That sucks...sorry to hear your van got hit. I looked at your previous post but didn't find any before pics.

yeah sorry about the photo quality. i posted the photos on my blog at www.thatcherworks.blogspot.com it wasnt the nicest van thats for sure but it ran well. i just drove it down to san diego from south lake tahoe in december and it hummed along those 6oo miles just fine!

Tragedy. Keep us posted.

Sorry To hear this lucky you were not in the van hopefully the insurance company will give you enough to replace it Its a fear that's in the back of all our minds.!!!..Keep us Posted...

How was the surf?

,,,so whats the plan for it,,,,,,,how bad is it hit,,,,,,,

it was hit pretty bad. she was driving a jetta and ripped past the rear left bumper n through the gas filler panel and hit the rear tire pushing the van up and over the curb! the left side of the van is pretty crumpled. i dont have any idea really cause it was late about the real condition of the van. i wont be able to see it till monday morning. i just started a claim with her insurance today but im one of a few cars hit so we will see how it goes! i dont know what my plan is for the van. im going to do my best to keep it from getting crushed but im sure its considered totaled. at this point im wondering what the insurance is going to decide.

oh and the surf wasnt that great but i was riding a new alaia i just built myself n got a few good ones on it!

Find out if it is driveable, we might be able to store it for a little while for you,,,,,,,

Things to look out for
the tow company charging large tow bills
and high storage rates,
the ins company will only give you Penneys on a dollar
tell them you want to keep the van and want it rebuilt.
 also tell them it's your daily driver and need the space in the back,
tell them to replace it if it's totaled,
and get it out of the salvage yard.

I just went threw an insurance claim. Line up plenty of comps, scan the listings here, ebay, and Craigslist. They will try to lowball you. When they send an appraiser make sure he's up to date on the current market rates for earlies. They will total it, don't let them charge you more than $1k-$1.5k to get it back as a salvage vehicle. Like the guys said have them tow it immediately to a location of choice (I would take up Donivans offer, it couldn't be in better hands) Good luck with the ordeal, and demand a rental as it is your daily driver!!!!

Do you have your own collector car insurance on it? They would pay under declared valve whatever you said it was worth. Hope it works out for you and hopefully the drunk gets the max, good thing the cops got there first....

Well the good news is that I was able to put a spare on it and drive it home this morning. The bad news is that I only had liability insurance in it so I'm most likely gunna get screwed on payment. so far she is saying I'm gunna have to wait to see what the other people involved gave as far as there charges go n they will send out an inspector in a week or so and I can't even get a rental car from them. I'm glad it runs n is home but I don't think its going to be a smooth and easy process.

if you have rental on your policy they have to give you a rental car

I don't on mine. I only had liability n uninsured motorist. Her insurance pretty much said since I was the only one involved w out collision coverage I had to wait for the other involved parties claims to get back before they could do anything for me. So she said I'm stuck doing everything out of pocket I guess. I don't know the ins n outs of this stuff but I am just stoked I have the van at my house n it runs n it'll get dealt with with out me getting pissed off about it. Life is good. There's a ton of plastic in the water and on the beaches right now so that kinda sucks though.

I have to say you are a lot more "Level Headed" than I would have been but like I tell my wife one way or the other things have a way of working them selph's out..!!!...I wish you the Best of Luck....Joe... ..

My mother (Judy) worked for "State Farm" Insurance as a adjuster for almost 20 years and after all the Crazy Stuff that can happen out on the road I am a "FIRM" believer of having full coverage ( You Never Know ) About 2 years ago we were on our way back from Orlando from a Truckin on I-75 doing about 65 mph pulling our 23ft camper when the guy a couple of cars ahead of us had some scrap metal fall off his trailer witch I could not avoid unless I wanted to flip over my hole rig so I kept it in my lane long story short me a motor home and 2 other cars all had blow outs well by time I got it stopped ( it sounded like the trailer came off the hitch) I did 2k in damage on a Sunday afternoon...Monday morning a State Farm agent came over with a check to repair the van it was the only accident claim since the Van was new in 1975 so the moral of the story no mater what you drive have "FULL COVERAGE"  Sorry but IMO start looking for another body and switch all the parts over I am willing to bet there is frame damage and my mother said unless its insured for 10k or more your van is a total loss it may still be drive-able but will never be the same again "Good Luck" At this point the only thing you can do is sue the drunk driver and hope for the best and thank GOD you were not in it or you would have some serious Neck & Back Injury's...!!!..

Ouch. that really sucks. That damage is quite extensive. Hopefully the drunk's insurance will pay out enough to get you a new van. You could repair that wrecked van, but its probably going to be much more cost effective to find an undamaged body, and simply swap all your good parts over to a different van.

For affordable full coverage in the future, it makes sense to insure your classics with vintage insurance companies such as hagerty.

sorry to hear about your ride !!!

total bummer man,sorry bout your van

Thanks for the condolences! So I had an adjuster come by n check it out. No word on a verdict. Maybe I'll slap a fifty's car fender on there lik
e the cheech n chong upholstery van

You might be on to something with the fifty's fender idea!!!
Yep, I like it!