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O bachan - 1972 Bluebird DX 4dr granny car


carterb

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Not sure about ur insurance but start gathering information ur datsun, craigslist, EBay, BAT, and keep info. You want to prove that our cars are worth money. Keep info handy in case they try to total ur car. They tried that with me awhile back and showed them how much these cars are worth when I got into an accident.

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Thank you all for your comments.  I have over 2,300 510 ads going back 9 years.  None of them really do me any good since this is an imported Bluebird vs a standard 510 but I have a few of those as well.  Got a call back from my insurance company this morning, took a recorded statement, sent them photos form the scene.  We'll see what happens next.  I'll keep you posted.

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After letting things settle over the weekend, I went out today to take a closer look at the damage:

 

large.59c17df664a40_09192017grannycrashd

 

It's amazing how much stuff got messed up.

 

large.59c17dfa54786_09192017grannycrashd

 

The grill is toast of course, even breaking all the mounting tabs off the back of the center section.  And look at the poor A/C radiator:

 

large.59c17dfe3fe4a_09192017grannycrashd

 

The tow truck driver pulled the bumper out of its mounting holes so I could get home.

 

large.59c17e033a647_09192017grannycrashd

 

Ooh that's ugly!!!

 

large.59c17e0799c6f_09192017grannycrashd

 

NOS mirrors are only new 'till you mount them right?

 

large.59c17e0a7d1a7_09192017grannycrashd

 

Almost looks like photoshop

 

large.59c17e0e869f4_09192017grannycrashd

 

large.59c17e12dabdd_09192017grannycrashd

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Here you can see that the fender was pushed back into the door.

 

large.59c17e185dcd9_09192017grannycrashd

 

And the hood and fender pushed back into the cowl.

 

large.59c17e1bc0036_09192017grannycrashd

 

Ready to have a look inside?  Surprisingly the hood latch worked, but I couldn't reach the secondary release lever from the front since the hood is curled down over the gap, but from the side I could get it with a long crowbar.

 

Tada!

 

large.59c17e207dfb8_09192017grannycrashd

 

Battery broke free from it's mounts.  I will not use these crappy mounts again.

 

large.59c17e24eb194_09192017grannycrashd

 

Check out the upper radiator hose.  That gives you an indication of how far back the core support was pushed.

 

large.59c17e2bd39ca_09192017grannycrashd

 

large.59c17e303f93f_09192017grannycrashd

 

It may be an optical illusion but I'm pretty sure the left strut tower is bent in toward the engine.

 

large.59c17e3621c87_09192017grannycrashd

 

The fan is right up against the radiator and has left a nice impression.  It still spins if forced but rubs pretty bad.

 

large.59c17e38a7c18_09192017grannycrashd

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Buckle line on right side of radiator opening

 

large.59c17e3eed94e_09192017grannycrashd

 

large.59c17e4451bd5_09192017grannycrashd

 

Buckle line at rear of upper frame rail to firewall

 

large.59c17e49667fb_09192017grannycrashd

 

Another view of the same.  Hopefully that's as far back as the damage carried.

 

large.59c17e505367f_09192017grannycrashd

 

Another radiator/fan view

 

large.59c17e582d068_09192017grannycrashd

 

Not an Instagram filter

 

large.59c17e5db08c2_09192017grannycrashd

 

Only a surfer would like the curl on this hood

 

large.59c17e63238ec_09192017grannycrashd

 

Insurance adjuster is supposed to visit Thursday morning.

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Insurance adjuster came out this morning.  He understood that this is not a Honda minivan and that special attention will be required during the process so we're off to a good start. He also understands that a typical collision repair shop would not be able to do the work.  Anyone here have good 1st or 2nd hand experience with a vintage/collector car restoration shop in the NW that you might recommend?

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If you don't mind going north of the border,  the work that Tyson (I think that's his name) at Big Time Motors in BC has done on a few 510's on the 510 realm looks to be top notch.  He is a 510 guy himself so that helps.

 

Hope to see this car to get fixed right!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Things are progressing VERY slowly.

The original insurance adjuster quickly confirmed that this is not a Honda Minivan and therefore is not in their database - so he handed off my claim to another person.

Person #2 is in the total loss department (not a good start) but has "experience with older cars - I think she even has some"  older cars that is...  Not Datsun Bluebirds.

Unfortunately person #2 was on vacation when she first got my file.

 

Then, when she got back, she had purchased tickets for her and her niece to go to a certain concert in Las Vegas.  She was not feeling well that evening so she had her niece take a friend instead.  That night her niece was shot in the abdomen and spent 11 hours in surgery. 

 

I haven't gotten an update but it really seems silly to try and deal with a smashed car when the lady is trying to make sure her niece survives to see another day.

 

She claimed she wanted to "get back to work" to give her mind something else to think about so gave me a brief summary of where we are.  Basically she is limited to NADA values for a Datsun 510 and cannot use any of the Japanese sales figures I sent her - only US sales. 

 

There are only what - 5 or 6 bluebird sedans in the US?  So there have not been many sales recorded but I do have a few which I sent her.  They are constant with all the ads I collected from Japan.  I also sent her a bunch of Bluebird Coupe adds too because it helps show the distinction between a Bluebird and a standard 510. 

 

Just so you guys know, I thought NADA was an abbreviation for North American Dealers Association but I think it is just simply Spanish for "nothing".

 

NADA lists the following for 2dr and 4dr 510's:

 

http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/1972/Nissan-Datsun/510/2-Door-Sedan/Values

 

large.59d6ef8addd6d_1972Datsun510NADAgui

 

http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/1972/Nissan-Datsun/510/4-Door-Sedan/Values

 

large.59d6ef7c8252e_1972Datsun5104drNADA

http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/1972/Nissan-Datsun/510/4-Door-Station-Wagon/Values

 

large.59d6f47a4256e_1972Datsun510wagonNA

 

Hagerty is slightly more flattering:

 

https://www.hagerty.com/apps/valuationtools/1972-datsun-510

 

large.59d6ef8b5e01e_datsun510hagarty1005

 

Unfortunately, all of these are limited not only by their reference to US 510's but also to their valuation of "stock" vehicles only. 

 

Anyway, we'll see what happens.

 

I told her I didn't plan on contacting her 'till next week as I want to make sure she has all the time she needs to take care of her niece.  I pray for her and all the others.  My car is meaningless in comparison to their lives and well-being.

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Damn this is just such a crazy story, especially about your insurance adjuster and her niece. You're definitely right that this is a small world. Sorry that you have to go through this, and even worse having to look at that bluebird like that. I really hope the best for you and that you can find a good bodywork guy to fix it.

 

Here's a video from Arthur Tussik's, the bodywork master of the east, for some inspiration. I'm sure your granny can be fixed.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBryZaK9Qzc

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Nada is just a guide. Show them BAT, ebay, Craigslist and classifieds on Ratsun. Its to their interest to total or salvage your car. This happened to me like 10 years ago. Luckily I had an adjuster that was knowlegable about classic cars because my fender bender I had almost totalled my 510. Good luck.

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