Motoring Discussion > 50/50 luck Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Westpig Replies: 23

 50/50 luck - Westpig
In preparation for a big lifestyle change coming our way, i'd sent my old classic car (1968 Triumph 2000 mk1 auto) to Devon (from London) to sit in a family friend's garage for a bit. Around the same time, I sent my bike (1998 Honda Blackbird) to the same county and same village, only this time my mother's garage.

Both of them are absolutely mint, shed loads of history receipts, real boys toys.

My mother's 80 year old neighbour, unfortunately, did the automatic challenge, backwards at high speed in his Citroen Picasso, bounced off my mother's house (having punched a hole in the downstairs cloakroom and knocked the cistern and sink off the wall) before going up the driveway, through the locked garage door and wiping out everything in the garage, inc my bike, another bike, lawnmowers and similar, before becoming stuck and having to be freed by the fire brigade.

You can imagine the havoc caused...but...this is where the luck comes in. Apart from the fact the neighbour was o.k. the bike damage, although substantial, was all lights/ panels etc in other words things that bolt on and although hit fairly hard, the car went down the side of it, so it remained upright. After a battle with an insurance company's assessor about writing it off....they are going to repair it, with no mention of write off.

If i'd placed the vehicles the other way around, the Triumph would have been well and truly squashed, so would have been no more ....and i've owned that for over 20 years.

So all and all in the circs...a right result.
 50/50 luck - Perky Penguin
That's a frightening story with a reasonably happy outcome. How would you have been placed for bodypanels, glass and trim for a 1968 Triumph?
 50/50 luck - Bigtee
www.delmarvarecycling.com/photo_gallery/images%20for%20photo%20gallery/car%20crusher.jpg



How would you have been placed for bodypanels, glass and trim for a 1968 Triumph?

Above is the answer to old triumphs, wolsleys,spitfire (without wings), and all the rest built before the 80's. :-)
 50/50 luck - Westpig
>> That's a frightening story with a reasonably happy outcome. How would you have been placed for bodypanels, glass and trim for a 1968 Triumph?
>>

That would have been a long and weary battle. Triumph is insured, on an agreed value classic policy...but...i've yet to send them the 6 photos they need to guarantee the agreed valuation bit, so that would have been a challenge.

I've become very attached to that old car.

What's also nice is twice in the past 3 months friends/relatives have asked to borrow it for weddings, so other people appreciate it as well, so not just me.
 50/50 luck - hawkeye
Result. I had a Mk1 2000 auto with Webasto sunroof in 1978. Loved it. Pleased to hear the bike won't be written off.

You've got to be travelling at some speed to drive a Picasso through a wall! A Land Rover I can understand, but a Picasso ...
 50/50 luck - Bellboy
yes it doesnt paint a pretty picture does it
 50/50 luck - J Bonington Jagworth
And I expect the neighbour has never had an accident - just caused plenty...
 50/50 luck - Iffy
...a right result...

Your thoughts, but presumably not those of your dear mother.

 50/50 luck - MD
Do I get the repair work on da Bildin??
 50/50 luck - Westpig
>> Do I get the repair work on da Bildin??
>>
Form an orderly queue please. There's a slump on you know....;-)
 50/50 luck - Westpig
>> Your thoughts, but presumably not those of your dear mother.
>>
No, you're right....it did come across as a bit selfish didn't it. My excuse is trying not to write war and peace on here...and just cover the vehicle angle.
 50/50 luck - Ted

A good job all this happened where it did, and not in some busy street or car park.

The bike should be a simple fix.

Ted
 50/50 luck - Avant
Anyone, like me, with a soft sport for old Triumphs knows where you're coming from, Westpig. If I were where I am now 40 years ago I'd have had a Triumph 2000 in preference to the Rover 2000. Lovely 6-cylinder engine and much more of a feeling of space.

I'm glad the neighbour wasn't hurt, but I hope he considers carefully whether he's still fit to drive - or maybe your colleagues in Devon will do that for him. I wonder if this is his first automatic. If his Picasso had one of Citroen's appalling semi-automatic gearboxes he could almost be forgiven.

I hope that the lifestyle change, whatever it is, is positive: good luck with it anyway.
 50/50 luck - Iffy
...I hope that the lifestyle change, whatever it is, is positive: good luck with it anyway...

Glad you feel that way Avant, because you're helping to pay for it. :)

 50/50 luck - jc2
Surely all claims should be paid by the neighbour's insurance-nothing to do with yours!!
 50/50 luck - Westpig
>> Surely all claims should be paid by the neighbour's insurance-nothing to do with yours!!
>>
True. The bike was uninsured, on a SORN.

If it had been the Triumph i'd have had to go through the agreed value rigmarole and i've yet to send the 6 required photos to my insurer, so i'm not sure where i'd stand with the Old Boy's insurer.

I have to say though, the old chap's insurer is LV and they've been pretty good really, by coincidence my daily driver is insured with them as well.
 50/50 luck - Dog
>>My mother's 80 year old neighbour, unfortunately, did the automatic challenge<<

Not uncommon in 'certain parts' of Devonshire, I hear, ~ keep em peeled!
 50/50 luck - MD
Oy!
 50/50 luck - Westpig
Update:

Bike being repaired, no problems at all. House repair, not done yet due to assessor failing to agree two current estimates...

..... and........the Old Boy's gone and done it again. Only this time he went frontwards rather than backwards and went through his own front door.

We really do have an unfortunate system in this country for ensuring the unfit to drive are taken off the road...i.e. leaving it to GP's unless someone is prosecuted for it and the court orders it.
 50/50 luck - Fullchat
Practicing left foot braking ????????????? :-)
 50/50 luck - Westpig
Good one Fullchat....rather topical at the moment.
 50/50 luck - Tooslow
Good grief. Still, the insurance company will take him off the road when they tell hin his renewal premium.

John
 50/50 luck - Westpig
>> Good grief. Still, the insurance company will take him off the road when they tell
>> hin his renewal premium.

No doubt. I must find out what car he did the second one in, whether it was a replacement one, courtesy car or his wife's.

Speaking of the wife, if I was her I wouldn't go outside whilst he's sat in the driving seat.
 50/50 luck - MD
>> Update:
>>
>> Bike being repaired, no problems at all. House repair, not done yet due to assessor
>> failing to agree two current estimates...
>>
Best they/you have an expert assess and cost it. Seriously if you want another costing (on a level playing field that is) then get in touch. MODS, MODS, give him.

Martin.
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