Sad end to Bertie Beetle
auss...@hello.net.au
faithful friend (below) has met his maker.
On April 1st (it would have to be April Fool's Day wouldn't it) I was
driving Bertie home to start some well earned holidays, after a VERY
taxing day; when an inattentive Ford driver failed to realise I was
stopped in front of him in a line of heavy traffic.
I saw him coming (and coming...!) in the mirror, so jammed on my brakes
to try to save the front end (the back was obviously going to get a
belting anyway), but he rammed me (with locked brakes) into the car
about 2 meters in front of me, and both of us into the car in front
of that. Poor Bertie is about a half a metre shorter at both ends.
The body is a write-off for sure - buckled and rippled up to the B
pillar from the rear, and to the A pillar from the front. The engine
was still running so maybe the drive train is OK, and I'm not sure
about the floor pan - it may not be buckled as I first thought.
But the damage is well in excess of the value of the car, and now I
have to fight his insurance company for a few dollars which will
never compensate for the 28 years of driving pleasure I have had
with him.
I'm vaguely hopeful the floor pan and drive train may be salvagable
and then he would legally still be Bertie Beetle if I can put a new
body on him.
Luckily I wasn't hurt (just minor bruises), but my heart sure hurts
to see him so bent and sad looking.
One interesting note - I think I was saved from a neck injury by the
non-standard high backed Subaroo seats I have in him. The originals
were the low-back variety (Euro-spec cars still had low back seats in '70),
and the double hit would have resulted in a serious whiplash. The
highback seats and my foot jammed hard on the brake kept me firmly
pushed into the seat, and the old style fixed seat belts prevented
me moving forward when I hit the car in front (I always wear the
belt fairly tight).
Take care all of you, and watch out for those half asleep Ford drivers.
(Incidentally, my other car is a Ford, so no angry-defensive Ford
replies please :-)
--
Rob
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/lane/1970
1970 1500 beetle, one owner, 248,000 miles on his original engine,
and who knows if he will ever go another mile)
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
VW67Fweems
><HTML><PRE>Subject: Sad end to Bertie Beetle
>From: auss...@hello.net.au
>Date: Wed, Apr 28, 1999 23:35 EDT
>Message-id: <7g8k24$frg$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>
>
>Just though I'd drop a note to you all to to say it looks like my
>faithful friend (below) has met his maker.
Rob:
Very sorry to hear about your misfortune. The most important thing is that you
were not injured, but it is sad for this to happen to a car you have driven and
has been a friend for 28 years.
Bill Berckman
67 Beetle
VWMike1
long to have this happen to it sickens me. Hopefully it can be fixed somehow.
>Just though I'd drop a note to you all to to say it looks like my
>faithful friend (below) has met his maker.
>
>On April 1st (it would have to be April Fool's Day wouldn't it) I was
>driving Bertie home to start some well earned holidays, after a VERY
>taxing day; when an inattentive Ford driver failed to realise I was
>stopped in front of him in a line of heavy traffic.
>
>I saw him coming (and coming...!) in the mirror, so jammed on my brakes
>to try to save the front end (the back was obviously going to get a
>belting anyway), but he rammed me (with locked brakes) into the car
>about 2 meters in front of me, and both of us into the car in front
>of that. Poor Bertie is about a half a metre shorter at both ends.
Mike F
98 GTI VR6
65 Beetle
<Remove "SCHWING" in email address to reply>
Allan Williams
Anyway... I really sorry to hear that... Man I would be SO pissed off...
A friend of minme has a 70's ferrari replica, that he builds (and is
currently selling the moulds and everythoiing) out of V12 Jaguars. he was
driving on the open road, and the traffic had stopped. So he pulled up in
the line. Lucky for him he thought about the cars behind him. He left a
small gap, and turned his wheels. The car behind came up over the rise, and
saw the line and locked the wheels. So phil did a quick manouvre and pulled
out on the other side beside the guy in front of him... very lucky - there
wasn't much room left where his car would have been.
The wife of the guy driving the last car was nearly haing a coronary... she
would have thought it was a real ferrari tooo hehehe... He didn't follow too
close... for a while anyway..
Anyway... I can only imagine how you must feel... It maust be SOOOper sad...
I've only had my car for 5 years, and I would be SOOOO sad if that
happened...
--
Allan Williams
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/downs/9040/
3 things you need to know:
Laughing gas from the dentist can make you do things you normally
wouldn't.
Cops don't have a sense of humor.
Handcuffs hurt.
-----------------------------------------------------
auss...@hello.net.au wrote in message <7g8k24$frg$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
>Just though I'd drop a note to you all to to say it looks like my
>faithful friend (below) has met his maker.
>
>On April 1st (it would have to be April Fool's Day wouldn't it) I was
>driving Bertie home to start some well earned holidays, after a VERY
>taxing day; when an inattentive Ford driver failed to realise I was
>stopped in front of him in a line of heavy traffic.
>
>I saw him coming (and coming...!) in the mirror, so jammed on my brakes
>to try to save the front end (the back was obviously going to get a
>belting anyway), but he rammed me (with locked brakes) into the car
>about 2 meters in front of me, and both of us into the car in front
>of that. Poor Bertie is about a half a metre shorter at both ends.
>
Bruce Holmes
> Just though I'd drop a note to you all to to say it looks like my
> faithful friend (below) has met his maker.
>
>
> --
> Rob
> http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/lane/1970
> 1970 1500 beetle, one owner, 248,000 miles on his original engine,
> and who knows if he will ever go another mile)
>
> -----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
> http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Jeez! Sorry to hear that. Hope you don't get the run around from his
insurance company. And that you can find another soon. May not be another
Bertie, but it will help keep the pain of losing Bertie down.
--
Bruce Remove "?" to e-mail
G.W. East
Bertie chassis. Don't settle with the insurance company until you're happy
that it's a fair settlement, good luck
--
Till the Next Time,
George East
http://www.matnet.com/~gwsvws
<auss...@hello.net.au> wrote in message
news:7g8k24$frg$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com...
> Just though I'd drop a note to you all to to say it looks like my
> faithful friend (below) has met his maker.
>
> I'm vaguely hopeful the floor pan and drive train may be salvagable
> and then he would legally still be Bertie Beetle if I can put a new
> body on him.
>
> Luckily I wasn't hurt (just minor bruises), but my heart sure hurts
> to see him so bent and sad looking.
>
John J. Wright, CPA
I'm very sorry to here about you car, but glad you were unhurt. You've got
'air' in your veins so I know you will fweem again, if not in Bertie than
Bertie 2. Please don't leave the Group as I've enjoyed your posts from down
under.
Regards,
John
--
John J. Wright, CPA
1962 Beetle
1966 21 Window Deluxe (Currently undergoing restoration, body done paint soon!)
Home page URL is http://www.iquest.net/~wrightjo/
Steve Z
>driving Bertie home to start some well earned holidays, after a VERY
>taxing day; when an inattentive Ford driver failed to realise I was
>stopped in front of him in a line of heavy traffic.
>
>I saw him coming (and coming...!) in the mirror, so jammed on my brakes
>to try to save the front end (the back was obviously going to get a
>belting anyway), but he rammed me (with locked brakes) into the car
>about 2 meters in front of me, and both of us into the car in front
>of that. Poor Bertie is about a half a metre shorter at both ends.
>
Very, very sorry to hear this. I was in the very same kind of accident in
my first beetle. It was in San Antonio, and i was sitting at a stop light
after having just come off the interstate. I was at a dead stop, heard the
screech of locked brakes and whammo... right into the car in front of me.
It sounds like you got hit much harder than me. I had a stinger exhaust at
the time that ended up practically under the engine, and a big dent in the
front just over the spare. Very scary business, that.
Very sad about the car, but no one was hurt, and this is most important.
Smacked as hard as it sounds like you were, this is good to hear...
Regards,
Steve Z
Steve Z
Alvin NG Boon Kim wrote in message <37290632...@email.com>...
[snippity]
> For Smurfette, I hope insurance will pay for the repair. The problem is
>that the STUPID driver, to save her own ass, is claiming that I hit the cab
in
>front first. How low can a person get? How's your situation? Brighter, I
hope.
>
> Take care... I know it feels bad to know someone hurt our cars, but I'm
>sure we can nurse Bertie back to health again, right? :-)
>
Pretty effing low. When I was banged, the cops got there pretty quick.
Because I was in my early 20's (the guy that his me was about 40 or so, and
the guy in front was probably in his 50's), a GI, and driving a relatively
inexpensive vehicle (a '74 beetle hit by a sports car into a large piece of
late 80's detroit steel) it was assumed initially that the accident was my
fault... I was very impressed when the very first question to the guy in
front was "How many impacts did you feel?" His answer, of course, was one.
This cleared me of any fault... just with a canny police officer and a
simple question.
Good luck in your battles... don't give in! I fought for it, but
eventually got $1400 from the other guys insurance to fix the car after they
initially wanted to total it for less than a grand. This was more than
enough to repair the damage done.
Steve Z
'74 Ghia coupe
Alvin NG Boon Kim
auss...@hello.net.au wrote:
> Just though I'd drop a note to you all to to say it looks like my faithful
> friend (below) has met his maker. I was driving Bertie home....but he rammed
> me (with locked brakes) into the car about 2 meters in front of me, and both
> of us into the car in front of that. Poor Bertie is about a half a metre
> shorter at both ends.
I'm so sorry to hear about Bertie. Trust me, I know what it feels like...
Smurfette had a STUPID woman ram her butt in just 2 weeks after Bertie got
hurt. Smurfette is a '70 Bug too. What is it with those STUPID drivers? Why do
they always bully us?!
I do hope that insurance will pay for everything, then you should be able
to get the work done. Is your engine damaged? Maybe we can compare notes on
this, since we are both our Bugs are '70-models, got rear-ended and it is NOT
our fault!
For Smurfette, I hope insurance will pay for the repair. The problem is
that the STUPID driver, to save her own ass, is claiming that I hit the cab in
front first. How low can a person get? How's your situation? Brighter, I hope.
Take care... I know it feels bad to know someone hurt our cars, but I'm
sure we can nurse Bertie back to health again, right? :-)
Alvin.
"... Don't stop me!..."
--
___
/___\ My Smurfette
(o\ | /o) is a '70 Beetle.
U-----U Boy, does she Fweem!
Allan Williams
because if I am sweaty, I walk in circles until I cool down. People always
say "what are you doing?" and I say I'm air cooled, and need the extra
airflow...
Yes I am a weirdo.
--
Allan Williams
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/downs/9040/
3 things you need to know:
Laughing gas from the dentist can make you do things you normally
wouldn't.
Cops don't have a sense of humor.
Handcuffs hurt.
-----------------------------------------------------
John J. Wright, CPA wrote in message <37290507...@iquest.net>...
John Henry
much for your Beetle and it never let you down. That is truly sad.
Hopefully you can find another Beetle.....
auss...@hello.net.au wrote:
>
> Just though I'd drop a note to you all to to say it looks like my
> faithful friend (below) has met his maker.
>
> On April 1st (it would have to be April Fool's Day wouldn't it) I was
> driving Bertie home to start some well earned holidays, after a VERY
> taxing day; when an inattentive Ford driver failed to realise I was
> stopped in front of him in a line of heavy traffic.
>
> I saw him coming (and coming...!) in the mirror, so jammed on my brakes
> to try to save the front end (the back was obviously going to get a
> belting anyway), but he rammed me (with locked brakes) into the car
> about 2 meters in front of me, and both of us into the car in front
> of that. Poor Bertie is about a half a metre shorter at both ends.
>
> The body is a write-off for sure - buckled and rippled up to the B
> pillar from the rear, and to the A pillar from the front. The engine
> was still running so maybe the drive train is OK, and I'm not sure
> about the floor pan - it may not be buckled as I first thought.
>
> But the damage is well in excess of the value of the car, and now I
> have to fight his insurance company for a few dollars which will
> never compensate for the 28 years of driving pleasure I have had
> with him.
>
> I'm vaguely hopeful the floor pan and drive train may be salvagable
> and then he would legally still be Bertie Beetle if I can put a new
> body on him.
>
> Luckily I wasn't hurt (just minor bruises), but my heart sure hurts
> to see him so bent and sad looking.
>
> One interesting note - I think I was saved from a neck injury by the
> non-standard high backed Subaroo seats I have in him. The originals
> were the low-back variety (Euro-spec cars still had low back seats in '70),
> and the double hit would have resulted in a serious whiplash. The
> highback seats and my foot jammed hard on the brake kept me firmly
> pushed into the seat, and the old style fixed seat belts prevented
> me moving forward when I hit the car in front (I always wear the
> belt fairly tight).
>
> Take care all of you, and watch out for those half asleep Ford drivers.
> (Incidentally, my other car is a Ford, so no angry-defensive Ford
> replies please :-)
>
> --
> Rob
> http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/lane/1970
> 1970 1500 beetle, one owner, 248,000 miles on his original engine,
> and who knows if he will ever go another mile)
>
> -----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
> http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
--
John Henry
---------------
Visit the "BugShop" at http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/4000
"The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of my employer,
not necessarily mine, and probably not necessary."
Info4Laser
That really sucks. Unfortunately, I was in your situation once before. It
was1990 and I was driving to school. I stopped at a light and some jerk in a
dodge 2.2 charger didn't. Get this: This jerk had his license revoked and was
driving his girlfriend's father's car! Needless to say, I didn't have any
problem settling (without insurance companies) But ever since, Eddie (74 Super)
really has never been the same. It sparked a string of bad luck. My
ex-girlfriend, hyper extended the driver's side door, and the rear fender was
sprung when I had a tire center put new tires on the rear. (I drove away, the
wheel fell off, got shoved into the fender well.) Then came engine problems.
But all is almost well now. I hope!
My suggestion would be: Argue with the insurance companies for as much as
you can get. Buy a rust free mexican body or an old german one from the SW,
add in a lot of time swaping the parts over and have Bertie Live On! (with a
face lift!)
Best Regards,
Scott Faivre
Laser Source, Inc. - Laser Printer Supplies & Service.
Http://members.aol.com/info4laser