greetings all,

this idiot in a honda civic ran a red light and hit my '75 450SL bending/twisting my front bumper, breaking the grille work, destroying the turn signals and foglamps and who knows what else.

looking for a good body shop to get my 450 back into pristine shape again soonest....if anyone out there knows a good bodyshop in the denver area, pls email me.

I did take small satisfaction in the fact her car had to be carried away while I was able to drive away, warped bumper and assorted damages notwithstanding. Oh and yes, she was cited for running a red light based on the accounts of four good samaritan witnesses who came forward to talk to the state trooper that did the report.

Her insurance company talked to her and have agreed to pay for the repair bills!

My MB is now in for an estimate at one shop called Stuttgart Motors who has a two month wait! I hope someone here knows of an independent body shop with less of a wait period.


dom

just an update, tried two shops, one recommended by the local mbca section president...both did not want to deal with a 1975 MB due to previous experience with others where rust was found and it was a "labor intensive" operation!

They referred me to Stuttgart Auto Body who agreed to take on the job with the proviso that time was NOT of the essence since the best guess they could give me was TWO months before the car was repaired. Business is good in the bodyshop business apparently. The other proviso I had to agree to, which I can understand, is if they find rust the costs will come out of my pocket and not the idiot driver who hit my car's insurance company.

So that's where she sits waiting for an estimate as to whether she's repairable or totaled. I hope to know by the end of the week.

Bummed out in Denver,

dom

Click here for more photos of the damage (warning: lots of pics = long download tiimes) (http://members.fortunecity.com/domchang/accident.html)

more later once I get my paperwork from these guys. Just wanted to post this so others are not led astray as I was.

Dom,

Right up the street from Stuttgart is a tiny body shop called Mr. B's. It's at Dartmouth and Tejon. The owner/operator Mike is a true old-world body man. He saves panels rather than replacing them. I've seen his work and my parents have used him and he's great.

Scott

thanks Scott

the need has passed though, my car was declared totaled by the insurance company and I used the settlement money to buy a 560SL instead....however, will keep the tip in mind.

dom