Losses and lessons

Losses and Lessons: Joyride ends poorly for Golden Retriever, ’81 Mercedes

January 04, 2013

VEHICLE COVERED: 1981 Mercedes Benz 300 Wagon
WHAT WENT WRONG: Oftentimes bad decisions – even those that seem perfectly innocent at the time – become great stories. This is one you’ll likely retell. The owner of a 1981 Mercedes Benz 300 Wagon drove his classic to get a cup of coffee, bringing his faithful Golden Retriever along for the ride. He stopped in front of the coffee shop, turned off the car and went inside, leaving the dog sitting on the driver’s seat ...
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Losses and Lessons: ’71 Chevelle weathers the storm, escapes with scratches

November 28, 2012

VEHICLE COVERED: 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle
WHAT WENT WRONG: Even if you’ve never seen a hurricane up close, you’re certainly familiar with its destructive power. After the storm, recovery and cleanup can last for months, even years. But debris is most problematic in the days immediately following, as the owner of a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle found out. Driving home at night shortly after his area had been hit by a hurricane, the owner rounded a bend and found fallen tree branches protruding into the road ...
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Losses and Lessons: Play it safe before you get into wheel trouble

October 19, 2012

VEHICLE COVERED: 1941 Ford F-100 pickup
WHAT WENT WRONG: We stress the importance of inspecting your vehicle on a regular basis because unless your classic has undergone a recent restoration, chances are good that the older the car, the older the parts. That means as those parts wear out, odds are greater that something might break or fail to work properly. The owner of this 1941 Ford F-100 pickup can attest to that ...
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Losses and Lessons: ‘On a roll’ isn’t always a good thing

September 12, 2012

VEHICLE COVERED: 1961 Pontiac Catalina
WHAT WENT WRONG: We drive, park and walk away from our classics so routinely, we rarely consider the potential danger if the car should slip out of gear. But it happens more than you’d think. The owner of a 1961 Pontiac Catalina had just returned to his home in Virginia Beach after having the car detailed for an upcoming show. He parked in his driveway and walked inside to make a phone call when the Catalina rolled backward down the driveway, crossed the street and crashed into a neighbor’s tree.
DAMAGE/LOSS: Damage to the driver’s side rear of the vehicle – fender, bumper, trunk and taillights – was significant ...
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Losses and Lessons: GatorAid won't help 1940 Custom Chevy

August 23, 2012

VEHICLE COVERED: 1940 Chevrolet two-door Custom Coupe
WHAT WENT WRONG: Since the first time a fast-moving vehicle met a slow-moving animal and created the world’s original “road kill,” accidents involving wildlife have become one of the most common automobile mishaps. But every once in awhile, even the most-common incident can have an unusual twist. One night, the owner of a 1940 Chevy Custom Coupe was cruising along a Louisiana highway, returning home after a trip to town, when he struck an animal in the road ...
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