So this is not the way I wanted to start my first post on this board. I've been a member for over 10 years lurking, dreaming and searching for a Grand National. I come from a family of Buick lovers. Paternal Grandfather worked for Buick dealership in town for decades. First car my folks bought together was a 67 GS400 coupe in 1968. They traded it away in 1972 but replaced it in 1987 with a 1967 GS400 4-speed Convertible. (I purchased this one from my folks back in 2000). I joined V8buick.com in 2002 and soon was turned to this, the sister site, a shout out to Raven and his stories. For the last 11 years I've been looking for a GN to park in the garage next to my convert. this spring I found one in the local thrifty nickel. It was 4 hours away but in my price range and EXACTLY the type of car I had been searching for, 1987 GN, hardtop 60000ish original miles, G80, PW, PL, cruse control, and it was only 4 hours away. I sheepishly showed the ad to my wife, who proceeded to tell me to call and go get it. Long story short it was my dream car.
Fast forward to 8:30 this morning pulling into grab my Saturday coffee at the kiosk a *ch in a dodge truck pulls out and just taps in my quarter panel. I'm devastated. this car was completely original paint!! Three cops had to pull up to calm me down. the woman just kept saying it can be FIXED! no it can't it can be repaired but it will never be a clean Carfax no hit original paint car again.
So If you've read this far; my question to you and I'm looking for opinions. Do you,
Just Fix the quarter panel and live with bondo?
Require a replacement quarter panel (no longer original body parts)
Repaint the damage and match original as best as possible or repaint whole car?
What is your reaction? any ideas or thoughts?
Anyway. Thanks for so much advice and humor over the last decade and I look forward to becoming a useful member of this forum in the future.
Thanks
Jake Witham
Billings MT
1987 GN
1967 GS400 vert
1953 Ford Victoria
1994 Mustang GT 5.0 convert (don't be mad It's my wife's)
(and that is just the Fun stuff)
Fast forward to 8:30 this morning pulling into grab my Saturday coffee at the kiosk a *ch in a dodge truck pulls out and just taps in my quarter panel. I'm devastated. this car was completely original paint!! Three cops had to pull up to calm me down. the woman just kept saying it can be FIXED! no it can't it can be repaired but it will never be a clean Carfax no hit original paint car again.
So If you've read this far; my question to you and I'm looking for opinions. Do you,
Just Fix the quarter panel and live with bondo?
Require a replacement quarter panel (no longer original body parts)
Repaint the damage and match original as best as possible or repaint whole car?
What is your reaction? any ideas or thoughts?
Anyway. Thanks for so much advice and humor over the last decade and I look forward to becoming a useful member of this forum in the future.
Thanks
Jake Witham
Billings MT
1987 GN
1967 GS400 vert
1953 Ford Victoria
1994 Mustang GT 5.0 convert (don't be mad It's my wife's)
(and that is just the Fun stuff)