Testament to Unique's engineering

[Tony Radford]

There's a thread running over on Club Cobra started by a Unique owner who wiped out in his car, got airborne and took out a utility pole. The car was totaled (looks real bad in the photo). He had his daughter in the car with him and they both walked away. He gives kudos to Unique for a seriously robust frame design. Unbelievable!

[Slither]

Yikes! It's great that they were not hurt, but too bad to lose a Unique.

This is also bad for insurance...

[RonJ]

Unfortunatly that was me! I was waiting until I got the car back home and could take a few more pics before posting the news here. The body naturally is shot. I can see the frame is bent on the RF. Once I get it home I'll send a few pics. I was thinking about upgrading from 16" wheels to 17" s but this isn't the way I wanted to do it!

I'm not going to claim it on insurance. I'll have to eat the cost. It'll take me a few years to get the $$ to do it but I'll get her back on the road hopefully with the same frame so we won't loose a Unique vin #!

My thanks to the Weavers though! they build one heck of a stout vehicle!!

[RonJ]

I imagne after I get things torn apart I'll be calling on the Weavers to see about getting her fixed. Here's a pic from the impound lot where they towed it to.

Cobra wreck side 003.jpg

[jmillington]

Holy Toledo!
I'm glad you'all are OK, and to Unique and the Weavers!

[Charlie]

RonJ,
Glad to hear you both are ok. What happned?, if you don't mind me asking. Again glad your both ok.
I see your from Staunton. I went to school there years ago,Staunton Military Academy. It's gone now but seeing you were from the town it brought back memories.

Charlie

[brfutbrian]

glad everyone walked away. you were lucky. that frame took one big hit. crossmember looks like its all the way to the motor and it took a hit.sorry for your loss. later, brian.

[Justin Upchurch]

Ron,

I had a coolant line come off at the dragstrip and tagged (maybe a bit more than a little tag) the wall (ok, maybe it was both walls, must be fair and balanced). I didn't do any damage to the frame or suspension, just the radiator and support. Alan sent a new nose and inner fender for the car, grafted it on and good to go ( Repainted entire car). Because this happened at the track I had to pay out of pocket. The toal expense was between 7 and 10K, I really don't want to; and never will add up the total. If I could have turned it in on insurance I would have. We pay a fair amount of money for insurance to cover the occasional loss, which is why we have the coverage. Minus a few parts it looks like you will need another DPK or close to it. Your rates will never go up unough to make up that difference.
If you feel bad about turning the accident in on your insrance, just send me a check to help make up for your guilt, I'm a bt lighter in the wallet after my wallbanger.

Although I would never list these cars as "safe" in the way a modern vehicle is today, I do think Unique makes one heck of a car.

[RonJ]

I really haven't had a chance to tear into it yet to see what is salvagable. I'm taking a group of Boy Scouts camping this weekend so it going to be a while before I can get into her.
With a cursoy glance it seems the interior and rear suspension is fine, other than the steering wheel. I'm really hoping the engine and drive train will be salvagable. Currently it is stuck in gear. Once I get it torn down a bit I'll have a better handle on their condition. I'm sure I'll be having many conversations with Allen once I get enough money up to start the rebuild. I've always been a firm believer that you don't finance toys so as the cash comes in The rebuild will be underway. On the bright side my son is 10 yrs old now and the rebuild will mean some good times for the two of us together and hopefully he will learn some things that will serve him well for the rest of his life. Oh, I'm sure I'll have to work extra hard to get the wife's approval for all of this too and that may well be the hardest part. She's really not happy since somehow my wedding ring got ripped off during the wreck. Hopefully that'll show up when I pull out the interior.

[arrowdriver]

Have you counted your fingers? Usually if a ring gets ripped off the finger goes with it.

I do agree with you that one doesn't finance toys, though I do insure them. On that note, I wonder what others pay for full coverage of their Cobras? Mine is just under $400 per year.

[ralphscott]

Ron it will for sure be an experience your 10 year old will not forget. I've got a 14 year old granddaughter that is my helper. She can get her hand into places I only dream about anymore. Further more she loves working on the car and learning new things...it gives her a break from the tedious task of texting if you know what I mean..

Ralph

[Jim Harding]

Ron, like everyone here, I glad that the only thing damaged was the car and that you both could walk away from this wreck. As far as going out of pocket rather than let the insurance cover the damage, I'm confused over this. I guess my first question would be "who did you insure with" and second "was this an agreed value policy"? If your pockets are deep enough to foot this on your own, I'm happy for you to be so fortunate. But from your posts, you mention that this will take some time to build up the funds to rebuild the car. What you do is your business and none of mine (or anyone else's for that matter), but I'm just curious as to why you're not letting the insurance company either pay to fix the car or cut you a check for the total loss. And being none of my business, I'll understand if you don't wish to discuss this.

[Slither]

She's really not happy since somehow my wedding ring got ripped off during the wreck.

Mmmm-Hmmm... and she bought that, eh?










Hope it turns up for you.

[Naumoff]

Mmmm-Hmmm... and she bought that, eh?










Hope it turns up for you.

Doesn't that mean you're single when you don't have your ring on. (he said sarcastically)
I only wear my wedding band when we go out together. Almost lost my finger a couple of times at work so the ring stays in the jewelry box.

[TurnpikeBoy]

"Almost lost my finger a couple of times at work so the ring stays in the jewelry box."

Boy, your wife is a soft touch, Tony! When I whimper that I'm gonna take mine off 'cause it might get caught (and lose a finger), my wife says she'll put it around my neck for me....going over my head, of course

It's probably somewhere under the seat, Ron - occurs to me that anything I truly lose somehow always winds up under the seat of the car, where extraction is akin to gall bladder surgery thru the belly button.



-Roger