It is a 1940 5227 and would like to restore it. Any suggestions appreciated.
Sick at my stomach,
Bob R
Damage to the front of the car is about the best you could hope for when the alternatives often are upside down in the ditch after rolling several times or head on into the van full of girl scouts. If you were still alive after either of those options you would be a lot sicker. Be glad you don't live where there are taller creatures like Moose that end up going over the top of the hood.
Horrible news. I felt sick to my stomach just reading the subject line. Will keep my eyes open. Do you know if any of these parts were interchangeable with Cadillac at that time? The reason I ask is that I know of 2 Caddies that are '46 or '47 that may be available for parts. I know that some body style changes did not occur until the late '40s, so these may help. Hope you are OK Bob. Clay/Lexi
Ugh! Hope you and the family are ok. The car can (generally) be repaired / replaced. Big challenge on the road of life. Ugh.
Does your insurer assist in locating parts? - I "think" Hagerty might. Just a thought.
Try Jay Stillman in Newmarket, NH. 603-659-4911. I sold him my parts car last year. I assume he's still got it.
JAMURRAY
Thanks to everyone who responded. I was in the car by myself at 9:30 pm last night. 1/2 mile from my driveway a deer came out of nowhere. I should have just hit him. The damage would have been less. But I swerved left and the front tire dropped off the steep edge of the two lane asphalt road.....bordered by a deep ditch. I slammed into a 14 in. tree trunk at about 25 mph and ripped a hole in my neighbors cattle fence. Knocked me out for a moment. My forehead, face, nose and black eye looks like I went 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. Neck and back a bit sore today but not bad. All the damage is to the front end except the trunk lid which flipped open upon impact, broke the hinges and flew over the top of the car.
Anyhow J....I called Jay in New Hampshire. He has the entire clip. Unfortunately it is for a 1940 50 series. He did encourage me that Hagerty will help me find parts and pieces. Mechanically I bent a tie rod and jammed the radiator into the fan with moderate damage to the radiator.
Hagerty's adjuster will call be Monday and we will see how it goes. There is an agreed to value of $32,000.00 But I expect it will take all of that.....maybe more.
Any further suggestions appreciated,
Bob R.
I'm sorry. I realized your car may not have been a 50 series on my way to Rhode Island for dinner. The two series are not even close.
G'day Bob,
It felt sick to my stomach when reading the heading, and hopefully everything will work out.
As TJ mentioned regarding the alternatives, luckily it wasn't worse. It is always great to have hindsight, but every occasion that crashes occur, it is human nature to try to avoid the crash in the first place, but in doing that, many times the matter ends up being worse.
I have seen where too many people have been killed by suddenly swerving, but it is hard to not let our survival reactions take command.
Hopefully everything will get better, but moreso, take care of your own health. The car can wait.
Bruce. >:D
So sorry about that. Like others wrote, you are intact and the car can be repaired. You learned that next time to hit the deer, and even that would have done a lot of damage at a decent speed. Unfortunately these cars were built much more for style than to withstand a deer hit at speed with minimal damage. Hope you can get it repaired for the insurance money, plus you will be able to take care of a few "might as wells" too.
Take care of yourself and then to the LaSalle.
Bob,
I'm glad you weren't hurt worse, and you certainly could have been. Unfortunately the older cars are not as forgiving on the human body as their newer counterparts.
My philosophy has always been, "if it ain't bigger than the grille, kill it!"
I hope you recover quickly and don't have any lasting effects from this. As for your car, it can be repaired much easier than you can. I have learned that the hard way.
But I do hope that the car is repairable and the parts not too difficult to locate.
Rick
https://tujunga.americanlisted.com/ad/gallery/29135831/
U got two options, find a parts car or make yours one and get another whole car.
I think you could find a nice LaSalle for $32K and part yours.
If I find any more, I'll post.
https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1345855/1940-lasalle-52-for-sale-in-midlothian-texas-76065
https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1940/lasalle/series_52/101189188
So sorry to hear about your accident. Glad you're recovering.
Did you car have seat belts in it? That was an issue between Frank DeCou and I as well traveled around the countryin his LaSalle. It was on his "to do" list with his planned interior redo.
Not so worried about us, but others. I forgot about Mother Nature throwing curve balls too. I've been pondering putting them in the '57.
You might try All Cads in Las Vegas. He may have those parts, or be able to track them for you.
Glenn
Wowzers Bob :o Glad to hear you're doing okay. With all the deer I have within a mile of my house, this is definitely a recurring nightmare I have as well. Especially so since I drive mine quite a bit in the evening and night time hours. Hopefully you'll be able to piece your car back together and get back on the road soon.
Glad you're OK, that's all that counts.
When driving our classics and given the option of hitting something soft like an animal or human versus
something hard like a tree, building or another car - always opt for the 'soft'.
This add is from high ridge. https://stlouis.craigslist.org/pts/d/high-ridge-1931-and-lasalle-parts/7159678763.html
Thanks Jim,
I will be talking to the adjuster tomorrow and will keep this place in my hip pocket. I think I saw a few items that I will need.
Bob R.
Very sorry to hear about you and your car. Sorry, I'm not able to help out....just another LaSalle owner who, like others, worry about deer as we have plenty of them in Michigan and I've had a number of near misses. In fact, last night I had two fawns that appeared out of no where but luckily didn't jump out in front. I really feel for you though.
Scott
The last time I drove my 61 Fleetwood before I sold it to David Greenburg, I crested a knoll on my way to Bangor, ME from my home in New Brunswick. It was about 8am and there was a moose standing in the middle of the road. I had but a split second to react - hit the moose or go down the embankment on either side of the road, or lock it up and risk the transport about a 1/4 mile behind me plowing into me as he crested the knoll. I locked up all four wheels, got the speed down, let go of the brakes, and was able to steer around the moose. I almost had to change my underwear.
If Bambi steps out in front of me in any car, Bambi is going to die. Bullwinkle, well, I'm likely going to die.
I finished the drive to the car show, got rained on on the drive home, that was it for me. I posted the car for sale as I had no interest in driving it anymore as I knew the car couldn't be duplicated, and I've moved on. A 77 Brougham can certainly be replaced.
We occupy their habitat, and sometimes these things happen. The best thing about your story is that you're still here to tell us about it. Glad you woke up on the right side of the grass afterward! Hopefully your LaSalle lives to soldier on another day when time permits.
Quote from: Cadman-iac on July 19, 2020, 09:57:02 AM
"if it ain't bigger than the grille, kill it!" Rick
Cadmaniac love the quote. Bob glad to hear that you are OK. Clay/Lexi
Bob,
So glad you made it through alive.
I have been lucky driving through Oregon and Washington states at night where all you see is the white butts of the deer along the roadside - any one could have jumped out and good night - on the one side of the road is a steep vertical mountain side and the other a shear cliff down the mountain side.
Mentally, I was set up that the default move was veer into the mountainside.
Thank God never faced with acting on that plan.
I believe that you were better off in a good ol'hefty thick steel LaSalle, than some beer can thin sheet metal foreign shoe box "jobbie" with crumple zones.
Have fun - and you still can - thank God,
Steve B.
My last hit was in my 80 Eldo. Doing 70 on the interstate, fall, light rain, and just after sunset. Saw him and knew I had cars behind me and knew there was a car somewhere on my left. Sure enough he shoots out and the slow mo starts. Bracing for impact but then he seemed to clear the front of the car. Next thing I know there is the face of a deer looking at me through my side window just before the window shatters. Apparently just clipped him in the rear and spun him around. Cracked the fiberglass front clip and buckled the hood and fender slightly. Legs broke the emblem and center off the wire wheel cover. Somehow missed the mirror. Head or antlers shattered my window.
I didn't even have time to kick the cruise off and after the hit didn't bother. My passenger said to pull over but I said why and tried not to move much because I knew for sure I was covered in glass. Exit was coming up in about a mile with a truck stop and I figured would be a heck of a lot safer and easier to get there assuming the car kept going than pull over on the interstate in the rain in the dark.
I just had some small cuts that looked much worse than they were. Could hardly tell after I wiped off the blood some of which could have been the deer's. Got $5 worth of quarters and used them on the vacuums over by the car wash to try and get as much glass as possible picked up. Drove another 50 miles with just a now wet sweatshirt and no window. Got to a friends and taped a trash bag up. That lasted about a mile before that was way more annoying than the rain and cold.
Replaced the window glass and JB welded the headlights back in sorta straight and a little work with a big hammer got the hood and doors to work again. Drove it that whole winter then got the convert out in the summer but never went back to it the next winter.
About 2 weeks later I was with some friends at an arcade video game auction and would flinch every time I was near one of the big buck hunter games that was turned on.
Quote from: 59-in-pieces on July 20, 2020, 04:47:03 PM
I have been lucky driving through Oregon and Washington states at night where all you see is the white butts of the deer along the roadside -.......Steve B.....
I must consider myself lucky as I drove through Oregon at night, on my way to the Dearborn GN in 2002, and was having a blast on the lovely winding road, through the forests, no cars coming the other way so straight-lining bends was a must, before stopping at a Motel before midnight.
Never thought about the possibility of any of those critters getting in my path, or I would have slowed down a tad. The little TBird would not have fared well if hit.
Bruce. >:D
Bad stuff happens. Both of us here have hit a deer, both
of us did not swerve, both of us drove away from the
incident leaving behind a very dead deer. Bruce Roe
This is terrible. I hope you are ok.
Hagerty is usually very fair with their claims and have a full time parts locator on staff.
They may give you the full amount and let you keep the car for salvage value.
Hope you work things out.
Bob,
Sorry to hear about your catastrophe.
I have no idea where you are but this car might be a possible organ donor.
https://montana.craigslist.org/pts/d/worden-1940-cadillac-lasalle/7158696114.html (https://montana.craigslist.org/pts/d/worden-1940-cadillac-lasalle/7158696114.html)
Good luck,
Wes in VT
Quote from: lexi on July 20, 2020, 04:14:31 PM
Cadmaniac love the quote. Clay/Lexi
I taught my son this when he was first beginning to drive, because I have seen too many people swerve or stomp the brakes and almost wreck their cars because of a rabbit or a bird or dog, cat, coyote, roadrunner, whatever, and it's just not worth your life, or injury, property damages.
I had to come up with a catchy phrase that he would remember, and that's what came to mind.
I used to do that same thing when I was younger myself, and after a close call one day I realized that it just was not a safe way to operate.
The damage to the front of your car or truck is a lot easier to fix if you hit it than if you plow a ditch or pole, or tree, mountain, etc, by trying to avoid it.
So if you can't see it over the hood when it's 10 feet in front of you, kill it and say a prayer for it afterwards if you're so inclined. Better the animal dies than you or someone else if you lose control.
The only time I recommend swerving is if it's a really large animal like a cow or horse, and being out here in open range, I have had both suddenly appear in the middle of the road, and have personally had to help someone out of a car after he hit a dark horse just outside of Tombstone one night. I got there just after it happened. Neither the car or the horse fared well in that case. I had to peel the windshield up so he could climb out as both doors were jammed from the roof being laid down on them.
I used to have a pipe rack on my old truck and had a pair of halogen driving lights mounted on the front. I called them my cowspotters and used them a lot when the roads here were less traveled. I had them aimed towards the edges of the road so I had at least a fighting chance to avoid hitting one. Really can't do that anymore though.
Years ago my next door neighbor just clipped a cow one night just down the road and almost wrecked his truck. The only thing that saved him was the cow was just standing on the edge of the road. The cow got the worst of it as it drove his horn into his skull and dropped him right there.
And to Bob, I hope you recover quickly.
Rick
Rick yes, that makes sense. But still LMAO over that quote. So it worked at least for me as it is now stuck in what remains of my brain. :) Clay/Lexi
Thanks to all....
.....for comments of concern and help in finding replacement parts. My stomach still sickens when I look at the LaSalle and think of the mistake that I made. Other than being quite downhearted I am O.K. Face looks all beat up and scabbed over but the soreness from my back is gone and nearly from the neck also. Just some bruises and ugly abrasions.
I have met with the owner of a restoration shop in St. Louis which was recommended by Hagerty. He has a fantastic facility is very personable and feels that he can restore my car if we can find parts in good shape at fair prices. He operates on a time and parts basis and has the ability to do everything.....body, mechanical, electrial even interior....and can fabricate many parts. My car is still perfect from the firewall back. Hope that Hagerty does not total it.
And yes....I knew not to swerve. My friend who is an accident investigator always told me....if it is smaller than a pony and not human...hit it. This should be a reminder to all. Honestly given the impact....I am amazed that I was not really injured. I have a lot of life left to live(as much as a 73 year old could hope for). I gave thanks to the God of my understanding.
Thanks,
Bob
Best news Bob is that you are OK. Given the locating of parts your car will once again grace the road, and perhaps be even better than it was. Clay/Lexi
I had a close call driving home from South Bend in my '77 on NB I-69. It was still light out (about 9 P.M.) when I saw a large buck facing west while standing in my lane. Going 70 and with only a few seconds to react, I glanced at the shoulder. I determined that there was a smooth transition from lane to shoulder, so I gradually inched my way over without slowing down. I missed the deer by inches and fortunately it leapt away into the other lane. I thank God that nothing happened to me or the car. I have read that it's risky to try driving on the shoulder, but sometimes it may be your best option. I didn't use my horn, either, since I thought it might freeze or head for the shoulder.
Count your blessings, Bob! You could have been hurt much worse. I hope your beautiful coupe gets fixed up.
Aw jeez , Bob. Just saw this. Glad you are ok.
In your last post you say you made a mistake. I disagree. You did what just about any of us would have done.
All the best,
Jeff