British 1949 DeSoto totalled

[Robin (UK)]

I just heard about a 49 DeSoto being totalled last weekend.

Fortunately, nobody was hurt, but it's a shame that another lovely car is lost.

The pictures here tell the story...

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1934677161284.109823.1072977488&l=cce86b4c52

[Martin53Cranbrook]

pooooor car car was gorgeous

[greg g]

That looks to be repairable. Unless I am missing frame/suspension damage it looks to be limited to the frender and grill and probably the radiator surround.

[PatS....]

The last pic of the old warhorse sliding onto the deck truck shows the front wheel fairly good and it doesn't look like it's out of place the way it would be if the frame was bent.

A good frame shop should be able to repair the frame from that accident anyway.

The rest can be repaired easily I think.

Wasn't "Plywood" as bad or worse?

Sad to see an old Mopar injured, but it would be even worse to see it scrapped.

It's in better shape as is than my 49 Chrysler is in.

[Greenbomb]

Of course, the insurance is just looking at the bottom line. It would probably be an easy, fairly cheap fix here. but, over there the price would go ballistic due to parts procurement, thus making it prohibitive. Which is a shame.

[JerseyHarold]

What would it cost to get the car into a container and ship it to North America? As others have said, in this part of the world it would be repairable.

[Niel Hoback]

Two Wartburgs in one container costs $4000 from Germany to Baltimore.

[JerseyHarold]

Two Wartburgs in one container costs $4000 from Germany to Baltimore.

Ouch!

[Uncle-Pekka]

An year back a cost to ship one car in a container was a bit under 2000 USD. This price was from Houston to Helsinki, including ocean freight to Holland and a feeder from there to Helsinki. It may be, that cost of a container loaded in port of departure to port of arrival does not vary much from which EU port to which US port. There are lots of operators who are selling container freights by a car. They load normally two cars in a 40 footer and take $2000 per car. Back in the 90's some even built sub floor in the container, thus could load FOUR cars in each. Technically possible, but probably not worth the job & materials any more today.

[Young Ed]

My plymouth was damaged way worse than that and was fixable. Hopefully it'll still have a chance at life like the cars here that go to auction after being totalled and someone else fixes them.

[Charlie Olson]

Dang It!!! The damage looks very close to PLYWOOD's situation. Hopefully, the owner can buy it back and patiently look for a donor car, even in the UK.

[Robin (UK)]

I guess it's all down to how the insurance assessors see it, and what valuation they put on the car.

Reports I've heard say that the frame is bent so I guess they look at it and just try to find the cheapest option for themselves.

Shipping to the US is about $1500, from the UK< so that's probably not an option.

It would be a shame if the car's lost.

I'll keep you posted if I hear more.

[Andy Molyneux]

Hi Robin. Thanks for the interest in my Desoto. Just to answer a few questions on the car. Yes it can be repaired and all the parts would have to be shipped from the USA as the car is one of only two 1949s reported in the UK. The engine has moved forward about 6 inches with all the mounts showing cracks. The frame is also twisted but not that bad. I had a quick look on the internet and have found most of the parts needed to put it back on the road, so that's good news. I have had a call today from the insurance company and have told them I would like the chance to save the car from being crushed. But if they pay me the agreed value that the car is insured for, they would want back £2500 for the car. Which is the best part of $4200 which we all know is crazy. So with purchasing the parts then paying the import duty and postage fees the cost is getting out of control and I havent even started to think about the cost of the body shop to paint and pull it straight. I was hoping I could buy the car as scrap value which would give me half a chance. Until the insurance company pay out the car is being held in storage at Brentwood Classic Workshops and will then be picked up and taken for auction. So it may pay me to bid on my own car as it will go for a lot less than the price they want. Thanks again for everybodys interest, and will keep you posted. from Andy Molyneux

[Young Ed]

Andy glad to hear from you. Best of luck in buying your car back either at auction or outright. I know I had similar damage except for the engine moving part. I had to find a new front clip radiator etc.