I've recently bought a 64 Polara from a great guy on the HAMB. It going to Melbourne Australia, but first I had to get it from Portland OR to Wilmington CA. When the Polara arrived in Wilmington it had 2 large dents in the roof. The clowns driving the truck have taken no responsibility for the damage, although I have photos taken of the car on the transport truck in perfect condition. Anyway, depending on which way this goes I will need to gt the thing repaired. I don't want any bondo in the roof, I would want to get the thing tapped up nice by a good body man who does metal finishing work. Anybody know of someone in Wilmington CA that does this kinda thing that could take a look at the damage and repair it for me? I have included some images of the damage taken by the guy at the holding yard. Wishing everybody on the HAMB a great Christmas and a prosperous New Year! A*****
Mike the guy you bought it from told me about that. I have the 63 dodge next to your 64 in that picture. That is a nice car to bad about that damage.
What a shame.. Try to pull them with suction cup.Other wise headliner has to come out and Hammer ,Dolly and repaint.Nice car by the way.I wonder what fell on them.......
It's not up to them to take responsibility it's up to you to make a claim against their insurance. every commercial carrier must have cargo insurance to operate and it is also illegal for a licensed carrier to broker freight to an unlicensed carrier. every carrier must also post a $5,000 bond with their state they register in to have authority to carry. You don't have to wait for them to take responsibility you just need to prove it wasn't that way when it was picked up and was that way when it was delivered. You do not have to prove how it happened where or when only that it hapened while in so-and-so's possession. when a carrier accepts freight to haul they also accept responsibility for damages. That's the law. It's automatic liability on them when they pick it up and sign the shipping papers. I was in trucking 12 years and was an owner/operator.
Hey couverkid, I love that 63 2 door post. Great looking MoPar. I would sure appreciate some more photos of your car? Mike's a fantastic guy who has been my eyes and ears over there. Man, I sure hope he gets his *** down to Melbourne one day so we can share a few beers. A*****
funny thing happened last week; we had a customer, who is also a car transporter driver, who brought his mustang in with 2 similar dents. he had raised his own car too high on the lift and crushed the roof. i'd say that was what happened to your car.
If the trucking company that hauled it doesn't have insurance then whoever hired them to move it is negligent for not vetting them and they would be a target alongside whoever did the damage in the case. . every broker or trucking company that re-brokers freight does a credit check and checks the authority and insurance of any carrier they ***ign freight to. This is their due dilligence under the law. Every broker is bond by the FHWA(federal highway administration aka dot) as a requirement of their broker's authority(license) to maintain a copy of the shipping contract and provide a copy to any party to that contract for 3 years. they don't have to provide copy until after the load is delivered to protect their tariff but afterward anyone, the shipper,receiver, subsequent brokers and trucking companies and owner/operators must be provided a copy if they ask for it in writing. Chances are that you car paid 30 cents per mile to the truck and everything else got skimmed by middlemen. Good thing is that everyone involved is bound by law to have a license, bond, and insurance. If they don't it's a crime. OOIDA has alot of information on their website. they are a trade organization representing owner/operators and independent drivers. they usually don't respond to non members but there is alot of free info available there.
i could do it but headliner has to come off. well..not completly off buy atleast the rear has to come down.. metalfinishing takes time as well. dents not to bad.
I love that car. I was wondering who bought it. Glad it was a HAMBer. How terrible it was damaged and that they aren't taking responsibility. When I saw the ***le of your post, I just knew you were an Aussie. "Panel-Beater" in OZ-speak is "bodyman" in America, for those that were wondering.
Thanks fellas, pictures of the Polara just before it was loaded on the transport truck plus a photo of the car on the transporter have been sent to the broker that organized these clowns along with a conditional report from the guy at the holding yard where the Polara is now. The broker has sent back an email saying he has received the photos & information and is taking it up with the transport company. Hopefully we get a favourable result some time soon. I'll keep you guys informed. A *****
Sorry to hear about your misfortune but sure they will take care of it in the long run. Caught the beater comment 'cause I had to ask some friends from Perth what it meant a few years back. Spent 3 weeks in WA a few years ago, you guys have a beautiful and diverse country down under.
Back to the top for this one. Unless I'm missing something, no one, other than Buickvalvenut, has yet come forward to fix the dents in the roof of the Dodge! There must be other shops out there that can do that sort of thing. C'mon, Wilmington is right in the LA area...
Thanks for all the great advise and comments. After seven freakin' weeks of the Polara being at ONE WORLD SHIPPING waiting to be shipped out to Melbourne Australia, the insurance company finally cut me a cheque for the damages. Many thanks to the original owner who's persistence and honesty have got me a favourable result in the end. Mike Thompson is a real straight shooter who's been my eyes and ears in the States even though he received his money for the vehicle months ago. I'm very fortunate to have bought this great car from such a stand up guy, and a HAMBer to boot. Not many would have gone the extra mile like this guy. Thanks man! A *****
Great to hear you've finally come to a conclusion with this incident. I can't imagine the frustration you felt knowing that the Polara could have been here in Australia over a month ago!!! Damn Bastads!!! Hopefully everything goes to plan from now on with the shipping and the beating......... Good luck and looking forward to cutting some laps in the beast!!! HC.
Great news! News that we've been keen to hear for ****ing 3 months now!!! Very tempting I tell ya....... Can't wait to cut some laps in the Polara and lay some patches! Happy Easter......... HC.
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