Broken Wings Continued Sept. 2007

[My Raven]

This is the first Retro that I have found that seemed to take a direct rear end hit if that is indeed what happened. It is a little disconcerting the way the top latches broke and the hardtop slid into the passenger compartment but I guess with that much force it is to be expected.

[My Raven]

Notice how the rear of the hardtop rested on top and in front of the seats ...

Another interesting note: The owner had switched the original hood scoop for a chrome one.

Iowa Salvage/Non-Repairable/Parts Title

[RREDBRD]

:omg: WOW :omg: Not much left on that car for salvage. Rear glass, and ft glass?

[FritsB]

Looks quite a heavy hit. But it pleases me that the drivers compartment is quite in tact.

Except for the position of the hardtop, but since I have that on only 5 month out of 12 my chances are not that bad of not getting hit in the back of my head.

It is strange he put a chrome hood scoop on a car that is so wrecked:lol:

[FUN X 3]

What a mess. Could you imagine being the driver and seeing whatever hit the car coming in the rear view mirror?

I've been hit so many times over the years that I always watch my mirror when slowing or stopping. I also slow down early and keep a wide margin from the car in front to eliminate panic stops and the domino effect behind.

[TbirdTim]

It could be that it was once someone's Tbird that was or is a member here at TBN. With the chrome hood scoop and what looks like emblems in the porthole windows of the hardtop, most people that have not been to this website may not have known or thought about doing these 2 things to their car.
Just a thought anyway :puzzled:

[FritsB]

If he is an active member I guess he/she would have posted this tragedy.

[5bird7]

looks like it had red wings in the portholes. does anyone know of anyone doing red wing logos?

[mdbluebrd]

Based on all the dirt/mud on the back end, it might be more likely that the driver spun out and buried it rear-end first into a ditch. I'm not sure how else all the dirt would get so deeply imbeded in the rear.

[Lonestar]

Based on all the dirt/mud on the back end, it might be more likely that the driver spun out and buried it rear-end first into a ditch. I'm not sure how else all the dirt would get so deeply imbeded in the rear.

I was thinking the same thing or wondering if it fell butt first off a bridge into a creek.

Also notice that the trunk latch must be fairly strong since it appears to have stayed attached to the point that it ripped a lot of the inner trunk support off instead of releasing.

[EllisonCal]

I guess those chrome scripts spelling Thunderbird aren't as fragile as they seem to be. We all seem to have problems with them when removing wax or drying our cars off, yet in this major rear end collision they appear to be intact!
Cal

[RQTBIRD]

It must have been a spin out and hit a ditch butt first. If you zoom in on the front winshield it appears they marked a date of 4/11/07 in paint or chalk. Also in the zoom you see the red dice still hanging from the mirror.

[SugarBabe]

:sad: :frown:

[TonyV]

It is strange he put a chrome hood scoop on a car that is so wrecked:lol:

YOUR A NAUGHTY LITTLE BOY FRITz...MORE NAUGHTY THAN BILL CLINTON !!!

[islandtime]

IOWA? IOWA???? Well, we know it's not Jerry's. I just rode in his 2 wks ago, and he posted today, so he's OK. Makes me sick to see this.:sad:

[My Raven]

YOUR A NAUGHTY LITTLE BOY FRITz...MORE NAUGHTY THAN BILL CLINTON !!!

A badge our Mr. Fritz wears with honor I am sure, Tony! :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

[scoops]

I'm not so sure the hardtop was installed at the time of the accident. Notice that the ragtop appears partially raised. Considering all the damage from the back, would it be possible to raise the top afterwards? I think the hardtop was mated to the car upon delivery to the recycler. Had the hardtop been in place, I would have expected damage to it or the windshield post/frame. The frame of the ragtop was probably more forgiving during the accident and it may have been pushed back for a better extrication.

[yelobird2002]

I really doubt that the hard top ended up in this position after the wreck. The car would have been loaded on a flatbed wrecker and then unloaded at the wrecking yard or storage lot. Can't imagine top staying there through wreck loading, travel, and unloading. I would believe that either the top came completely off, or as stated above it was not even on and the owner brought it down to be with the totaled mess. Doors might not even open and insurance adjuster removed to be able to get a better look inside.

[rag2]

First one I've seen hit hard in the back , looks like the fuel tank is very well designed

[MObird]

It seems odd for the owner to bring the hard top to join the wrecked car. Why would they do this? Would the insurance company require it?

[Hannah3]

I really doubt that the hard top ended up in this position after the wreck. The car would have been loaded on a flatbed wrecker and then unloaded at the wrecking yard or storage lot. Can't imagine top staying there through wreck loading, travel, and unloading. I would believe that either the top came completely off, or as stated above it was not even on and the owner brought it down to be with the totaled mess. Doors might not even open and insurance adjuster removed to be able to get a better look inside.

I agree. The hard top was not on at the time of the accident. It doesn't appear to a scratch on it, ther are no distortions of anykind and it's position looks artificial.

[Harry's Platinum 04]

First one I've seen hit hard in the back , looks like the fuel tank is very well designed
Re:fuel tank--the tank is a saddle type with two halves straddling the differential/ driveshaft--it is very well protected as evidenced by this event

[RareOldBird]

I've been looking at these pictures of this broken Bird & in one respect I agree that the hard top was not on at the time of the accident. I think that the force of the impact partially raised the rag top from its folded position. Another theory here is that in a sudden rain storm that they stopped to raise the top & were hit as the top was being raised. Then there is the question of the front end damage. Was there a second collision with the car in front? Also hard to tell if the air bags deployed. Just hope that the folks members or not were able to walk away. On a happier note congrats to Sugar Daddy & Sugar Babe on their TOTM Award.

[FritsB]

Couldn't it be so that the doors got stuck and salvage crew had to remove the rag top in order to get the people out. That might clarify why the rag top is in this position. They probably folded it back with force.