Urgent Help Required - Front End Damage

[stevestrat]

Yeah, few bonnets on Ebay are either collection only or P&P doubles the cost. Try posting in the wanted section here or contact the traders by PM.

[Rp61973]

My empathies, Tom.

My facelift 75 was mullered just before Christmas by an airborne deer.

With some assistance from the team on this forum, I managed to source a wing, bumper and headlight from the Bay of Flea. Although the new panels were in Starlight Silver, the finishes were poor. My bodyshop friend put it all back together for me and squirted some fresh new paint on the front end.

It set me back £900, likely more than half the car's value so most probably it would have been written off had I'd gone to my insurer.

It now looks stunning as my friend repainted the rear bumper too and fitted front and rear parking sensors.

Good luck!

[Animal]

I've got a complete front bumper for a mk 2 rover in black think I've also got front crash bar as well

[SCP440]

I suspect you will spend more on painting the bits to match than you will on the bits you need. Even if they are the same colour they are unlikely to match exactly.

Good luck with the rebuild.

[Gareth.Richards]

Originally Posted by Tom131

Hi Folks,

I'm a little shaken up tonight and could really use some help & advice.

On the way from home from work this evening some clown in a battered old BMW slammed on his brakes without reason or warning and despite my best efforts I couldn't brake hard enough to avoid rear-ending him. I'm 99% certain its an insurance scam as he'd clearly been hit in the back before (silly me for not noticing as I was following).

Anyhow, its made a mess of my stunning 75 tourer and I am at a quandary what to do next. I know the insurance will take one look at it and write her off, but I've lavished so much time and effort on keeping her pristine that I'm loathed to let it go. I am however pretty good with my hands (an aerospace engineer by trade), and I reckon I could probably make a decent job of repairing it for less than the cost of my excess.

The damage, so far as I could ascertain in the failing light, appears to be confined to: the grill (smashed to pieces), the bumper (multiple splits), the bonnet (a small but noticeable crease around 1ft from the front edge), the slam panel (not exactly mangled, but it's bad enough to have jammed the bonnet release), both headlights (all the clips look like they've snapped but the lenses are still in situ) and although not currently visible, I reckon the crash bar must have sustained some damage too.

However, the damage has not extended as far rear as the radiator or fan and the wings appear to be un-affected, so I'm hopeful that this is the full extent of the damage. The trouble is, with the bonnet currently jammed closed and the snow limiting my enthusiasm, I cannot tell if any of the forces might have been transferred back through the structure. Just to add to the complications, I am due to move house imminently, and whilst she's not at all pretty, she could actually make the journey as she stands now, but definitely will not once I start pulling bits off her.

So, my questions to you wise folks are as follows: In your experience, when a 75 sustains a front end shunt (fast walking pace), is it likely that the crash bar will have absorbed sufficient energy to protect the structure behind? How likely is it that the front chassis legs will have buckled? Also, does anyone have any of the afore mentioned parts for sale? Most of the bits I can see available on ebay, but a good copperleaf bonnet and pre-facelift bumper might be trickier.

I'd be hugely grateful of any assistance at this miserable time.

Tom

Tom
I have a Mk1 front bumper in CDX if you still need it
Gareth

[Tom131]

Originally Posted by Gareth.Richards

Tom
I have a Mk1 front bumper in CDX if you still need it
Gareth

PM sent.

Thanks Gareth

[Tom131]

Originally Posted by Animal

I've got a complete front bumper for a mk 2 rover in black think I've also got front crash bar as well

Thanks for the kind offer Animal. I’ve got a crash bar & slam panel combo on order now and I have a couple of leads on CDX coloured bumpers too, but I’m very grateful of the offer.

[vacuman]

Could you not bash the original bonnet back into something useable for now until a good one comes up within range?

[LeRich]

There are breakers that operate via Facebook, and various 75/ZT groups where you can find spares and post your wants.

[Tom131]

Originally Posted by LeRich

There are breakers that operate via Facebook, and various 75/ZT groups where you can find spares and post your wants.

Thanks LeRich,

I don't suppose you could recommend any specific ones could you?