We had severe weather here in Oklahoma yesterday, including multiple tornadoes. So far I haven't heard any reports of serious injuries, but there was some damage. I work for a TV station in Tulsa and was watching coverage from our sister station in OKC when I saw this:
This is in Geronimo, which is down in south central Oklahoma, more than 100 miles from me here in the NE corner of the state.
[This message has been edited by Quad Raider (edited 05-19-2019).]
Just a minute ago they showed those Fieros from ground level on Fox News Channel. The red one appears to be an 85GT, without spoiler. Looks like there's a little silver showing on the bottom of the rear fascia.
ABC had them too... Storms do very strange things to some things or completely destroy them yet nothing to other things right next or in same place. I stopped wondering why/how but sometimes still surprising how weird they can get. Like Building gone but cars inside seems to have little damage.
Likely bigger cars SUV etc would not share same results.
[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 05-20-2019).]
I saw the owner of the Fieros on another segment. I was busy at the moment and didn't write down his name, but he was an older gentleman, maybe late 50;s or early 70's. He wasn't injured and they made no mention of anyone in the house being injured.
That was my place. I created this account to share my story, and seen I already made some news here. I will still try to get my story posted, but for now I'll clarify what has been said here so far. This was three miles east of Geronimo, OK. The elderly man that was seen in the video was likely my neighbor. He wasn't hurt, but his wife was taken to the hospital for some stitches and released. I'm thinking he's 80 years old, I'll be 41 soon. The tornado directly hit my place, and destroyed their's as well. We were the only ones hit by it. I had four Fieros there, all were totaled. The red one was my primary vehicle. It was a 1986 V6 SE with 4 speed muncie and Miller Woods turbo kit (my seventh Fiero). The white one beside it with the wall laying on it was a 1985 GT auto (my second Fiero). Not seen in the photo was my 1984 4spd Indy Pace Car (my fifth Fiero), and my first vehicle, a 1984 auto (originally MY8 4spd). My motorcycle was also totaled. It happened early Saturday morning, and I was sleeping. In the picture you can see the entrance to the bathroom, which still had most of its walls intact. Just outside that door way you can see three wall studs with a bit of drywall remaining at the bottom. That's all that was left intact of the room I was in, the rest of the walls and ceiling were completely destroyed. I've been very busy and depressed, but will post a new thread with details of my story, and more pictures when I get a chance. Insurance won't cover anything automotive, and after nearly 23 years of Fieroing, I've lost a substantial amount! Plus the cost to rebuild what I had will exceed the coverage limits.
Almost nine years ago I made an account here and posted the story of my friend Ken who had recently passed away. I'm pretty sure I called the post "Unknown Fiero Legend Passes Away". I cannot find it at all. I did find the profile I used for it; "the Fiero guy", but no longer have access to it. Maybe some remember the post? I believe Ken at the time of his passing had driven more "Fiero miles" than anyone else. He logged over 770,000 miles on two Fieros! He bought them both new in 1988, a 4cyl and a Formula. Can anyone tell me what happened to my post of that article?
Hopefully you didn't let anyone to tow them or you sign anything.
Unless you have "Full Coverage" on old cars, car insurance won't cover storm damage either. (Any car w/o a Loan that requires this in 90+% cases.) Even then Insurance will "Total" any old car even for minor damage in many cases. Is just a number to them based on Kelly/NADA book values vs cost to repair not actual damage.
If the cars hasn't been rolled/tossed then likely can save 1 or more. Can likely use parts from rolled/tossed to save others or sell parts. example: I have a "new" cradle from a wreck hit a tree on pass side door. Most of that car was good except door and frame area where hit.
[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 06-03-2019).]
Almost nine years ago I made an account here and posted the story of my friend Ken who had recently passed away. I'm pretty sure I called the post "Unknown Fiero Legend Passes Away". I cannot find it at all. I did find the profile I used for it; "the Fiero guy", but no longer have access to it. Maybe some remember the post? I believe Ken at the time of his passing had driven more "Fiero miles" than anyone else. He logged over 770,000 miles on two Fieros! He bought them both new in 1988, a 4cyl and a Formula. Can anyone tell me what happened to my post of that article?
Fiero guy, it's good that you are OK. Especially, in light of the amount of damage done.
I agree with The Ogre. It takes very lttle for an unsurance company to 'total' a Fiero. Most will only pay less than $1000 on a claim against a totaled car. Usually in the $300-$600 range.
Certainly you have much more important prorities at the moment, but keep the cars if you can and maybe you can resurrect some of your investment into them. Please do keep us updated on your story. Thanks for sharing with us.
My insurance "Adjuster" inspected my Fiero that was rear-ended at the curb by a duffus who lost control entering my residential street..."Totaled....Frame bent"....Luckily, I had a body shop around the corner- Asked Mike and he said "No way- The frame was not touched"....
The duffus was standing on the brakes in his 1978 T-bird so the nose was low- his bumper went under the bumper pad on my rear and hit the trunk, bending that. The bumper cross-beam was untouched and perfectly straight. I called up my agent and they sent another Adjuster who wrote it up as $480 damage.
Remember, they are taking their estimate of damage, then estimating cost of parts and labor, and then going against a (ridiculously low) estimate of the car's actual worth...sometimes this can actually benefit the car owner, but the Fiero is a special case; The car should be worth much more than most estimates, and if you know people in the Fiero community, and can do some junk-yard rummaging, you can get the parts cheap and then do some to most of the work yourself.
Simple case of "Fiero worth"; The Fiero drives better, is more comfortable and far more reliable than most-to-all lotus cars- but Loti are "Collector cars" and "Exotics" while all the money that Toyopet spent buying bad press for the Fiero has made most people believe the Fiero is some sort of flaming 3-legged dog.
Fiero guy Charles, First off, we are happy to hear that you are safe. secondly, I am so sorry for your loss. It is going to be some time before things can get back to some sense of normalcy.
Now on to the Fieros. I agree totally with what a couple others have said, do not have the cars towed till you get an honest opinion from someone other than the insurance company. I find it odd, that that the cars are not covered under insurance, but they had the ability to "total" them.
Looking at the photo, it appears that any and all damage is cosmetic. Fiero panels, tail lights, and such are CHEAP to replace. Worst case scenario, you can take panels parts from the two to at least keep one of them.
Best of luck with everything.
[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 06-03-2019).]
Charles, I'm happy to hear that you are okay. I couldn't even begin to imagine the trauma. I won't attempt to give you any advice, as there has been a bunch of good advice shared already.
Maybe someone in the area has some space that they can store the 2 cars for you? Anyone in the area? It's the age old statement, but I have to say it, I wish I was closer to be able to help with something.....
There will possibly be some FEMA money available for the loss on the vehicles that weren't covered under insurance. We had some storms through here in 2013 damaging thousands and thousands of vehicles and there was money available at that time for structures and vehicles.
Thanks everyone, and thank you Patrick for finding my article from 9 years ago! Still been too busy to get my story ready to post here, but here's some updates. I got my red '86 somewhat useable again! I patched it up the best I could, and had Safelite put a windshield in it Wednesday. Afterwards I shared my gofundme with the windshield installer and he called his boss. I got a call later saying they weren't going to charge me for it! I still need a lot of parts for it, but I'm going to try and drive it to the Fiero meeting near Oklahoma City in the morning. Got one questionable tire, and it was hit in the driver's side by a Snap-On tool box being pushed by a flying house. If I get there, this will actually be the first Fiero event I've ever attended... wish it was under better circumstances, but I think I might have the only Fiero there that's actually been inside of a tornado. After nearly 23 years I basically had everything to have my Fieros out last me. There's only been one person I had meet who had more Fiero stuff than me, and he had a warehouse! I'm going to try and save my first Fiero also, since it was actually my first car as well. Lots of exterior damage and broken windshield too as far as I know. My shop it was in completely disappeared. The rooves on the shop and house were metal with level 4 storm rating... none of them were anywhere near the property afterwards. I got a confirmed report of part of one of them being found 5.4 miles away in someone's yard right after the storm passed (measured it out on Google Earth)! The Indy and GT are too far gone. I was in the process of restoring the GT and converting it to 5spd muncie and fastback, but all the parts are gone now. It was my second Fiero, and had actually bought it on the anniversary of Fiero Day back in 1999... before I ever knew there was a Fiero day! I'm still homeless, but should be getting something from the house insurance before long. Have to get it before I can make any offers since I had actually left the place I had been working at the past few years only 8 days before the tornado. Found a place I'm interested in, but it will cost me out of pocket since it's more than what I'll be getting from the house payout. Still not sure where I'll end up. Just not much available that comes close to what I had. I'll try posting some pics. Anyway, hope to meet some of you tomorrow at the meet!
OK, someone tell me how to post pictures from my laptop, thanks. It's asking for a web address when I click image... I'm not familiar with this.
[This message has been edited by Fiero guy Charles (edited 06-08-2019).]
