So I’ve had this 95 all original firehawk, 54k miles, literally MINT. T tops, 6 speed everything working. I was driving the other night, lady pulled in front of me and slammed breaks and I hit her hard. Broke my neck, bunch of staples in my head. Anyways the whole front of the car I think is beyond revival, but I’m hoping you guys can help convince me something different. I am thinking about just buying a shell and moving everything over, but I hate doing that because it completely ruins the value of a fire hawk. I’m hoping that there is someway to save this body all the original parts anything is there anyway you guys can help me? I added before pics too because I was so proud of this car, with 54k


miles, and I don’t know what to do. It was a 20-30k car in the condition and low miles, and now it’s worth parts, which I know firehawk parts do go for a good amount, but still, I loved this car. Any advice, tips, ideas? Thanks in advance for making it this far. I am in Michigan, us. Btw.

 

Very sorry to see this happen and to hear about your injuries. This is a very sad situation, but I'm glad you survived to tell the story.

With that said, I will be brutally honest about what you are facing with the car...because anything less than that would be misleading and not actually helpful. There is no "Firehawk" value left in that car. Even previous to the accident, a 54k mile LT1 Firehawk was not a high level collectors item; the only 4th gens that fit this bill are extremely low mile cars in #1 level condition, which is not possible at 54k miles and unrestored. It did look to be a very nice car, but I can see in the "before" engine bay and interior pics that it was not a concours-level #1 or #2+ condition show-prepped vehicle even before the accident (which is what it would need to be, at minimum, to be financially viable for restoration). If it was a '97 LT4 Firehawk with complete documentation (I think there were only 14 such cars ever built?), there might be a financial argument to be made for restoration, but not for this example. Even prior to the accident, it would not have brought $30k on the open market (even an LS1 example wouldn't at that mileage) by any means.

With all of that in mind, buying a shell to swap over the drivetrain is not a bad idea. But I don't really see very many Firehawk-specific parts to swap over as the hood is destroyed and the original wheels were already missing. There is only the exhaust and, if still present, optional suspension and/or differential pieces to move over. Not even sure that is worth the hassle, unless you plan to buy a roller and you just want to swap over your whole low mileage drivetrain.

If you are just set on putting the car back together for sentimental reasons though, that's a differnet story. It will be a ton of work, and it will cost a ton of money, but I'm sure it could be done if you are dead set on doing so. Just don't do it for any financial/"collector" reasons as the car won't be worth enough to justify the amount of hassle and expense to restore it (only exception might be if you own your own bodyshop and can do all the work yourself).

 

Now that's a TOTAL!! A bad accident and your injuries were serious. There is nothing to be done with this car. When you are better, just take the insurance money and buy yourself another Firehawk. You will love it too in time just like this one. As RPM WS6 advised above, the $$$ needed to properly repair this Firehawk would be very high, and IMO, better spent on a new ride. What it would cost to repair will probably buy you a newer one with even lower miles.
Get better!!

 

Sorry man. I have to agree with what these two are saying. Its a loss. I've seen much less damage caused by a deer hit result in a total loss. This is way more.

 

Sorry about your accident. I am glad you are ok. I agree with everyone else. Its totaled. I would look for a clean roller and swap everything over. What has insurance said?