[SHELBYGT698]

After a bad day of work I rushed home getting out of work the exact time like I'm suppose to. Unlike any other days, I would end up leaving 1/2-1 hr later.
I'm cruising 45-50 mph, 1 mi. from the house thinking to myself, "What am I going to do when I get home?" Since I've been daily driving the Shelby for the past 2 weeks(UNSUAL), I'm going to get home and get her washed and detailed. Weathers been great all week in the 60-70's no rain. As soon as I finish my thoughts, "BAMM" a buck hops in front of me in a blink of an eye. I was so shocked. All I remember was the sight of a deer directly in front of me. It happened so quickly. I never did lose control of the stang. I pulled over to the side to check out the damage. I wanted to cry . The whole front end is banged up. Hood/bumper/DS fender/grill/condenser/radiator support/radiator. I can't even open up the hood. I was thinking to myself, why didn't the air bags deploy? The front end took a pretty hard hit @ 45-50 mph. In a way, I'm glad the bags didn't deploy, I would've lost control of the vehicle. With so many on coming vehicles, I don't want to think that far ahead. I like to know why it didn't deploy because if I should ever need it, I would expect it to deploy.

I have pictures but don't know how to upload. Files are too large and I don't know how to down size them.

[SGT/SC2873]

SHELBYGT698, on Nov 6 2009, 10:33 AM, said:

After a bad day of work I rushed home getting out of work the exact time like I'm suppose to. Unlike any other days, I would end up leaving 1/2-1 hr later.
I'm cruising 45-50 mph, 1 mi. from the house thinking to myself, "What am I going to do when I get home?" Since I've been daily driving the Shelby for the past 2 weeks(UNSUAL), I'm going to get home and get her washed and detailed. Weathers been great all week in the 60-70's no rain. As soon as I finish my thoughts, "BAMM" a buck hops in front of me in a blink of an eye. I was so shocked. All I remember was the sight of a deer directly in front of me. It happened so quickly. I never did lose control of the stang. I pulled over to the side to check out the damage. I wanted to cry . The whole front end is banged up. Hood/bumper/DS fender/grill/condenser/radiator support/radiator. I can't even open up the hood. I was thinking to myself, why didn't the air bags deploy? The front end took a pretty hard hit @ 45-50 mph. In a way, I'm glad the bags didn't deploy, I would've lost control of the vehicle. With so many on coming vehicles, I don't want to think that far ahead. I like to know why it didn't deploy because if I should ever need it, I would expect it to deploy.

I have pictures but don't know how to upload. Files are too large and I don't know how to down size them.

that stinks! Sorry this happened to you. Glad you are ok and it didn't involve another car! PM sent. Craig

This post has been edited by SGT/SC2873: 06 November 2009 - 07:41 AM

[jmn444]

The air bags are designed to go off when the vehicle hits something that changes the inertia of the car with enough force that you would be thrown forward into the dash/steering wheel.... Having hit a deer myself before, I'm guessing your braking was the only thing really stopping the car from moving foward, the sheet metal absorbed the impact like it's supposed to and kept you safe... hell, my wife hit a pole and rolled our '03 expedition and none of the airbags went off either, i guess it takes a lot to trigger them! that said, it SUCKS! it's unbeleivable how much damage a deer can do to a car!

[NordicShelby]

Really Sorry that happened to you. You can either open up a photobucket.com or facebook.com account then upload photos to these sites and then you can simply copy and paste the picture here on Team Shelby. These sites will resize your photos so you don't have to worry about it.

[SHELBYGT698]

jmn444, on Nov 6 2009, 08:48 AM, said:

The air bags are designed to go off when the vehicle hits something that changes the inertia of the car with enough force that you would be thrown forward into the dash/steering wheel.... Having hit a deer myself before, I'm guessing your braking was the only thing really stopping the car from moving foward, the sheet metal absorbed the impact like it's supposed to and kept you safe... hell, my wife hit a pole and rolled our '03 expedition and none of the airbags went off either, i guess it takes a lot to trigger them! that said, it SUCKS! it's unbeleivable how much damage a deer can do to a car!

WOW! Amazing. I hope all was okay.

Pix are on its way from Craig. Thanks again. I was in no mood to try to figure that out. The damage is more extent than what the pix show. I couldn't really tell the damage because it was dark but when I got home it was worse than I expected.

Insurance has been informed. Now I play the waiting game then fight with the dealer to make everything perfect as it was prior to the accident.

[SGT/SC2873]

here are the pics....

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•  Picture_007__2_.jpg (45.14K)
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•  Picture_008__2_.jpg (49.64K)
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•  Picture_015__2_.jpg (45.86K)
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•  Picture_016__2_.jpg (54.68K)
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[NordicShelby]

Man that does look pretty bad. If it was my car I would definitely take the deer into a taxidermist and get its head mounted so I could put it next to the smashed up hood in the garage.

[motorjock205]

Damn Forrest Rats!!! I hate driving in deer country...for just this reason. At least you were not hurt, the car can be fixed and as good as new again...doesn't look too awful bad...

[Michael Morris]

Damage is not the bad. A good body shop will have it looking like new!


Sorry that it happened. Im not doing my part this year because I havent been hunting yet. Ill go this weekend and see if I can lower the population some for you


MM

[Karashemshek]

Sorry to hear about the deer collision.

Just last night, I told my wife that I probably need to stop driving "The Shelby" to work because of the deer rutting season is in full swing up here in Wisconsin.

Driving a school bus, I leave the house when it is dark and then come back home after I take all the kids to school. In the afternoon, I return to the terminal to take all the kids home. With the time change, when I get in "The Shelby", and the kids are home, it is dark again.

Three years ago, I hit a buck driving my Explorer Sport Track about the same way you encountered your deer. Damage was about $5,000.00. Not looking forward to that happening again. But there is absolutely nothing you can do about it when that deer is all of a sudden there. Glad you weren't hurt. My air bags didn't deploy either as the deer collided with the left front head light and careened down the side of the truck STUPID DEER!

So you have just reinforced my decision to not drive "The Shelby" anymore during the wee hours of the morning or sunset hours of the day.

Best of luck in your repair process.

[WildAzCat]

Glad you're ok and the damage seems minor to MM. You might be lucky your air bag didn't deploy. Doesn't air bag deployment render your title a salvage?

[SHELBYGT698]

UPDATE: Car has been towed to Wilburn Auto Body in Cornelieus, NC. I've researched a bit on these guys and they seem to be the best in Charlotte. I was told the owner himself has a GT500 so I hope that plays a little factor if any on how the work is done.

Motorjock: Suprisingly I live in the big city of Charlotte. I guess we have wild bucks running around.

MM: It doesn't look too bad but up close it's actually worse than it appears. condenser/radiator/bumper/hood/fender and radiator support. Take one down for me please MM. I'm not a hunter myself but do go occasionally on our 28 acre. I've got mine for the year so I'm good but it costed me.

Wildaz: I do believe you are right. And if it did, I probably wouldn't be here talking about it. On coming traffic was heavy but I manage to keep the wheel steady although it happened so quickly, I almost didn't know what happened. Hell, I didn't even brake until I realize I hit a deer after the fact. Yeah, that's 45-50 mph.
I do have some deer meat left on the hood that should be dried up by now if anybody is interested. (Sorry I need some humor. I feel like crying.)

[FordRocks1]

Sorry to see that happen, as has been mentioned, atleast you are ok and alive.

[SGT-C0056]

Sounds like you now can get a New Deep Draw Hood

[ngnear]

There are more deer killed every year by vehicles than by all hunters combined (Rifle and Archery). If you don't believe it just ask your local insurance agent and conservation officer.

Here is one less deer to worry about. He is hanging on my wall in the basement. Last years hunt with a stick and a string. (Archery) I am still working on a big bruser this year.

This post has been edited by ngnear: 06 November 2009 - 01:31 PM

[rush_junky]

Get Mr. Shelby to sign the deer !

In all seriousness, I'm sorry about your car. I hope it all works out.

[SHELBYBRO]

Holy Buck!!!! Man my heart goes out to you. If it were me I definitly would have been crying and probably skinning that deer out of pure anger.

[Doug_GT350]

NordicShelby, on Nov 6 2009, 12:07 PM, said:

Man that does look pretty bad. If it was my car I would definitely take the deer into a taxidermist and get its head mounted so I could put it next to the smashed up hood in the garage.

Great suggestion! Sorry to hear dude, really sux! If it were me since the hood and fender were already toast I woulda tied that sucker on and taken him home to be butchered!!!
Good luck getting it fixed, it's all cosmetic!

[shelby001]

SGT/SC2873, on Nov 6 2009, 11:13 AM, said:

here are the pics....

OUCH!

[azmartin]

And to think I panic over a rock chip. Sorry, but way glad your safe and no bodily injury. Well at least you may get a new scoop and stripes if you haven't already. I am sure they can fix her up fine. One thing I did notice, the aluminum hood functioned well at the crinkle joints, may have prevented even more damage by absorbing the impact. Makes me feel better at how safe our cars may be. Sorry it had to be your test. Hope all goes well.