Thread: LARRY’S LOTUS TOTALED AFTER BEING SHOVED BY BMW Z4. SCC TO THE RESCUE!

The big rains hit California last week. I was driving down Benedict Canyon in light rain. A black BMW Z4 appeared behind me, right on my tail, weaving back and forth. I moved a little to the left, hoping to let him pass on my right. Suddenly he shoved the back of my car. I started to head to the left, then I saw a huge pile of wet palm leaves in the center of the road. The Lotus hit the palm fronds and the rear wheels broke free, spinning wildly. The car made an ungodly loud noise as if it suddenly was in neutral. I was heading across the street sideways, rear end loose. I saw the curb approaching and put both feet in, brakes on, clutch in. I felt as though the Lotus would hit the curb and stop but instead, the car jumped the curb and went airborne, hit a palm tree and spun around, ending up facing backwards in a man’s driveway.

I climbed out of the car quickly, shaken up but not hurt. The Lotus saved me. The aluminum tub surrounding me protected me. The body was shattered front and rear, undercarriage bent and broken. I never saw the license plate on the BMW that shoved me, and I never got a good look at the driver. There were no witnesses.

After nearly 5 years of taking incredible care of my Lotus, always under a car cover when parked, always kept in perfect condition, I looked at the car…and in my state of shock, I cried.

Shaking, I picked up my cell phone and called Specialty Car Craft on La Cienega Blvd. They had recently done some amazing paint work on my car, Steve, the owner, spoke with me and told me that he would handle everything…and he did.

Steve sent a flatbed truck immediately, accompanied by a second truck with guys to clean up the shattered fiberglass and the oil slick that was slowly spreading from a ruptured oil line.

They picked up the car and took it to the Specialty Car Craft shop. Steve had a new Mercedes rent a car from Hertz waiting for me. They calmed me, and handled everything with my insurance company.

Stephan Schwartz, the Lotus mechanic from Lotus Beverly Hills and Mulholland Motors, is now at Specialty Car Craft. He has a very complete shop with a lift. He is one of the nicest people I have ever met. He told me that he would do everything to save the car.

Unfortunately, the car was declared totaled by the insurance adjuster. Specialty Car Craft even offered me the hardtop and the leather middle console to re-sell on E-Bay.

Thanks to Steve’s amazing knowledge of Lotus cars, and his contact and discussions with the insurance company, I received an amazing settlement. For an ‘05 Lotus with 22,000 miles, I received $34,000.00. If you are a Lotus owner, you know that is absolutely amazing.

Specialty Car Craft is searching for the best deal for another Lotus for me, and I should be getting an Elise, Exige, or Evora one of these days.

Specialty Car Craft (310.838.5551) handled every detail of my Lotus accident. If you haven’t taken your car to them for bodywork or for a really great Lotus mechanic, you should. And let the gang there know that you like a good drive…they sponsor the most amazing drives with every exotic car you can imagine. I hope to see you there.

And thank you, my Lotus, for saving my life.

Glad to hear you are okay. Sorry about the loss, but it sounds like you are being taken care of and a replacement will be on its way soon.

Sorry for your loss, but glad you are OK...shoulda been the bimmer...they have 'crumple zones' and all...

oh man, glad you are OK. SCC

I assume the jerk in the Z4 took off, and you didn't get his plate or anything?

SCC is the best! Seriously.. Steve is so passionate about cars and one of my closest friends. I recommend everyone use his shopt for Auto Collision and upgrades. He has something special coming up along with my car.

Crazy! Glad to hear you are okay. I'm amazed that you can just sit here and calmly explain the situation. Myself, I would have called up WB Tactical, geared up and started shooting at just about every black Z4 on the road before the flatbed arrived.

I'm sure you've already done this, but don't forget to go for a check-up just in case - even if you feel fine. You never know!

I would park out on the road where this happened for as long as needed till I found the bastard that did this!

Glad to hear your alright and everything is working out in the end.

Did you get a police report, they can pull nearby traffic cams at the time of the incident? Somebody's z4 is probably still rolling around with orange paint on the nose...

Crazy.....Glad you ok man...