VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION Forum Questions Realistic Insurance for a true survivor

I've got a 1957 BelAir 4 dr. 6 cyl p/g 27,000 original miles; brake pads and hardware replaced, wheel cylinders and master cyl rebuilt; original everything; paint has worn through in places from many buffings, never seen a paint gun since it left factory; original spare, 5 new Coker 800x14 B.F. Goodrich wide w/w. Any Old car price guide doesn't take into account the fact I'm the 4th owner, provoance includes story to original owner got it for her 33rd birtday, and I met her and photgraphed her in the car. Helen and her daughter refer to me as keeper of the car, Hellen is now 88! How long and how far would you have to search for a replacement? Without throwing stones I asked the insurance company if a front fender got hit, woulod they paint t5he whole car to match? They said only dameged areas; value for a survivor is LOST

Thats a great story and even greater car!! Makes my mouth water, expecially since it has 6 cyl and PG in it.

Sad thing to say, but you are right as rain. There is no substitute for an original survivor.

I certainly have no love for insurance co's, but have to agree with them on that respect. Not saying you would do it, but some out there would damage their cars just enough to get a complete paint job. Now if you are paying a hugh amount for insurance, and still now getting what you want, than perhaps another quote from someone else to your specs if at all avail.

I cover my 2 cars with what I think are replacement costs, than had insurance co take photos, send to home office, got their ok and that is the premium I pay. My hope is that if I get hit, it's hard enough to total the car and than try to replace it. Your case is different as it's a survivor.

Best of luck and here's to you that you never get damage to that car!

Jim.

Hey Joey,

You need to contact a "classic car" insurance company. "Regular" insurance co's usually aren't worth a sh*t with our old cars. Or a special car like you have.

I've used American Collectors in NJ for years. Fair rates and great service. Click on the link (above) to their website for more info.

There's many other "collector car" insurance co's available. Some advertise in the G and D.

Hope this helps....

Bill.

Yes, there's lots of horror stories out there. I've even heard of one with JC Taylor... wow... that doesn't come along very often. Just a case-in-point that NO ONE is immune to a disgruntled customer once in a while.


And I can give you first hand info about State Farm. But I won't. I voted with my feet.... and now I'm with a different company.


So... the general policy that we've followed in this Discussion Board is that we don't really want to hear all of the dirty details. Too many reasons why.


But, if you have a GOOD experience, then we'd certainly like to hear enough about it so that we can add it to our list of references.


The absence of some companies being discussed is an indication that no one has stood-up for them. That's about as far as we want to go with this. If you r-e-a-l-l-y need to complain then go somewhere like THIS PLACE.

By the way, there is interest in re-building the VENDOR list again. I'll tell you about it in the MEMBERS area a little later on.

Bill, thank-you for your reply on insurance. I have American Collectors, and the clerk at the company said,"they only repair damaged panel" I agree on not airing dirty laundry, but.... I could write a whole book on how my claim was handled, by the company who used to advertise the Jack Benny TV show, ...with the 3 trumpet notes sounding at the end of the ad....if Benny "insured" his Maxwell with his advertiser...some of us grew up trusting these companies. Also I still haven't contacted Hemmings where I saw their full page ad, if you report substantiated complaints, Hemmings usually drops the advertiser. joeyk3950

Jim, thanks for your reply. In a realistic world everyone is not honest and would take advantage of the insurance companies. Some of us who admire, love, cherish,relish,fuss-over,are meloncholy over, love, prize, proud of, and value them like a friend from of old, need the protection we deserve as we pour endless $$$$ as "keepers" of these cars for posterity. There are still a few of these cars out there, but how long and how much to find a replacement? The color of the car is the same as my uncle's. I came home from school, the sixth grade, March 18,1958, and my uncle's car was parked in front of our house. I went in and my Aunt was there but my mother wasn't, she was making funeral arrangements for my grandmother who lived with us, I'll always remember my uncle's car parked so nicely in front of our house, totally out of the ordinary for a weekly school day, another reason why this car is so special to me! thanks joeyk3950

Joey,

After seeing the ins co you're talking about is the one I use (and am very happy with), I went back and read your first post very carefully.

I now see this whole idea doesn't mean a thing. You don't even have a problem because this whole thing is an "if" a fender got dented.

I'd suggest you drive the car and have fun with it. Put the worrying about "what if's" in the garbage and just enjoy life....