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Archive for April, 2009

 

Antique Car Insurance for the Automobile Collector

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Levis Bark asked:


Owning a prized possession such as an antique car can be the pride of any automobile collector. However, owning an antique car comes with the responsibility to protect and preserve its value. As the cost of replacement parts would be too expensive in the event of a mishap, an antique car insurance policy can protect your investment.

Many owners of collectible cars invest in special antique car insurance to protect their vehicles from unexpected accidents or damages. Whether you tool around the neighborhood on occasion in your venerable vehicle from bygone days or you show off your pride and joy at an antique show, you will want to ensure you protect it against damage with antique car insurance.

An insurance company determines their own classification of antique vehicles, and will have certain requirements you must meet before they will underwrite an antique car insurance policy for your vehicle. The primary test to determine whether a car is classified as an antique, is the age of the vehicle. While cars 25 to 50 years are usually termed ‘classic’, it is cars over 50 that generally fit into the ‘Antique’ category. In some cases, insurance companies may require your vehicle to be registered as an antique depending on state rules.

Many different factors will decide the antique car insurance premium you pay, including your use of the vehicle, where you store the vehicle and the number of miles driven in a particular year. Many insurers have limits on the mileage you may accumulate in each year, this reduces the chance of an accident. If you only use the vehicle to display in antique car shows your rate will generally be less than if you use the vehicle for pleasure.

You should be aware that not every insurance provider is able to underwrite your policy, however, plenty of companies are available that specialize in writing antique car insurance. Finding a quality insurance provider is quiet easy. The first place is to check out antique car clubs for a list of specific companies. The internet is another good resource, as many antique car insurance and collector clubs can easily be found. It is wise to thoroughly investigate these websites to determine a company suitable to meet your needs.

With antique car insurance, you will be protecting your assets and preserving a part of automobile history. In case of accidental damage, with a proper policy, you will be able to maintain and restore your car to preserve its natural beauty.



Bobby

 

Does anyone have tips for me on how I can make more money @ the yardsale I am holding today?

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
Megzzzz asked:


I am having a yard sale today in order to make enough money to afford a chihuahua puppy but so far I havent sold much. I have mostly antiques for sale at decent prices ($20 and lower) and everyone just seems to browse through my things while they are passing by in their cars; however, they rarely stop. Please give me some advice on how I can attract more customers and make more money!

Barry

 

antique stuff?

Monday, April 27th, 2009
julie h asked:


i love antiques, mainly things from the 50’s…retro things like coca cola and checkered floors and classic car things and what not…and i also love the music!!! anyone know any good places besides ebay to finds this cool classic stuff?

Hector

 

A Guide To Cheap Antique and Classic Car Insurance

Sunday, April 26th, 2009
Stuart Brown asked:


When it comes to vehicles, classic cars are absolutely at the top of the pyramid, with their amazing features setting them far apart from the rest of the crowd. Unfortunately, as is typical for anything that attracts attention, classic cars tend to attract a decent share of thieves and vandals. Additionally, because classic cars are rare and tend to be expensive, many large “major player” insurance companies and agents will not even offer insurance for them.

But just because it can be mildly difficult to find the right kind of insurance for your classic car, that does not mean that you can simply drive around without any insurance. Many states require that your vehicle be insured, and you can face serious fines if you are caught driving without adequate insurance coverage.

Finding the right kind of insurance for your classic car is going to take a little bit of time, and a lot of research. Even more research will be involved if you are set out to find the cheapest available antique and classic car insurance available. There are car insurance companies out there which specialize in insurance options for antique and classic cars. Additionally, there are large automobile insurance companies which offer specialized insurance including antique and classic car insurance, but you will have to do a decent bit of searching in order to find them.

A good place to start is with insurance companies like Hagerty, Leland west and Norwich Union which all specialize in antique and classic car insurance. It is important that you weigh a lot of different options, because the costs associated with antique and classic car insurance can vary wildly depending on which automobile insurance provider you go with.

It is also important that you determine what each insurance company will value your classic car at, in order to make sure that you are going to be insured for the full value of your car. Traditional car insurance values the car at the cost to replace it, minus any depreciation that it has experienced. This is what sets antique and classic car insurance apart from traditional car insurance. With antique and classic car insurance, the value of your vehicle is typically an agreement made between you and the insurance provider. This way, you will not lose a serious investment in the event that your vehicle is ever totaled in an accident, or stolen and never recovered.

The absolute best option for you to pursue when it comes to automobile insurance for your classic car is called an agreed value policy. Before this type of policy is purchased, you are required to sit down with an agent with the insurance company in order to come to a concrete agreement for the value of your vehicle. If your vehicle is ever totaled or lost, this is the amount that will be paid by the insurance company. This is also the point where you will receive a quote for the monthly payment. Another thing that sets antique and classic car insurance apart from traditional car insurance is the fact that antique and classic car insurance premiums are typically significantly smaller than what you will pay for traditional car insurance.

However, not just anyone can acquire antique and classic car insurance, so before applying you should make sure you qualify for all of the following criteria:

- Many antique and classic car insurance policies require that you meet a specific age limit. This is to insure that the driver(s) on the policy have adequate driving experience and are not in jeopardy of causing an accident. This makes it difficult for young and new drivers to acquire automobile insurance, even if they are driving an antique or classic vehicle.

- Many antique and classic car insurance policies have also imposed a minimum age limit for your vehicle, in order to determine whether or not it can be considered an antique car. The typical limit is fifteen years old, so if your vehicle is less than fifteen years old you may have difficulty securing antique car insurance for it.

- In order to qualify for classic car insurance, there are certain limits on how your classic car can be used. For example, you must have a garage or some other form of protective storage to park the vehicle in. Additionally, you cannot use your classic car for any business purposes. Finally, there is a limit on the number of miles that you can put on your vehicle every month or year. If you go over the mileage limit you can but your vehicle in danger of losing its protective insurance. Because of the imposed mileage limit, you must also be able to prove that you have another vehicle which is used for normal driving.

Antique and classic car insurance is by far the best option if the vehicle that you are driving can be considered a collectible. This form of insurance is designed to protect cars that appreciate in value over time rather than depreciating. Most insurance companies will allow you to insure your classic car traditionally if you cannot find adequate antique car insurance, but you should expect to pay more in monthly premiums, and to receive significantly less in a pay out settlement if your vehicle is ever totaled.

What this means is that if you are driving an antique or classic car, and specialized insurance is available to you on a local level, you should absolutely take the offer in order to protect your vehicle inexpensively without losing out on the serious investment that went into your prized possession.



Lonnie

 

How To Obtain Car Insurance For An Antique Car

Friday, April 24th, 2009
John Hilaire asked:


Many people choose to restore and show antique cars as a hobby. But even these cars need some type of insurance to protect against accidental damage. This is why many people search for car insurance for an antique car. There are many companies available that provide auto insurance for an antique car, with many companies specializing in antique car insurance. By having a wide variety of auto insurance companies to choose from, the consumer has the ability to choose the right type of insurance for their needs.

Car Insurance Companies

Many commercial auto insurance companies can also provide car insurance for an antique car. Also called collector auto insurance, these policies are tailored to the car you are attempting to insure. A car insurance representative will take all of your information and discuss different policy options with you to ensure that you are obtaining the coverage that you need. They will also help you decide which types of coverage are within your target budget and which deductible and limit levels you will need.

Purchasing auto insurance for an antique car through a commercial car insurance company will give the policy holder peace of mind, knowing that the company that they have chosen to do business with is an established company with a good reputation. The policy hold may also have their everyday use cars insured with the same company. The security of having an established company provide auto insurance for an antique car is well worth the premium that they will charge you to provide insurance for your antique car.

Independent Insurance Companies

There are also many independent insurance companies available to purchase car insurance for an antique car. These companies tend to specialize in antique auto insurance and will not insure any other types of cars. Some of these independent insurance companies will only insure a particular type of antique car, so if the car you are attempting to insure is a rare one, if may be difficult to find an insurance provider that will insure it. When choosing an independent insurance company to provide car insurance for an antique car, be sure that the company is a reputable one. You do not want to find that after months of paying the insurance premiums that the company will not or is unable to pay your insurance claim.

Finding auto insurance for an antique car can be a lengthy and frustrating process, but the benefits of having insurance for the car far outweighs the initial hassle of finding the insurance. Many antique cars are worth many thousands of dollars and that is a big loss if the car is ever stolen or totaled. Having car insurance for an antique car may be the most valuable insurance that you ever purchase.



Dennis

 

Why People Adore and Collect Antique Cars

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
Carl Phillips asked:


The American automobile industry began in the early 20th century and has been a huge factor in creating the society we live in today. It was the driving factor in creating the system of superhighways linking the country together. It was the driving force in the creation of the suburbs, many of which you can only get to by car. And, on the negative side, it can be argued, that it was the primal force in helping to speed the breakup of the nuclear family. It made travel so easy that it became almost trivial for family members to move cross country and start a family unit in an entirely new state.

Antique car collecting and restoration is a hobby practiced by people all over the world. Even American celebrities fall in love with them. Jay Leno, in addition to hosting the Tonight Show, is known for his huge collection of antique cars and motorcycles going all the way back to the early 20th century. Past stars know for their love of cars are Larry Hagman and Steve McQueen.

But you don’t have to be a celebrity to love antique cars. People collect them for various reasons.

They Love the Attention

Do you have a spit polished Model T Ford sitting in your garage? Try driving that car down virtually any street in America and it is almost guaranteed people will stop and stare at it. The same will be true for almost any classic antique car. If you love being the center of attention, this is one surefire way to achieve it.

They Love Tinkering

Any mechanic in love with automobiles would love to work on some of the classic antique models of the past. What car fanatic wouldn’t love to turn up the hood of a Model T Ford and customize it to their specifications? Or create their own unique “hot rod” from the shell of a discarded antique auto. And who wouldn’t want to play with an engine that is real high performance?

They See it as an Investment

If you know the market, know a good mechanic or are a good mechanic yourself, and are good at finding deals – finding, repairing, and reselling antique automobiles can be an excellent investment – or speculation. Like any other form of investment, there are cycles. There are times when the market is flooded with sellers and few buyers. And conversely, there are times when you have many buyers vying for the same model of car. The key is knowing when to buy, when to sell, and what to look for.

Nostalgia

One of the reasons people love antique cars is that, for them, it brings back childhood or teenage memories. Maybe they had their first date in that car, or that is the car the family when on annual picnics, or maybe it was the car to have when they were young but they couldn’t afford it. The nostalgia market is worth billions of dollars and those longing for the antique autos of their youth account for only a small piece of it.

Pursuing a love of antique autos is just another way of looking fondly and nostalgically back at our culture and remembering our country’s history.



Benjamin

 

Scale Model Car Prices at Walmart?

Sunday, April 19th, 2009
K-chan asked:


I want to get my boyfriend an antique scale model car for his birthday. I see that they have some nice ones that are 1.24 scale at the local convenience store running at $9.99 and they have one (A shiney red 1950 Chevrolete Bel Air with a white top) that I know for sure that he likes because he pointed it out to me once. I want to get it but Mom says they are much cheaper at the Walmart. I have never gone to the toy isle with the cars and I must have not paid attention or something because I never saw ones like that one, I always saw the really small cars for sale there. I want to get him one that is prebuilt and one that isnt small but not huge- I want to get a 1.24 scale size one that’s about 7 or 10 inches long. Im not sure what price Walmart has and I cant go there til later on this week so I wanted other people’s thoughts on things. I’d like price ranges i f anyone knows or if anyone thinks that the one in the Convenience store is a decent buy.

Suzanne

 

Would it be okay if I had fins put on my car, like the original batmobile?

Sunday, April 19th, 2009
somber_pieces asked:


Just for fun seriously. I’m very fond of classic cars from the late 50’s but I really can’t afford to drive one ( i don’t know how to fix’em – though my dad has 8 hotrod antiques ).
I have an old honda accord that is already painted in day glow pastel pink. I think it needs a couple big tail fender fins. It would fit perfectly in the blind side of the roof supports.
Would 27″ fins be too much?
My dad has an old ‘84 Laborgini countach with fins he added on after he restored it. He said it needed the fins to make it look good (mostly coz it’s a really short car).

Gene

 

Classic Car Shows

Friday, April 17th, 2009
Bryce Stone asked:


Classic cars are worth being seen and owners of such cars are usually proud to display their most prized and valuable possessions. Antique car owners find the opportunity to display their beauties during antique car shows. The car shows also give classic car lovers the chance to see other types of antique cars. Finding unique car show venues has been made easy through the use of technology. Antique car lovers can easily obtain information of the various car shows online. In addition to the classic cars, attending antique car shows is a great way to have fun in the company of loved ones. 

Those who want to see vintage cars should attend the Helderberg Mountain National Car Show. The event is held annually and begins in the morning until five in the evening. The event will present classic car enthusiasts a chance to see the most prized possessions that are available. During the car show, most of the awards will be given to classic cars that were made prior to 1980. Vintage cars made after 1981, will also be judged and awarded. The car show is the perfect time to spend with family and friends. Apart from cars, there will be a wide variety of music and activities to keep the visitors entertained during the show. 

Antique Automobile Car Club, is known for hosting excellent car shows around the nation and nothing can be more special than hosting the regional Northeast show in Florida. This event will be held on 18 April 2009 at the Cecil Field runway in Jacksonville. To make this event successful and transparent, the winners of different categories will be decided by the spectators. They will be given the opportunity to vote for their favorite classic cars. Those attending the event will also enjoy the air show displays that will be provided by the military.  

For those who would like to commemorate the Memorial Day in style, then attending the Memorial Day car show will give them the opportunity to marvel at the various types of antique and classical cars. The event is held annually by Rolling Antiquers Old Car Club, in Norwich, New York at the Chenango County Fair Grounds. To make the occasion more memorable, those who attend will have the privilege of seeing classic military vehicles, vintage motorcycles as well as tractors. Registration is required. 

The Odyssey Car Show is one of the most popular car shows in Illinois. It will take place on May 24, 2009 at Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park. Those coming with cars will be required to pay an entry fee and as a way of appreciating them, people who attend will receive free presents. The car show provides an all day fun activity for the family. To ensure those participating at the car show are entertained, there will be music played by a professional DJ and there will be free coffee. The car show will provide the opportunity for antique car lovers to see the classic cars.



Jacob

 

How to Value an Antique Car

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
Carl Phillips asked:


Collecting antique cars is a pleasure. But one of the most frustrating things is trying to figure out just what a particular car is worth.

Every year more become classified as antique or collector cars. With so many antique cars on the market these days, it’s getting harder and harder to keep track of market prices. Luckily there are a number of guidelines you can follow to come up with a fair price for a classic automobile.

Antique car prices are determined by a number of factors, but the most important one is supply and demand. The more popular a car is and the less of them that are on the road, the greater its market value. Forget about how much the car sold for originally. Forget about how much money has been put into restoring a car. None of that matters. How popular is the car and how many are there? That’s the most important question of all to ask.

So how can you determine supply and demand? Where can you find a price list for antique cars? If you want to buy a used car, you can go to the Kelley Blue Book, the standard authority for used car prices in the country. Is there something similar for classic cars?

Fortunately there is. The Gold Book has been around for nearly 40 years, and similarly to Kelley’s Blue Book, it is the defacto standard for antique and classic car prices. They not only monitor auctions all over the U.S. but also monitor private transactions between individuals – as long as they can be verified. They also have a web site where you can use there on-line search tool to find the sold prices for thousands of antique makes and models. This can give you a good baseline as to what others think the car is worth.

What is the condition of the car. This is not as much of a factor as supply and demand but it is nevertheless an important factor. First off, you can ignore the odometer readings. Many antique cars, especially those that have had significant restoration work done on them, have simply had their odometers rolled back to zero. Unless you’re a mechanic yourself, bring one along to evaluate the physical condition of the car. Listen to the engine, check the wiring, inspect the engine mount and ignition systems, take it out for a test run. Any problems will normally cause the evaluation price to be adjusted downwards.

Has a celebrity owned the car? Celebrity ownership raises the price of everything. That the bid price of a piece of chewing gum spit out by Britney Spears reached $14,000, tells you what celebrity ownership can do to the price of a classic car. If you are buying a classic car from someone who claims it was owned by a celebrity, be sure to get some sort of document of authenticity – as there is no shortage of shysters willing to take your money.

And lastly, keep in mind that collecting antique cars usually turns into a lifetime hobby. You’ll no doubt meet fellow collectors at future auctions and events that can give you further advice about not only valuating antique cars but also can help you find some really great deals.



Jacob