Steve - Just caught this thread tonight at the tail end. Here are a few points
to
consider:
1. Avoid dealing with the local club or repair shop for an appraisal - they
have
no credibility in a legal environment unless they have compared your car to
others
just like it that have actually sold recently and can document that comparison
with public records of the sale; in other words, the bit about "I've worked on
these cars for years etc, etc" just won't do it in a disputed claim situation
(even though they are probably very accurate). The only thing that leaves no
doubt is a documented sale record and the correct documentattion of your car.
2. Avoid any policy involving "stated value" in favor of one that uses "agreed
value": in the event that your car is kidnapped by aliens & disappears as a
total
loss, an "agreed value" policy means that the insurance company will pay the
amount agreed to...a "stated value": policy means that the adjuster will sit
down
with you and start the conversation by saying "So you stated that you thought
the
value was X...now let's talk about what it was really worth". See the
difference? Don't forget, that friendly sales agent who smiles and nods his
head
while he takes your check in not usually also your adjuster.
3. Good advice to check Hemmings for professional appraisers...these guys will
get you a bullet-proof appraisal that is well worth the money if the need
occurs...try Auto Appraisal Group (AAG) at 1-800-848-2886...they have a
nationwide
network of agents...these are the guys that did all 3,000+ cars in the LeMay
Collection (mentioned several times recently on this group) last year...website
is http://www.autoappraisal.com
4. Last point - with a '79 B you are at the bottom of the spectrum for cars
that
can benefit from a professional appraisal but others reading this group, with
more
expensive cars, are also in my mind as I write this response.
Jim Evans
67B, 68B, 77B, 78B(V8 conversion), 78B, 79B, 80B, 72 Norton and 40+ years of
bitter experience with a wrench
Steve Piepenbrink wrote:
> Thanks for the great ideas on the appraisals! I really didn't know what to do
> about it, but now with all this good input I don't see it as a big issue any
> more.
>
> Steve
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