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Re: was BCDW2000 - future of hobby

To: "John T. Blair" <jblair@exis.net>
Subject: Re: was BCDW2000 - future of hobby
From: Bestoso <mbestoso@geocities.com>
Date: Wed, 01 Sep 1999 19:19:01 -0400
Cc: "Andrew R. Lindberg" <andylindberg@earthlink.net>, British-Cars@autox.team.net, spitfires-digest@autox.team.net, Morgans@autox.team.net, 6packlist@mfasco.com, Spitfires@autox.team.net, Bricklin@autox.team, spridgets@autox.team.net, mgs@autox.team.net, alpines@autox.team.net, healeys@autox.team.net, morris@autox.team.net, riley@autox.team.net, rolls-bentley@autox.team.net, british-cars-pre-war@autox.team.net, vtr@autox.team.net, Triumphs@autox.team.net, aurora@auroratechedi.com, Mini-list@autox.team.net, Tigers@autox.team.net
References: <7738abe5.24fded11@aol.com> <3.0.1.32.19990901183333.00758824@mailhub.exis.net>
I agree with Andy.  I am sixteen years old and was going to a triumph
gt6 to restore to use as a daily driver but...

a.  You can only work on a car in a garage and my parents wouldn't let
me move there cars into the driveway.

b.  I called my insurance company and they said they will only insure
for the amount the car cost me and not what my repairs were and as a new
driver  who would be using this car every day i could not risk losing
that much money if I got in an accident.

So sadly I had to settle with a newer piece of junk that I could get
insured for less and wouldn't cost as much.  

Matt Bestoso
72 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow

"John T. Blair" wrote:
> 
> Andy L. wrote:
> 
> >I don't know the answer to your question but I do believe that we are at a
> >critical juncture for the movement.  Do we become a fad like Beanie Babies,
> >or is there something more here?  Personally I believe there is something
> >more.  Many of the cars we love appeal not only to aging boomers, but to a
> >much wider audience.  But those teen-agers have to see them and they have to
> >know that they're good for something more than trailering to a show.
> >
> >My son-in-law wants a TR6 or a Land Rover.  There's a bucket of young folks
> >like him out there that would snap at the chance to use one of our cars as a
> >daily driver, or restoration project, but they've gotta see the cars first.
> 
> Andy, et al.
> 
> I must agree with you - the cars MUST be seen.  But this brings me right back
> to the thread I started about the 77 Gremlin and insurance.  Some how we
> need to find ins. co.s that will insure these things for more than $200
> in the case of an accident.
> 
> While I know that many replied to my post - saying: "just be cause you
> have $10,000 in a $2,000 car doesn't make it worth $10,000."
> 
> While this may be so, some how we need to unite and find a way to insure
> the car to be driven.  If someone were to purchase an "older" car - don't
> care what - 67 olds, 71 Sonett, 75 Bricklin, 80 Spit ..... for any amount
> of money.  That car will probably need some work, a new paint job, an
> engine rebuild, xmission rebuild, new top .....  With a paint job costing
> about a min of $1,000 that is a substantial amount of money.  If the car
> were given to you and you dump the $1,000 into it, you CAN'T afford to drive
> it if you'll only get $200 if hit.
> 
> If we take a car like a late model Spit - prices are from $0 to $3,000 around
> here.  ALL of these cars need some work - which translates to money - to get/
> keep them on the road!
> 
> How do we minimize what we have in the car?  The only answer is to do the
> work yourself.  Most of us one these list are capable of doing the work.
> We may not know how - but we can learn given an Elmer (mentor).  Some of
> the work (i.e.. a paint job, eng. machine work) may be beyond the capabilities
> of many.  OK that translates to MORE $$$$.
> 
> I paid $2,500 for my 77 Spit and have put several $100 into it not counting
> labor and it needs a paint job and maybe
> some rear end and eng. work.  So
> by the time I really get her "reliable" I'll have at least $4,000 in her.
> If I actually restore her - I'll have a lot more!
> 
> Again, now I NEED to be able to insure that car for at least $4,000 or what
> ever I have in it.  Otherwise I and others - especially the younger ones
> that WE need to bring into this hobby will go by a 6-8 yr. car for $4,000 that
> THEY CAN insure for $4,000.
> 
> Will they learn as much?  Probably NOT.  They'll send the car to the nearest
> shop for anything.  Will they have as much fun?  Again, probably not!  I must
> admit that I get a lot more enjoyment out of driving my beat up Spit, or my
> Sonett than I do my 84 Accord (except when it's hot out - I like my AC!)
> 
> Next point.  If we can entice the younger fellows into this hobby, and they
> want to learn how to maintain their cars - where will they be spending their
> free time?  In their (or their parents) garages working on the cars.  THIS
> IS A GOOD THING!!!  They aren't out running the streets - selling dope -
> doing dope, getting into trouble, etc.!!!!!
> 
> But now it comes back to SOCITY and insurance.
> 1. We need to be able to protect our investments!!!!  That means realistic
>    insurance policy coverate at realistic rates.
> 2. In many many areas it has become illegal to work on your cars at your
>    residence.  For instance:
>      a. where I live, you can’t even change your oil at most appartment and
>         town house complexes!
>      b. Many areas won’t allow you to work on your car in your front yard!
>      c. Many places won’t let you have a parts car in your yard!
> 
> These 2 points WILL bring about the demise of your hobby.
> 
> I'm not trying to be pessimistic here - just realistic.  In many cases
> item 2 above can be over come.  If you have a place where you can work on
> your cars, then invite the newer members of our hobby over to work on
> there cars at your place.  You will be doing them several favors, keeping
> them out of trouble, and memtoring them.  THIS IS A GOOD THING.
> 
> Now we need to do find a way to be able to afford to drive our older cars.
> For many, the collector insurance is NOT an option!  There has to be a way.
> 
> If anyone has had luck with getting their older car insured for a realistic
> value, let us know how you did it.  Let us know what insurance companies.
> 
> Then if we elect to change our insurance companies, we need to let them
> know why.
> 
> John
> 
> John T. Blair  WA4OHZ          email:  jblair@exis.net
> Va. Beach, Va                  Phone:  (757) 495-8229
> 
>               48 TR1800    65 Morgan 4/4 Series V (B1109)
> 71 Saab Sonett III (71500840)    75 Bricklin SV1 (0887)    77 Spitfire
> 
> Morgan: www.team.net/www/morgan
> Bricklin: www.bricklin.org

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