Seems to me the 'classic' insurance specialists over here are getting
ideas above their station and applying modern car requirements to
classic cover.
I've had a series of phone calls with my insurer who is now seemingly
insisting cars covered by them should have 'manufacturer approved'
immobiliser systems! Thirty years ago, a Triumph recommended
immobilising method was to yank out the rotor arm.
Finding my present insurer was prepared to forego a 15% premium hike
in exchange for a confirmation that my car could be immobilised with
an "approved system" - preferably a Triumph approved system, I put my
thinking cap on and came up with what I thought was the answer. As I
have particular reasons for wanting to stay with my present insurer, I
spent a day in the freezing cold two weekends ago, installing what I
felt would receive their approval. It was nothing more than a copy of
the system on my daily driver that uses a manufacturer installed keyed
switch in the glovebox. Rummaging in my "it'll come in handy one day"
collection, I located a Standard Ten key ignition switch. This was
installed in the PI's lockable glovebox (the one on my Renault has no
lock) and this installation now comprehensively kills the circuit to
the dizzy and the main supply to the fuel pump. Ain't no way the
engine will run when the system is locked, so I thought approval would
be a doddle.
Not so.
Last Saturday morning, an 'engineer' turned up wearing a designer
style suit that looked as though it had spent the last month on
someone's hedge. Quite apart from the fact that he had to be at least
five years younger than the car, he prodded and probed, hummed and
hahed, operated the system and conclusively proved to his
satisfaction that it worked as planned. He needed "to refer to Head
Office for advice." His reasons were that it wasn't an "approved
manufacturer installation" even though he had no problem with the same
installation on my daily driver which does the same thing and because
it's a Renault line fit, is instantly approved by his employer.
Today, I had a phone call. Apart from being congratulated for
ingenuity (!!!!!!!!!!) I was informed my case had received 'due
consideration' but as it was *primarily* not factory approved and not
installed by a registered auto electrician I could enjoy a 5% premium
reduction amounting to GBP6.35 - about $8.90. BFD!
Jonmac
///
/// triumphs@autox.team.net mailing list
///
|