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JamminredheadEd · 05-22-2008, 10:53 AM

Some weeks ago my poor 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger got hit while parked in front of the house on our busy street. I wasn't home at the time of the incident so I obviously wasn't at fault and the guy in the car that hit mine was insured.

Vehicle: 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger (2dr hardtop)
Engine: Original 318 cid
Other info: Factory air-conditioning; paint is not original color, vinyl top removed and surface painted; looked good 20 ft away (before accident), plenty of compliments.

My problem is establishing the value of the vehicle so that I can get it repaired. I paid about $3,200 for the vehicle and have put about $10k into making it mechanically sound with engine, electrical and suspension work and have the receipts to prove it. I've also a few interior and exterior parts to go toward this restoration effort. The at-fault party's insurance company wants to total my car and offer me about $2,550 because that is the supposed market value of the vehicle and the damages are estimated to be about $3,681.

Here's what I've been told to do to help me get the car fixed:

Get the documentation the at-fault party's insurance company compiled so as to know how they came up with the numbers they did.
Seek out local ads in AutoTrader, Collector Car Trader, Hemmings and eBay for vehicles comparable to mine in make, model and condition greater than the estimated repair cost.

I plan on following through with that but here's what I believe my goals are:

Ultimately, get my car repaired and back on the road
Prove my vehicle is worth more than what they said the market value is
Find a lower repair cost estimate and/or poke holes in what was included for the repairs.

Does anyone know of any other recourse I can take?
How the insurance company might be manipulating the numbers?
What are viable pricing resources? I was told that they don't use Kelley Blue Book because the prices are too high but Business 101 says value is determined by supply, demand and the consumer's perceived value of the product. Kelley Blue Book, Manheim Gold, Kelley Gold Book, NADA and classic car pricing guides seem like a good representation of that because they're based on auction house sales but I am really trying to do what the insurance companies (mine and the at-fault's) are telling me to do with regard to tracking down recent local ads.

This is the first car I've had to call my own and so I got only regular, basic required-by-state-law insurance which basically only covers damages done to another party if I'm at fault.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

05-22-2008, 10:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
JamminredheadEd Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3	Someone Hit It: My Poor Dart Some weeks ago my poor 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger got hit while parked in front of the house on our busy street. I wasn't home at the time of the incident so I obviously wasn't at fault and the guy in the car that hit mine was insured. Vehicle: 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger (2dr hardtop) Engine: Original 318 cid Other info: Factory air-conditioning; paint is not original color, vinyl top removed and surface painted; looked good 20 ft away (before accident), plenty of compliments. My problem is establishing the value of the vehicle so that I can get it repaired. I paid about $3,200 for the vehicle and have put about $10k into making it mechanically sound with engine, electrical and suspension work and have the receipts to prove it. I've also a few interior and exterior parts to go toward this restoration effort. The at-fault party's insurance company wants to total my car and offer me about $2,550 because that is the supposed market value of the vehicle and the damages are estimated to be about $3,681. Here's what I've been told to do to help me get the car fixed: Get the documentation the at-fault party's insurance company compiled so as to know how they came up with the numbers they did. Seek out local ads in AutoTrader, Collector Car Trader, Hemmings and eBay for vehicles comparable to mine in make, model and condition greater than the estimated repair cost. I plan on following through with that but here's what I believe my goals are: Ultimately, get my car repaired and back on the road Prove my vehicle is worth more than what they said the market value is Find a lower repair cost estimate and/or poke holes in what was included for the repairs. Does anyone know of any other recourse I can take? How the insurance company might be manipulating the numbers? What are viable pricing resources? I was told that they don't use Kelley Blue Book because the prices are too high but Business 101 says value is determined by supply, demand and the consumer's perceived value of the product. Kelley Blue Book, Manheim Gold, Kelley Gold Book, NADA and classic car pricing guides seem like a good representation of that because they're based on auction house sales but I am really trying to do what the insurance companies (mine and the at-fault's) are telling me to do with regard to tracking down recent local ads. This is the first car I've had to call my own and so I got only regular, basic required-by-state-law insurance which basically only covers damages done to another party if I'm at fault. Any help would be greatly appreciated.