The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Another insurance ?

I just read the thread on insurance and now I have another question.

I'm putting together a '35 1.5 ton. It will be mostly original except for the engine, which is a '53 235.

I've decided to go with the original mechanical brakes and lights.

Do the insurance companies frown on this? Do they even care?

Thanks,

State Farm Insurance in Virginia Beach didn't ask any questions about my 2 ton fire truck.

Good, thats who my other policies are with.

Thanks.

I wouldn't worry about a drive train upgrade (as long as it wasn't a supercharged 600 horse power job)that is. Just replacing the original engine with a newer stock engine I don't think would cause any problems. Unless it was some far fetched swap, I most likely would not even mention it. Now if you were taking a bunch of parts from different years, makes, and models and creating a FRANKENSTEINMOBILE that would be cause for alarm. And I am almost certain that they would probably want it inspected for safety reasons. And they also would have a special rate just for you. Based on body parts, (like an arm and a leg) if get my drift.
It is very common and has been forever, to pull out the old worn power plant and put in a newer one.
Now I am speaking my opinion on liability issues only, if you are talking about full coverage(fire, theft, storm damage, etc) on a high dollar restore, I'm sure that is all whole new ball game. And they may require a professional appraisal. Good luck with that '35, and how about some pics.

I'm just looking for liability. If I actually hit anybody I plan on leaving the scene. Theres no way they can catch my cornpatch chevy.

I don't think they have police cars slow enough.

I'll make the OJ chase look like a NASCAR event.

The only upgrade will be the engine...from the 207 to a 235.

Liability only on my '59 Viking 40 (1 1/2 ton) was only like $28 but that has a 2000 miles per year restriction. We pay our insurance every 6 months, so I am not sure if that is for a full 6 months or the remaining 4 1/2 months of our normal 6 month term of our other vehicles. But a worst case scenario would still make it about $40 for six months. If it was my primary vehicle (only vehicle) that would be used daily, I am sure it would be much more.

OK guys,
As you may have read already, I asked my business partner to write a piece about insuring your classic truck. She is a licensed insurance agent.

I was hoping she would be able to give a list of simple dos and don'ts. Unfortunately, what I learned working with her on the piece is that it frequently comes down to the relationship with your agent. If he doesn't know much about insuring an odd vehicle, like your stovebolt - big or small, you are likely to be faced with higher rates, forced into a "commercial" class when it isn't necessary, or inadequately covered.

Each insurance company has it's own schedules regarding the risk for different vehicles. For some companies if they don't have recent claims on vehicles (like my '54 3100), they place very high risk on the vehicle. Consequently, the rates are high. Others take the opposite approach. If they don't have recent claims on the vehicles, the prices are very low - there doesn't seem to be much in between.

When we discussed this on the phone, She used the example of an old, 1985 Celebrity. The difference between companies to insure the old beater was up to four times higher from one company than the cheapest for the same coverage.

Her article is posted in the "never-ending newsletter": http://www.stovebolt.com/news/2005/october2005/index.html#insurance

I hope this is helpful, and good luck!