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Our New Old Car
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Just to continue passing along information about restoring a car to be used as a toad.
I have found insurance compamies to be less than honest. Liars may be a little strong, but it is not incorrect and now I worry if there is a claim if I have to deal with the same type of mentality.
In every case the quote required certain verifications. They are obvious and understandable. The car is not to be a daily driver, it is to be secured in a locked garage when not in use, and the application required proof in the form of a title or registration that it was on the road. The application also required photos. All of that makes sense.
From the beginning it was made clear the car was going to be towed. It was made clear it was not going to be on or in a trailer. It was made clear what the total cost ot the restoration was (a breathtaking amount). So the application was submitted with the list of drivers, photos, and signed statement the car was for limited use and would be in a locked garage.
Then comes the rest of the story. They will not insure the value quoted unless the car is appraised and I produce receipts which add up to the cost. And then it has to be approved by the underwriters.
What has driven me up the wall on this is all they have to do is quote subject to receiving whatever documentation they require. Instead they peck away and with each submittal of what they ask for they respond with a request for more information or certifications. Today the latest is they think I should only tow it to secure gated resorts. I have to provide my travel schedule with the car so they can now see if that is OK. So as of today I have planted my feet. I have insurance bound for a lesser, but still substantial amount of money. I have no stated restrictions in the policy other than planned miles it will be driven.
How is it possible for insurance companies to insure our conventional toads, some of which have a value greater than the Ford, are driven significantly more miles and which have no requirement as to where they are used or how thay are garaged? And they do that for less money.
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Are you trying to work with Hagerty insurance?
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I have worked with several, but Hagerty, although not inexpensive is who now has the car insurance bound, and an appraisal and cost summary is in their hands. If they want to increase the limits that’s good, but if they still want more information I am done jumping through hoops.
The restorer said they go through this issue all the time so insurers are apparently as an industry using car owner’s love of their cars as a weakness to be exploited. If we choose to do this again to create a different toad I will know the rules up front and will bury the insurer with the hundreds of receipts, copies of checks, photos, etc.
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Some good photos of the 50 Ford. Click on any photo and it will enlarge enough for you to see all of the cob webs under that Ford. One would think with a pit, that Jon would keep it all polished. Oh, that’s right, it isn’t copper pipe.
Seriously, that is one fine job that they did on that Toad. Great conversion and great pictures.
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The car towed beautifully. It is light compared to the Hummer so it is not like it is back there.
Here are a few pictures.
A rest area in Georgia where they let TN vehicles park in no parking areas.
It is set up so no matter which of my 3 tow bars I use they will all mount the same and they all can be perfectly level.
A detail shot of the business end of the tow bar and connection. We custom made the receiver and brackets so the car is all original when everything is removed. The receivers are almost invisible.
For the first time since owning a bus I have found the bus to be almost invisible. Nobody notices the bus because they are looking at the car.
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And any burning rubber smell when you fired her up?
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Jon thee only thing missing sre some of those “Chrome Curb Fealers”
Beautiful, great job.
How much of my dues did you use on that project ??????
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Andy,
When I drove it for the first time after 730 miles of towing it smelled like a tire fire. But it has dual exhausts so that is twice the surface area to catch rubber dust from the highway.
Buddy,
No curb feelers. Nobody parallel parks any more. Don’t tell Tom, but I been cooking the books and taking his share of the bales of money we make on PC to pay for the restoration. That’s why there is not enough money for Nancy’s slides.
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Andy,
When I drove it for the first time after 730 miles of towing it smelled like a tire fire. But it has dual exhausts so that is twice the surface area to catch rubber dust from the highway.
Buddy,
No curb feelers. Nobody parallel parks any more. Don’t tell Tom, but I been cooking the books and taking his share of the bales of money we make on PC to pay for the restoration. That’s why there is not enough money for Nancy’s slides.
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I believe you have a masterpiece now… Beautiful rebuild Ac power steering and bucket seats
does it accommodate two adults in the back seat? We want a ride to dinner please.
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Jon, I don’t want to start a war, but those “quik-links” are not rated for the amount of stress should the coupler fail.
Shackels, come in “rated” sizes.Jim
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I agree Jim and I have known that.
To get the strength of safety cable I need for my heaviest toad (2012 Ram with Cummins @ 7600 lbs.) I would need chain or cable far, far heavier than anything available so to be honest I see the cables as not much more than providing a little safety to keep it going behind me as I hit the shoulder.
The Ford weighs 3000 pounds so it actually is within the limits of the links.
I thought about using lifting chains rated for the weight of the toad, but by the time I got everything rated for the weight I find I can’t get the hooks into the eyes on the hitch.
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Hey Jon,
Love the 44 triple D cyclops lights on the rear deck. The only idiot you need to concern yourself with now is the proverbial “blind driver.”
Great job, good looks, and sweet ride.
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Even though the car is so small compared to the bus that the bus tail lights are clearly visible, those 4 18″ LED light bars are in your face when I step on the brakes or use the turn signals. The hope is to prevent someone from rear ending the car when it is towed.
They do not work when not being towed.
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