Advice Needed Re; Insurance Co. Totalled my Car

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tcrooks

Advice Needed Re; Insurance Co. Totalled my Car

Post by tcrooks »

Fellow Sufferers,
I began my love hate relationship with my 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 26 years ago. I rebuilt transmission, engine, rear-end, interior, several tops, brakes, cranking/charging system, etc. etc. In 1995, wife left keys in car and it was stolen from in-front of my house. We were heart-broken. A week later I found the car in a police impound lot, stripped, wrecked; drug in lying in the dirt on its disc brake rotors (Cromodoras gone and no doubt broken after being bolted on a Toyota).

The insurance company (FARMERS) told me it was totalled (no joke? big surprise!). I told them I wanted the car back, and showed them $10,000 in receipts from 9-years of restoration & repairs. They refused, saying it was not their policy to sell totaled vehicles back to the insured. I met a wrecker at the impound lot and took possession of the car and locked it up in my garage; informed the insurace company I had taken possession of my property (and some other nice things).

Since then I restored the car 100%. Well now what, I've got a perfect Spider with a "Salvage" registration. I've got $10-$15K in it and am somewhat afraid to drive the damn thing. Any suggestions as to how I might get this thing insured for the $10K its worth???
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kmead
Posts: 1069
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:24 pm
Your car is a: 1969 850 SC 1970 124 SC 85 X19
Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Advice Needed Re; Insurance Co. Totalled my Car

Post by kmead »

Get it insured for stated value by one of the many insurance companies that cover classics. Most of them don't cover it as a daily.
Karl

1969 Fiat 850 Sports Coupe
1970 Fiat 124 Sports Coupe
1985 Bertone X1/9
So Cal Mark

Re: Advice Needed Re; Insurance Co. Totalled my Car

Post by So Cal Mark »

I'd check out the Collector Car ins companies, they understand owner/car relationships alot better than mainstream ins cos.
Exit98

Re: Advice Needed Re; Insurance Co. Totalled my Car

Post by Exit98 »

T,

I'm no expert on insurance, but I can't imagine the collector car insurers would have a big problem with your salvage title. After all, many of the cars they insure are ground up restorations. I'm with Haggary's and there are a bunch of others. Just check out their websites.

Great story by the way. Can we see some pictures.

Good luck, and drive the wheels of it.
tcrooks

Re: Advice Needed Re; Insurance Co. Totalled my Car

Post by tcrooks »

Thanks folks, I will follow your guidance. I would love to provide pictures if I could figure out how to include them.
rlux4
Patron 2022
Patron 2022
Posts: 4211
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
Location: Granite Falls, Wa

Re: Advice Needed Re; Insurance Co. Totalled my Car

Post by rlux4 »

To post pics:
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... res#p37831
Now show us the car! :wink:
Ron
Ron Luxmore
rlux2n2@gmail.com
'82 2000 Spider: after 26 years between Spiders.
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