NOOOO!!!!! My car is totalled!!!

The car had not been appraised yet becaue it had never been in my actual possession. Also the real value of the car probably lies in it's history (which is not yet confirmed). The car cost more than the average American home in 1959 and was sold new in Hollywood so I am moderately confident that it has celebrity history. Elvis' 60 Lincoln Limo just sold for $850,000.

The insurance company is initially saying that they will reimburse only what I paid for the car (which was very little) and not pay replacement value or repair it to the condition I purchased it in. I did not have it insured yet because I didn't have it to take the pictures my agent needed. I don't know how this is going to play out.

Hackerbill, I think you are right. The passenger compartment appears intact and the doghouse and rear clip are not special. I think the car can be fixed. I've sent the pictures to my body shop and they think it's savable but it won't be cheap of course. The car definitely deserves to be saved but it's going to be a big financial mess I think.

The good news is that nobody got hurt. The bad news is that I WANT to hurt the jackass who was driving with his head in his ass in a construction zone.

 

DAMN! sorry about you loss Scoob ,don't swallow that purchase value only crap , a good shiester can get you your projected value. then they go after the causing driver after you get the most the hauler will pay.been down this road , its a long process, but you will win.

 

Wasnt there an auction heads up thread on here last month about a guy here in pa with like 2-300 FoMoCo big cars going to auction...it got postponed, I dont think it has gone off yet...there were several of the standard(non limo) cars in that auction.....they would give you the clips, front and rear....these cars were mostly indoor stored untill they were pulled out for auction photos

 

That aint gonna buff out.... Geez. what a sorry thing to see.Cob is right- time to move on...

 

Ummmmm????????

Something wrong with this statement - Insurance company has to put you in "Pre-Loss Condition" - doesn't matter if you got the car for free!!!!!!!!
Who's the insurance company that you are dealing with? - if you want to say.

I think you may need to get the "Insurance Comissioner" involved. If you need help with this..PM me or let me know - I work for an insurance company and we have a branch in INDY - so I can probably get names and phone numbers for you.

BTW - looks like the left quarter is pushed into the rear door - if you look closely you'll see that the left rear door goes "Up"
Not to get you down..but i'm going to venture to guess that any insurance company is going to total the vehicle...but @ least fight for what it is worth (or a resonable figure..not what you paid for it)

 

SOme things you just gotta leave where the lay. I would pursue the person in charge of the mess. I find it hard to believe the insurance company only wants to pay for waht you paid for it. Most insurance companies here in Texas pay what the car is worth not what you paid for it or what you owe on it. Hope it all works out, This sucks bad

 

We have a lot of Foriegn truck drivers out there on the road now ,with bad rigs etc. Not the old Knights of the Road that we grew up with. IMO

 

First of all I'm glad no body got hurt. Second DO NOT settle this to quickly. A friend got ass ended in a perfect unrestored 1930 Packard roadster that the trucker had to foot the bill for a ground up restoration WELL over 100K. This is a stone stock car correct?You could have every Antiquer on your side for support. I'd post the info on a few other sites to get more opinions. FIX IT!

 

You guys are missing what the insurance company is using to get there. He bought the car in what they call an 'arms-length transaction' and that establishes value (in their eyes) better than any book, appraiser, or so called 'expert'. I think it's bullshit, but legally they very well may have two solid legs to stand on there. After all, something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it or, in this case, sell it for. I hope I'm wrong, but I've dealt with insurance enough to know they'll grab onto whatever they can to avoid paying out...

 

I havent been able to confirm if the sale went off or not...but heres the link:http://www.landisenterprises.com/auction/

 

I think this is the route you need to take. If someone gave you that car, it doesn't mean that it had no value. Someone's trying to weasel out of paying here. I'd get in touch with arkracing and I'd keep on the search to see if it had a famous previous owner so you can see what the value really was. You need to stick it to these guys hard.

 

Well the good news is that it's just a four door.

I know it's not a laughing matter, but I couldn't resist. It really does suck to see a car that has made it all these years succumb to a trailer accident. I'm sorry.

 

Do not accept there offer. Get all the information on that type of car. Even the Elvis car. Show them what it would cost to replace it. They can just pull a figure out of their ass. I just got paid out on my 57 Lincoln that was valued at waay more than i had into it. It's kinda like saying you have this unmolested Model A that your Grandad gave you. What would they give you nothing, because you got it for free? Due to the rarity of your car, you should just tell them you would like to get a lawer involved, due to them not wanting to be reasonable with their estimate. They a reponsible for paying out the fair market value of the vehicle. Or all costs to repair vehicle.

 

No way should you take a penny less than its worth. That looks to be an amazing car. If your grandfather gave you a Ferrari Lusso and it got smashed you dont loose because you got it for free. Beyond that, its just sad that a car like that is gone.
Good Luck and do not settle with the insurance company for a dime less than its worth. The truck has insurance, the other cars in the accident, etc... DO NOTHING RIGHT NOW. Get a lawyer sometimes you really need one and they can help.

 

Since no one has mentioned it, I will. Get that car in your posession, fast. Sitting on an insurance impound lot, things have been known to disappear. And I agree with those who are saying you need to fight this to get what you are rightfully owed.

 

First, it's an absolute miracle no one was hurt badly. Normally getting sandwiched between two big rigs like that a person in a smaller rig, even a full-sized pickup, will be lucky to walk away. The white truck with the red & yellow logo wasn't involved, was it? I used to work for them. They're dirtbags and I'd be please to let you know how to contact them.

Second, who's insurance are you talking to, your hauler? Doesn't matter, OF COURSE their first move is to claim the least value they can manage. That's a first move. Insurance isn't about making things right any more, it's about taking your premiums and giving back nothing in return. That said, nearly all trucking companies of any size are normally self-insured with an umbrella policy that kicks in at levels that would potentially put them out of business. Once again their goal is to get out of everything possible and they aren't afraid to make all kinds of claims and threats that they can't follow through on, up to and including writing a minimal check and keeping your property. Get a lawyer. With multiple parties involved and clear negligence on the part of AT LEAST one of them you should be made whole. Or at least as close as possible considering that an original, unmolested survivor car has been turned into scrap metal.

 

Get lots of pics and get that into your garage. Get the pics taken by your insurance agent if possible. Anything of value will probally go missing. In the two days it took my dad to get out of the hospital and get to the impound yard, the cd player, leather seats, aftermarket rims and some other stuff had already been taken from the car. He was lucky the car was rearended and the truck wouldn't open because he had his briefcase with personal files in there.

Also, the insurance company sent my dad's car to the wreckers and crushed before he settled on it. It was technically still his car when they crushed it and he was pissed!

Gotta love state farm!

 

Goddamn This whole situation just sucks. What a pain in the ass.
Best of luck.

 

Just a word of advice -

No many Lawyers will touch a "Property Damage Only" case. Since no-body was hurt...they don't see the big $$ in thier eyes.

You would be basically wasting your time.

Here is some info for you:

Indiana Department of Insurance
Consumer Service
311 West Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2787
Phone: 317.232.2395
InState WatsLine: 1-800-622-4461
Fax: 317.232.5251
doi@doi.state.in.us
​

http://www.ai.org/idoi/consumer_services/compform.html
​

Tell the insurance company that you will file a complaint with the insurance commisioner if they don't start cooperating correctly. You can actually name people in a complaint..so don't be afraid to do so.
I would refrain from actually filing the complaint unless they really start giving you BS
Tell them nicely and usually they will back down and start working with you. Insurance complaints scare companies more than a Lawyer. -

I know in our neck of the woods...we would rather deal with a Lawyer cause they are usually more resonable than the person themselves. But everybody in my office gets their panties in a bunch if you bring up "Commissoner"

 

thats is rebuildable ,,would'nt the transport company carry insurance on it as well? with time that car could shine out again,,,

 

Ouch !

Fixing the car is the easy part. Settling the insurance claim is going to be challenging. Check to see what the laws are regarding 3rd party claims in your state.There is variance from state to state . The basic standard is that the party who is at fault is responsible for making the claimant whole in the loss. (they suffer no loss or gain in the strictest sence of the word) Insurance companies will probably hire an independent appraiser to adjust the damage dollar amount. Some adjusters believe that they have to write what the ins. co. tells them, but check state laws again. An indepent state liscensed appraiser is supposed to write a fair and unbiased evaluation .If they have slighted either side they could become liable for the difference. If they do this to you tell them you want to file a claim against their errors and omissions policy . This usually straightens them up quickly.
Make sure the appraiser is knowledgeable about collector cars. Dont accept otherwise as this is a specialty area. NADA and other value guides list values for collector cars and are on target for some autos and off by big amounts on others. They owe the fair market value of a like, kind, and quality auto. If you cant find one that is available they may have to pay to fix yours.

Dont let the insurance company view your auto until they commit that they are going to pay you for the full extent of your loss. Get it in writing .You may consider hiring a public adjuster to represent you in this case. Do your homework before hiring just anyone.

Keep a diary of every conversation regarding the claim; time, date ,conversation , names ect. This is extermely critical if anything goes astray.
The insurance company is doing this to you as thay are talking to you at all times. Be aware of the insurance claims rep, they use scripted word tracks that are intended to intimidate but not expose them to any more risk than necessary. There is a major lawsuit pending in the supreme court of arizona regarding these tracks.
Do not take any of this information as proper legal advise . I am not an attorney. I am a collision shop owner for over 30 + years and have worked in these claim situations on a daily basis.
There is some great advise on the internet regarding insurance claims and how to handle them. You will have to stand your ground to get treated properly.
The insurance company will drag their feet ,to discourage you and as a lever to get you to accept a lower offer. You must realize these tactics are used all the time by the carriers. Calling the tactic out in the open renders it ineffective. It takes a very skilled negotiator to win the point . They make it difficult because they know 90% of the people will accept the first offer and dont have the knowledge or perserverence to fight for what they are truelly owed.

Larry

 

Oh maaaan!! I REALLY feel for ya' man!! She was a beauty and maybe still could be... Keep your head up!

I agree with these guys about the insurance companie's statement. BULLSHIT! If you paid a penny for the car it shouldn't make a bit of difference. The car had/has worth and you should be entitled to it's complete worth! Get a lawyer and take care of the shit! Insurance companies SUCK, but this seems to be a non-issue to me. There HAS to be something in writing somewhere that says you are entitled to it's full worth.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

SCOOBY, is that a 1959 Lincoln Continental Mark IV Executive Limousine? I just looked up the nada value at Low RetailAverage RetailHigh Retail Base Price



$5,600$9,975$19,325
I owuld think that being an umolested survivor you would be looking at high reatil value at LEAST

 

Ok this is worth fighting for, as Ark could tell ya Ins. co. want to settle as fast as possible...Drag it out ..get all the history you can , and stick it to them, the transporter should have a "Good" policy if he doesn't he is a Tard..Now for the "BILL of Sale".... phoooy....I believe that the Ins co has to give fair Market Value..or replace the car with one in "LIKE" condition...Let them buy you on of the other "8" that are left......


Like I stated...This may be a long painful fight ..BUT...it is worth the fight ahead




19k ..BULL that dude is worth wayyy more than that on the WEST coast

 

Man, that sucks. You know what sucks worse is that I don't have enough parts off of the one I cut up to fix it! Ha Ha Ha

I do think the back bumper is around somewhere though.

 

Sorry to hear about the car and I'm glad nobody was injured.

I agree with T-Bone here. Get that car to your property and stored inside as fast as possible. Document EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE YOU TALK TO. Record phone calls for "quality assurance" i.e. evidence and ass-covering but make sure you let anyone you're talking to know that they're being recorded and get them to agree to it. If they don't agree, don't talk to them. If you record without persmission, they can disclaim anything they said and you can get into some legal trouble too.

Take vidoes of the car being unloaded into a building and take long slow shots of the whole thing from all kinds of angles. Then don't touch it until you've recieved fair compensation.You'll have photographic proof that you or nobody else has tampered with it since you took possesion, your appraisers and your insurance people can have unrestricted access too. You don't want anything disappearing off that car nor do you want anyone representing you intimidated or given a hassle when thy try to look at it.

I don't think I have to tell you this but you potentially stand to take it up the ass if you move too quickly. Trace the entire history of the car. If it has any celebrity affiliation that is going to be where the true value comes in.

Keep us posted, don't get screwed, and hell, that ain't nothing a little Quarter Panel-in-a-Can can't fix...

 

Man What a huge loss or really what i hope is just a setback. Don't do anything hasty, take your time because a find like this deserves its as well as you deserve it. Man if that car could talk... Good Luck with and keep us posted. Maybe if you showed up with about 12,000 pissed off HAMBer's they would take you a little more serious.

Big Tony

Gorget cookies and milk... give me titties and beer

 

I appreciate the help guys. There were two semi's, my car, the trailer, truck pulling it, and another car involved in the accident. Looks like one of the Semi's caused it. Everyone stopped for the construction except him. He hit my car hard enough to send it into three others. I just talked to the police department and the report won't be ready for a few days yet. I did get a release for the car so I'm going to try to pick it up as soon as possible.

The value of the car is something I'm surprised to see in a NADA book since they only made 44 in two years and there are only nine of them left. The real value lies in it's probable history. The Queen Elizabeth car and Elvis car are accounted for but this could still be Frank Sinatra's car, President Eisenhowers car, or who knows? Selling in Hollywood, I bet it's somebody famous at least socially. That's the value, hence the $850,000 for Elvis car. It might have ended up being a $20,000 car or a $500,000 car and I don't know yet. But I know I probably won't get another one anywhere. I'm in the registry and working with these guys and the Professional Car Society.



$5,600$9,975$19,325
I owuld think that being an umolested survivor you would be looking at high reatil value at LEAST[/QUOTE]

 

Bullshit, lots of lawyers work on an hourly fee as opposed to a percent of recovery, as you're saying. In fact, the percent of recovery guys are the ambulance-chasers of the legal profession. Believe it or not, there are good, ethical lawyers out there - just like there's good bodymen...