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

$1800 hahahahahhahahahahhahahahhaahaa. oooohhhh man if ever there was a reason to stick it to them that low ball right there would be what drove me to reem them a new one. if it took 5 years to get the proper settlement it'd still be worth it in my book. they always try to weasle out of shit but that is just an insane figure to throw out saying it's the most they will pay out. i would follow through just to show them what the MOST they will pay out really is.

it's time to get a lawyer/negotiator my friend. that car is a piece of history either way you look at it. celeb owned or not. rare production low #. enough said. hell even if it was just an average '59 linc that would still be a rediculosly low figure and this car is 100 more rare than a reg '59. it's time to stick it to them on principle alone...ken....

 

I was sort of figuratively speaking I guess. Most lawyers aren't able to even practice out of their licenced state, I presume. I'm just thinking that if we had a HAMBer or two that were lawyers or studied law, they could at least "guide" someone to the right info and maybe explain the process. Nothing official. Obviously lots of liability once you start talking paperwork and signatures! Was sort of just thinking out loud....

Sorry if I got things off topic. Ultimately I just hope this guy gets compensated for everything. This deal is a BAD one!!

 

I've got an attorney in general but have not done anything legally on this issue yet as my attorney is not cheap. I just gave the insurance company the estimates that the body shops are giving me and they said we were too far apart and they would "be in touch". I left it at that. I've got two years on the statute of limitations if we need to get legal. I have experts and documentation on the rarity of the car and it's value. Two attorney's have assured me that I have a substantial case and that I'll probably spend a lot of time and money pursuing this one. I'm prepared to do it.

I actually understand the $1800 estimate...if it was just a trashed four door 1959 Lincoln. I'm sure these guys don't know cars except for what's in the value books. I stand by the fact that the car is one of nine, and it either needs to be repaired or replaced. Since there are none for sale and the last one was very high six figures, it seems that I don't have a choice here. I'm not trying to screw the insurance company but I'm not going to take a beating on this either if I can help it. I'm trying to get appraisals from owners on the other eight and also some "expert testimony" from the guy that heads the registry and other owners. There is a fair amount of information on the internet for everything except current value. It's a pain in the ass and I'm actually sad for the car. This gives me time to keep hunting it's history too though. If it turns out to be Sinatra's or something else of consequence, I think that would benefit me all the more.

 

I don't think the HAMB attorney is off topic. It's just not feasible. That's why I posted this story on here. I think it's an important piece of the puzzle when guys are buying high dollar cars or anything that needs to be shipped. It's important to know that these things can and do happen and maybe my experience will help someone else not have this happen or to be able to handle it easier if it does. Maybe there is some kind of appraisal that should have been gotten BEFORE it shipped or maybe I will find something that helps reveal the cars history that I can share. Dealing with the insurance company is information that is good to share too. Whatever happens, I think this might be worthwhile and save someone else a lot of headache in the future.

 

Go get em Scoob. You didn't ask for any of this, so fuck them.

 

Django, Jake is my attorney! He can't represent me now that he is prosecutor but he's referring me to someone equally good from his old firm if needed. My legal consult comes from him generally. He's much more than just an alcoholic saxaphone player.

 

Awesome! You're in good hands then.

 

Make sure the attorney you hire understands not only contract law but also insurance law , third party law and diminished value. Have him/her explain third party claims ,insurance law and diminished value to you.These are specialized areas ,especially insurance law(sets the guidlines that the insurance co. must follow and defines such things as bad faith bargaining) . This claim will likely be a substansial one . Dont forget diminshed value ( the difference in value between a damaged and undamaged auto at the time of resale), this could be a significant issue and dollar amount in this claim and after.
You have spent a lot of time so far, investigating the options,provenance and values of your auto. You need to spend at least the same amount of time and effort to find the right attorney. Not every local attorney understands the intricacies of these areas of law .Prepare a list of interview questions for your prospective attorney. Who will he/she turn to for advise if they dont know ?

Larry

 

Not to be pesty but check out these sites. They could prove valueable.
http://info.insure.com/auto/allstate/commissues.html This page gives you some insight to the scripted responses you get from the ins. co. and what your up against. I know its Allfate but thay all use similar procedures.
http://info.insure.com/auto/collision/diminishedvalue.html
www.beyondparts.com/states/indiana/htm
www.beyondparts.com/states/ohio.htm
www.consumersautodetective.com

Ken at consumers auto is a good guy and is also very knowledgeable about the claims process. He's based here in Illinois and has been doing this for the last decade.Its worth a call to him to see if he knows of anyone in your
state that may be able to help, or just to find out what your next step should be.
Do keep a notebook and transcript of all conversations and communications regarding the claim.

Larry

 

I had a '47 Caddy limo once. When I bought it the owner gave me records of build data as well as delivery information. He got this info through Cadillac. Now, since Cady built it as a limo they had records, but I agree, check with Ford to see if their archives can locate any information for you. Good luck, and I;m glad to hear that it can be saved.

 

My buddy has a nice 59 Lincoln parts car for sale. Light front hit, 40,000 miles. PM me if you are interested

 

Got notice on an upcoming auction near me...no list as of yet, but the nice lady on the phone told me there are many lincolns from the 40s up....so once she gets me a list, i'll see if there is anything you can use.....

 

Certain year build sheets say the original purchaser. I have found that with Cadillacs it is the name of the dealership most of the time becuase they are ordered for the dealership lot...not custom orders. In your case it would probably show the coachbuilder which will do nothing for you.

Hyfire

 

Scoob -

I see the car is for sale now??

what is the outcome of this? - do you not want to fight the ins company? or have you already settled with them??

 

Aw, Fockkkkkkkkk. That was a cool piece, too!

Don't want to sound flip, but there's always the demo derby if it's beyond rescue... Peddle the good stuff.

 

I settled with them. I was not able to verify the history of the car with any of the means I had available. The only way I can see to do it would be to trace it back from the warehouse where it was found. It would take some work but the payoff might be worth it if it truly is Franks car. I'm bummed about it and sad that it might end up scrapped after all this time.

 

Too bad, but I hope you're not gonna scrap her.

 

Doh!!!! - I hope you got a "Fair" settlement - but for some reason I don't think you did since you are selling her?

Sorry that we couldn't be of more help in this matter.

 

That sucks.

 

well, four years later...
I found another one. Got it today. Not sure yet if it is one of the nine known to exist or if it's another. It's been hiding in a barn in Texas.'

How do I make this picture bigger on here????

 

Awesome!!!!!! Congrats dude!

 

I was thinking of this post the other day...

 

Congrats, That's Great!

 

Congrats, let us know when you get it home safely. Gene

 

Oh shit, don't even joke!!!!

 

Congratulations......................!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'll hook you up.

 

Mazooma is faster than me!

 

awwww that sucks!

 

impressive what happened to the first one, impressive you found a second one. Lets hope history doesnt repeat itself