Hey,
I was wondering if anyone can help me. I just got rearended in my 1979 242 GT on August 5, 2004. The other guys insurance company is trying to get off with very little money. I need some help getting the true value out of my car being it is pretty rare. The car was in original condition very meticulously kept and had 160,000 miles on it. The only thing wrong with it was that it had two dime size dings in the passenger door. Paint was good with original stripes and interior with no rips, tears, and no cracks in the dash. The 4 sp with over drive works perfectly and everything is very smooth and clean. Vehicle also has updated IPD sway bars, newer suspension and JVC CD/stereo player. I know I will not be able to replace, monetarily will have to be the next best thing. Can anyone help? Does anyone want to sell their 240 GT? Thank you very much.
Phillip Scamahorn

Check the Brickboard classifieds. There's a low milage 80 242GT in there cheap right now. The interior is trashed and the grille is bad but sounds like you have all those parts.

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Nineteen Volvos
445-544-122-1800-240-740
Four turbos

Let *them* find an equivalent replacement if they don't want to give you the full amount it's worth. It's their responsibility to "make you whole."

One other idea to determine value is to check the classifieds for other 79 GT's to show market value. There are a couple of 78/79/80 GT's currently listed on Autotrader.com, the Collector Cars Edition. Prices from $1000-3000, generally.


Jay
88 740 GLE 184k
84 245 GLTi 228k

Oh, another thing. Pictures will help to make your case. I think this is all worth a try. I'm a fighter; what do you have to lose. I won in small claims against a corporation. As soon as I filed they sent the money without going to court.

Gary

Find a 240 of nearly the same year that is in good condition like yours. Then use that as the value for the insurance claim, plus your modifications. They cannot argue against that. Another alternative is to demand that you want your car fixed, which will probably cost more than the value of the car. That may change their tune. It is 25+ years old, so call it an antique classic valued at say $4500.

If that does not work, file a claim with your small claims court. In Oregon, it cost between $50-$100, depending upon the amount of the claim. Oregon small claims can handle money amounts between $750 - $5000. You do not need a lawyer, you just fill out the form with your complaint information and it is handled very quickly, unlike the other courts. Make sure you include your court cost in what you want. I would attach a document showing the value of the car, if you can, and say it is a near irreplaceable antique automobile. Add money for your modifications (if you have receipts for them that would be good to copy and attach). On your complaint form that they give you make a reference to attachements (you could refer blue book copy and receipt copy as "See exhibits 'A' and 'B') and mark 'Exhibit 'A', and 'B' at top of your copies.

The company should feel fortunate that there were no injuries for which they have to pay and take your offer. If not the court will award a money judgment against to you for them to pay. By the way in Oregon they have to pay a fee to defend; if they don't you get the judgment by default.

By the way, I'm from Ohio, but I've spent considerable time in Hillsboro doing work out there. Nice place and the cars don't rust like here.

Hope that helps you

Gary

Unfortunately, you are in for an uphill battle. While most of us would kill for a car like you describe, the insurance industry will see an old worn out vehicle that they can get out of cheap. You'll be lucky to get the Kbb value, probably. If you have such other vehicles in the future, you should have them appraised, and insure to an agreed upon value. In that way, if the worst happens, you at least have some support to get closer to the real value of your car.

I wish our cars could get appraised by other volvo enthusiasts when this kind of stuff happens. My uncles's porsche club does this, and after he was rear-ended, this group came out and did thier thing, and were able to give the true value to the other guys insurance. It was a total sucess, as they were able to justify the repairs instead of junking it. Of course that was the Bay area, LOTS of porshes running around, but I don't see why we couldn't do it either with local chapters of the VCOA or thru brickboard. Sorry about the loss of the GT, and best of luck!