Please help. My beloved 1979 light green Volvo 244DL was totalled by a hit-and-run driver. Thank God I was in a Volvo when it happened!

I was at a stop, pulled over completely in the break-down lane of the interstate (I-95 in Delaware at Churchmann's Marsh) with flashers on and a guardrail preventing me from pulling over further when it happened. The SUV or pick-up with a cab, which slowed and then retained course, barely missed the rear bumper. It struck my car on the entire driver's side from the rear bumper to the front. It was a 65-85 mph collision, but because it's a Volvo, it looks like it was a 35 mph collision.

It's rebuildable, and it's covered by my insurance under "uninsured motorist coverage," but the problem is that the ins. co.'s damage estimate ($2347) is more than the ins. co.'s estimated value of the car ($2075). That is, the ins. co. will declare the car a total loss and I will have to get a "salvaged" title and rebuild the car under the strict guidelines of Delaware's DMV, eventually titling the car as "reconstructed". I want to avoid this, if possible.

The ins. co. had some trouble estimating the value of the car because it is so old, so I can question the validity of their value estimate. When speaking to the claims rep., I was told that the ins. co. would consider any contrary valuation I would submit.

However, I have had similar trouble myself in finding any valuation information on such a car, either through recent sales, classifieds, or valuation methods.

Does anyone have any advice here? Can I get a valuation on a newer Volvo and knock off a percentage because of my car's age? I have also noticed on this forum that 78-79s are valued higher than other years before and after. Please let me know if this is correct. Also, since mine is a 244DL, can I compare it to a 240DL, and if so, how? Finally, since the car was bought at the factory in Sweden and shipped here (and I am the original title holder) and has a "diplomat series" sticker still stuck to the window after 24 years...any good?

I'm only looking for a valuation that is $272 (less than 15%) higher than the ins. co.'s valuation. I'm not trying to get a bigger ins. check; I just want to keep the car without getting a salvaged title and then, eventually, a "rebuilt" title.

By the way, by definition, the car is in "good" condition, or was before the collision. The car is mechanically sound. The breakdown was due to a minor problem and has been fixed, but the body and possible frame damage remain.

I saw a response by STONEY to a recent fender bender posting that someone named Josh Ostroff offers appraisals of rare Volvos as evidence of increased value due to rarity, but I have no idea how to contact STONEY or JOSH OSTROFF or even where Mr. Ostroff is located. I am in the state of Delaware and a short trip from Philadelphia, PA. I'm sure we don't need to be in close proximity for him to look at my car with wireless moving-photo cell phones and all that.

Any info you can give me would be of a great help. My dad is the co-owner on the title, and he wants to junk the car, so time is of the essence. I just want to keep it on the road.

Please respond here, to my e-mail, or to my home or cell phone, if you have free minutes.

e-mail: jaxtergirl@aol.com
home -- days: (302) 836-4332
cell -- any time: (302) 593-1642

Thank you very much in advance. I hope to hear from somebody soon.

Jackie -- 1979 244DL