survivor66

I know at least of few of you are interested in originality and documentation, so my question is for you. I'm trying to determine a good insurance value for my 66 BB convertible, and currently have an agreed value policy of $97k. That is about where a #2 falls on the Hagerty scale, but this car has more.

It's a 2 owner car and my relative bought it new. I have the original window sticker, dealer invoice, factory order, bill of sale, loan papers, copy of original title and POP. Plus, the first owner kept a notebook of every single thing done to the car, and I am doing the same.

This Vette has both BG Survivor Certification and NCRS regional Top Flight, without any changes in between or since then (3 years). I figure the car is insured about right without the provenance. How much would that add?

Thanks for any thoughts.

big block ken

I own the '66 big block convertible that my brother bought new, with every document that came with the car, including bill of sale, POP, radio tag, radio instructions, owners card, pin, etc. It was a daily driver for the first 6-7 years and never hit. It's also a 98 pt NCRS Top Flight car, with just about everything original except the paint (Laguna Blue repaint), convertible top (original back window), mufflers (original exhaust), tires, battery, hoses, and belts. 90k miles. I have it insured with American Modern Insurance (Mecum) and nobody could match their rate. They assessed it at $110,000 full replacement value. Plus $5k spare parts insurance (which covers the original hardtop).

Frankie the Fink

Many of the classic insurers are brokers for American Modern, and most will insure for whatever agreed upon value you decide within reason. You could insure your car for $125K prob with a small increase in premiums. You can talk to Adam Boca of NCM insurance (PM him here) and ask about it...

Redbird

Call Adam! I just saw him at the NCRS National convention in San Antonio on Thursday and increased my coverage.

Boyan

I dont put any added value on the papers, but I also think you will be hard lressed to find a replacement car for $97,000. I would up the value to 120,000. Even without papers, the car speaks for itself. Its hard to find nice solid cars.

Tampa Jerry

Bruce: I agree with the others. With an agreed upon insurance policy, you can set the limit as you see fit. The increase in premium is small compared to the payoff in the event of a loss. On another matter, did you ever add a lift in your new garage? Jerry

dplotkin

Indeed. My 65 L78 is insured for $130,000. It would not likely bring that at a sale. My 61 Plymouth Super Stock is insured for its build cost...a lotta cabbage...and they gave me no argument once I showed them receipts.

Dan

emdoller

No added value on paperwork? Totally disagree.

I've been collecting cars for 40 yrs and am willing to pay more for a car that has paperwork and history over one that does not. Likewise, when I've sold cars, those with paperwork always command a premium.

Ed

provette67

Legit original paperwork is always a value adder. Even on a low option low horsepower car. When the horsepower and options go up so does the value adder from the paperwork.

65hihp

Don't listen to Boyan on this one. His gorgeous two-owner 63 came with no paper, so he says paper is worthless. If he had gotten all the paper when he got the car he would say that paper is priceless. He and I have gone around and round on this, but he won't budge. I'm on to him though.

GTOguy

This is a fact, not an opinion. Cars with documentation always bring more money and are worth more at resale. Especially when the paperwork verifies the vehicle is correct/authentic. And especially on heavily faked cars, like big block C2's. If I had one of the cars in the first 2 posts, it would be insured for north of 130 grand. I've seen a lot of pieced together fake cars for the prices those two are currently insured for.

emdoller

I know I paid a premium for my 67 because it was highly documented and it wasn't a BB it was a highly optioned L79.

Check out the documentation:

http://www.doller.net

Ed

Boyan

I am not sure which Boyan 65hihp is referring to, but he obviously forgot when I showed him my original Bruder Chevrolet sales receipt, and to set the record straight I have every registration back to 63, owners packet, pin, etc.

Passing on an really nice car or not paying a premium for a really nice car because it doesn't have paper is foolish. Also you can have as much paper as you want, its not going to change value if a car is a cobbled together, restamped, hand laid glass pile of junk.

I don't care about paper.

65hihp

fake news

jrm5657

The value of provenance covers a pretty large spectrum depending on the option list for the car. For instance, a base motor car with no options is probably not going to be worth much more with paper versus without paper. I might pay a hundred bucks or so for that paperwork just to have it with the car, but wouldn't expect a premium to be paid when selling the car.

On the other hand, If I had a heavily optioned car, the paperwork would help the car's provenance that it was built with those options. I can guarantee you that most any 67 435 owner would pay dearly for paperwork to substantiate the engine option, and it will certainly command a premium on a sale versus a similar car without paper.

On the extreme end, if I had an old 67 sitting around that I thought was an original L88 car, but had no proof, how much would I pay for a piece of paper that documents the car was an L88, it would be a pretty big number. Of course, all of the L88's are pretty well known, and none appear to be missing, but we can always dream!

Boyan

If you had a car that you THOUGHT was a rare 435 or L88 but wasn't sure and you are relying on a piece of paper to confirm what the car actually is, you are in trouble my friend.

Boyan

I have had a few occasions on the judging field where the owner REALLY REALLY wants you to look at the original (fake) paperwork confirming their added AC, side pipes, FI is the real thing.....the cars tell their own story.

jrm5657

You need not worry about me, I can take care of myself.

Frankie the Fink

It wasn't that many years back long thread was devoted to this topic. IIRC the owner of a midyear BB paid someone $10k for ALL the original paperwork. I'd search for the thread but not on my iPhone.

big block ken

One thing that I've learned over the past 40 years in this "hobby" (which many of us consider to be much more) is that there is no shortage of envy and arguments to back it up. Big block C2's used to be criticized that they "didn't handle as well". NCRS Top Flight cars take a knock from many (who don't own one). And original, well documented (even one owner cars) have no added value to those who either don't have it all on theirs, or can't be 100% certain of it's authenticity. And I now learned that I should increase my insurance value another $15K.