Re: IML: '63 Le Baron vs Insurance adjuster that's in for an adjustment

[Kenyon Wills <imperialist1960@xxxxxxxxx>]

I had a similar situation with a Lincoln that got hit.  They asserted that $700 was a fair settlement.

 

I sliced out a page from Hemmings before going to see the claims adjuster, which at the time had 8 others ranging from $2k-$6k.  I explained all of the work that had been done and the expenses involved.  As soon as I had printed corroboration of the value, the resistance disappeared and they paid $4500 despite a fearsome hardness up front.  The car was a $3500 car as far as I was concerned, but they felt that the middle of the range was a good place to start, and I felt it a good place to end, so there you have it.

 

It's not the adjuster's money, after all, and if you can give them "proof" that they're not being unreasonable, you may get near or above what you want for the repairs.  The proof allows them to CYA with their superiors, as insurance is an industry that revolves around numbers, and everyone seems to view them as some sort of lottery jackpot.  Combine that with it being a business that is very subjective at times and you have a natural reaction to lowball based on it being a numbers game.

 

I'd start saving ebay auction results that work in your favor...

 

Hemmings is nice because fleabag cars rarely get advertised there, but the internet has probably eaten some of their lunch since my adventure as far as advertising goes.  I'd throw in 1961 and 62 cars and show clear comparative photos of the three years to establish that they are essentially the same except for the fins and be as simple as you can about it.  Your adjuster just needs some education to help them avoid the easy way out that they've been taught to take.  Be patient and helpful. 

 

There's a $21k JFK 1961 Imperial in Hemmings now, but I assume that yours is much nicer than that old thing, right?

 

Hope that you get results on this.  I have access to a front clip if you need it.

 

-Kenyon

FltSgt@xxxxxxx wrote:

> Hola
>
> On Monday morning the kid up the street who has been one of the fastest 
> vehicles on the street failed to slow down after it had snowed. Due to the speed 
> he lost control of the '89 Jeep and from 55 paces away he started a hard slide 
> into our '63 Le Baron, backwards. When I asked what happened ( duhhh ) he 
> stated that he was only going 10, maybe 15 mph. ( At such a slow speed this was 
> able to knock the Le Baron over six feet backward into the neighbors parked 
> '78 F150 long bed. The 'Le Baron-F 150 package then went another foot before 
> stopping. )
>
> Yesterday ( 30 Nov '04 ) when the American Family Insurance rep called it was 
> in her second paragraph that she used the words of "just total the car out". 
> When I told her that was not going to happen, she then said they would send 
> out a person to "take a look at the
>  damage".
>
> Today this guy calls and didn't have a clue of what it was that he was to 
> come and look at. But he did use the same " total it out phrase". ( It must be a 
> cheap way for the insurance company to get out of paying for speedy up the 
> street. ) After some time clueless calls back and wants to know which engine 
> did I have in the car. " ... a 413, which was the only engine for the car" I 
> replied. Clueless then said, " ... and how many cylinders does this engine have 
> ?" I started to laugh but since I was in the mountains the cell phone went 
> dead. 
>
> After a couple of minutes clueless calls back and wants to know why the door 
> panels are off. I had to let him know that I had taken them off for restro 
> reasons. This time he wanted to know if there was a place for parts for the 
> car. I told him about the Neb and Calif connections. Then clueless asked for 
> their numbers. He said that he would get back to me when he found out the value
>  
> of a '63 Le Baron. 
>
> I'm so glad that I went in the house and took pictures while the skid marks 
> were fresh on the snow.
>
> I told the local NAPA what had happened and they called my Gla Blue Le Baron 
> "...a cream puff". I liked that. They also said they would gladly print out 
> every item that I have purchased whenever I thought the car needed that part.
>
> MY VINTAGE AIRSTREAM SONG
>
> Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Vintage Airstream.
> My nieghbors have a Ford truck, but that is not my dream.
> I'll use a Coachworks Le Baron, with a big four thirteen.
> Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Vintage Airstream.
>
> Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Byam beret.
> My friends all wear stetsons,
> But that is not my way.
> Please show that you love me,
> And buy one today.
> Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Byam beret.
>
> Oh Lord, won't you buy me an aluminum trailer.
> My friends all drive new RV's, but that's a poor spent dollar.
> I'll work hard with my buffer
>  to make it look cleaner.
> Oh Lord, won't you buy me an aluminum trailer.
>
> Oh Lord, won't you buy me a new sewer hose.
> My old one is broken, my wife's holding her nose.
> I need a brand new one, so I won't stain my clothes.
> Oh Lord, won't you buy me a new sewer hose.
>
> Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Vintage Airstream.
> My nieghbors have a Ford truck, but that's not my dream.
> I'll use a Coachworks Le Baron, with a big four thirteen.
> Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Vintage Airstream.
>
>
> Rodger & Gabby
> Colo Spgs
>
> '47 De Soto Custom w/Fluid Drive & passenger door mounted swamp cooler
> '63 Le Baron w/F-Sweep trunk lid & std A/C
> '66 Le Baron w/dual A/C & reverbed AM/FM
> '70 Overlander - InterNational
> '77 D150 w/360, NP 4 Spd, 12 Bolt Axle, OEM Buckets & etc
>
>
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Kenyon Wills