At Condon Skelly, we love attending car shows and events across the country. Recently, we decided to start working on some videos of our travel and all the great classic cars, customs, and hot rods we’ve seen. Check out the first in our series of classics from around the nation.

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu_FEFeb8L0&w=640&h=360]

This car represents the bold thinking that swept postwar America. A beautiful, if sad reminder of a bygone age of dreamers. Almost everything about this car is unusual and intriguing…

1. What are the eligibility requirements for collectible vehicle insurance?

Our collector car insurance eligibility guidelines are pretty simple. Your collectible vehicle’s primary driver must be a licensed driver for at least 5 years and have a clean driving record. (So rejoice! You have an excuse when your 16-year-old son asks to take over your wheels.) Every driver in your household must have a separate vehicle for daily use. You can’t use your pride and joy as an everyday vehicle or as a substitute when your regular car is in the shop. And when not in use, you have to keep your collectible in a secured garage.

2. How many miles can I drive my car each year?

As many miles as you like! We want you to have fun with your best friend, not limit your mileage. As long as your collectible vehicle isn’t your primary car, you’re covered for leisure use. So go ahead, show off your ride at club events and car shows. And by all means, drive it around town on a sunny day and even to dinner every so often. Your baby will love being taken for a spin.

3. Will you cover my vehicle while it’s being restored?

Of course! Restoration is vital to advancing your hobby and we want to make sure you’re covered while you (or anyone else!) is working on your collectible.

The Mazda RX7! Mazda has long been a proponent of the Wankel rotary engine design used in the RX7 and its kin, but this was the first car to achieve mainstream success, a reliable track record, and popular following, paving the way for the modern and much-loved RX8. The Wankel engine featured in this vehicle is brilliant because it has so few moving parts and takes up so little space. It’s power-to-fuel-economy ratio is strong, its form factor is tiny, and it’s big on fun, making it a clever implementation of an even cleverer design. This car is certainly to Mazda’s credit.

This car has roots in the 60s, but really came into its own in the 80s and 90s, when it became the first car with a specific and unusual feature to garner major commercial success. Pictured here is the third and final generation, early copies of which are just turning 20.

A Citroen DS19! Truly a car that took the world by storm, Citroen received ten times the number of orders it had anticipated at its debut in 1955 at the Paris Auto Show. The car showcased many novel features for its time including power windows and power steering (among others), but its true innovation was the hydraulic system underlying most of the operating aspects of the vehicle. The hydraulics served as motivation for the power windows and steering, but also the suspension, widely considered a revolution in the trade-off of ride comfort for handling. To this day, a late and well-kept example can sell for six figures. But any model from its two decades of production can make a unique contribution to a collector’s garage, as it did to the modern automobile industry.

We’ve been blogging and traveling all over the country in search of the beautiful, exotic, and original restorations and customs that make the collector car world exciting. Everywhere we go, there are new ideas, fresh restorations, and untouched relics, gently worn by time. We love it, we blog about it, and we thought we’d share a few of our most popular blogs on what we’ve found:

• Antiques with a Twist
• Custom Collector Cars
• Top Collector Cars: Corvettes

As always, for more on collector cars, classic cars, and classic car insurance, visit Condon Skelly.

What makes today’s mystery collector car special? A number of engineering feats for its time that still challenge us today. Admittedly, the car is a bit iconic, though much less for Americans that elsewhere. What is this classic, and how is it unique? Check back next week to find out.

We’ve been busily blogging away at Condon Skelly about collector cars, classic cars, vintage cars, collector car insurance, classic car insurance, and more. As the new year approaches, let’s take a look back at a few of our most popular blogs:

• Visit to the MN Street Rod Association
• 5 Popular Questions about Collector Car Insurance
• Car Commercials: Then & Now

1. Is coverage available seasonally?  – Definitely! At Condon Skelly we’re flexible to your changing needs. During the off-season when your collectible vehicle isn’t being used, we’ll be happy to insure your vehicle for comprehensive coverage only.
2. Do collector car insurance policies offer deductibles? – Yes. Usually there are a variety of deductible options. Because annual premiums are so low, many customers choose to have a zero deductible, but several different options are available.
3. What are Condon Skelly’s garage requirements? – When you’re not out driving or showing you classic or antique vehicle, we require that you keep your pride and joy in a fully enclosed, locked garage.
4. What is Agreed Value? – Agreed Value policies guarantee that in the event of a total loss – resulting from an accident, theft or anything else – you’ll receive your collectible vehicle’s full value. And you’ll know what that value is right when you file your claim, because it’s the value agreed upon when you set-up your policy.
5. How much insurance should I carry on my car? – You should always insure your vehicle to its market value or your most recent appraisal value. By insuring your vehicle to its market value, you’ll be ensured to receive its highest value in the event of a total loss. And your limits must be equal to the limits on your everyday car policy.