Classic Car Insurance: Origin of the Hudson Motor Company

When it comes to classic cars, what does your mind first go to? Typically it will be old American muscle cars, or the Chevys and Fords of yesterday. Another car brand though that has made its impression on the classic automobile world is Hudson Motor Car Company.

Hudson Motor Car Company, founded by auto pioneers Howard Coffin, George W. Dunham, and Roy E. Chapin, was largely funded by department store owner Joseph L. Hudson, hence the name. In 1910, when America was rife with automakers, Hudson was the eleventh-largest auto company in the country, despite it only being its second year of production.

What was it about these cars that made them so attractive to buyers? Their early cars were mainly closed models, which meant they sealed out the weather unlike most other vehicles at the time. This is thought to have contributed to their popularity, just one of the signs that Hudsons were advanced for the time.

Hudson also made other innovations that weren’t seen in other automobiles; the steering wheel was put on the left and hand levers were put in the center, which are their modern positions. Hudson also adopted GM’s self-starter earlier than most automakers, an addition that made cars easier and safer to start. Hudson also had the first balanced crankshaft. This crankshaft helped to increase smooth idling and allowed the engine to rev higher.

Some Hudsons included dual brakes and mounting oil pressure and generator warning lights on the dashboard. The Hudson legacy lasted through the next couple of decades to become the third-largest automaker in the U.S. by 1929, behind only Ford and Chevrolet. Unfortunately, the Great Depression hurt the brand lost some of its popularity. Sales persevered though, until 1957 when the last Hudson rolled off the Kenosha assembly line.

Whether you own a classic Hudson or any other type of classic or antique car, it’s important to protect it financially with the right type of insurance coverage. At Condon Skelly, we know how exciting it can be to start a classic car collection. We’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, please contact us today at (866) 291-5694.

Classic Car Insurance: A Look at the Model T

Who doesn’t appreciate the Model T? Also known as the “Tin Lizzie,” this automobile changes the way that Americans lived, worked, and traveled.  According to History.com, he Model T was the first car to be affordable to a majority of Americans due to Henry Ford’s groundbreaking advancements in assembly-line automobile manufacturing.

The Ford Motor Company built the Model T from 1908 until 1927. The vehicle was conceived as affordable, yet practical, transportation for the common man. Henry Ford’s creation soon gained a reputation for being inexpensive, durable, versatile, and easy to maintain. Ford’s assembly-line production methods eventually allowed the price of the touring car version to be brought down from its original $850 in 1908 to less than $300 in 1925. Due to these extremely low prices, Model T could comprise of as much as 40% of all cars sold in the United States during the years they were in production.

All bodies of the Model T (there were several different kinds) were mounted on a uniform 100-inch-wheelbase chassis. The types of body styles included a five-seat touring car, a two-seat runabout, and a seven-seat town car. From 1913 to 1925, the Model T was mass-produced in only one color- black- despite it originally being available in a variety of colors.

Model Ts were used for many different purposes than just a convenience vehicle; they were used as snowmobiles, to power farm machinery, sausage grinders, and newspaper presses. The immediate appeal of this vehicle was based on its sturdiness, power, and value for the money.

At Condon Skelly, we know how exciting it can be to start a classic car collection. We’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, please contact us today at (866) 291-5694.

Classic Cars: How the Mazda Came to Be

Earlier this summer, we looked at the rising value of Japanese classic cars, stating that their value has skyrocketed in recent years. While not as popular as perhaps the Datsun or classic Toyotas, Mazda has definitely made its mark in the world of classic cars. Mazda has become well known for its affordable, quality-performance vehicles; namely the Miata, “the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster,” according to an article from History.com. So, how did the Mazda legend begin?

The Mazda brand originally started as a machine manufacturing company called the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd. Founded by Jujiro Matsuda in 1920 in Hiroshima, the company had to be saved from bankruptcy almost a decade from its start, and went on to produce its first automobile. Eventually, the company’s name was changed to Mazda.

1931 saw the brand releasing the Mazda-Go. This was a three-wheeled vehicle that resembled a motorcycle, but with a cargo-carrier at the back. The company went on to develop more cars, however this was halted during World War II and the bombing of Hiroshima. They started developing small, four-wheel trucks in the 1950’s and launched their first passenger car in 1960 in Japan. This vehicle was called the R360 Coupe.

Mazda debuted their first rotary engine car, the Cosmo Sport 110S, seven years after the development of the Coupe. It wasn’t until 1970 until the Mazda entered the American Market, with the R100 coupe. This was the first mass-produced, rotary-powered car in the U.S. 8 years later, the Mazda RX-7 debuted. At the time, this was an affordable, “peak-performing” sports car.

The latest development as far as classic Mazdas go is the MX-5 Miata, a two-door sports car revealed in 1989 that had a starting price tag of $13,800. According to Mazda, the concept for the car was “affordable to buy and use, lightweight, had good handling, and classic roadster looks.”

Mazda continues to be a relevant and affordable brand today, with sales of their MX-5 Miata reaching their 25^th year, topping 900,000 sold vehicles. Whether you own a classic Mazda or any other type of classic or antique car, it’s important to protect it financially with the right type of insurance coverage.

At Condon Skelly, we know how exciting it can be to start a classic car collection. We’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, please contact us today at (866) 291-5694.

Classic Cars: History of the Iconic Jeep

Perhaps one of the most iconic American vehicles to ever exist, the history of the Jeep begins with World War II. According to many classic car enthusiasts, no other motor vehicle had inspired the type of respect and affection that the Jeep did during this time period. A small and compact car, the Jeep could be transported to battle areas by plane or glider, dropped by parachute, or floated across a river.

Now under Italy’s Fiat SpA ownership, the Jeep has gone through many brands since its origins as an American military vehicle. It was in 1940 that Willys-Overland built the WWII Jeep prototype, but it wasn’t until 5 years later that Willys built the first civilian jeep, and then 1950 that Willys trademarked the Jeep name.

Later in the 1950’s, Kaiser Motors acquired Willys, and the name of the Jeep changed to Kaiser-Jeep in the early 60’s when the Jeep Wagoneer was developed. This development was an essential, defining event for an entire class of vehicles that would spring up over the next 40 years, bringing together four-wheel drive, ample passenger and cargo room, and ever-greater levels of luxury.

Over the next 50 years, the Jeep would be branded under many other names, due to company acquisitions. Throughout the years though, the Jeep has always maintained its relevancy in the American culture, claimed by many to be a symbol of freedom, capability and adventure. Jeep’s website accurately states that “every Jeep vehicle has a unique story to tell, with a rich heritage that links back to the original Willys MA.”

Whether you own a classic Jeep or any other type of classic or antique car, it’s important to protect it financially with the right type of insurance coverage. At Condon Skelly, we know how exciting it can be to start a classic car collection. We’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, please contact us today at (866) 291-5694.

Classic Cars: The History of Sports Cars

Defined by a Wikipedia article as a “small, two seated, two door vehicle designed for spirited performance and nimble handling”, the sports car has long fascinated classic car enthusiasts. Car lovers nationwide have differing opinions about what makes sports cars so great; is it the elegant body design, the tremendous power output of the high-rev engines, or the distinctive throaty musical note of the exhaust pipes?

Of course originally, cars were created as a functional solution to a problem, rather than an aesthetically pleasing piece of art. Although throughout the years we have had an eye for beauty and a thirst for power and speed when it comes to vehicles. This truth of human nature is what led to the development of the first “sports cars.”

The birth of the sports car can be attributed to the early 20^th century touring cars and roadsters. These were raced in early rallies, such as the Herkomer Cup, Prinz Heinrich Fahrt, and Monte Carlo. The actual term “sports car” did not make its way to standard car vernacular until after World War One, but the first sports cars are thought to be the 3 litre 1910 Prince Henry (Prinz Heinrich) Vauxhall 20 hp and the 27/80PS Austro-Daimler designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

Although there have been many developments throughout the years regarding different versions of the sports car, two companies ended up offering the first truly reliable sports cars. This was Austin with the Seven, and Morris Garages (MG) with the Midget.

One of the discoveries made about the development of sports cars as they entered the driving world more rapidly included the fact that the drive train and engine layout significantly influenced the handling characteristics of an automobile, which is crucially important in the design of a sports car. In order to potentially improve handling and weight distribution, alternate layouts were sometimes used in place of the standard front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout of vehicles not classified as sports cars.

Prior to the 1980’s it was rare for a sports car to use four-wheel drive as this traditionally added a lot of weight to the vehicle. However due to safety issues, especially in adverse weather conditions, four-wheel drive has become a necessity and is quite commonly found in high-powered sports cars, such as the Porsche, Lamborghini, and the Bugatti Veyron.

Whether you own a classic sports car or any other type of classic or antique car, it’s important to protect it financially with the right type of insurance coverage. At Condon Skelly, we know how exciting it can be to start a classic car collection. We’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, please contact us today at (866) 291-5694.

Classic Car Insurance: History of the Mercedes Benz

Most people are aware of how luxurious a brand the Mercedes Benz is, but do you know how they originated? First off, their slogan, which is the German phrase “Das Bete oder nichts”, means “The best or nothing”, although this car company was not always the luxury brand we know of today. In fact, the first car, which is of course credited to Henry Ford for creating, was actually created by Karl Benz.

Karl Benz’s 1886 Benz Patent Motor Wagon is said to have been “one of the most outstanding innovations of its time” by many classic car enthusiasts. Just a few years later, in 1901, Gottlieb Daimler created a vehicle that he named Mercedes. Daimler, who was eventually the co-founder of Mercedes-Benz along with Karl Benz, gets credit for creating the first gas powered engine suitable for use in automobiles.

Perhaps more popular than the vehicles themselves is the iconic emblem we know for Mercedes-Benz. The evolution of this emblem has seen many different designs throughout the years. There are two emblems however that remain the most significant and identifiable.

The first emblem was created in 1909. The Benz & Cie. wanted to have the Benz name surrounded by a laurel wreath as their emblem. This logo was registered as trademark on August 6^th, 1909. At the same time, auto manufacturer Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft had applied for legal protection for the Mercedes-Benz star on June 24^th, 1909, and this was entered on the Register of Trademarks on February 9^th, 1911.

Almost 25 years later, the star emblem was officially used as a badge and signet on both the Daimler vehicle as well as the Mercedes-Benz. On February 18^th, 1925, both brands registered a new shared logo- Daimler’s Mercedes star inside Benz’s laurel wreath. This is said to have been a very symbolic action in anticipation of their merger, which happened on June 28^th, 1926. It was from these beginnings that the Mercedes-Benz trademark developed, and is still used today.

Whether you own a classic Benz or any other type of classic or antique car, it’s important to protect it financially with the right type of insurance coverage. At Condon Skelly, we know how exciting it can be to start a classic car collection. We’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, please contact us today at (866) 291-5694.

Classic Ducati Insurance: A Brief History of the Brand

Similarly to many other classic motorcycle brands, Ducati did not start out as a motorcycle company. In fact, Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his three sons, Adriano, Marcello, and Bruno Cavalieri Ducati founded the company in 1926 and started producing radio components in addition to vacuum tubes, and condensors. During the war years, they started creating electronic military equipment, and it wasn’t until 1950 that they launched their first motorcycle, that was based off of the already well-established Cucciolo engine.

The first Ducati bike was a 48 cc motorcycle weighting 98 lb., with a top speed of 40 mph and a 15 mm carburetor giving just under 200 mpg. The success of the Ducati brand can be attributed to their ability to keep up with the ongoing trends in motorcycle production. During the 1950’s the market moved toward larger motorcycles, and Ducati management appropriately responded, introducing their 65Ts cycle and Cruiser at an early-1952 Milan show.

Ducati management split the company in 1953 to be two separate entities; Ducati Meccanica SpA and Ducati Elettronica. Ducati Elettronica would go on to become Ducati Energia SpA in the eighties, while Ducati Meccania SpA, which was led by Dr. Guiseppe Montano, became the motorcycle manufacturing company that we know today. By 1954, Ducati Meccanica SpA was turning out 120 units per day as the factory was modernized with government aid.

Montano was a genuine motorcycle lover and realized the potential of racing to induce customers to buy these bikes. As a result, by 1956 the Desmo Ducati 125 won its first race in Sweden. Unfortunately, the man who achieved one of Ducati’s greatest feats; lapping every other motorcycle at the Grand Prix at Hedemora, died during practice for the following race. The death of Gianni Degli Antoni hit the Ducati brand hard, and it wasn’t until 1958 that they could once again race.

The Ducati brand had its up and downs in the following years, but today Ducati riders are some of the most loyal when it comes to brand allegiance. The company is reported to have achieved success and its great reputation from its racing roots.

No matter what type of antique or classic motorcycle you own, it’s important to protect it financially with the right type of Classic Motorcycle Insurance Coverage. At Condon Skelly, we know how exciting it can be to start a classic car collection. We’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, please contact us today at (866) 291-5694.

Vintage BMW Motorcycle Insurance: Motorrad, A Brief History

Since the inception of BMW motorcycles in 1921, there has been an cult following of loyal vintage motorcycle collectors.  These riders understood the quality of Bavarian engineering and still continue to support the Motorad brand. Although the avid collector is aware of the history of Motorad, we will be discussing brief manufacturing periods and the innovation that continued through the years.

BMW Motorrad: 1921-1945

In the early production years, BMW started manufacturing simple motorcycles with a flat twin engine designed for everyday use. One of earlier models of the boxer engine (designed by Max Friz), the 1923 R32 was engineered with a top speed of 62mph and a 486cc engine. The R32 became the foundation for all future BMW motorcycles.

BMW Motorrad: 1945-1955

By the end of World War II Bavarian Motor Works found their manufacturing plant destroyed by allied bombing. Which upon Germany’s surrender, BMW was forbidden to manufacture motorcycles. Although from US authorities eventually came around in 1947 giving BMW permission to restart motorcycle production at their heavily damaged Eisenach facility, BMW was able to re-enter the market. With no blue prints of their old designs, Engineers had to refer to old pre-war motorcycles as inspiration.

By 1950, BMW began to manufacture their most iconic development, the boxer twin engine. With 500cc & 600cc models, these horizontal, air cooled combustion engines became BMW’s main point of differentiation for the brand.

 BMW Motorrad: 1970-1982

Another significant period for the BMW Motorrad collection was between 1970 – 1982, BMW revisited their design and started changing up the styling of the motorcycle. For instance, this was the first series of tank alterations and redesigns. Also referred to as “toaster tanks” from previous versions, these redesigns included chrome plated side panels. Along side other innovations, one of the biggest was the electric starter. In this series of incremental innovations starting in 1970 the electric starter began to replace the gearbox-mounted kick starter, which the kick starter wasn’t fully eliminated in 1975.

At Condon Skelly, we appreciate the history behind antique and classic motorcycles, trucks, and cars. Since 1967, we’ve been helping our customers protect their Vintage BMW Motorcycle with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. Please contact us today to learn more about our BMW Motorcycle Insurance coverages at 800.257.9496. 

Classic Cars: History of the Lamborghini

Would you believe that the first Lamborghinis ever created were actually tractors? Designer Ferruccio Lamborghini, who quickly earned the reputation of being a master mechanic and prolific tinkerer, started piecing together tractors out of spare parts shortly after WWII. People loved them, and his tractor business took off overnight.

Ferrucio Lamborghini, born in 1916 on a farm in a rural town near Modena, starting Lamborghini Trattori S.p.A in 1949. They produced in-house tractors with modular construction and interchangeable components. The success of his endeavor turned the company into one of the biggest agricultural machinery manufacturers in Italy in the late sixties.

So how did we get from that to where we are now? Considerably wealthy by the early sixties, Ferruccio decided to build a factor of luxury sports cars. He wanted to build a super sports car to compete with Ferrari, which many people considered him crazy for even attempting. Constructing this type of vehicle was viewed as an unexplainable extravagance and something that would squander his fortune without ever turning a profit.

However, by May 1963 he founded ‘Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini’, buying a large plot of land in Sant’Agata Bolgnesese to build a large and ultramodern factory. Ferruccio was in a position to set up the best facilities for his purpose due to his experience with other companies: a very functional structure that was unrivalled in its field at the time.

The company’s first models were released in the mid-sixties and were noted for their refinement, power and comfort. Lamborghini gained wide acclaim in 1966 for the Miura sports coupe, which established rear mid-engine, rear wheel drive as the standard layout for high-performance cars of the era. In its first decade, Lamborghini grew rapidly.

Although Lamborghini’s are not as immensely popular and available as they once were, they are still considered one of the top luxury brands of vehicles. Whether you own a classic Lamborghini or any other type of classic or antique car, it’s important to protect it financially with the right type of insurance coverage. At Condon Skelly, we know how exciting it can be to start a classic car collection. We’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, please contact us today at (866) 291-5694.

Classic Cars: Are There Advantages to Manual Transmissions?

Many classic car enthusiasts will tell you there’s nothing quite like driving a stick shift, or manual transmission, vehicle. They call these cars “engaging”; forcing drivers to learn more about their vehicle and how it works. Of course, in the last decade and longer, manual transmissions have been pretty steadily replaced by automatic transmissions, which many of today’s drivers prefer as they are easier to drive. However, stick shifts haven’t completely gone out of style yet!

While there is not conclusive evidence that having a stick shift will automatically deter all car thieves, these thieves usually don’t have any practice handling manual transmissions. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely if you have a stick shift, it will get stolen. Carjackings have literally failed because the would-be thieves didn’t know how to shift gears. Theft deterrent is not the only advantage to manual transmissions though. As one article from Autosaur.com cites, the numerous benefits of stick shifts include the following:

Cheaper: Many people feel that cars with manual transmissions are cheaper to buy and repair. Of course, this may differ with classic cars, as many more factors go in to determine the value of classic cars than that of modern vehicles.

Safer. Not only does driving a stick shift require the driver to use both hands, leaving no room for distraction by texting or eating, accidents involving a vehicle accelerating uncontrollably simply cannot happen with a manual transmission. In a stick shift, a driver would simply have to step down on the clutch and coast to safety, should their car do that.

Better fuel efficiency. With stick shift, drivers have more control. So, if you know how to shift those gears, you can manage far better fuel efficiency than an automatic.

While you may not drive your classic car much, if at all, a manual transmission may benefit you if you do decide to drive it. No matter what type of transmission your classic has, At Condon Skelly, we’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, please contact us today at (866) 291-5694.