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 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.

Antique Car Insurance: History of the Dodge Dart

In a post back in February, we took a look at one of the most memorable muscle cars of its time, the 1968-1969 Dodge Charger. Another car that joined the ranks of classic American muscle cars of the time, also from the Dodge family, was the Dodge Dart. This vehicle has been called the “most unexpected muscle car” by many classic car enthusiasts.

The Dodge Dart name debuted in 1957, as a show car featuring a body designed by the Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Ghia. Instantly and highly popular successes, the first Dodge Darts were reduced-sized larger cars that had been created to replace the Plymouth as the low-priced car for the Dodge dealer network.

The Dart sedans and coupes were modeled after the Plymouth platform and had a 118 in wheelbase, shorter than the standard-size Dodge line. The Dart’s sales beat out those of the full-size Dodge Matador and Dodge Polara, but more importantly, it created an in-house competitor for Plymouth. Dart sales were so strong in 1960 that Dodge had to cut back its medium-priced model lineup.

Sales and popularity of the Dodge Dart stayed strong throughout the 60’s and into the 70’s. They quickly became part of the muscle car culture, with their powerful engines and appealing visual characteristics.

R.D. McLaughlin, the vice president of Chrysler’s Automotive sales division in 1976, had this to say about the Dart’s reputation: “The Dart was one of the most successful compact cars ever introcued in the American automobile marketplace. It enjoys a strong owner loyalty and is a car that has established a reputation for reliability and value… these are [some] reasons why we will constinue to market the Dart while introducing the new compact Aspen.”

The production of the Dodge Dart subsequently ended in 1976, being replaced by the F-body Dodge Aspen that spring. However, after 35 years, the Dodge Dart (PF) was resurrected for the 2013 model year as a nameplate in the domestic market to replace the Caliber as Dodge’s compact passenger car.

Whether you own a classic Dodge Dart 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 Spotlight: The Lincoln Continental

It’s believed by many that the very first Lincoln Continental, developed as Edsel Ford’s one-off personal vehicle in 1939, was planned to be put into production if successful. Ford commissioned a custom design in 1938 from the chief stylist, Eugene T. “Bob” Gregorie, ready for Edsel’s March 1939 vacation. The design, allegedly sketched out in an hour by Gregorie working from the Lincoln Zephyer blueprints and making changes, was an elegant convertible with a long hood covering the Lincoln V12 and long front fenders, and a short truck with what became the Continental series’ trademark, the externally-mounted covered spare tire.

Lincoln Continentals of the 50’s were known for their price. In fact, Continental for ’56 was one of the most expensive cars in the world. With a price tag of $10,000, it rivaled Rolls-Royce. Despite this high costs though, Ford Motor Company actually lost money on each one sold. This vehicle was an image builder for the company, as well as test beds for new ideas and concepts. However, between the stories of dealers turning potential buyers away because they were not deemed to be the right kind of people to own Continental, and its sticker price found affordable by only the world’s wealthiest, the Continental became a bit of a myth in this decade.

Another distinguishing feature of the Lincoln Continental, at least in the 60’s, were what’s known as “suicide doors”, or rather rear-swinging doors. There is no definitive answer as to why they are called this, however many people speculate that they got this name due to the fact that if the latch was opened while driving, the door would get ripped open by the air flow. In an era of no seatbelts, one can only imagine what would happen to the vehicle’s passengers.

Although Lincoln Continentals surged on through the 90’s, Lincoln announced the end of the model production after 2002, after a few slow-selling years. The cancellation of the Continental was due largely to the continued shift in the consumer marketplace away from large front-wheel drive luxury cars.

Whether you own a classic Lincoln Continental or any other type of classic or antique car, it’s important to protect it financially with the right type of Classic Car 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.

What to Consider When Making a Classic Car Investment

In November 2013, we discussed a couple reasons why classic cars make a good investment. Financial advisors today are looking at classic cars for investor’s profiles, and many classic cars are rising in value. However, although classic cars can definitely be a good investment, it’s imperative to consider your purchase and make sure that investing in any particular classic car will be a good fit for you.

Classic cars carry the potential for a huge profit if you plan on refurbishing (correctly) it and selling it. They also have a “cool” factor which is the appeal for many collectors. But before you make a classic car investment, there are many things to consider.

Ryan Guina, classic car owners and publisher of Cash Money Life, states that you should never buy a classic car on a whim. “It’s important to familiarize yourself with the market before buying so you know you’re getting a reasonable deal,” he says.

In addition to being mindful about your classic car investment, you should think about whether you will need or want to drive this vehicle on a regular basis. It’s not typically recommended that a classic car be an everyday vehicle, for wear and tear purposes as well as classic car insurance purposes. While you may not want to purchase a classic car you aren’t going to do anything with, you also don’t want to devalue the car or need to pay high auto insurance premiums.

One more factor to consider when making a classic car investment is maintenance costs. If you are only driving the vehicle minimally, you may not ever need extensive repairs. However should something happen, it’s important to realize that classic cars can be expensive to fix since parts are not always readily available.

At Condon Skelly, we understand the appeal of and desire for classic cars. We are able to insure a wide variety of collector vehicles, from original antiques to brand new exotic sports cars, as long as the vehicle is a true collectible. For more information, please contact us today at (866) 291-5694.

The ’48 Tucker Torped0, also known as the Tucker Sedan. Only 51 copies were sold before a number of factors shuttered the Tucker factory, but the car still stood as a grand symbol of the time. An aspirational time for America – it was certainly a car with lofty aspirations of its own. Its enormous 589 cubic inch engine was daring, as was the styling, but the true innovation lay in the various and unique engineering concepts. The Torpedo was rear-engined, rear wheel drive, and had a third headlight in the middle of the vehicle that swiveled to illuminate the road when turning. Further, the vehicle was available with an automatic transmission, had a number of passive safety features, and had the gas tank up front. All of these coalesced into a brilliant design that would have revolutionized the auto industry, were the brand not put to death by circumstance and conspirators, namely the big three in Detroit.