Antique Car Insurance: How the VW Bus Came to Be

Volkswagen produced the first generation of VW buses, officially called Volkswagen type II, in the 1950s and 60s. This panel van was Volkswagen’s second car model after the VW Beetle, the Volkswagen Type I. This first generation featured VW buses in the form of split screens. These “splitties” earned their name due to the split windscreen and also sported a sweeping v-line front. They had a rear air-cooled engine that was simple and reliable.

The first VW Bus was alternatively called the Transporter, Station Wagon, Kombi, or Micro Bus, and later the Vanagon and Eurovan. No matter what you called it though, it had great success in its first generation. The VW Bus was recognized for its remarkable space efficiency and innovative design. It sported tall upright seats and a great view for passengers.

The split-screen design of the VW Bus was replaced in 1968 by the “early bay” window version. The style of the bay was a redesign that was considered “radical” at the time. It had major suspension changes and engines fitted with a stabilizing “back bar”. A one piece windscreen and wind down windows also added to the changed.

1973 saw the introduction to the “late bay”. This saw changes in the “wrap around” style bumpers being replaced with the square style, front indicators being moved up to the new grille, and had an option of larger engine sizes. The last VW Bus with the bay style was produced in 1979. This year marked the end of the famous VW air-cooled engine.

Sales of the VW Bus were still going strong into its third generation in 1984, until Chrysler launched its Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. Despite the steady success of the VW Bus, by the 1990s and the 2000s, it was just no longer as popular. VW introduced a more powerful version in 1999, but that only lasted through 2003.

Whether you own an antique VW Bus 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: Exploring the Generations of Ford Mustangs

Ford Mustangs have been called a “pillar of American automotive lore”, and referred to as the car that brought sporting dash and styling at a price almost anyone could afford. While the Mustang has never been considered an exotic car, it still has had a way of capturing the hearts of drivers for nearly 50 years. Even though it’s just an ‘ordinary’ car, it’s always been considered an attractive car.

The history of Ford Mustangs can be broken down into six generations, but we’ll only be discussing the first four. The first generation, defined as the period between mid-1964 and 1973, includes vehicles such as the classic Shelby Mustang lineup, Boss Mustangs, K-Code Mustangs, the “Bullitt” Mustang GT-390 Fastback, the original Cobra Jets, and all the other Mustangs most folks consider “classic”.

The second generation (1974-1978) of Ford Mustangs was coined as the “Pintostang” generation. This is because the cars were based on the Ford Pinto platform. They were smaller and more fuel efficient, however they were considered too small, underpowered, and ill-proportioned by many potential buyers of the time. The third generation (1979-1993) improved, as it encompassed more years than any other generation in the history of the car. Coined the “Fox Body” Mustang, this car was based on the Fox platform. This generation of Ford Mustangs was also known for its powerful 5.0L V-8 engines.

The fourth generation, and the last generation that Ford Mustangs that can be considered “classic” until 2019, started with the introduction of the SN95 Mustang. This generation of Mustang, which lasted from 1994 until 2004, produced a car that was based on the SN-95/Fox4 Platform, and was larger than the previous generation. This car was engineered to be stiffer in design that past models. In 1996 the popular 5.0L engine was replaced with a 4.6L modular V-8 engine. This generation spawned the “New Edge” line of Mustangs in 1999. Although the cars looked different, they were still based on the SN-95 platform.

Whether you own a classic Ford Mustang 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: ’64 Pontiac GTO

The 1964 Pontiac GTO was a car with ‘attitude’- a bigger V8 than previous cars, hood scoops, dual exhausts, a Hurst shifter, racy trim, and a name inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO. The moment that the ’64 Pontiac GTO went on sale is often credited to be the start of the classic “muscle car” era.

This car came three ways. There were the expected sporty-car styles of the day, a convertible, and a two-door hardtop. There was also a coupe with a fixed B-pillar, which Pontiac called the Sports Coupe. The Sports Coupe was 20 pounds lighter than the hardtop and 150 lighter than the convertible, with the lowest starting price of all the models, making it the most popular.

The basis for the first 10 years of GTOs was GM’s “A-Body” platform, upon which midsize care for every General Motors marketing division except Cadillac were built. In 1964, that meant the A-Body chassis was found under the Buick Skylark, Chevrolet Chevelle, Oldsmobile Cutlass and Pontiac Tempest lines. Sportier versions of each of those cars were available with small (for the time) V8 engines, but only Pontiac dared to install a truly large V8 in its Tempest in ’64, and when a Tempest had a 389-cubic-inch V8 under its hood, it was a GTO.

The GTO package included the 389 V8, quick steering, dual exhaust, and premium tires. The 389 cid engine came with 325bhp with a single 4bbl carb or 348bhp with the optional Tri-power setup, 3 2bbl carbs. While Pontiac hoped to sell 5,000 copies, they ended up selling 32,450 of them.

Whether you own a GTO or any other type of Antique or Classic Car, we can insure it at Condon Skelly. Since 1967, we have been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage. We are a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. Please contact us today for more information.

Classic Cars: The History and Evolution of the Bugatti Brand

Unlike other automobile companies of its time, the story of Bugatti is not that of a company that had to face countless financial problems, nor is it one of a company who had to rely on establishing sales venues or building plants across the Atlantic. Instead, the story of the Bugatti is that of a young visionary who came from a long line of artists and artisans. Born in Milano, Italy in 1881, Ettore Bugatti was on a path to become an artist, however decided to become an engineer when he was just 17 years old.

At this time, the young Ettore Bugatti started working and in only one year, he had designed and built a three-wheeled vehicle powers by two engines. Despite its small size, this prototype almost wiped clean the prized thrown in at the local races, having won an amazing 8 out of 10 events.

By the age of 19, he had just completed building his first real car. Considering the overall technological development at the time (in the beginning of the 1900s) his automobile seemed almost futuristic. The auto featured a four speed gearbox, a four-cylinder overhead-valve engine, and a variety of engineering improvement that only a gifted builder could have come up with.

In 1911, Ettore Bugatti decided to build a small, lightweight racing machine to compete in the Le Mans race. Although it was a tiny can in comparison to its giant competitors’ cars such as Fiat, De Dietrich and others, the small but swift and powerful automobile came in second, proving that Ettore was a more talented car designer than many of the older engineers at the time.

In the following years, Ettore Bugatti had many more automobile victories, with his last great one happening in 1939, when at his son’s request, the company prepared a supercharged Type 57 which won at Le Mans. Unfortunately, also in this year, his son passed away during a testing run of the same Type57 car, and a few days later World War II broke out. Given these circumstances, production of the Bugatti was halted.

After the war, several attempts to revive production were made, but there was never a distinctive result. German car maker Volkswagen took over the company in 1998 in an effort to revive the sports luxury brand, and maintains ownership of the brand today.

Whether you own a Bugatti or any other type of classic 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: A Look at the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado

When it comes to classic cars from the 1950s, glitter was good, bigger was better, and too many accessories were just right in the age of neon. So it was only natural that when the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado came around, automaker Harley Earl’s styling team pulled out all the stops. They contributed multiple new ideas, including four-door hardtop sedan bodywork, with side windows that disappeared completely, frames and all. The car also featured rear-hinged rear doors, a throwback to the 1930s, and a broad, sparkling brushed stainless steel roof.

Another great feature of this classic car was the list of power accessories. The trunk lid and rear doors not only opened with a push of a button, but they closed with one too, and the doors would lock automatically when the transmission was put in gear. This car was so fully-equipped that even the glove box came filled, which was perhaps this car’s most distinguishing feature. No other classic car included a lady’s vanity case with a compact, powder puff, comb and holder, lipstick and coin holders. In addition, the glove box held six drink tumblers, a tissue dispenser, and a cigarette case. The rear seat armrest was equipped as well, opening to reveal a notepad and pencil, a mirror, and a perfumer atomizer, which came with a complimentary ounce of Arpege by Lanvin.

The Cadillac Eldorado was originally only offered as a convertible, but in 1956 Cadillac decided to extend the Eldorado product line to include a coupe, for which they chose the name “Seville” to distinguish it from the convertible, which because the “Biarritz”. The “Brougham”, a sedan, was another model introduced this year.

Whether you own a 1957 Cadillac or any other type of classic 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.

Top Reasons to Purchase Classic Car Insurance

The biggest difference between a standard auto insurance policy and a Classic Car policy is that you will be paying more for the standard policy, since you are paying for a vehicle that is driven on a regular basis in this case. Most classic car owners only plan on driving their vehicle for the occasional parade or show.

Another major difference between classic and regular car insurance, and a reason why you should insure your classic car, is the way the value of your vehicle is determined. For example, a 1974 model of a car may have sold for $1400 when it was new, but dealers might now offer $15,000 for that vehicle. So, if the vehicle is totaled and you have classic car insurance, you can expect to receive what the car is currently worth. However, if you had insured that car with standard insurance, you’d be lucky to even get the original $1400 back.

Basically, it is much more cost effective to purchase Classic Car Insurance than it is to buy a regular auto insurance policy. The fact that a classic car is an older car means that it is vulnerable to high maintenance and repair costs. Purchasing a lower cost insurance policy means that you will be able to save money and put it towards restoration instead.

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.

How to Restore a Vintage Motorcycle

Whether you want to ride it, show it or just want a fun project to work on, there are many reasons to restore a vintage motorcycle. It’s important to realize though, that restoring a vintage motorcycle is not necessarily like restoring an old car or truck. While the process is mostly the same, early motorcycles often were not kept past their useful life, and many classic and vintage motorcycles were scrapped for parts.

The first step to restoring your bike is to purchase a book or manual that outlines servicing that particular vehicle, if possible. It’s also helpful to make sure that the bike will actually run before you go to the expense and trouble of cosmetic restoration. Typically, if the motorcycle has just sat for a little while without running and all the covers are in place on the bike, you can usually get it running to at the very least to turn over without much difficulty.

When beginning the restoration process, dismantle the motorcycle one section at a time, and restore those individual sections before moving on to the next. This can help keep you from getting overwhelmed. The sections you can usually work on individually include the front forks, the rear swing arm and suspension, the engine, the body, and the frame. If you do have a restoration manual for the bike, work through the manual from front to back and try to avoid skipping over steps.

Remember, restoring a vintage motorcycle to its original conditions is very challenging. Some people prefer to customize the bike to their own tastes instead, or create a hybrid. The bike hybrid craze started in England where bike enthusiasts took the best parts of a couple of motorcycles and put them together. One of the more famous of these bikes was the Triton, which was a mix of the Norton Featherbed frame, and suspension with a Triumph engine.

No matter what type of classic or vintage motorcycle you own, we can insure it at Condon Skelly. Your vehicle will fall into the antique category if it is completely original and at least 25 years old. We insure many different types of antique cars, trucks, and motorcycles so we’ll be able to craft the perfect policy for your vehicle. Please contact us today for more information. (866) 291-5694

Classic Cars: The Top 5 Most Valuable Corvettes

1963 Grand Sport

Only five of these vehicles were built before General Motors pulled the plug on the racing program that created it. These cars weighed 1,350 lbs. lighter than a stock Corvette coupe and had a 377 cubic inch aluminum V-8 engine putting out 550 horsepower. They ran with a 4-speed transmission and 4-wheel independent suspension. Because this car is so extremely rare, it is valued between $6 million to $8 million!

1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL-1

Now valued at $1.4 million, this vehicle had an aluminum engine churning out over 500 horsepower and was considered the most powerful version of the already strong L-88 Corvette. In fact, the ZL-1 was the most powerful production Corvette available until fairly recently.

1967 Chevrolet Corvette L-88

This vehicle, valued at $1 million, is considered by many car enthusiasts to be the best of the second generation Corvettes. Among these so-called “mid-year” Corvettes, the very best were the 20 L-88’s built that year with an engine officially rated at 430 horsepower. It’s real output was actually more than that.

1969 Chevrolet Corvette L-88

1969 was the final year of production for the L-88 option package on the Corvette. 116 of these vehicles were built this year and they were intended for race track duty. Prices can vary a lot depending on the car’s racing history, but the average value is $478,000.

1953 Chevrolet Corvette

This vehicle was the first production Corvette. It had a 150-horsepower 6-cylinder engine and a two speed automatic transition. The car isn’t necessarily considered to be well-built, but only 300 were made and their value is about $300,000.

At Condon Skelly, we understand that your classic car is your pride and joy, and that you want to do everything you can to protect it for years to come. We provide a wide variety of collector vehicle insurance, 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

Classic Cars: ‘57 Chevy Bel Air

For many car enthusiasts in their 50s or older, the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is one of the most desirable classic cars there is. The ’57 Chevy Bel Air was a full-size vehicle that was produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. This vehicle was part of the second generation of Chevys and was called the “Hot One” in GM’s advertising campaign.

Motor Trend Magazine gave the ’57 Chevy Bel Air top marks for handling. In 1957 the Chevy’s engine displacement grew to 283 cu in with the “Super Turbo Fire V-8” option producing 283 horsepower with the help of continuous mechanical fuel injection. These so-called “fuelie” cars are quite rare today, since most Bel Airs were fitted with carburetion.

The ’57 Chevy Bel Air is among the most recognizable American cars of all time, and well-maintained vehicles, especially Sport Coupes and Convertibles, are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. The most popular color back then and still today is Gypsy Red, especially in the convertible form. Red and silver paint and upholstery typically decorated the car’s fresh-looking interior.

At Condon Skelly, we understand that your classic car is your pride and joy, and that you want to do everything you can to protect it for years to come. 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. (866) 291-5694

Why Classic Cars Are a Good Investment

Are you an investor looking for alternative ways to make money, while having fun at the same time? Investing in classic cars could be an excellent idea! Many people now are leaning towards classic cars as an investment, due to their increasing value. Most classic car collectors are in it for their love of cars, but for those who are on the fence about whether to purchase a classic car or not, here’s why classic cars are a good investment.

• Many financial advisors are looking at classic cars for investor’s portfolios in the same way they have looked at property in the past. There are actually several financial agencies that track the classic car investment market, and the success rate has been very good.
• There are a high number of classic vehicles that are rising in value. Rare cars only get rarer, so if you find one that is considered rare now, purchasing it will be a good investment.
• People look for heritage and “pedigree”. You’ve got security in your investment if your car has a good history.
• Classic cars simply have a “cool” factor. Rare and hard to find cars are especially appealing to older individuals who may have had that car in their youth, or knew somebody that had one.

It’s important to keep in mind, investing in classic cars isn’t easy. But, if you do your research and know what you’re looking for you could find yourself with a very smart investment. At Condon Skelly, we understand that your classic car is your pride and joy, and that you want to do everything you can to protect it for years to come. 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. (866) 291-5694