Collector Car Insurance: The History of Lotus Part 1

Mention the brand Lotus around any sports car and racing enthusiasts and you will undoubtedly be met by a chorus of oos-and-ahs. Over the last 60 years Lotus has carved out a name for themselves among aficionados on and off the track as exemplary examples of British auto engineering and craftsmanship.

Founded in 1952 by engineer and motorsports enthusiast Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman, better known as Colin Chapman, and his friend Colin Dare, Lotus Engineering Ltd had lofty aspirations from the start. Chapman’s desire to create competitive race cars in the years after WWII drove him to produce his first road vehicles as a way of financing his racing ambitions. In 1954 Chapman emphasized his serious interest in motorsports vehicle production by founding a separated division for racing vehicle production. In 1959 Chapman created the Lotus Group which consisted of three separate entities: Team Lotus, Lotus Cars, and Lotus Components. Team Lotus which was completely designated to motorsports, while the Lotus Cars division would focus their efforts on road vehicle manufacturing, and Lotus Components emphasis was custom vehicle production.

Between 1954 and 1994 Team Lotus engineered and entered vehicles in many series, including Formula One, Formula Two, Indy Car and sports car racing. The team won a number of titles and accolades for speed and design becoming one of the most successful racing teams of all time. Simultaneously, Lotus’s early road cars were produced and purchased only as kit cars, which lasted through the late 1960’s. After which time the auto makers began work on their first fully assembled commercial vehicle. After a collaborating with Ford on the Lotus Cortina, a kit style racer featuring a Ford engine block with Lotus head and valve gear, Lotus released the Lotus Elan Type 2 which became that first Lotus road car not offered in kit form. The Elan Type 2 was modeled after the racing version of the same model. By the mid 1970’s Lotus was producing their renowned Eclat and  Elite  models as fully factory built vehicles.

To learn more about the history of Lotus read on here.

At Condon Skelly, we understand the importance of protecting your collectible, antique, classic, muscle and exotic cars is. That’s why we specialize in offering complete collector car insurance. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. Our team is as passionate about protecting your vehicles as you are about collecting them. We can help you secure affordable, industry-leading specialty car insurance coverage to protect your classic, antique, or exotic vehicles. For more information, contact our collector car insurance specialists 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 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.

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.