General Question on Paint and Body Work Costs

How long will it be before the insurance companies decide a car is a total loss just based on paint damage?

that is an easy question to answer. here is the break down.

the math ---the repair costs verses the acv ( actual cash value) less the salvage.

lots of cars get written off because of paint jobs. harsh reality
 
how many cars are worth a #1 restoration? most As are not.................

Define “worth”….few vintage production cars can be restored and market value be the restoration cost.


This is something I have never understood the logic behind the statement. Additionally, I truly believe the Model-A Hobbyists are the biggest users of this statement.

How many things in life are truly worth what we must pay for them? When we purchase a brand-new vehicle (Car, Truck, Motorcycle, Boat, RV, etc.) from the Dealership, the Market-value is what we paid for it however 15 seconds after you made the purchase, that item is no longer worth what you just paid for it ...yet look at how many of that particular item is purchased each & every day. The same applies to us purchasing Groceries, Clothing, or other household items. The price you paid was Market-value yet as soon as you own it, it is no longer worth what you paid for it, ...yet we knowingly still make those purchases. If I want to go to a fine restaurant to eat a nice steak dinner, I do so realizing the next morning it will not be worth what I paid for it on the previous day!! :D The list just keeps going on.

Now applying this to collector vehicles (-and more specifically Model-As), name a Model-A restoration shop that does not have multiple customers on a waiting list to have their Model-A restored. Name any quality restoration shop in this country that does not have a waiting list. That is because these Hobbyist are not concerned with "Market-value" or '...it'll never be worth what you put into it.' or whatever. Just like any items previously mentioned. If I want a new vehicle, I realize that it will not be worth what I am paying yet I/we make these purchases anyway, -yet we can't/won't spend money on a Model-A.

I am a firm believer THIS idiotic mindset is what has killed or is killing the future Model-A hobby. I cannot begin to tell you how many nicely restored Model-As that I have seen or worked on that were actually driven into the ground by the (previous) owner because they would not spend money on maintenance. The reason, ...the mindset that "I am not going to spend money having maintenance done because I'll have more money in it than I can get out of it." How many Forum posters have given the advice to buy one already restored instead of restoring one? Most 'restored' Model-As on the open market today all need major work simply because they have been used/abused to the point where they are unreliable. Even the insurance companies have a low value on the Model-A because they too realize that the overall state of the average Model-A is a worn-out, used car. So how have we as Model-A ambassadors been good for the hobby touting this mindset?
 
.............. Most 'restored' Model-As on the open market today all need major work simply because they have been used/abused to the point where they are unreliable............ QUOTE]


I'm hearing , AND believing this statement...more and more today.

A well known PROFESSIONAL Model T and Model A restorer recently told me that the vast majority of 'restored' Model A Fords are back garage hack jobs done by amateurs who have no business even holding a wrench.

That is putting a bad stain on this hobby, as people acquire these cars and start believing 'Man, these Model A Fords are real Pieces of doo-doo'.

They say 'I bought this piece of junk from 'Wannabe Restorations' they assured me, it was all restored...'
 
This is something I have never understood the logic behind the statement. Additionally, I truly believe the Model-A Hobbyists are the biggest users of this statement.

How many things in life are truly worth what we must pay for them? When we purchase a brand-new vehicle (Car, Truck, Motorcycle, Boat, RV, etc.) from the Dealership, the Market-value is what we paid for it however 15 seconds after you made the purchase, that item is no longer worth what you just paid for it ...yet look at how many of that particular item is purchased each & every day. The same applies to us purchasing Groceries, Clothing, or other household items. The price you paid was Market-value yet as soon as you own it, it is no longer worth what you paid for it, ...yet we knowingly still make those purchases. If I want to go to a fine restaurant to eat a nice steak dinner, I do so realizing the next morning it will not be worth what I paid for it on the previous day!! :D The list just keeps going on.

Now applying this to collector vehicles (-and more specifically Model-As), name a Model-A restoration shop that does not have multiple customers on a waiting list to have their Model-A restored. Name any quality restoration shop in this country that does not have a waiting list. That is because these Hobbyist are not concerned with "Market-value" or '...it'll never be worth what you put into it.' or whatever. Just like any items previously mentioned. If I want a new vehicle, I realize that it will not be worth what I am paying yet I/we make these purchases anyway, -yet we can't/won't spend money on a Model-A.

I am a firm believer THIS idiotic mindset is what has killed or is killing the future Model-A hobby. I cannot begin to tell you how many nicely restored Model-As that I have seen or worked on that were actually driven into the ground by the (previous) owner because they would not spend money on maintenance. The reason, ...the mindset that "I am not going to spend money having maintenance done because I'll have more money in it than I can get out of it." How many Forum posters have given the advice to buy one already restored instead of restoring one? Most 'restored' Model-As on the open market today all need major work simply because they have been used/abused to the point where they are unreliable. Even the insurance companies have a low value on the Model-A because they too realize that the overall state of the average Model-A is a worn-out, used car. So how have we as Model-A ambassadors been good for the hobby touting this mindset?

I totally agree, I could not begin to count the number of $20,000.00 and up, up, up boats around here to catch a $30.00 fish, or a few dinners worth of crab. But they are getting enjoyment, mental health, family time. But monitarily it makes no sense. You only live once.
 
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