MGB: Insurance and Dash questions

When I get my 70 MGB, I am going to get "Classic" car insurance. It' currently not drivable (no interior) and will be sitting in my garage. The cost is $60 / year from State Farm, I just have to "limit" my driving. Do any of you guys do this or are you all dailey drivers?

2nd question - Dash.

The Dash top is cracked, do the dash covers look OK? Do they blend in with the rest of the dash? What are your thoughts and experiences? If it looks good and I can save a few buck for something else great. What I don't want to happen is to install it, and wish a I had done the whole thing... Any one make you prefer?

TIA,
-John

Daily drivers...no insurance except liability!

I put a dash topper on my '79 Pageant Blue car years ago...most people never notice it!

John, I went through Grundy Worlwide - $98 a year at an agreed value of $15k. No mileage limits, which is what I wanted. Restrictions apply such as not being used for a second car, or for errands, etc. They have all three of my MGs.

My business neighbor is the State Farm office who insures all my company vehicles. Their insurance was cheap but in essence you pretty much couldn't drive the car anywhere except to a show or in a parade plus they wanted proof you were a member of a car club, etc., etc.

Keep the State Farm until you get it on the road then explore other options.

The dash tops look fine if they are installed right. The GT has one and it's hard to tell. As Gerry can attest, doing the whole thing is a big, tricky job.

As I have said before we have government run insurance in B.C.!! I don't really like it, but that is the way it is!! Anyway, I asked just out of curiosity how much collision was on my '66!! It was something rediculous like $38 a year!! Yup!! Of course I put it on!! I have no idea how they establish the rates, but on older vehicles it is cheaper than dirt!! On a newer vehicle it is around 5 or 6 hundred!!

Hagerty's is another source for inexpensive agreed value coverage. They require a photograph of your car and garage, and a photocopy of an insurance policy showing you have another vehicle. Having your car garaged and maintaining coverage on another vehicle are the only restrictions in the policy on my 71 gt. I just carry liability on my 79, since I have a one car garage.

So they allow the car to be driven to work, etc.?

Yup!

ooh, you might want to check on that again as I am pretty sure that is not the case, unless you might be able to make a case if your car is kept in a locked garage while there. They denied me because I told them I might use the car for an errand to enjoy the car a bit. If that is the case then even more reason to go with them.
There is a Hagerty's Horror story that just came on the Team.net MG list about a denial of claim after an accident.

I keep vintage vehicle insurance on my car. The restrictions are that the car should be usually garaged, driven less than 3000mi/5000km a year, and not driven to and from work. What is like is that it is full coverage (comprehensive and collision as well as liability). It was about $120 ($CAN) for the year for about a $9000 car value. It's just a pleasure car right now, but if I ever get to the point where I'm driving it a lot, I'll put regular insurance on it.

In response to the Dash... I had one of the plastic dash covers on my 74 when i bought it and to be honest others never really noticed it but i did. To me it was a cheep cover to save time. Eventually it got to me and considering that the rest of the dash showed a bit of wear as well i ended up recovering the dash. You can get the new dash covers/pads from moss for about $130 right now. And after it was done it looked just as good as the day it rolled off the lot... too bad the rest of the car doesnt look as good as the dash.

It took me a full day to remove the dash, all the gauges, strip off the old dash pad, and glue on the new one. But it was worth it.

Gary,

I have been worrying about the same thing especially since your comments about the $35,000 K appraisal over on the Island. ICBC has one rate for our cars but we all know that they can range in value from $50 to $25,000 and up.

ICBC has "Classic" insurance but it is not easy to get - everything must be totally stock - even the radio, and no rust anywhere...also must be more than 25 years old - none of which qualifies for my 80 B.

The fledgling private insurance through HSBC requires assessments of any car over 20 years old which cost enough to possbily eat any potential savings.

What I would really like is an insurance setup like they have in England that is specifically related to rarely driven, classic cars.

Thanks,

Tom C

I was rearended in my '74 shortbosx GMC. It is a nice truck, well done and worth a lot of bucks!! Anyway, ICBC paid to get it fixed right!! No pissing around, it was back to the way it was!! So if ICBC wants to cover me for collision for just about free, I'll take it!! I will not sign a release until it is proper!! Don't worry be happy!! :o)

I have American Collector's Insurance, which works a lot like Hagerty's.
1) Agreed value,
2) Have to have at least one other vehicle w/insurance
3) Send in a picture
4) Must be kept in locked garage
5) Less than 2,500 miles per year
6) "Pleasure driving" only

That last one is easy since whenever/wherever I drive my B it's a pleasure!



$52 per year for me.

Based on the feed back, sounds like "Classic" insurance is the way to go, espcially until I get it road worthy. Has anybody ever had trouble making a claim.

Thanks everbody for your feedback.
-John