Cruise In with Georgetown Insurance

With snow in the forecast it is time to start thinking about storing your classic or antique for the winter.  Here are some tips from Hagerty on how to make sure that your car will be ready to go next spring.

1. Top off your levels.

• Fill your gas tank and add a fuel preservative. The full tank keeps out moisture, and the preservative keeps the gas from breaking down. Take one last drive to circulate the preservative.
• Make sure your antifreeze is fresh and topped off.
• To avoid a nasty sludge in the spring, change the oil

2. Take preventative measures.

• Give your car a good wash and wax to protect the paint. Protect the chrome with wax or paint sealant.
• Over-inflate tires to avoid flat spotting, or jack up the car to take pressure off the tires.
• Put a battery manager on your car.
• To prevent rodents nesting in an engine compartment, try a rodent repellent under the hood. Just remember to remove it before starting up.
• Put down a few moisture pads on the upholstery to absorb moisture and prevent mildew.
• Cover the car with a breathable car cover to prevent corrosion and rust.

3. Re-circulate your oil.

When a car sits, oil settles into the pan, leaving the engine without lubrication. Disconnect the coil wire and crank the engine over several times. Reconnect the coil wire and you should be good to go.

For quotes on insuring your antique or classic car with Georgetown Insurance call our office or Click here for a Quote

Our Judges

The Cruisin the Tree Showdown was a huge success!  The weather was perfect, the cars were all waxed and looking great, and the kids were excited.

15 kids participated in judging the new 13 trophy category ‘Kids Choice’.  The 5 cars in the category (1972 Chevelle, 1968 Studabaker, 1934 Chevrolet, 1928 Ford Model A & a 1936 Ford) were judged on noises, interior, paint, design and engine with the judges taking their role very seriously.

After all the cars had been seen and the votes had been tallied the Winner was Mr. Richard Cole and his 1928 Ford Model A Truck (I think that it was the flaming paint job that helped)

Mr Cole being presented his trophy

We want to thank all of our judges, car owners and our co-sponsor Hagerty Insurance.

Well this summer has been great.  We have really enjoyed Cruisin to the Tree every week and meeting our fellow classic car enthusiasts.  Next week is the big showdown and we are excited to be sponsoring, along with our friends at Hagerty Collector Car Insurance the new 13th judging category, The Kids Choice!

The kids will have a ’72 Karmann Ghia, ’63 Gran Turismo Hawk, ’28 Ford Model A, ’34 Chevrolet & a ’72 Chevelle SS to pick from and knowing all these cars it is too close to call.  If you are going to be at the show with the kids and they would like to take part in picking The Kids Choice stop by our booth before 5:00…Space is limited so you can reserve your spot by emailing us at info@georgetowninsurance.com.

As aways Happy Cruisin’ and if you would like review how we can help you with insuring your classic car call us at 978-352-8000 or quote your classic car online.

When I created this blog I thought that my first post would be about how we went to Cruisin to the Tree, met great classic car enthusiasts, there would be pictures of antique cars, notes about what fun we had there but alas it was only a dream.  Instead it looks like we might be rained out again this week. 

To hold you over until we can get into the good stuff we’ll start off with a losses and lessons.  These are real life stories about losses submitted to Hagerty Insurance that have happened to fellow classic car owners so we can all learn from each other. 

VEHICLE COVERED: 1970 Dodge Charger 383/290 500

WHAT WENT WRONG: The Charger had been in the family since new and still had many of its original parts and options, including a pistol-grip shifter and bench seats. It had been sitting in the family’s garage for nearly 10 years when it was taken to a shop for a frame-off restoration. The vehicle owner selected the shop based on a phonebook advertisement and a 20-minute discussion with the shop owner. He dropped the vehicle off in April 2009 and was promised it would be finished in “6-8 months.” When the owner of the vehicle called the shop in December to inquire about his car, the phone had been disconnected. He drove to the shop, where he found a police notice on the door asking for information about the owner. He was informed that his vehicle was one of 11 that had been completely stripped and the parts sold. The shop owner has since been indicted on federal charges.

DAMAGE/LOSS: The car was a total loss. Hagerty paid the client $50,000 – the Guaranteed Value of the vehicle.

LESSON: Do your homework. Always make sure you’re dealing with a reputable outfit. For starters, Google the shop, contact the Better Business Bureau and ask for a list of clients who have used the shop and/or contact Hagerty and ask for information about the shop/owner. What shops are recommended by your fellow collectors? When you select a shop, discuss a specific timeframe with the shop owner and sign a contact if needed. Stay up to date on the process and visit the shop periodically to make sure the expected restoration work is being done.