Market valuation for a microbus

StenGuns Veteran Volks Folk

2,147 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 13 May 2004, 7:58 pm

#173558

I have a sticky problem..
In February, a 4x4 ran off the road and hit my parked 72 Deluxe..

I had recently finished a restoration on her and had rebuilt original motor, new paint and panels, all brightwork on, all little bits found and installed (eg spare wheel cover etc)..

The 72 is the interchange bay between the early bay 68 - 71 (low indicators at front small set at back) and the late bay 73 - 78 (high indicators and square larger back lights)..

The 72 has low indicators at the front and large square ones at the back so it is quite unique and a bit of a rarity to find a restored one.. let alone a deluxe!!

Any case the insurance company would only pay the standard book value for it so have written it off.. I have appealed and tried to make them understand the real value of it and the 6.5k repair cost is warranted..

To help my case I have to try and find others of this year, configuration and condition, as well as being a deluxe that are for sale above (say) 7k..

Can anyone help with old ads of for sale or any other info that can help me set the market valuation..

I have to meet with another independant assesor for a 2nd opinion next week. It would help enormously if I had some of my own research on value..

Bit long winded but I hope I can get some help. Is there a Microbus nut out there that can provide an opinion..

[Edited on 13-5-2004 by StenGuns]

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StenGuns Veteran Volks Folk

2,147 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 13 May 2004, 8:00 pm

#173560

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StenGuns Veteran Volks Folk

2,147 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 13 May 2004, 8:03 pm

#173564

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MickH Hairy Gutted Sloth

3,389 posts · joined Sep 2003 · 13 May 2004, 8:08 pm

#173565

Is there anything on the aussiekombicampers web site about sale values???I recall seeing something there a while back.......If you had receipts for work done and pictures of the car it will also help a great deal with the assesor as he could see the VALUE and QUALITY of the work done and most probably side with you. Good luck......insurance can sometimes suck but you can't live without it unfortunately. Might also pay to seek the opinion of a solicitor as most have free first visits. You might be able to get them to write a letter to the other vehicles owner to get the difference in value taken out on their arse, but as you indicated it would be best to get some sort of "realistic" valuation first. Also try JUST CARS magazine and old issues or newer ones might have some in there. The sometimes inflated prices of some cars for sale might work in your favour!! Good luck🙂

tssnq.com.au

MickH Hairy Gutted Sloth

3,389 posts · joined Sep 2003 · 13 May 2004, 8:09 pm

#173566

Looks very sweet to me!!! What do they rekon is the market value???What about taking it up with the insurance complaints mob if you are not satisfied??A mate of mine got hit in his new Celica and the insurance mob repaired it for $39000 and when we inspected the car after repairs it was not roadworthy and still had bent chassis rails!! I wrote a report and an engineer we knew went over the car and deemed it unsafe. The insurance company stuck firm untill he made a formal complaint and then they backflipped within the week and they gave him a new car the week after. The whole exercise cost them over $90000 plus rental car costs!!! Wot a waist of time and money. Hope you have a lot more luck!!!!

[Edited on 13-5-2004 by Mick H]

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StenGuns Veteran Volks Folk

2,147 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 13 May 2004, 8:15 pm

#173569

I have done the solicitor thing and can send a letter of demand to the other party.. But I want to get the insurance company to be realistic.. My cost is about 15K.. Repair is 6.5k and they want to pay me 4K..

t2 stop taking life so serious

1,102 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 13 May 2004, 8:24 pm

#173576

i had a bay 74 that was insured with shannons for $10500

t2 stop taking life so serious

1,102 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 13 May 2004, 8:26 pm

#173579

i use to own this 74 and it was insured for $10500

t2 stop taking life so serious

1,102 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 13 May 2004, 8:29 pm

#173581

i use toown this 74 and it was insured for $10500

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 13 May 2004, 10:45 pm

#173653

Our Bay 1975 is insured for $6000 no probs at all, no valuation required. I could not possibly hope to replace it for that kind of money. I would say in my opinion a Bay fully painted, interior done, no rust and mechanically all reconditioned would cost at least $10,000.

EJ22 into Bay Microbus - Finished project build thread- click on this spot here for info

byronbus dsk

4,204 posts · joined Jul 2003 · 14 May 2004, 9:19 am

#173739

I recently sold a bay deluxe for 7500, valued with shannons for 8k, maybe shannons would do a valuation for you, make sure you insure your future rides with shannons, talk to them they may help...

www.dsk.com.au

aggri1 Insano Dub Head

824 posts · joined Dec 2003 · 14 May 2004, 9:20 am

#173740

You might want to try the tradingpost web site. There's a thing on there where you can research resale values (once you click on the Automotive category). I did a quick search for 1974 Kombis, and there was one that went for over $6000 and one over $7000. That was just for 1974 models. There were fewer '72 ones (when I looked), and they were cheaper. Nonetheless, if you go through each year I think you could find quite a few $6000+ kombis.

Good luck,
Aurel.

MikeM Buggy Head

1,429 posts · joined Aug 2003 · 14 May 2004, 9:51 am

#173749

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but..

There's not much you can do about this now mate as you've only been paying insurance for the market value of the car which is probably about $4K. You should have had it insured for an agreed value before the accident.

You would have been more in premium for the higher agreed value, now that you've been paying the lower premium you will be stuck with the market value payout.

I had this happen to me with a Celica I owned a couple of years back. the car was worth about $7K to me, I had an accident. Insurance wrote it off and payed me $2.4K (market Value) so I went and bought it back at Auction for $400 and fixed it up for $2K. This is probably your only option now. Sus out where it's going to auction and buy it back.

[Edited on 13-5-2004 by MikeM]

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matara Custom Title Time!

1,342 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 14 May 2004, 9:52 am

#173751

I have a freshly painted 71 Bay 8 seater insured with Shannons on agreed value of $11k. All I did was supply photos of the bus.

Bit late for you, but everyone make sure you insure your bus agreed value with a classic insurer. It is often cheaper and I highly recommend both Shannons and Vigil. Note though Vigil doesnt insure Kombi's as it sees them as motor caravans and not classics? Dumb!

Vigil offer a multi-stable policy where you can insure multiple cars, but only one at a time is covered whilst on the road, and the prices are pretty reasonable.

Cheers

Steve

MickH Hairy Gutted Sloth

3,389 posts · joined Sep 2003 · 14 May 2004, 10:10 am

#173761

MikeM wrote:Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but..

There's not much you can do about this now mate as you've only been paying insurance for the market value of the car which is probably about $4K. You should have had it insured for an agreed value before the accident.

You would have been more in premium for the higher agreed value, now that you've been paying the lower premium you will be stuck with the market value payout.

I had this happen to me with a Celica I owned a couple of years back. the car was worth about $7K to me, I had an accident. Insurance wrote it off and payed me $2.4K (market Value) so I went and bought it back at Auction for $400 and fixed it up for $2K. This is probably your only option now. Sus out where it's going to auction and buy it back.

[Edited on 13-5-2004 by MikeM]

I don't think this is relevant in this case as it is the other persons insurance that would be paying so they should pay for the replacement cost of the vehicle if it is a writeoff.

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MikeM Buggy Head

1,429 posts · joined Aug 2003 · 14 May 2004, 10:18 am

#173770

Mick H wrote:I don't think this is relevant in this case as it is the other persons insurance that would be paying so they should pay for the replacement cost of the vehicle if it is a writeoff.

Hmmmm Maybe. The vehicle was insured for the Market value of a Kombi. Your insurance company goes into negotiations with the other insurance company on your behalf but will still only seek what you insured it for.

Insurance companies don't like to rip each other off as they are in continual negotiations with each other and what goes around comes around.

You may have gotten a better result had you not gone through the insurance company for the claim, but it's a bit late for the now.

I hope I'm wrong and I hope the insurance company listens to what you have to say. But you are just a $ number on a page to them, and your number is "Market Value"

As a note to everybody here. Insure Agreed Value. You know what you'll get that way.

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MikeM Buggy Head

1,429 posts · joined Aug 2003 · 14 May 2004, 10:21 am

#173772

Mick H wrote:I don't think this is relevant in this case as it is the other persons insurance that would be paying so they should pay for the replacement cost of the vehicle if it is a writeoff.

Oh, and unfortunately they will. However the replacement cost of StenGuns Kombi is "Market Value".... $4k?

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aggri1 Insano Dub Head

824 posts · joined Dec 2003 · 14 May 2004, 10:37 am

#173780

I am with the RACV (victoria), and I checked with them what market value was - $1500!! What a crock! I've not seen any kombis with as little rust as mine for anywhere near only $1500. I think I'll be switching insurance agencies when the current policy expires.

Maybe they do an average of the last x sales. Since there are so many neglected busses around, going cheap, the average price is dragged down.

I don't know. Insurance! Sheesh!

Cheers, Aurel

StenGuns Veteran Volks Folk

2,147 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 14 May 2004, 1:04 pm

#173836

Thanks for the info.. But I'm not looking for a lesson in insurance underwriting.. I am NOT claiming through my insurance.. The other party is claiming.. It is THEIR insurance company that I am dealing with.. If you are aware of ther procedures (no offence) you would be aware that they have a book value.. It is up to the plaintiff (me) to plead a value above book value.. ie: Market Value.. I am trying to get a market valuation.. Hence my post.. Not sure where or how you get 4K for a 72 deluxe Microbus.. When was the last time you saw one advertised for this..

Just to clarify the 72 was the changeover year between 68-71 and 73-78.. The variant was only made for one year and is distinctly different from other models (early bay front indicators and late bay back lights)... This is the reason why you dont see many 72's and bugger all deluxe's..

Here endeth the lesson..
Cheers

MikeM wrote:Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but..

There's not much you can do about this now mate as you've only been paying insurance for the market value of the car which is probably about $4K. You should have had it insured for an agreed value before the accident.

You would have been more in premium for the higher agreed value, now that you've been paying the lower premium you will be stuck with the market value payout.

I had this happen to me with a Celica I owned a couple of years back. the car was worth about $7K to me, I had an accident. Insurance wrote it off and payed me $2.4K (market Value) so I went and bought it back at Auction for $400 and fixed it up for $2K. This is probably your only option now. Sus out where it's going to auction and buy it back.

[Edited on 13-5-2004 by MikeM]

StenGuns Veteran Volks Folk

2,147 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 14 May 2004, 1:09 pm

#173839

WRONG! MikeM.. Mick H is correct.. I can claim damages from the other party.. It has no relevance as to what the value is but what my "damages" are.. However that isn't the thread.. I am trying to get their insurance to cough up with the 6.5k to repair, so I need to convince them.. If that fails I can settle with the other party.. Experience tells me that it is better and normally quicker to settle with the underwriter first before the individual..
Cheers

MikeM wrote:
Mick H wrote:I don't think this is relevant in this case as it is the other persons insurance that would be paying so they should pay for the replacement cost of the vehicle if it is a writeoff.
Oh, and unfortunately they will. However the replacement cost of StenGuns Kombi is "Market Value".... $4k?

MikeM Buggy Head

1,429 posts · joined Aug 2003 · 14 May 2004, 2:05 pm

#173850

StenGuns wrote:WRONG! MikeM

Heated debate is always fun 🙂

Sorry to start the debate over how insurance companies claim. I shouldn't have changed the topic of what this thread was about. I'd love to help you out but I had access to a running regoed 72 Micro Delux for $800 a bit over 12 months ago, but I didn't buy it (rust). So my valueation in of no use.

Keep us all informed of how you go. I'm interested to find out. I hope it works out well.

I think it sucks that you didn't do anything wrong, and now you have to argue to get what you rightfully deserve.
:cussing

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StenGuns Veteran Volks Folk

2,147 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 14 May 2004, 2:48 pm

#173866

Thanks..
I'll get the dough, dont worry.. It's more that assessors are NOT equipped to handle old/classic vehicles..
Appreciate your comments and I'll keep you informed..
Rob

MikeM wrote:
StenGuns wrote:WRONG! MikeM
Heated debate is always fun 🙂

Sorry to start the debate over how insurance companies claim. I shouldn't have changed the topic of what this thread was about. I'd love to help you out but I had access to a running regoed 72 Micro Delux for $800 a bit over 12 months ago, but I didn't buy it (rust). So my valueation in of no use.

Keep us all informed of how you go. I'm interested to find out. I hope it works out well.

I think it sucks that you didn't do anything wrong, and now you have to argue to get what you rightfully deserve.
:cussing

StenGuns Veteran Volks Folk

2,147 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 14 May 2004, 2:55 pm

#173868

PS: If you can get you hands on any 72 model where the seller doesn't understand the difference between an early bay, a late bay and a changeover bay, I'd grab it.. There were other advances (in brakes etc) over the early bay but it kept the design characteristics (bumpers with steps, low indicators etc) of the 68-71 model..

This is a bit of a niche market though. The traveller who wants a bus to get him from Perth, round the top end and down to SYD would normally not give a rat's arse as to what type he bought or sold.. If, however, you talked to someone like Kimm at Indian, he would tell you that he would trash 10 late bays to get his hands on one 72 bay, especially a deluxe..