Guest Crahm Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 I drove my '41 Graham Hollywood Supercharged to the office today. Anybody else drive their antique to work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 Check with your insurer if you are covered for that kind of use. In the early 80s I drove a 31 Ford A to work but I had to insure it for every day use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Crahm Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 (edited) Insurance? I should be insured? (tongue in side of cheek) Edited June 6, 2016 by Crahm (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphicar BUYER Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 I drive my 66 Cadillac ragtop almost every day. Yes, my insurance covers me because I drive all my cars and my insurance isn't so restrictive to relegate my cars to yard ornaments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 I recall reading that California collector Jay Leno, when he was hosting The Tonight Show, drove a different antique to work every day. If insurance permits, it's a good way to exercise a large collection that would otherwise tend to be stationary. His secretary once remarked about the Lamborghini Countach that was the commuter car for the day. She found it hard to believe that the boldly styled Countach was now an antique, but it was! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RansomEli Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 (edited) Crahm, Love the color of your Graham. The ivory white really highlights the curves in the bodywork. Very elegant. Edited June 6, 2016 by RansomEli (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Man Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 Great looking Graham, I have driven my other collector cars but not the Grahams lately. Insurance is always a problem, but they only want you to park your car in a sealed garage so they never have to worry about a claim...oh yes that is how they make money. Brought my 1972 Mach 1 and my 1964 Falcon two door hardtop even my 1984 truck, but they all do highway speeds pretty easy, hate to hold up drivers that are late for work, my Grahams are happier at 45-50 mph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 If I had a job I would drive a different car to work every day. I guess I will just have to be happy driving them with no particular place to go. Graham is correct, the insurance doesn't like it when you drive em to work. However, I was talking to the lady at Hagerty a few years ago and asked about a run to the grocery store. She asked is there were usually people checking the car out when I came out of the store. I said yes and she said it would appear that I was showing it so that was OK. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pomeroy41144 Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 Yes, I drive my antique to the office. At Pacific Edible Seaweed Company with my 1937 Ford De Luxe Fordor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Crahm Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 The minimal insurance plan with American Collectors allows the policyholder to drive the car to work once a month, but not for normal errand running. Their next level up for usage is called The Freedom Plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cahartley Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 1 hour ago, JACK M said: I was talking to the lady at Hagerty a few years ago and asked about a run to the grocery store. She asked is there were usually people checking the car out when I came out of the store. I said yes and she said it would appear that I was showing it so that was OK. Same here....... She asked if I display at shows. I replied "Everywhere I go with my cars is a show"........she laughed and that was that....... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen_Dyneto Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 Insurance issues aside for the moment, if you have a "historic" vehicle registration you also should consider what those limitations are. Here in NJ driving your car with a Historic registration to work would be a clear violation of the registration privilege. Now the chances of that actually being enforced should you be pulled over are slim, but should you during such a use have an accident which results in bodily injury, chances are good a lawyer for the damaged party would be rubbing his hands together with glee! With so many other legitimate activities during the week and most every weekend, it just wouldn't be worth the risk to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 My "older" cars are on a policy that permits "occasional use" which I was told means about 2500 miles a year and which requires other "daily drivers". I suspect they are more concerned about being parked without supervision since one of the requirements is being parked in a locked garage. Valet parking is Right Out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 Drove mine to the shop and back with a stop at the post office on the way. All about 6 miles round trip. If I didn't drive it to work I wouldn't get to drive it at all as I work 7 days a week and never take it to car shows. I have 4 other cars insured with them that didn't see 20 collective miles last year. If i put 1000 to 1500 miles on one a year I think that's pretty darn acceptable even if I only drive it to work. Of course I'm self employed and have my own shop on the other end of town, so tha't s probably different than leaving it alone in a big corporate lot somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old car fan Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 We drive the wheels off ours if time.we have 2 almost ready for judgeing they will be trailer girl.Then then the fun begins,drive them like they should be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akstraw Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 I work in an R&D group where nearly every engineer has something interesting tucked away in his second garage stall. I once got around the insurance restriction by organizing a "Collector Car Show" at work on a Friday afternoon. (You could tell the insurance company you were on the way to a car show, not to work). We got everything from an ancient John Deere tractor to a rail dragster. It was the best day I have ever had at work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 10 hours ago, Akstraw said: ... a "Collector Car Show" at work on a Friday afternoon.... Excellent idea, Mr. Straw! You could have the wives and the kids come at the end of the day Friday, and have a fun small event in the company parking lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 To me insurance brokers are used car salesmen if you get my drift. You have to be very carful if there is an issue as I have had happen in the past. Go by what the fine print says in your policy and you have to have documented what you were told by your broker if you ever go to court with an issue. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captndan Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 Better idea. Stop working and drive your cars as much as you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binger Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 I have been driving my '61 every day for the last few weeks. I also drive a '70 chevy the rest of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 1 hour ago, Joe in Canada said: To me insurance brokers are used car salesmen if you get my drift. You have to be very carful if there is an issue as I have had happen in the past. Go by what the fine print says in your policy and you have to have documented what you were told by your broker if you ever go to court with an issue. So true, I have rarely had to use the insurance that I buy so I am probably considered a good risk. But I was changing one of my home owners policies a couple of years ago and was questioned about a claim I had been paid about ten years prior to that. I couldn't recall what that was and I was able to get the policy. It later dawned on me that I did indeed accept an insurance payment when a guy slid off the icy road and into my fence. It was about $500 if I recall. These people keep records of everything I guess. However we all know that they are in the business of trying to get out of paying claims. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryP Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 Yes, I drive my 31 Model A Deluxe Roadster to work a couple times a week during the nice weather season, which here in Michigan is basically early May through the end of September. I also take the kids to school in the car, and occasionally use it for grocery shopping. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 Before you say "they are in the business of trying to get out of paying claims. " check with your state regulators on how they figure allowable profit. Might be surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 Before I retired the only time I brought a car to work was for my companies once a year car show or if they needed to be serviced at our engineering garage . Now that I'm retired I have moved, Bought a new house and built a 1632 sq ft garage/shop with two stacking lifts. The garage also has a office and a bar and patio in the shop. The two newer daily drivers and electric trains stay in the 3 car garage attached to the house so there is plenty of room. Correction, there can never be enough room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 57 minutes ago, padgett said: Before you say "they are in the business of trying to get out of paying claims. " check with your state regulators on how they figure allowable profit. Might be surprised. I don't know how to check that. But if you are disagreeing you aren't in the real world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 I'm surprised all you guys put up with such restrictive insurance policies. I have Hagerty on both my personal cars and on my business and there are no mileage or usage restrictions. The only things they insist we do is 1. store the cars inside, and 2. have something else as a daily driver. Driving one of my old cars to work once in a while is fine, as is running to the store, or out to dinner, etc. They obviously don't want us using them as daily drivers and fighting through commuter traffic, but they also don't have restrictions in terms of mileage or "only on the third Saturday of the month but only in the presence of other antique cars." I actually drive the '41 Buick Limited just about every day and many times I'll drive something different home for the night. I'll admit that mine isn't the typical office job, but nothing in any of my insurance policies says I can't drive them pretty much whenever and wherever I want, just as long as there's a garage and something else to drive as a regular car. We're heading out to lunch shortly, I think I'll take the '53 Cadillac that I just got back from the transmission shop and give it a shake-down run. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 I agree with Matt, I left a company after 25 years because of the restrictive rules and moved to another. I am not using it in a snow storm or taking to park at Yankee Stadium for a game. I have had two claims with this new company and both involved the vehicle damaged on the trailers both open and closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 Home office here, although a couple may have visited a remote job site on the way home from a show. I like those Graham/Cord body cars a lot. It is surprising how low they are when you stand by them, kind of like the first Lincoln Continentals. Be careful about parking by those louvers. If it's an air intake or exhaust there always seem to be a lot of little black flies around them. If it's an emergency generator radiator exhaust and you get some glycol spray on the paint you will have to claim it is acid rain. Bernie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphicar BUYER Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 This is why I use Hagerty, they want you to enjoy your cars, so I do! I love going to work in my 66 Caddy, top down enjoying the coolness of the air and the car. Not a terrible way to start a long day at work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiejoe86 Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 Hey yall!! I drive mine to work when I am able!! i am new to the forums! I acquired my grandfathers 1940 Studebaker President last year after he passed. Here is a picture of her!! -Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 (edited) I think the idea of Hagerty's liberal driving policy is a myth. I called and the person I talked to was quite specific on the limitations. I don't think they'd like that work parking lot picture any more than they'd like the car outside covered with leaves. Bernie Oh, and I checked with my insurance about my 1939 Allis-Chalmers; no tractors with a front end attachment covered. I guess someone must have been pushing antique snow. Even got a pic of the previous owner. Edited June 10, 2016 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 Have had JCT for years, never an issue. They said incidental use is fine including driving to a distant event. No limit but think 2500 miles/year is a guideline. Also said being at a motel prior to, after, or on the way to a show is no problem. Other than that: - Factory original; i.e. there should be few changes from the factory original specifications. (tires/wheels/batteries/ bolt-ons are fine) - In good or restored condition. - Be kept in a fully enclosed, locked garage. - Be used primarily as hobby vehicles: used in exhibitions, club activities, parades, or other functions of public interest. An occasional nice day drive to keep the vehicle in running order is perfectly acceptable. I suspect most of the majors (Hagerty, Grundy, etc.) are similar. No idea about the General. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LINC400 Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 I used to drive my antique Lincoln to work on Fridays to give it a little exercise. I could see it from my window, and it was not a crowded parking lot. There are enough car shows in the area that I can always claim I was going to one. One night, on the way home from work, it was rear ended and totaled. I simply said that it had some work done on it, (which was true), and I was driving it to check it out. They paid the claim with no problem. But my office moved and I cannot see the car from the new office windows. So the replacement Lincoln has never been driven to work. However, another guy I know has to have documents showing the car show he is going to in the car or the police will stop him and ticket him because of the antique/collector plates. However, he lived in a low rent/not nice area where apparently people bought 25 year old beater used cars to try and get away with the cheaper antique plates. I never had an issue, but then I never drove in that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cahartley Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 I needed to get some business done in a city 20 miles away, twice, so I thought it would be good exercise to drive my '59 Chevy with a purpose for a change. Even got some thumbs up and complements....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 Cars and Coffee down in Celebration tomorrow morning so can drive anything I feel like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 In New York State the way to legally take ownership of a car is to license and insure it with the DMV. That's a big consideration before spending any money beyond the purchase price. Think about those 10+ year restorations and your legal ownership position upon completion. The last few project cars I bought have been licensed in my name even though they were a real long way from finished. JCT is real good about that Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBulldogMiller55Buick Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) too many pine trees ring the parking lot to park my Buick there. the paint is already ruined on my 1990 F250. So I drive the F250 everyday Edited June 11, 2016 by JamesBulldogMiller55Buick (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScarredKnightfan Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 When I had older, sunny-day only cars, I always drove them to work ... never had antique plates or insurance on them so I could drive them when I wanted, unlimited. Cort > www.oldcarsstronghearts.com pigValve.paceMaker.cowValve | 1979 Caprice Classic (needs new owner) "Those dreams move on if you wait too long" __ Billy Ray Cyrus __ 'Could've Been Me' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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