After sleeping in on a Sunday morning and waking up to a bright sunny day I thought a car show was in order. I just searched for Maryland classic car shows and came up with the Maryland BBQ and Car Show http://www.marylandbbqcarshow.com. It was easy enough to find at Blobs Park in Jessup, Md.

We got there just in time to catch the bikini judging. The show only ran from 10 til 3PM and I didn’t get there til around 1:30PM so if I wanted to get some pics, I needed to overlook the skinny girls. This show would have been good for the car enthusiast young and old alike. There was a wide variety of cars, everything from the 30’s to 80’s including Japanese sports cars to mid 70’s big butt Cadillacs, to 50’s and 60’s Chevy’s, Fords, and other American cars.

I can’t tell you much about the BBQ, I didn’t go there to eat. I didn’t see or smell any so go figure.

The quality of the cars was really varied. I didn’t see any rust buckets mind you, but there were cars there that you could tell were restored by the owner and others that were professionally done and immaculate. I kinda have a thing for the classic cars that were done by the owners. Let’s face it, guys that can afford to spend $90-100k on a classic car or muscle car of any type are few and far between and most of these classic beauties are restored by guys just like myself using our own tools and garage space.

Spotting the owner restored cars is pretty easy, Just look for body panel alignment issues, less than perfect molding or trim on the car, roughly refinished pot metal parts that were replated over not so perfect refinishing work, and electrical connectors that obviously came from the electrical repair rack at the local chain parts store. You know the ones,… with the blue and pink plastic protectors around the them where you use a crimper to queeze them onto the wire end.

Don’t think I’m taking away from the restoration work that they’re doing. I have a great appreciation for working on my own classic car and I’ll be the first to tell you there’s a lot of compromises along the way if you’re restoring your classic car or muscle car on a budget. For some people, there is no getting around it. Still,…everyone loves restoring these classic cars no matter how much we have to spend on our project.

Spending doesn’t stop once the restoration is done either. You’ll need classic car insurance after the restoration is done and in some cases that can make or break keeping the classic car you’ve poured some much time and money into.

Some of the cars at this car show were obviously high dollar restorations so you now they’re setup for some expensive insurance costs. Most classic car insurance however provides for driving it on weekends only and only to car related events. Since the car isn’t going to be driven everyday the risks are quite low so it offsets what one would expect to be very pricey. All you can do is shop around.

If you are lucky enough to own a classic car then you will want to be sure your good fortune does not run out because you do not have the correct insurance coverage for your prized automobile. You will rest easier if you call a major provider to provide professional protection for your beloved automobile investment.

How to Evaluate Classic Car Insurance

The main purpose of insurance is that it does what is needed when it is needed. Classic car insurance differs from traditional car insurance also, just as a classic car is different from the generic vehicle. You are basically buying protection for occasions when disaster strikes, like a collision, fire, or act of vandalism. In the same way that airbags protect us in crashes, collector’s insurance protects our property when unexpected events come our way. The time that you put into finding the right insurance is well worth the peace of mind and value that a good collector’s policy will bring.

Classic Car Insurance Differences

This type of car insurance differs from the type of insurance you purchase for coverage of daily transportation needs. Collector’s car insurance is designed for the particular needs of the classic car collector. Traditional insurance does provide you some protection, but can leave you stranded in the case of a loss that is uncovered by the insurance contract terms.

Requirements

It helps to have a good driving record, a minimum of 10 years driving experience, no teen drivers covered, a secure garage, and proof you do not drive the classic car for daily transportation. It also helps to have limited mileage on your car. You probably are not driving this car for daily transportation, and your insurance company would prefer that you did not. Recently, mileage limits have increased, so if you drive 250 miles or less per month, you should be fine.

Review Your Limits

Review your coverage limits periodically because prices of classic cars are going up. The value that you insured your prized classic car for a decade ago may be only a fraction of what it is worth today. Ask your agent to provide you with appropriate insurance if you are restoring a vehicle. If your car is stored with no engine inside, there is no reason to pay more for mileage.

Keep Records

Keep all your paperwork and receipts for parts and labor so that you can document how much money you have put into your classic car investment. Keep this information updated and located with your other important papers.

Miles Walker is a freelance blogger who usually writes about where you can buy car insurance online over at Car Insurance Comparison .org. His recent review looked at Hawaii car insurance.

Enthusiasts love their classic cars, and people everywhere admire them. They stand out on the road, capture peoples’ interest, and bring back memories of times gone by. However, for all the beauty and wonder that classic cars bring people, something sinister lurks beneath their glossy exterior and polished chrome: They’re full of all sorts of highly toxic, dangerous and cancer causing substances. Even worse, most people who work with classic cars don’t seem to be aware of this startling fact!

Asbestos

Asbestos was a common material used in the manufacture of older brake pads, and is often still found in brake pads made in foreign countries. Most people in the United States erroneously believe that their brake pads don’t contain asbestos due to modern regulations regarding their manufacture. This is a very serious issue that people who work on classic cars need to be aware of.Exposure to asbestos, especially chronic and prolonged, is linked to a number of serious health problems including mesothelioma and asbestosis. Asbestos fibers can also become lodged in the eyes or get into the mouth and swallowed, opening up the potential for other cancers, as well. When working with older cars, take precautions to shield yourself by wearing protective clothing, a dust mask and safety glasses. Be sure that you always do your work in a well-ventilated area.

Lead

In decades past, most notably before the 70’s, lead was a common ingredient used to make paint. Unfortunate laborers in the automotive industry at the time did not know that their chronic exposure to lead could cause kidney, brain, nerve and blood damage, learning disabilities, reproductive difficulties and mental retardation in their children. Many modern owners and restorers of classic cars don’t think about the fact that their car is essentially coated with lead, and remove it without care. The usual method of removing paint from cars is by sanding or grinding, which would throw lead-laden dust into the air where it can be inhaled and become lodged in the mucus membranes. Always wear protective clothing when removing paint from old cars, and do so in a well-ventilated environment.

Bromine

Bromine is a chemical that was, and still is, used in seat belts, plastic dashboards and car seats. It is also a primary ingredient used in fire retardants, which may be on a car’s other upholstery, as well. Chronic and prolonged exposure to bromine has been associated with hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, behavioral problems, reproductive damage, impaired memory, and damage to the kidneys, brain and liver. These problems are more likely to show up in future generations, usually the second or third.

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