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Ralph,
Why will your insurance company be asking the
questions? It seems to me that the other driver and his insurance company
should be stepping up to the plate.
The best bet is to search various classified ads such as
the VAC classified and print a list of trailer asking prices similar in age,
size, and condition to yours to present to your insurance company as a guide to
establishing price. An insurance company agent or adjuster who is not
familiar with Airstreams will attempt to value your trailer like a typical
no-name brand of similar year. Don't let him do that.
Another possibility is to get a very knowledgeable
Airstreamer with credentials such as a track record of restored trailers, awards
won, trailers sold, whatever. RJ Dial and Wayne Moore come
immediately to mind. Ask one or both of them and any others with
experience to prepare a statement of value using your trailer's VIN, etc.
printed on their letter head. I have not seen that done with vintage
Airstreams but it is commonly done with vintage cars. I have seen big
insurance companies accept a value estimate prepared by other old car
enthusiasts whom I know personally because the guy was credible and the
insurance company didn't have anyone with better credentials to dispute their
written estimate. It can be done rather informally if the value is in a
reasonable range and presented with confidence.
Take the trailer to someone capable of repairing vintage
trailers like Tom Griffith, Griffith RV Service, Inc. in Oklahoma City or P
& S Trailer Service in Helena, OH or the Airstream Service Department at
Jackson Center to get a repair estimate.
Harvey
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