TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (May 2009) – For more than a decade, the nation’s largest collector car insurance agency has issued policies on some of the greatest and most valuable cars in the world. But from time to time they also receive a request that may prompt them to say: “You Want To Insure What?”
“When we first set out to insure collector vehicles, we intentionally didn’t want to discriminate and limit ourselves,” says McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty Insurance Agency. “But we never anticipated how broad the collector category really is or how many unique and cool vehicles there really are out there. It’s never dull. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Top Ten Quirkiest, Coolest and Most Unusual Collector Cars.”
1. Wienermobile - Invented in 1936 by Carl Mayer, the “Wienermobile” was created to travel across the country as a “traveling billboard” to advertise the Oscar Meyer brand name. Today, college graduates compete for the prestigious position of Hot Dogger so they can travel the nation to various events and promotions in the Wienermobile.
2. Pumpkin Chucker/Old Fire Truck – This vintage fire truck can shoot pumpkins ¼ mile in any direction you point it. The 25-foot long barrel makes garaging an issue, but it certainly keeps unwanted trespassers at bay.
3. The Big Red Phone car - This 1975 VW Beetle was transformed into exactly what it sounds like – a big, red telephone. Complete with a keypad, receiver and matching owner/mascot, this car is not easy to miss.
4. Star Wars Land Speeder - Used by Lucas Films, the hovering vehicle made its first appearance during Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The dirty, beat up land speeder was Luke Skywalker’s alternate mode of transportation when his T-16 skyhopper was in the repair shop.
5. Cinderella’s Carriage – This carriage evolved from a mere pumpkin and was hauled by a couple of mice-turned-horses. Pretty unbelievable you say? Well, it happened and it needed insurance, so Hagerty gave it the best coverage a budding princess would ever desire. No word on whether elusive glass slipper coverage is next on their list.
6. Corvette Station Wagon – What do you get when you cross a truly iconic American sports car with a grocery getter? Apparently, you get what is most commonly referred to as a 1954 Commemorative Sport Wagon. Quite the oxymoron, but a conversation starter.
7. German Panzer Tank – Think you feel safe in your big, American SUV? This military vehicle can only hit up to 25 mph even on the flattest surfaces, but you’ll never have the problem of getting stuck in traffic.
8. Velorex Oskar 3-wheel car – This 3-wheel, Czechoslovakian, vinyl-covered mini car enjoyed quite a long production run. It was produced from 1953 to 1971 in a town named Hradec Kralove.
9. 1985 Owosso Pulse – This futuristic looking vehicle is one of just 347 Pulses ever built. The “Autocycle,” as it’s commonly referred to, appeared in the film Back To the Future Part II.
10. 1974 Dodge Clown Car – Want to be the funniest neighbor on the block? Park this in your driveway.
