One of my commercial clients, a major US property-casualty insurance company writing a large book of personal auto coverage, engaged me to establish a value for this modified 1997 BMW M3 four-door sedan, which was destroyed by fire. As you can see, there wasn’t much left to assess! But by acquiring “before” photographs, supporting documentation,…
More: `97 BMW M3 Sedan: Sometimes Bad Things Happen to Good Cars!The long-term owners of this very cool, body-off restored `40 Ford Standard two-door sedan recently engaged me to appraise it. This car has some very subtle modifications, including a later 1940s Ford flathead V8 with an aluminum intake manifold sporting two Ford 94 two-barrel carburetors and steel tubing exhaust headers, a very rare inline overdrive…
More: `40 Ford Standard Two-Door Sedan: Looks Stock but is Slightly Hot!On August 17, 2019, our `55 Chevrolet Bel Air sport coupe was entered in its first judged points competition at the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America (VCCA) Eastern National Meet in Morgantown, PA at the Classic Auto Mall. “Lemon Aid,” as we call it, achieved a VCCA “First Junior” award in its class. Perhaps more…
More: `55 Bel Air Sport Coupe: “Lemon Aid” Wins a “Best of Show” Award!Few cars get my heart beating faster than the 1963-67 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Rays. When the `63 Sting Ray “split window” coupe and convertible were introduced in the fall of 1962, I vowed, as an eight-year-old car crazy kid, to one day own one. (I had to settle for a plastic AMT model car before…
More: `63 Corvette Sting Ray “Split Window” Coupe: An American Icon!This past weekend, I had the privilege of appraising six very high quality Chevrolet Chevelles at the 32nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Chevelle Show & Swap Meet in North East, Maryland. This prestigious two-day event, which has been hosted by the Maryland Chevelle Club since its inception, regularly attracts some of the finest Chevelles in the country.…
More: `70 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396: An Exceptional Restoration!Here’s a cool car in a color that only could have been offered in the 1950’s: “Wisteria!” I appraised this `54 Lincoln Capri convertible some years ago as part of my client’s collection of ten vintage vehicles. All of them were sweet!
More: `54 Lincoln Capri convertible: A Real Looker!When looking for the ideal collector vehicle, few cars can match the popularity of this American icon, which has been in continuous production for over 55 years: the Ford Mustang! My clients recently engaged me to appraise this newly acquired `68 convertible. They intend to drive it all summer long with the top down. Enjoy…
More: `68 Mustang Convertible: When the Top Goes Down, the Price Goes Up!This very clean `72 Plymouth Cuda 340 two-door hardtop, which was listed for sale here in Maryland, went “north to Alaska” after my clients engaged me to perform a pre-purchase appraisal and inspection. Upon receiving it from the shipper, they sent me photos of the car with the beautiful Alaskan skyline behind it!
More: `72 Plymouth Cuda 340 — North to Alaska!What does it take to have a show car that will consistently win its class in nationally-sanctioned judged points competition? It’s all in the details!! This `57 Chevrolet Bel Air sport coupe was the recipient of an impeccable body-off customized restoration. Besides the execution of the modifications and the high quality workmanship, the detailing was…
More: Having a Winning Show Car: It’s all in the Details!!At long last, “Lemon Aid,” my `55 Chevrolet Bel Air sport coupe, is home again! What started out as “just” a repaint turned into a comprehensive, nuts-and-bolts, rotisserie stock restoration that took over 11 years to complete. Many thanks to Bob Neuhard of Hughesville, PA for the outstanding body and paintwork, Ed Zimmerman of New…
More: `55 Chevrolet Bel Air — “Lemon Aid” is Finally Home!©2026. Auto Appraisals MD, LLC.
