A Bite of History: Unicorn Restorations, the 1974 Camaro Z28

by Mike Thies

At any good car show, you will find 1957 Chevys in every form: survivors, frame-off restorations, and restomods. What you will rarely find is a 1958. That tells you something about the collector market. Not every year of a popular model becomes a true collectible. Buyers pick favorites, and those years get saved, restored, and passed down, while the years next to them…

The Insurance Total-Loss Process

By Mike Thies 

A total-loss declaration is a math problem first and a negotiation second. If you understand how the insurer reaches its number, you can tell whether that number is fair, and what to do if it is not.

This guide is general information, not an appraisal of any specific vehicle. For a valuation you can rely on, request an…

Muscle Car Values: What Moves the Number

By Mike Thies

I should say up front that I am not an expert on every car, and I am not the final word on any one marque. There are people who know every casting number on a 1969 Hemi Road Runner , and I am happy to call them when I need to.…

A Bite of History - 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback

Ford already had a runaway hit when the Mustang debuted at the New York World’s Fair on April 17, 1964. Initially offered as a hardtop and convertible, it combined sporty styling with a price everyday buyers could afford. Then came the Fastback in September 1964, bringing a sweeping roofline that gave the little Mustang a whole new attitude.  …