Diminished Value - Classic - Antique - Exotic - Motorcycle - Hot Rod
Serving most of Maryland (west of the bay)
Eastern West Virginia
North central Virginia
South central Pennsylvania
About Me
My Background
"I suppose I fell in love with cars when I first released the clutch while pushing the gas." says Jim Connolly. "Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect my love of cars and ridiculous speed would become such a rewarding and fulfilling vocation. Certainly, I love what I do and am very proud of my success."
A local dealership owner said;
"Jim has been a popular fixture in the East Coast Auto Appraisal scene. He is well respected, knowledgeable, honest, and fair-minded. Soon after he graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Automotive Engineering Jim earned his reputation in the industry."
Diminished Value Reports, Classic, Antique, Exotic, Motorcycle, Hot Rod car values and Pre-purchase Inspections are his specialties.
What I can do
Diminished Value Report
Let’s assume you were shopping for a late model used vehicle. You come upon a dealer who has 2 identical vehicles that match what you are looking for. These vehicles are the same year, make and model. They have the same mileage and options. They appear to be in the same general condition. The sticker price for both vehicles is $20,000. You ask the dealer if either vehicle has ever been wrecked and Carfax or AutoCheck indicates one of the vehicles had sustained $6,500.00 in collision damage. Would you still give equal consideration to each vehicle? Many people don’t think about the new, lower value of their vehicle in the aftermath of an accident. Instead, we just worry about how long it’s going to take for the body shop to fix the darn car so we can get back to our lives. If you have a newer vehicle or an expensive one, you must ask to be compensated for diminished value.
The insurance company won’t offer. Insurance companies try to avoid paying for diminished value. It’s important to pursue a diminished value claim right away, because most states have a statute of limitations on property damage claims, often three years. The amount of the Diminished Value is dependent upon a number of factors, such as the vehicle’s pre-loss condition; the vehicle’s year, make and model; the type of accident the vehicle was in; the amount of damages the vehicle suffered; and other such contributing factors. We help determine the diminished value of your vehicle.
See the local Diminished Value Rules, by state, a little further down this page.
Collector Vehicle Value
The popularity of collector vehicles has never been higher. Some collectors spend months, even years, and several thousand dollars to build or restore their dream car only to find out their insurance company only offers coverage equal to the "Book" value. Most insurance companies will offer Stated Value Policies, but they will require an independent appraisal. Based upon the documents and information, you provide, we can establish the Actual Cash Value of your pride and joy to properly protect your investment. There are a wide range of selling methods like E-Bay, Craig’s List and other internet auction sites, and the recurring Barrett-Jackson and Mecum auctions that sometimes result in inflated prices. When insuring your collectible car, it can be confusing to determine the proper amount of coverage. We can assist in your decision ! We are professionally trained to inspect/appraise cars and have access to tools through N.A.D.A. We thoroughly inspect your documents and images, we compile a report with details documenting the condition and the "Actual Cash Value" of your vehicle.
Estate / Bankruptcy / Divorce
These types of appraisals are usually mandated by some sort of judicial process or are required on the advice of legal counsel and are often time sensitive. We can provide an independent appraisal to help you establish the minimum market value of vehicles which could save thousands of dollars on taxes or settlements.
Total Loss Appraisal
Unsatisfied with an insurance company's valuation on your loss? There may be a big difference between the settlement offer and the "Actual Cash Value" of your vehicle! You are entitled to a fair settlement. You are always entitled to enlist an independent appraisal when negotiating with any insurance company.
Pre-Purchase Inspection
Do not buy that car you saw online or at one of those supposed "Classic Car" dealers without having it inspected first. The cost of the inspection could save you thousands in surprises or on the price negeotiations.
I am not Superman. I cannot see through sheet metal, but I know cars as well as anyone and can tell trash from treasure.
Online Products
Diminished Value Reports and most Appraisals are available as online products.
Order services at the bottom of this page. I will contact you with details on the information I will need from you.
Seller Services
I will research recent sales of vehicles similar to yours to correctly determine the "real" value of the vehicle. I'll market the vehicle via social media links, list it on E-Bay and any other relevant online platform. If needed I'll have the vehicle transported to one of the local weekly reserve auctions. I will exercise every available opportunity to sell your vehicle and save you all of the headache.
Auction Proxy Service
I can represent you as a buyer or seller at any auction anywhere. I've been an auction proxy for over 30 years and have conducted hundreds of transactions.
If the car you want is being auctioned, and you cannot be there, I'll go in your place, look the vehicle over and bid up to the price you dictate.
Estate / Charity Sales
I will work with the estate principals or the attorney to liquidate the vehicle (s) as fairly and quickly as possible.
I will sell the vehicle and remit the proceeds to the charity you desire.
Auction Stuff
A New Dealer Auction
DRIVE Auto Auctions is the premier online wholesale vehicle auction service for dealers and business buyers. DRIVE Members with business licenses can bid worry-free with DRIVE’s arbitration policy and industry-standard lighting system. DRIVE Auto Auctions held its first live online wholesale auto auction in early 2018 and continues to prove itself as the leading source for clean title, front line cars, trucks and SUVs.
Baltimore Auction
Auto Auction of Baltimore is opened to the public. As Maryland’s leading public auto auction we are committed to providing a fair and easy buying experience for your new car, truck or SUV at wholesale prices. With our GOOD ENGING & TRANSMISSION GUARANTEE on every vehicle you will have peace of mind. Come check us out, you won’t be disappointed.
Capitol Auction
Capital Auto Auction hosts weekly live auctions at each of our four locations, as well as online. Whether you attend a live auto auction or an online auto auction, you'll find quality used vehicles listed at the kind of bargain prices that typically only dealers see. Our vehicles may be repossessions, dealer consignments, government vehicles or donations. In every case, they are auctioned openly to the public so it's easy for customers to find or sell the vehicles they need. What's more, it's not just individual cars that we work with, either; through a fleet auto auction, you have a way to quickly dispose of fleet vehicles you no longer need.
ABS Auction
ABS Auto Auctions is an Automotive Wholesale Auction Company specializing in the remarketing of New Car Dealer trade-ins and frontline inventory through the use of three distinct auction programs
Mecum
Averaging more than one auction each month in various cities around the country, Mecum Auctions has achieved exceptional reach and prolific recognition by collector-car enthusiasts nationwide, as well as around the world. Making the Mecum Experience as accessible as possible has always been a core company value and a continuous goal across the board, and the Mecum Mobile Experience has proved to be a valuable supplement to the auction events by providing additional company exposure and relevant, useful resources to car enthusiasts.
Barrett-Jackson
For the last 47 years, enthusiasts from all over the world have flocked to the Barrett-Jackson collector car auctions. Widely regarded as a barometer of the collector car industry, the auctions have evolved over the years into world-class automotive lifestyle events where thousands of the world’s most sought-after, unique and valuable automobiles cross the block in front of a global audience — in person and on live national and international television. Barrett-Jackson produces The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions® in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palm Beach, Florida; Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to the millions watching the events via live worldwide television coverage on Discovery Channel and Velocity, over 500,000 people are in attendance at all four auctions, looking to witness auction action at its best, capture the car of their dreams, learn more about collector cars through Behind the Hobby symposiums, mingle with celebrities, experience adrenaline-pumping thrill rides in the latest vehicles from America’s top automakers – or shop in the vast Exhibitor Marketplace.
Some of these are funny
Duck Truck
A policeman pulls over an old man in a pickup truck because the bed of his truck is full of ducks. The officer says, “Sir, it is unacceptable to have this flock of ducks downtown, take them to the Zoo this instant!”
The old man confirms that he will and drives off. The next day the officer sees the same man in the same truck still full of ducks. Only this time all the ducks are wearing sunglasses. The officer pulls him over again and yells, “I told you to take these ducks to the Zoo!”
The old man replies, “I did! But now the little buggers want to go to the beach!”
Stop when you see the cop
An man buys a sports car and is really beginning to enjoy it when he sees flashing lights in the rear view mirror. He guns it and is rapidly up to 160mph when he realizes what he is doing. He slows down, then pulls over and soon the cop pulls up behind him.
The cop comes up to the window and asks, “What were you thinking, taking off like that?”
“Well,” the man replies after thinking about it for a bit, “a few years ago a highway patrol officer ran off with my wife.”
“What does that have to do with anything.”
“I thought you were bringing her back.”
I just wanna go faaast
So there’s this snail, and he’s really tired of being slow, so he goes to the nearest Renault dealer and buys one. He has them paint a big red S on the side, (for Snail) so everyone will see him and, marveling at his new speedier lifestyle, exclaim “Sacré bleu! Look at that S-car-go!”
Let’s celebrate!
I remember reading this one around the time the Berlin Wall came down...
An extremely rich and famous German sports star was carving up the roads one afternoon in a brand new Porsche. Passing on the right, speeding everywhere, he takes a blind corner at speed and plows into the back of a Trabant, sending them both spiraling into a ditch. Both cars are demolished. The sports star hops out of the twisted wreckage of his Porsche, to see an elderly man climbing out of the Trabant with a jubilant smile on his face. The sports star asks the gentleman if he’s okay, if he’s in shock. The gentleman raises his arms and says “No! This is fantastic! Let’s celebrate! We’re both alive!” He opens what’s left of his Trabant’s door to see a box of Cuban cigars. “What a miracle! Such an impact, and my treasured cigars are okay! Let’s light them and celebrate our good luck!” So the sports star and the gentleman light up, and smoke their cigars. The gentleman looks back inside, and sees his vintage bottle of Scotch and two glasses, and pulls them out. “A toast to us! Such a horrific accident and we made it through without a scratch!” He pours two very tall glasses of Scotch, and hands one to the sports star. They clink their glasses, and the sports star downs his. He looks at the gentleman, standing there with a still-full glass. “Aren’t you having any?” he asks the gentleman. “Oh no, not until the police give you a breathalyzer.”
Words, they mean things
Why do chicken coupes have 2 doors?
Because if they had 4 doors they’d be a chicken sedan
“More than you can afford, pal.”
A hip young man goes out and buys a 2001 Ferrari 360 Spider. It is the best convertible sports car, costing about $250,000. He takes it out for a spin and while stopping for a red light, an old man on a moped, wearing an open face crash helmet (looking about 70 years old) pulls up next to him.
The old man looks over the sleek, shiny red surface of the car and asks, “What kind of car ya’ got there, sonny?” The young man replies, “A 2001 Ferrari 360 Spider. They cost about a quarter of a million dollars!”
“That’s a lot of money,” says the old man, shocked. “Why does it cost so much?” “Because this car can do over 200 miles an hour!” states the cool dude proudly. The moped driver asks, “Can I take a look inside?” “Sure,” replies the owner.
So the old man pokes his head in the window and looks around. Leaning back on his moped, the old man says, “That’s a pretty nice car, all right!”
Just then the light changes so the guy decides to show the old man what his car can do. He floors it, and within 30 seconds the speedometer reads 220 mph. Suddenly, he notices a dot in his rear view mirror. It seems to be getting closer!
He slows down to see what it could be and suddenly, whhhoooossshhh! Something whips by him, going much faster! “What on earth could be going faster than my Ferrari?!” the young man asks himself.
Then, ahead of him, he sees a dot coming toward him. Whoooooosh! It goes by again, heading the opposite direction! And it almost looked like the old man on the moped!
“Couldn’t be,” thinks the guy. “How could a moped outrun a Ferrari?!” Again, he sees a dot in his rear view mirror! Whooooosh Ka-BbblaMMM! The moped plows into the back of his car, demolishing the rear end. The young man jumps out, and it IS the old man!!! Of course, the moped and the old man are hurting for certain. He runs up to the old man and says,
“You gotta tell me how you got that thing to be faster than my Ferrari !” The old man looks up and replies, “OK..., but first, unhook my suspenders from your side-view mirror, will ya?”
Looking for the accident
I was walking down the street today when tow truck driver pulled up alongside me and said, “Excuse me, I’m looking for the accident site involving a van carrying a load of cutlery.”
“No problem,” I said. “Go straight down this road for 1 mile, then take the first left, and when you get to the fork in the road you’re there.”
Yugo forever.
Guy walks into an auto parts store and says to the counterman “I’d like a set of wiper blades for my Yugo.” Counterman thinks for a minute, then replies “OK - sounds like a fair trade to me.”
Painting job, actually.
One day a blonde comes up to a man’s door and asks him if he has any odd jobs. The man says “I’ll give you $50 to paint the porch out back.” The blonde goes to work and after 30 minutes, she comes back, and tells the man she is done. “Wow, that was fast,” the man says. The blonde replies, “yes, I know, but that wasn’t a porch. It was a Ferrari.”
22 miles per hour!?
A State Police Officer sees a car puttering along at 22 MPH. He thinks to himself “this driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!” So he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over.
Approaching the car, he notices that there are four old ladies — the three passengers are wide eyed and white as ghosts.
The driver, obviously confused, says to him, “Officer, I don’t understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem?”
The officer replies, “Ma’am, you weren’t speeding, but you should know that driving much slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers.”
“Slower than the speed limit? No sir, I was doing the speed limit exactly... Twenty-two miles an hour!” The old woman says, pointing to a sign next to the road.
The State Police officer, trying to contain a chuckle explains to her that the sign was the route number, not the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the woman grinned and thanked the officer for pointing out her error.
“But before I let you go, Ma’am, I have to ask... Is everyone in this car OK? Your passengers seem awfully shaken and they haven’t muttered a single peep this whole time,” the officer asks.
“Oh, they’ll be all right in a minute officer. We just got off Route 119.”
Goddammit.
I had an uncle who had the most bizarre fixation back in the day- he would drink brake fluid. Maybe back in those days it was less toxic than it is today, because he never expired of it, but we were always worried about him doing it.
I remember one time my dad told him that he was addicted and needed to cut it out, that it was bad for him.
My uncle replied “Nonsense, I can stop anytime.”
And the mechanic’s name is Tony.
Dominick picks up his Fiat from his mechanic Tony. Tony says, “Dominick, you gotta think about trading this car in. It seems like it’s breakin’ down every other week. I love having you as a customer but this car is costing you a fortune.”
“Yeah, but look at it,” Dominick says. “It’s starting to rust, the tires are almost bald, and it’s got like 90,000 miles on it. Nobody’s gonna give me any money for a Fiat with 90,000 miles on it.”
“Tell you what I can do,” Tony says. “This is just between you and me, but I could roll back your odometer. That way you could maybe get at least a few hundred bucks for it.”
Dominick agrees and gives Tony $20 to roll back the odometer.
Two weeks later Dominick comes by and asks Tony to top off the oil on the Fiat. Tony looks at the car and says, “I thought you was gonna trade this car in. What are ya doin’ still driving it??”
“Trade it in??” says Dominick. “Are you nuts? This car’s only got 30,000 miles on it!”
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Online Services
Online Basic Appraisal or Diminished Value Report.
I will contact you with details on the information required to complete your request.
Completed file back to you within 48 business hours.