The International Vehicle Appraisers Network (I-VAN) is a nationwide association of automotive hobbyists who are also Automobile Appraisers.  As I-VAN Appraisers, we pool our collective automotive knowledge and experience to make sure you get the very best professional appraisal service.  Our best is the least we can do. We appraise all kinds of antique, classic, and modified vehicles including cars, trucks, & motorcycles. We have even appraised an antique houseboat, tractors and farm equipment, hand-drawn fire equipment and fire engines, a crane, the stainless steel cars made by Ford with Allegheny Ludlum, etc.  We also appraise all sorts of automotive related collectibles (automobilia) and have done extensive work with museums and donations.

Our motto is….

                                “Hobbyists Helping Hobbyists”

Dick Barrett became an I-VAN Certified Appraiser in September 2006 upon completion of the I-VAN Appraisal Training School.  A graduate of Clarkson College of Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Dick has been a member of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) for over 30 years, with a focus on automobiles. Dick has been involved with antique cars for over 30 years and is currently a collector of Ford Model “A”s. His interests and experiences with antique, special interest, racing, and performance cars have given him a broad knowledge base to apply to his appraisals. Not only has Dick owned and maintained a wide variety of vehicles, but he is also an Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) National Master Judge, as well as an experienced National Judge for the Model A Ford Club of America (MAFCA). For a little extra spice, he has drag-raced a 1966 Mustang, participated in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) autocrosses, worked on a NASCAR modified stock car crew, and won several local TSD (Time-Speed-Distance) Rallies.  In October, 2009, Dick received the "Appraiser of the Year Award" from I-VAN.  Dick has been the I-VAN "Appraiser of the Year" for 3 consecutive years.

Dick has also been very busy in the hobby, having held office in several local car clubs. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Genesee Valley Antique Car Club (AACA) and is the Director of the Lakeshore Model A Ford Club (MARC,MAFCA).

When he wasn’t playing with cars, he was working on them. His employment history includes work as a mechanic and in a body shop. From 2000 to 2005, Dick was General Manager of a company that makes automotive coating thickness testing equipment.

The International Vehicle Appraisers Network (I-VAN) considers ourselves very fortunate to have such a talented and experienced hobbyist, like Dick Barrett, doing appraisals for I-VAN in Western and Central New York State, covering Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Oswego, Elmira, Dunkirk, Utica, etc.

As an I-VAN Certified Appraiser, Dick Barrett is prepared to appraise any type of vehicle from early antique cars, to vehicles of the ‘50’s, to Mustangs and muscle cars, to street rods and modifieds.  He has provided his expert services for many purposes including establishing insurance coverage values, settling insurance claims, and pre-purchase appraisals/evaluations.

Whenever you need an appraisal for any kind of vehicle in Western or Central New York State, contact Dick Barrett at his cell phone (585) 943-1655 or at home (585) 377-4379 or by his email: barrett@i-van.org

Dick's Cars:

	1929 Ford Model A Tudor
	1931 Ford Model A Victoria (original 48,000 mile car)

            -    AACA Historic Preservation of Original Features (HPOF) Certification

            -    MAFCA 2000 National Meet – 1^st Place

            -    MARC – MARC of Originality/MARC of Recognition

1950 Ford Custom Fordor

Dick’s Previously Owned Special Interest Vehicles:

	1930 Ford  Model A Tudor
	1931 Ford Model A Pickup (Steel Top, Wide Bed)
	1940 Dodge
	1951 Plymouth
	1965 Ford Mustang Convertible
	1966 Ford Mustang Convertible
	1966 Ford Mustang Coupe
	1969 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible
	1969 MG Midget
	1981 Mazda RX-7
	1982 Kawasaki 750
	1984 Porsche

Club Memberships

Antique Automobile Club of America  (AACA)

           -  Genesee Valley Antique Car Club

National Street Rod Association (NSRA)

           -  Rochester Street Rod Association

	Model A Restorerer’s Club (MARC)
	Model A Ford Club of America (MAFCA)

           -  Lakeshore Model A Club

	Victoria Association
	Ford A Speed Technology (FAST)
	Secrets of Speed Society (SOSS)

Credentials and Qualifications

 

	Certified Appraiser within the International Vehicle Appraisers Network (I-VAN).  Graduate of the I-VAN Appraisers Training School and Diminished Value/Lemon Law Training School.
	I-VAN "Appraiser of the Year" in 2007, 2008, 2009.
	Professional Appraiser of automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles, etc.  Expert on vehicle valuation.  Appraisals accepted by insurance companies, banks, credit unions, the IRS, and Courts of Law (Expert Witness).
	National Master Judge for the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA).  Team Captain at 2007 Hershey Region National AACA Fall Meet.  Chief Judge at 2008 GVAC AACA local meet.  National and local judge at many AACA, MARC, and MAFCA Meets.
	I-VAN Appraisals are accepted by the AACA National Museum, the American Truck Historical Society, America On Wheels, Transportation Museum of Virginia, etc.
	I-VAN Appraisals and the proper IRS forms have been accepted for donations to museums and other acceptable charitable organizations; providing tax deductible donations.
	Member of the AACA Speakers Bureau.  Guest speaker on Insurance and Appraisals before car clubs and other civic organizations.
	Mechanical Engineering Degree-Clarkson Collage of Technology
	American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Member for 30 years.
	Experienced race car driver, rallyist, and NASCAR pit crew member.
	Thirty years involvement with antique, special interest, racing, and performance vehicles.

Back to the top

Our motto at I-VAN is ”Hobbyists Helping Hobbyists”.  Our nationwide association of appraisers is made up of very experienced automotive hobbyists who also are automobile appraisers.  As a group we specialize in appraising antique/classic/collectable vehicles.   All of I-VAN’s Certified Appraisers  guarantee no conflict of interest because we do not: restore, buy/sell, paint, fix, transport, export, or insure, etc any old cars for a living…we are hobbyists first and foremost - we own the types of cars we appraise.

Now you can have your antique, classic, or special interest vehicle appraised by a friend…not a stranger!

1)   Insurance:  Protect your investment of Time and Money.  There are a great many insurance companies that will cover your collector car with Comprehensive and Collision coverage.  However, many will tell you that your vehicle will be covered for “actual cash value” or “book value” (i.e., they decide what your vehicle is “worth” at the time of a claim) unless you provide an appraisal.  The best way to be sure that your car is protected properly is to have a professional appraisal on file with your insurance company and have an endorsement to your policy indicating the type and/or amount of coverage your vehicle has.  Not all companies offer this coverage; however, my appraisals are accepted by all insurance companies that do offer this coverage.  My appraisal will also be of immense help if you’re hit by the driver of some other insurance company or if that driver is uninsured.  Without an appraisal an unqualified person who is unfamiliar with your vehicle may be determining how much you’re going to collect at the time of a loss.  Important: did you know that during restoration in your own garage your vehicle is NOT covered for fire/theft under your homeowners policy? (only your automobile policy protects your car) Protect your investment!

2)   Selling a Collector Vehicle:  An appraisal can be a tremendous help when selling a collector vehicle.  First, it eliminates a lot of haggling or “negotiating” because the vehicle’s market value has been established.  Secondly, offering the vehicle for sale at 5-10% below the appraised value makes a prospective buyer think he’s getting quite a bargain.  Third, a qualified buyer can use the appraisal to get a loan from his bank, and other lending institutions, to assist in buying your vehicle (many financial institutions in Virginia and the surrounding areas will loan up to 80% of my appraised value).

3)   Collateral:  The value of your collector vehicle helps to increase your “net worth”. 

4)   Donation/Gift:  The IRS requires an appraisal for any gift to a charity or eligible museum, etc.  Further, the appraiser must complete and sign the appropriate IRS forms before you can take a tax deduction for your donation.  I have helped many museums and charities receive vehicle donations and helped the donors receive their proper tax deduction with the correct paperwork.

5)   Estate:  Because your collector vehicle has value it is part of your estate.  My appraisal helps prevent your heirs from being “ripped off” when they try to sell your vehicles).  It will also help your heirs determine how to divide your estate fairly.  Larger estates facing estate taxes can protect against overpayment of taxes.

6)   Divorce:  Yes, the “D word”.  Don’t ever let a court or some attorney determine what your vehicle is worth.

7)   Buying a Collector Vehicle:  A pre-purchase appraisal could protect you against overpaying for a vehicle.  It can also make a seller more reasonable in the asking price.  My appraisal establishes the loan value if you’re going to finance part of this purchase.

8)   Claim Settlement:  If you’re arguing with an insurance company over the value of your vehicle after a loss then my appraisal NOW can be a big help.  It’s not as easy to appraise a vehicle after an accident, fire, etc but it can be done if not too much time has gone by.

9)   Fraud:  Did you buy a vehicle “sight unseen” or over the internet and, when you received it, believe that you have been cheated?  My appraisal can help build your case.  Did you buy a vehicle because the owner said “matching numbers” and find out later that it’s not?  Was the vehicle advertised as having never been in an accident and you’ve discovered otherwise.  Did you discover flood damage?

10) Substandard Restoration:   Did you pay for a prize winning restoration only to find out that the only prize you will win is the “booby prize”?  Does the paint come off in the rain?  Is the chrome peeling three months later?  

Return to top

If you collect Automobilia then you should consider having some or all of it appraised to get the proper insurance coverage (and for many of the other same reasons that you would have your collector vehicle appraised). 

Automobilia may include, but is not limited to: porcelain signs, automobile toys, art, figurines, books and literature, sheet music, mascots, car parts (ex: brass lamps, horns, hub caps, etc), old auto tools, pedal cars, etc.  Mr. Barrett's experience and connections in the hobby can produce the proper appraisal of your automobilia.

Return to top

Return to top

This page has been visited times

This page was last updated on 10/17/09.