Paul Ianuario has been writing automobile appraisals in the USA and Europe since 1982 and has successfully combined his professional career with his automotive hobby.  In 1995, after 31 years in the automotive field, he became the BMW Museum Curator in Greer, SC.  His personally restored cars have won some of the very most prestigious National Awards.  His just completed 1908 Cadillac Tulip Touring car (pictured) won the “Amelia Award” for “Outstanding Restoration” at the 2002 Amelia Island Concour in March and has also won its National 1^st Junior and National Senior Awards from the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) in 2002. He has driven on the BMW Mille Miglia Race Team for the last three years, winning twice.  He is a respected Judge at Concour events across the USA and Europe each year.  He served on the Board of Directors of the AACA National Museum and has also written articles for a number of national publications.

   Paul Ianuario with his 1908 Cadillac Tulip Tourer

 Paul Ianuario is living the dream.

 Isn’t Paul Ianuario the one you want to write your appraisal?

 Our motto is….

“Hobbyists Helping Hobbyists”

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

 Paul’s professional automotive career as an engineer (degrees in engineering, mathematics, and physics) included Babcock & Wilcox (6.5 years), Federal Mogal (2.0 years), Michelin Tire (21.5 years), and GM Delphi (1.0 year) before he became a Consultant to BMW and the Curator of the BMW Museum in Greer, SC where he has been since 1995.  Paul’s company, SLR Support Services, provides consulting services and support for museums and vehicle related events.  In addition to his design work for the BMW Museum he played an important role in the development of the new AACA National Museum in Pennsylvania as Director of Interior Concepts.  He has done work for the Guggenheim Museum, the Peterson Museum in LA, The Eckert, etc.  In addition to his position with BMW Paul has recently been hired as the Planning and Development Director for the new South Carolina Motorsports Museum which will begin construction soon in Spartanburg, SC.

In the automobile hobby he belongs to 18 national car clubs and is currently the President of the AACA Single Cylinder Cadillac International Region. Over the years he has been a Region/Chapter President, etc of several clubs within these national car clubs as well as local clubs.

As a race car driver and navigator he has participated in the IMSA Firehawk series in the early 1980’s and as a driver & navigator for the BMW Race Team in the world famous Mile Miglia Race in Italy since 2000.  This 1,000-mile event is held each year in the mountains of Italy and is a flat-out speed race for cars of the pre-WW II vintage. Drivers of these cars also serve as their own mechanics if the car needs repairs on the race course. The BMW Team has won this event in 2000 & 2002.

Paul has been long recognized as one of the very best vehicle judges in this country and in Europe.  Each year he is invited to be a Concour Judge at events such as Amelia Island, Michelin “Alternative Fuels Concour” in LA, Glenmore Concour, Eastern US Concour, Radnor Manor Concour, Castle Hill, and others.

His personally restored vehicles have been of the highest quality and have won numerous National Awards including having won the “Amelia Award” for outstanding restoration with two different cars, the Burheig Trophy for Best Cord by the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg  (ACD) Museum, “Best in Show” at the ACD National Meet, “Gold” Award by the Austin Healey Registry, AACA Grand National awards, etc.

 Whenever you need a professional appraisal in SC think of Paul Ianuario first and contact him at Ianuario@i-van.org or at (864) 433-6886.  Paul travels extensively and is occasionally available for appraisals across the USA, and in Canada and Europe.

Vehicles Currently Owned

Club Memberships

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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.

Our motto is….

“Hobbyists Helping Hobbyists”

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” (ie: 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?  

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Paul Ianuario is a Certified Appraiser with I-VAN – International Vehicle Appraiser Network.  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.  Some of our Certified Appraisers also do Diminished Value, Fraud, and Lemon Law appraisals.  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.

Our motto is….

“Hobbyists Helping Hobbyists”

Now you can have your rod or custom 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” (ie: 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?

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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. Ianuario’s experience and connections in the hobby can produce the proper appraisal of your automobilia.

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This page was last updated on 03/12/05.