Australian Man Goes To Extreme Lengths To Protect His Car From Hail
Andrew Koole
· 3 min read
Hail
is notorious for how quickly it can destroy cars. It’s especially disastrous for rare classic cars
and their collectors.It’s this potential catastrophe that led Jake Donaldson to take some desperate measures to protect his car from a storm that hit Sydney, Australia in October. A TikTok video shows him sacrificing his own body to avoid having his Toyota Mark IV Supra damaged.
TheDrive
reports that his attempts were successful, but the anxiety Donaldson expresses in the clip illustrates the devastation hail can cause and the lengths some car enthusiasts will go to keep their vehicles safe.
The effect of hail damage on a car’s value
The dents left on your car’s exterior after a hailstorm can be devastating to its resale value.
Merton Autobody
in Sussex, Wisconsin says the damage, if left unrepaired, can cut a car’s value by one-third. Fixing the dents can be expensive, too. Depending on their size, each spot can cost between $30 and $100 to repair. Especially for older, less-valuable cars, the cost of the work could end up exceeding the value of the car.
But you don’t have to be left in the lurch.
Comprehensive coverage
will take care of these types of repair costs. Depending on the situation, it might make sense to make a claim to save you from having to choose between paying out of pocket and losing money when you resell.What’s so special about a Toyota Mark IV Supra?
MORE: How Much Does Car Insurance Pay for Hail Damage?
Depending on your age, the following statement might make you feel old, but cars from the ‘90s
are classics now
. Besides the traditional 25-year cut-off date, interest in the era’s models is increasing—Toyota Supras included.TheDrive made note of this in its coverage of Donaldson’s act of self-sacrifice, referencing the sale of a 1995 Mark IV Supra that sold for a jaw-dropping $126,000 on BringATrailer in 2020. A year before, one from 1994 with only 11,000 miles went for $173,000.
That’s a massive jump from what the car was worth out of the gate. In 1994, you could get your hands on a Mark IV Supra for $36,000. Even after factoring in inflation, the car’s auction prices are still over $100,000 more than its original value.
Owning a classic car
People own classic cars for a variety of reasons. Some like the job of repairing, restoring, or
modifying
an old car. The more wealthy enthusiasts treat them as investments, buying desirable models in good condition and then selling them when their values increase.Whatever goals you have for your classic car, shopping for
classic car insurance
with Jerry
will help you save money. Jerry is a personal insurance broker that lives in your pocket. But don’t worry about buying tiny office furniture, Jerry is an app. Once you download Jerry, just answer a handful of questions that will take you roughly 45 seconds to complete and you’ll immediately get car insurance quotes for coverage similar to your current plan. Jerry customers save an average of $887 a year.
