I have a 2004 Liquid Silver Metallic GXP. It has every option except the sunroof. Since I live in Seattle, WA, I thought that might not be the best. On to my dilema. My car was backed into approx. 6 months ago (passenger side door, fender and sill plate were damaged to the tune of $2500.00) by a non-licensed 16 year old driver learning to drive with his father.
The insurance company (ryhmes with charmers) has paid for the repairs and they were satisfactory, however, I feel that because of the cars extremely limited production runs, in both 2004 and 2005, that this car is a collectable. I have taken the insurance company to small claims court to recover inherent diminished value as the car will never be worth what it would have been without having the damage from the accident. I have also been told by two painters that the paint will fade at a different rate than that of the original paint, requiring me to paint the entire car sometime in the future. I am seeking the diminished value based on a Kelley Blue Book evaluation as well as one by diminishedvalue.com.
The insurance company, of course, believes that they do not have to pay this as the car is NOT a collectable and has no special value over any other Bonneville much less any other like sized car! In fact, they made the statement that because the car has a couple of very small scratches (from bushes I parked too close to) the car CANNOT be classified as a collectable because it is not PERFECT!! Needless to say, it looks as though I'm dealing with idiots . . . with lawyers and lots of disposable money for a case like this, but IDIOTS!
My question . . . finally. I am looking for any letters of support attesting to the rarity, desireability and/or collectability of the 2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP. Furthermore, if someone who is an expert in auto appraising or body shop work, or anyone for that matter, would be willing to send me a notarized statement of support, I will gladly reimbuse you for the cost of getting it notarized and your postage to send it to me. I need to receive any statement no later than May 5th, 2006. The court case is scheduled for May 15th, 2006. Please respond to my email address (jdlynn@dogday.net) expressing your intent to help and I will send you my physical address to send your statement to.
This car is, without reservation, the most incredible, most impressive car I've ever owned as well as being the very first one I bought brand new; heck, it had only 7 miles on it when I picked it up!!
Thank you in advance for anyone who can assist me with this endeavor.

John, as much as I admire you (particularly being a neighbor and fellow Bonneville owner) I must warn you that you cannot get the GXP classified as a collectible by simply arguing for that point.

The car must be of a certain age, and certain limited production criteria must be met. Keep in mind that fewer than 5000 SSEi'* were produced in any given year. That'* rare too. And in 1997, only 600 40th Anniversary SSEi'* were produced. These rare cars cannot be classified as collectible either.

You're going to have to find another angle for compensation than the collectible.

Plus, they are likely to aregue that if you fancy it a collectible car, that it should not see daily use. Unfortunately no judge will rule in favour of it being a collectible, as doing so would require them to make a prediction as to the future value of the vehicle, which they will be quite unwilling to do.

There are simply too many variables involved that go to making a vehicle "collectible," and it would require too much guess work to try and determine the desirability of a new car into the future.

Thank you for the input so far. I am not arguing that it is a collectable, only that because of limited production numbers and rarity, it will be one day. My apologies for not making that clear. The adjuster from the insurance company has already stated that should I sell my car, she would then discuss what monies I've lost at that time. I feel that if this is the case, they are admitting that diminished value exists. As far as a daily driver, I also own a 1972 SS/RS Camaro (factory air, original engine and interior, etc.) that I drive 2, 3 times a week depending on the weather. The fact that it is driven makes it no less a collectable or a rare car that is highly desired. I still need to have it insured for $22K!!

John