Insurance Surcharges for Hemi Road Runners?

[Dibbons]

I wonder what surcharge was added to '68 - '71 Hemi Road Runners were (compared to the 383/340 insurance rates)? Any one have access to such historical data or maybe even first-hand knowledge? Just curious.

One more thing, did Chrysler run any adds on television or any other media in 1971 which promoted/offered/advertised the Hemi motor option?

 

[flypaper]

no such thing as a surcharge in the 70's,that was a 80's thing. lol
they were charged a higher rate
and the amount would not be that much ( remember min wage was under 2 dollars then)
compared to what they pick your pocket for today.

 

[Photon440]

If there were no surcharges in 1971, why would Plymouth put out this ad?

This print ad mentioned both the 440 6-bbl and Hemi.

 

[Dibbons]

That is what I mean, the Hemi is "mentioned" as an option, but was it ever promoted, bragged-on, praised, or suggested as something desirable in 1971 Chrysler literature/advertisements?

 

[Jerry Hall]

I wonder what surcharge was added to '68 - '71 Hemi Road Runners were (compared to the 383/340 insurance rates)? Any one have access to such historical data or maybe even first-hand knowledge? Just curious.

One more thing, did Chrysler run any adds on television or any other media in 1971 which promoted/offered/advertised the Hemi motor option?

My first new car was in 1967 and it was at the beginning of the insurance crisis on high performance cars. I bought a 67 Satellite 383 4-speed. My insurance agent at the time was a guy probably only a little older than me. Being I got the Satellite even with the supposedly biggest engine available in that car that year he was able to insure it as a Belvedere V8 straight shift which he would not have been able to do for a GTX. The rate for a GTX was almost twice that of my car.

 

[Photon440]

Well, the Hemi-Cuda (the one on the right) was talked about in this ad.

 

[Dibbons]

OK, that's one for the 1971 Hemi, but not in the 1971 Road Runner (yet).

 

[Jerry Hall]

Insurance regulations, Nascar racing, and accident claims on drivers under 25 is in my opinion what killed the Hemi engine for the street. Along with gas prices dramatically increasing.

 

[66Satellite47]

If there were no surcharges in 1971, why would Plymouth put out this ad?
View attachment 843650

This print ad mentioned both the 440 6-bbl and Hemi.
View attachment 843651

flypaper was making a joke about the term "surcharge". Fact is that there was a big difference between the "standard rate" & the "performance car rate". The factory's got smart about this and began the "rated HP" adjustment game (not just for the racing sanctioning bodies). The insurance companies looked at advertised HP & advertised 0-60 times and put a higher price on policies for those cars. A perfect example is the Mopar 340 cars, advertised at 275 HP, they didn't get the higher rates, even though a killer street motor. My '70 Barracuda 383 2BBL also fell into "standard" rate group. Of course it became an Edelbrock/3310 Holley, headers vehicle, but the VIN remained the same to the insurance company. Eventually the insurance folks wised up to maximize their profits.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I don't understand how insurance costs (supposedly) were so high for back-in-the-day musclecars and yet today's even more muscular musclecars aren't affected by high insurance rates. Not that I'm complaining, just saying..

 

[Darter6]

I remember going to get insurance with my father for my 70 340 Duster.This was in 1974, I was 17. The agent told us "Good thing this is a 3 speed instead of a 4 speed as your rate would be much higher."

 

[66Satellite47]

I remember going to get insurance with my father for my 70 340 Duster.This was in 1974, I was 17. The agent told us "Good thing this is a 3 speed instead of a 4 speed as your rate would be much higher."

Ya, by '74 the insurance guys had caught on to the low HP rating on the 340. I don't recall that 3 spd vs 4 spd rating diff, but like I said several variables in their calc.

 

[Budnicks]

it was the youth & under 21 crowd
youth movement, driving & buying Muscle cars
more than just Muscle cars themselves
(under 29, especially when single, was much higher IIRC, no matter the cars)

my 68 Sport Sat. with a 383 4bbl 330hp 4 speed was cheaper
than my 68 RR 383 335hp 4bbl 4 speed (back in 1979-80-ish)
it's basically the same car with a different hood & trim levels
they wanted to rape the consumer, extortion $$$ = insurance

insurance is like 'the Mobs' protection scam
pay US we'll protect you, just in case $$$