One thing I've wondered about lately is the difference between the
(relatively high) asking price, especially on free ad media, and the
(unknown) final sales price. For instance, there's an average-looking 1981
AC Westy for sale on the SF Bay Area CL for $7,850 right now, and a nice 2WD
1991 for $24,500. You tend to see the same ads coming up, month after month,
which leads me to suspect the selling price is far lower than the asking.
Someone in SF has been trying to sell an '85 Westy for about three months,
asking price $3,000. Who knows what that seller would accept. There was a
beater in San Jose for under $1000.

Free or low cost advertising leads to pie-in-the-sky pricing, with sellers
who are not desperate just seeing what the market will bear. If they had to
pay $150 for a classified ad, they would price it to sell. I paid $1,950 for
my '84 Westy a year or so ago, but I would not have paid double that--I
don't have the money to experiment with a second car that is, after all,
more of a hobby than a necessity.

If I were an insurance underwriter, I would  be interested in what these
vans really sell for. Ebay is better than CL or Samba in this regard, but
even there, you never know what happens in final negotiations.

My own take on insurance is eliminate or minimize collision and
comprehensive, and put your premiums in a savings account. Over the years
you come out ahead.