Far out! Stolen VW van recovered 35 years later
By David Menzies
According to those in law enforcement, if a stolen vehicle doesn’t resurface within two weeks of being swiped, chances are those wheels are gone for good.
Just try telling that to Michelle Squires.
Back in 1974, a 1965 Volkswagen bus belonging to Squires (whose surname was Carlson back then) was stolen in Spokane, Wash.
Days turned into weeks and it appeared as though her VW was long gone. Thus, Squires was eventually paid a settlement of a few hundred dollars for her lost property by her insurance company, Allstate. Such a sum was considered fair market value for a nine-year-old VW van back when Richard Nixon was president.
But lo and behold – more than three decades later, Squires’ hippie-mobile was recovered by U.S. customs agents in Los Angeles. (The vehicle was in a shipping container destined for Europe.)
If anything, the thief certainly took tender loving care of the blue and white VW: the van is in near-mint condition thanks to a complete restoration job.
But here’s where the story gets interesting: Squires – who says she still has fond memories of her van – would like it back.
Squires, alas, doesn’t have that kind of coin.
In the meantime, the California Highway Patrol has turned over the van to Allstate. The company is planning to have the vehicle formally appraised, whereupon it will go through the process of obtaining a replacement title before selling the VW at auction.
My take: technically, the VW does indeed belong to Allstate. But wouldn’t it be a public relations grand slam for the company if it was to return the van to Squires? (And certainly, insurance firms need all the positive PR they can muster these days.)
Fair is fair: Squires should reimburse Allstate for the money that was paid out to her in 1974 (adjusted to 2009 dollars) and Allstate should return the VW to Squires.
After all, it was the thief – not the insurer – who paid for the restoration of the van. And it just doesn’t seem all that groovy that a major corporation stands to profit from the misfortune of others.
Posted by: Myownopinion... | 2009-11-13 10:29:31 AM
Imagine that Allstate commercial. I can see it now, the VW in the background with the lady telling the story. Than the Allstate man at the end with his deep concerning voice "With Allstate, your in good hands".
Its not to often an insurance company doesnt actually have to make an excuse to make themselves look good. They would be crazy not to jump on this!
Posted by: TheorenZ | 2009-11-13 9:43:22 PM
"And it just doesn’t seem all that groovy that a major corporation stands to profit from the misfortune of others."
Yeah, insurance companies are the ultimate in moral do-gooders. That's why my rates went up 15% this year. Same car (now one year older), same driver (now with one more year driving experience), same address, same coverage, same deductible, no accidents, tickets or fines. FIFTEEN percent increase for no reason.
I doubt Allstate will do anything less than auction this vehicle off for its current market value.
Posted by: Ron | 2009-11-13 9:43:33 PM
You are dreaming if you think Allstate will do the proper thing and return the van to the owner. That is the last company in the world that will miss a chance to rip off its clients for the maximum amount of bucks possible. Watch for one of the Allstate Executives driving the classic van home, for one of his kids, after paying about $50. to the company for it. She will NEVER see that van again. Thats Allstate Reality.
Posted by: Howie | 2009-11-13 9:49:32 PM
Would not be right if an Insurance company didn't get the upper hand. Co-Operators managed to put me on the street.
Posted by: 48 Mick | 2009-11-13 10:38:42 PM
The van should go back to its rightful owner, and the thief should pay the tab. Insurance companies (particularly auto insurance) are one of the biggest ripoffs on the planet.
Posted by: Lady Dragon | 2009-11-13 11:20:04 PM
This is without a doubt a cool story, and I for one would love to see the vehicle returned to Squires. Alas, business is business, and having worked in the insurance industry for 20 plus years, I know that insurers are not known to have a heart. I will happily eat my shorts if Allstate agrees to your proposition Mr. Menzies.
Posted by: Cuckhold Don | 2009-11-13 11:20:17 PM
It's really too bad that large corporations have so much power in North America!
We know that Allstate will not "Give" it back(infact they will try to see a profit)!
I Mean; This is a company that left huricane victums high& dry (on tecnicalitys)--A lot of us canadians know better than to deal with these types of companies(when we hear reports like that we don't deal with those companies no matter how "Good" the deal because "It may not end up being a good deal afterall!
This is why So many (Non Americans) don't trust Most Americans!!
These corporatins think that money is everything(no need for morals)--Well-Knowlage is allso power!
Here's hopeing that under your new & improved "Leadership" things will get better!
Cuckhold Don
Posted by: Darlin | 2009-11-14 11:15:04 AM
Hey: I had a 1959 Pontiac Laurentian stolen from vancouver, B.C. and it was found a year later. I bought back my car for the price I settled for a year earlier.
It belongs to Squires and not the Insurance Company. She should be allowed to pay them back the settlement and get her VW back . Allstate did'nt restore the vehicle. They have no right to profit off of a theft. GIVE HER BACK HER VW .........................
We have a 55 Chevrolet now and shes well protected lol Darlin
Posted by: Mitch | 2009-11-14 9:32:31 PM
This is not just an American problem. After an accident in 1990, with an 1987 Omni, the insurance company offered $1600 for a car appraised at $5000, and they keep the car. They talked to my lawyer next and the car was fixed. They are all crooks the same as banks, no matter what country. I live in Nova Scotia, Canada. No jokes about Omni's they were good cars, and excellent in winter.
Posted by: Pauls | 2009-11-16 1:03:13 AM
Yes ,but maybe the contratr back then does NOT specify that if it is recovered after 35 years ALLsTATE owns it,and of course if she accepted the money....Big companies have NO heart we all know that.The owner had NO choice in it being stolen,her ownership was also stolen ,but was it ever transfered to ALLSTATE.Do we not conserve the right to buy back our stolen property for the price we got for it ? I thought we did.
Posted by: Pauls | 2009-11-16 1:06:08 AM
Hello ! Please keep us posted somehow ! Thanks.
Posted by: bruce | 2009-11-16 2:53:05 AM
David Menzies, you don't know a lot about how the world works.
"After all, it was the thief – not the insurer – who paid for the restoration of the van. "
You seem to think the bad guy got screwed. Not so. Customs found the Bus in a container headed for Europe. Vehicles don't go into containers until after they are paid for. The only person that got screwed is the innocent buyer in Holland.
Posted by: Luke J. Gagnon | 2009-11-16 3:41:28 AM
We all live in a environment of hardship (some with only a bird's eye view), natural disasters, loss of jobs, deal with elements which lack integrity, empathy and values. Allstate has an opportunity at hand to model the way and nourish not only Ms Squires soul, but all readers who feed or are motivated when good deeds are done.
Posted by: Daniel | 2009-11-16 4:05:16 AM
If Allsate gives back the car i'll fall off my chair...
Posted by: Wally | 2009-11-16 4:43:38 AM
This story is almost exactly the same as another that happened about three years ago.Alan Poster who lived in New York in 1969 had his beautiful 68 corvette stolen.They found it,you guessed it,in a shipping container at the port of Long Beach destined for a buyer in Sweden.It had also been restored and painted a different colour.The clincher,Port authorities tracked Poster down and gave him his car back after 37 years and because he had not insured it,it was all his.Moral of the story?Don't buy insurance?
Posted by: Kringle | 2009-11-16 4:50:19 AM
I deal with insuranse companys all the time - I wonder what there policy was about right to ownership when something was stolen and found at a much later date when the VW Van
was stole in 1974, and if Mrs Squires was not notified about admenments and updates
interesting case, I would say Squires still has legal rights to claim the VW Van,
statue of limitation may not apply --
as for State Farm -- BOOOOOOOO
Posted by: Steve | 2009-11-16 4:56:34 AM
Anyone who thinks that Allstate would do anything to benefit the customer Clearly doesn't remember Hurricane Andrew or anything else Allstate has had the misfortune of covering. Best thing for her to do would be to go down, take some pictures of the van and focus on the good memories she had in it, because odds are that's all she'll be able to do.
Posted by: ree botsis | 2009-11-16 6:16:28 AM
give the van back to the original owner please......
peace....
wake up the owner is the owner....
Posted by: BD | 2009-11-16 7:00:21 AM
Allsate had already paid out a settlement before the van was found. Therefore, in my mind Allstate owns the van. Michelle Squires should have to participate in the auction to buy the van, as a anyone else does.
BTW, Allstate eas my sister's insurance company and all they ended up with was rip off...
Posted by: dave | 2009-11-16 7:20:14 AM
yea its allstate what else would you expect