Hi,
Looks like a very cool car. I've been an appraiser since the mid '90s. As you've found, its often hard to find someone local who you feel is qualified to properly appraise certain cars. Further muddying the waters are the proliferation of "inspection/appraisal" outfits whose primary function is to make sure that cars bought on Ebay are not being woefully misrepresented before a lending institution cuts a check. These are the places that send kids out with a checklist and they ask you if your 1969 Camaro has airbags or ABS.
As far as appraisal "certification", car appraisals are much less regulated than home or even jewelry appraisals. As such, I always tell my customers that they are well served to interview the appraiser and make sure that you're comfortable with their level of knowledge and process. Any process should include trying to procure as many hard data comparables as possible, because that's what really seems to sway arbitrators and courts.
The only certification I've come across in 20 years are the ones offered by whatever appraisal association the appraiser chooses to align with. I chose IAAA (
www.auto-appraisers.com) because they were the only one that only focused on specialty auto appraisers. I think they do a pretty good job vetting their members. I've been a member since 1996.
I'm not sure what number you're trying to hit, but if this black car is "all that and a bag of chips", then you've got a perfect comparable in that white '66 3.07 geared car that just sold. Big money, very similar history, and easily documented.
Good luck,
TOM BRESKE
Vintage Viewpoint LLC
Seattle, WA