Salvage titles

[KANE]

Hijinx brought this to my attention in my MISC RAMBLINGS post- the salvage title.

As I indicated in my post, you always find mysterious repairs concieved in a galaxy far, far away on any project. Particularly true of salvage title vehicles.

So, if its a salvage title, does that REALLY mean anything? For a 25 year old car I truly doubt it. Especially if the repairs are done right or erroneous ones are re-evaluated and then made right. Lets face it- like relationships in life we all take on a little more baggage the longer we stick around.

But there are cases where a salvage maybe the only way to get what one wants for the price they want it. Or if there is a significant association with the car in question. This is usually true of classic race cars that are brought back from the grave to lead the fight again.

Does it make a diffeence or is it just in how you tell the story-

ALL ORIGINAL
-or-
RESTORED


Does it truly matter? Especially if you want it bad enough?

 

[78SilvAnniv]

If everything...

....works and is safe and reliable, I really wouldn't care how a classic car came to live in my garage.
Heidi

 

[kevoinc]

Good thread..................I bought my car from my uncle,a certified Gm mechanic.........he bought my car when it was less than a yr old.It was stolen from a dealers lot,i t was stripped of the engine, trans,stereo system,wheels and tires.My uncle put in a brand new motor,trans and all the rest and he has taken unbelievable care of her.So my vette comes up on carfax as having a salvage title in its history...it no longer has one tho.But I know that my baby is one solid ride,so I guess a salvage title doesn`t always mean bad.

 

[vetahlk]

I have a good friend that is a chevy dealer and he scared the heck out of me after I bought my 93 with a salvage title. He's out of town so he could not look at it for me, but he made sure that his dad's vette mechanic(one of the best in town) gave it a once over for me. After it passed inspection my buddy let up on me and said I wasn't so dumb after all.

A little history on my car. It was in a wreck and the owner talked the insurance company into totaling the car. The guy I bought it from was a body man (a friend of a friend, that's how I found out about it) and had bought it for himself from the insurance company. He rebuilt it and drove it for three years after it had sat in his shop for a couple of years while he worked on it in his spare time.

Advantages to my purchase. I got a low milage(34,000) 93 vette for about half the market price. Because people are afraid of salvage titled cars. The car is in super shape and well maintained. I can't tell the difference, most people can't tell the difference. Its red, fast and it's a VETTE!!!!!!!!!!! :cool Only my mechanic knows for sure.

I was fortunate, I found a good one. I intend to drive it until the wheels fall off or my son takes it away because I'm too old to drive!

 

[patsnitrovette]

My brother buys salvage cars all the time,hes probably had 50 or more in the last few years,his latest is a 98 lincoln lsc with a 32v cobra motor for 1800.00, 52,000 miles,now runs low 13,s only needed right front fender and door, a 98 sable wagon with 13,000 miles for 3000.00,a 96 caddy eldorado with northstar motor for 1500.00,my dad just got a 2001 ford superduty f450 turbo diesel 4 door dually limited edition with leather interior and everything else you could get with 60,000 on it he just got it done he has $22,000 in it,it listed for $52,000,in 86 i bought a 86 mustang gt with 3,000 miles on it hit right up the center i bought it for $1700.00,a salvage car fixed right is ok.you can get some good deals.

 

[Hijinx]

For classic cars it kills the value to a true collector. For most of us, if the work was done right, will never care. However, you can get in a lot of trouble for not disclosing this up front. If I had wanted to I could have called the guys I bought the Camaro from and the state would have been all over them. Thats the only real issue.