Let's talk salvage titles if we may Options

[Tdskip]

First off let me say that I know they'll be lots of room for personal opinions here, with some people holding the opinion that with cars of our vintage a salvage title isn't that big of a deal if it comes from a non-critical issue back when the cars weren't worth much.

I just looked at exactly such a car that was totaled by the insurance company over what today we would look at as a minor bump. Back when it happened, close to 15 years ago, I'm sure a $1500 repair was probably enough of a threshold to total the car so the insurance company wrote it off and the previous owner bought it back and then never restored it like he thought he was going to when he bought it back.

So all that brings us to today - otherwise clean car that had some rust repair done to a solid but not cosmetically attractive level, just needs an engine to be back on the road. 17's that are ready to Bolton can be readily had for not a whole lot money and you can see where the rest of this thought process goes. Except, except, except the shell has a salvage title.

I was thinking I would just throw this thing together and then drive it for six months and sell it, which I do in a heartbeat if I didn't have a salvage title but I'm worried that even at driver pricing ($4000?) i'll get stuck with it because other people will get the heebie-jeebies about the salvage title just like me.

What do you all think?

[Amphicar770]

Friend bought a salvage title BMW cheap and got several problem free years out of it. Selling it was a whole different story even though it was in great shape. Most people will automatically take a pass. Documentation is critical. Can you prove it was only minor damage when it comes time to sell?

[Unobtanium-inc]

Friend bought a salvage title BMW cheap and got several problem free years out of it. Selling it was a whole different story even though it was in great shape. Most people will automatically take a pass. Documentation is critical. Can you prove it was only minor damage when it comes time to sell?

Sometimes the Carfax has a lot of detail on the damage, so you can get lucky that way. Or whoever fixed it may have photos. You have to have before photos for the salvage inspection, some people save them. But it is usually heavy damage in order to total a car out, except for flood, that can total a car quick, but actual damage has to be over half to 2/3 the value of the car to total it, causing the salvage fun to begin.