I am not scared of a salvage title (see other thread) but this is too high for most original non-salvage '75.
c-3 salvage title
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12
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From: Omaha NE
c-3 salvage title
C-3 question.
Found a 1975 on Craigslist. Has had a new interior, exhaust system, weatherstripping on t-tops. Needs a good tuneup and vacuum hose for headlights and a good paint job. The seller states it has a 'salvage' title.
He is asking 7000 for it. Waiting on some pics and looking at it in person, but should the salvage title throw up a red flag?
Thanks
m_s_campbell@hotmail.com
Found a 1975 on Craigslist. Has had a new interior, exhaust system, weatherstripping on t-tops. Needs a good tuneup and vacuum hose for headlights and a good paint job. The seller states it has a 'salvage' title.
He is asking 7000 for it. Waiting on some pics and looking at it in person, but should the salvage title throw up a red flag?
Thanks
m_s_campbell@hotmail.com
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
We just had a long thread on this issue....but your answer is "Yes". A salvage title is indicative that the car has been wrecked to the point of being "totaled out" by an insurance company. It has probably experienced significant frame and/or body repairs. The car will always have a 'black mark' on it for anyone considering buying it. If you think it's the car for you and you intend to keep it a long time, so be it. But it will never be able to command the selling price of those with a standard title. Unless the paint on that car is 'pristine', offer $5500-6000 for the car and see what happens. [Otherwise, take a pass.]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826
Likes: 119
From: Lincoln NE Riding and Driving Corvettes since 1967.
Why even mess with it? The car you buy now is the same car you will have to sell some day, and do you really want to spend more money on upgrades, maintenance and repairs to a car that 70-80% or the buyers will never even bother to show up to look at when YOU tell them you are selling a corvette with a salvage title? Its not the '75 in the world and you can probably buy just as nice 75 with no salvage title for the exact same money - why torture yourself???
Keep looking - there are plenty of good cars out there without buying a problem.
good luck with your search
bigredbrad
Keep looking - there are plenty of good cars out there without buying a problem.
good luck with your search
bigredbrad
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
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From: Chattanooga TN
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 872
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From: Cortlandt Manor New York
Work your way backward on the price. $7000 + Cheap paint $6000 + miscellaneous $1000 = $14000. Way too much for a 75 especially with a salvage title. Remember the questions you are asking are the same ones that will come up when you want to sell it. Salvage title is a 40% deduction for me.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 1
From: New Albany IN
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'06-'08-'09
I agree, if you are buying it now, you may sell it later, and what will that person say about a salvage title? I am sure you will have lots of money tied up into that you will probably never get back unless you find someone who doesn't care and is willing to pay a high price.
There are just too many out there with clean titles around the same price. Just move on to the next.
There are just too many out there with clean titles around the same price. Just move on to the next.
Last edited by Bruthish; Sep 1, 2008 at 07:53 PM.
Advanced
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From: Hermosa Beach CA
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Tampa FL
I thought all salvage titles had been washed through Georgia by now. 
Sounds like a flood car to me. That could explain a new interior and exhaust, coupled with a poorly running motor. Think about it ... why would someone replace an interior and install new exhaust on a car that ran like crap? Because the old interior had mold growing on it, and the exhaust was rusted out, that's why. Every time I've bought a car that "just needs a tune up" it needed to be rebuilt. Same as every car where the A/C "just needs a charge" it needed a new compressor. If it just needed a tuneup, or just needed a charge, the seller would give it a tuneup and charge and sell it for twice as much. So obviously it needs more than that.
Sounds like a flood car to me. That could explain a new interior and exhaust, coupled with a poorly running motor. Think about it ... why would someone replace an interior and install new exhaust on a car that ran like crap? Because the old interior had mold growing on it, and the exhaust was rusted out, that's why. Every time I've bought a car that "just needs a tune up" it needed to be rebuilt. Same as every car where the A/C "just needs a charge" it needed a new compressor. If it just needed a tuneup, or just needed a charge, the seller would give it a tuneup and charge and sell it for twice as much. So obviously it needs more than that.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,981
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
There's plenty of entry level C3s out there at decent prices. As was posted before, that price was nuts without the salvage title. I wouldn't sign on for trying to sell a car down the road with a ST anyway... too many better choices.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
If I were looking for a driver car.... If they had pictures showing the damage BEFORE it got fixed..... Then the salvage thing might not be a big deal. Be sure and get a copy of the pics so when you sell it....
A salvage title can come from ANY reason the insurance company/owner didn't want to fix the car. Stolen recovery with mechanical damage. Of course it could have been at the bottom of lake Huron for a month too. To be totaled it only has to be damaged to 75% total book valve.
And it could boil down to WHO's book value? So it might be worth a look but look VERY carefully and ask a lot of questions.
A salvage title can come from ANY reason the insurance company/owner didn't want to fix the car. Stolen recovery with mechanical damage. Of course it could have been at the bottom of lake Huron for a month too. To be totaled it only has to be damaged to 75% total book valve.
And it could boil down to WHO's book value? So it might be worth a look but look VERY carefully and ask a lot of questions.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 320
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My Stingray has a salvage title. I was allowed to take to and have it inspected by a local a couple of local vette mechanics. Both of them gave it a clean bill of health (with the exception of needing brakes and the carb rebuilt). The price was fit my budget. I also purchased knowing that I would never get out of it what I put in.
