Rebuilt title???
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 43
From: Choctaw Country
If you can get it cheap then it might be a deal for you.
However......don't plan on getting your money out of it if you ever want to sell.
You can see by the mixed reactions here on the forum that a vehicle title like that generates, imagine out there in the uninformed world.
There's a reason for that title being the way it is, so remember .....buyer beware NOW,,,,,so I don't have to tell you "I told you so" later,,,
However......don't plan on getting your money out of it if you ever want to sell.
You can see by the mixed reactions here on the forum that a vehicle title like that generates, imagine out there in the uninformed world.
There's a reason for that title being the way it is, so remember .....buyer beware NOW,,,,,so I don't have to tell you "I told you so" later,,,
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 845
Likes: 12
From: LAKE BARRINGTON IL
OK. so went to check it out yesterday. Car is pretty much there, as for the damage, the
driver's side lower control arm attachment
(where it bolts onto the crossmember/ the one closer to the firewall) appeared to be welded back. since the engine is not there, the frame did not appear to have any weld spots or changes in congruence from the front to as far as I could get into the trans tunnel with a flashlight and my hand....
so that most likely is the spot...otherwise just needs a paintjob and interior work.....so thinking about it b/c of the low price......
any thoughts?
Factor
driver's side lower control arm attachment
(where it bolts onto the crossmember/ the one closer to the firewall) appeared to be welded back. since the engine is not there, the frame did not appear to have any weld spots or changes in congruence from the front to as far as I could get into the trans tunnel with a flashlight and my hand....
so that most likely is the spot...otherwise just needs a paintjob and interior work.....so thinking about it b/c of the low price......
any thoughts?
Factor
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If that is the only way you will be able to afford the C3 that you want, go for it. But, be aware that you will be spending higher dollars buying all the pieces/parts that are missing. You might be money ahead [in the long run] by spending more on a nice "driver" car that is already running and intact.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 845
Likes: 12
From: LAKE BARRINGTON IL
7t1vette,
yeah, but the parts seem to be all there....I have a 350 and t400 for it...it has the driveshaft, shroud, radiator....besides a 4w brake job and paint...it seems to be do-able....
you are right, the price is good for that year and I always wanted an early C3 (69-73), and right now...yeah, it is all i can afford.......but not sure if I would ever re-sell it, so I am hesitant on the title.....
Factor
yeah, but the parts seem to be all there....I have a 350 and t400 for it...it has the driveshaft, shroud, radiator....besides a 4w brake job and paint...it seems to be do-able....
you are right, the price is good for that year and I always wanted an early C3 (69-73), and right now...yeah, it is all i can afford.......but not sure if I would ever re-sell it, so I am hesitant on the title.....
Factor
hardworkinman
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
From: TN
I bought a Lexus with a title like this. The car wasn't hurt bad, air bags did not explode, but the insurance company totaled it. If I had planned on keeping the car, which I should have, it was a great car, then it wouldn't have been a problem. But, when I went to sell it, I didn't think I would ever get it sold. Everybody was scarred of the car because of the title. I had before pics of the damage, but, it didn't matter. I for one will NEVER buy another car with a rebuilt or salvage title. If you are planning on keeping the car, and it is cheap enough, buy it. But, if you are planning on trying to flip it for a buck, don't do it.
Just my .02 cents worth...
Just my .02 cents worth...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
I also had an '89 305 TPI 5-sp IROC Camaro. It had run under a fence and had barbed wire scratches all the way to the roof. Paid $1550 for it, drove it a few weeks before I did anything. Then I replaced ground effects, nose, and 1 fender. Never had it aligned or did anything to the cold a/c. Drove it about 40k miles, and sold it for $1800. Probably the best all-around car I ever owned.
Salvage history will hurt you at resale, no question. But if you know what you are doing, you can buy it right and have a nice ride.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
The bottom line is: a rebuilt title will not appeal to a definite subset of buyers, so when you go to sell you are shrinking your buyer base, making it harder to sell, you will have to drop your price, to gain that buyer base back.. or buy it cheaper to take that into account...
simple...
this is sort of like left handed scissors, or manual transmission cars.. hard to sell due to a smaller number of buyers..
simple...
this is sort of like left handed scissors, or manual transmission cars.. hard to sell due to a smaller number of buyers..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
I have a 69 Mustang fastback that has a salvage title. We got the car cheap, but it has always bothered me that people react the way they do to a salvage title. If you are gettng a bargain price on a two year old BMW 7 series and it has a salvage title, you are probably dealing with "frankencar" and you would be wise to steer clear. The amount of damage it would take to total a new(ish) luxury car is pretty severe. With old cars, they almost all passed through that period when they just weren't worth much on the used car market. Get into a relatively minor fender bender in that period and there's a better than average possibility that the car could be totaled. Once totaled, if it is put back on the road, it is a salvage. I've owned my 69 fastback for 14 years. When I bought it, it showed no signs of a major accident or major repairs. Everything was aged about the same underneath and there were no obvious weld seams. The car aligns properly and handles normally. I think the right front fender was crunched at one time and replaced by the salvor. The big fear of salvage titles is, I believe, the hiding place for those who are incapable of evaluating a car for themselves or too lazy to do so.
Last edited by RagTop69; Sep 2, 2008 at 04:55 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 845
Likes: 12
From: LAKE BARRINGTON IL
thanks all for the help and info....but I walked....I factored (no pun intended) the decrease in value of the rebuilt status and the guy was not budging.....so his loss....
all the best,
Factor
all the best,
Factor
