can it be repaired
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
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Cruise-In V Veteran
I've had 2 Salvage Title Cars. (guess I didn't learn my lesson on the first one). In Cali, the crap I had to go through was crazy. Then I had a really Hard time selling both cars later, cause I had to convince the buyer what happen and get him to believe me. If the Price was too Low they thought something was up and walked away, when the Price was Fair, they still thought something was up and walked away.
Bottom line for me was Time=Money and the Time I spent on the first one put me in the Red. Now for the Second one, which was a BMW, I parted it out and almost doubled my money.
......I'm smelling a Parts Car here.
Bottom line for me was Time=Money and the Time I spent on the first one put me in the Red. Now for the Second one, which was a BMW, I parted it out and almost doubled my money.
......I'm smelling a Parts Car here. I lived near a place that parted out unwrecked trucks.
There is good money to be made. The only way I'd consider buying this car is to parts it out and use the profits to buy a good one. As much as I love my C5 (original owner), I would not fix it if it had that damage.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 705
Likes: 0
From: Queens NY
A competent body shop can do the repair by welding in a new frame section. The big problem I have found with salvageable cars is the initial cost of the purchase plus the cost of the repair adds up to more than just going out and buying a non-damaged used car. Once you add up the cost of the frame section replacement, door replacement, floor panel replacement, rocker replacement, quarter replacement, painting and labor how much will you have in the car when you include the purchase price? Can you buy one that isn't damaged for the same investment or less?
Bill
Bill
C5's are a dime a dozen nowadays, for the price of the car plus repair cost you're probably looking at close to buying a clean title one instead.Don't forget, Corvette parts are anything buy cheap. I'd gotten into a front end collision - just body damage, front bumper/cover, headlights, fogs lights, hood & misc parts (frame was fine, styrofoam bumpers ok, air filter assembly undamaged...the air bags didn't even go off) -- repair cost: $7,700
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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It's your money, but if it were me, I'd pass. There are too many other non-damaged cars out there at a good price to consider one that has damage like that.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,723
Likes: 1
From: VIETNAM 64/65-67/68 FL
A Question For You
Have you ever followed a car in the rain and discovered it was making four tracks instead of two ??
Hint.. if they step on the brakes hard = 360
I think you better listen to these guys, they may save you a lot of grief.
Hint.. if they step on the brakes hard = 360
I think you better listen to these guys, they may save you a lot of grief.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 706
Likes: 0
From: Clearwater FL
Is the car making 4 tracks because it has frame damage and is off balance? That's something seriously wrong with a vehicle that you can't tell just by looking at it.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,723
Likes: 1
From: VIETNAM 64/65-67/68 FL
The two i know of personally are in the junkyard, i towed both of them there.
The frames being bent caused them to make circles on the blacktop when the brakes were applied hard. And i am no expert by far just relating some personal experience.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Plano Texas
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Some were repairable - making them look, drive, and perform like they never were in an accident.
Looking at the pictures you've provided - this one DOES NOT qualify.
Look some more at non- wrecked C5's
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Walk away or better yet run! Not worth the money! Better to pay a little more for one in good shape!
My '98 coupe 78,000 on the clock and $17,000 price not bad and it hauls butt!
Thanks,Matt
My '98 coupe 78,000 on the clock and $17,000 price not bad and it hauls butt!
Thanks,Matt
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,664
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From: Wellsboro Pa
A competent body shop can do the repair by welding in a new frame section. The big problem I have found with salvageable cars is the initial cost of the purchase plus the cost of the repair adds up to more than just going out and buying a non-damaged used car. Once you add up the cost of the frame section replacement, door replacement, floor panel replacement, rocker replacement, quarter replacement, painting and labor how much will you have in the car when you include the purchase price? Can you buy one that isn't damaged for the same investment or less?
Bill
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,501
Likes: 1
From: TAMPA BAY FL.
Salvage title will hurt follow on sale - whenever that is. Anything can be fixed - frames can be straightened, but usually we are talking about steel frames. Steel is ductile. Aluminum less so, so unless you have a Corvette specialist who can speak to straightening that aluminum frame - walk away. Get the repair estimate, subtract 40-50% from retail value to cover the salvage issue and do some arithmetic. Walking away is wisest since repairs always have hidden issues uncovered in process.
that rocker panel area is one of the hardest to repair on a vette. I read somewhere the quarters have to come off to replace that. most shops just bondo the hell out of it.
Last edited by Z28TOZO6; Feb 26, 2007 at 02:14 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
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From: Delray Beach FL
Last year, there was a young guy (18-21...somewhere in there) that bought a C5 that was WRECKED! Made this one look like a show car. He put a lot of time and a good deal of money into it. He had a friend that worked at a body shop help him with the work. Had slight frame damage that he got straightened up. In the end, the car looked new...but that was after 6 months of working on the car. He has a salvage title on it as well. But, I think he paid about $8k for the car and then dumped more into it plus a lot of his time. Not sure what the final dollar figure was, but I do remember it wasn't too far from what C5s were selling for last year. Just do your homework before buying. They are great cars!!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,849
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia PA
Here is the car. Judge it's value yourself. Here's item# 120090289383 or
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000-...QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000-...QQcmdZViewItem