Salvaged Corvette
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 799
Likes: 14
From: Lakewood Ranch FL
Salvaged Corvette
Looking for opinions! I have an opportunity to buy a 2008 Corvette that was in an accident and has a salvaged title. The person selling is a body shop that specializes in taking corvettes from insurance companies and rebulids them. My understanding is that there was frame damage but it was restored to factory specs. The price savings is substantial but I'm a little quizy about the whole thing. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 522
Likes: 3
I wouldnt buy it unless its ging to be a track car. (its a mind thing) Because eventually you might want to sell it, and it wont be worth anything title wise. but if you dont plan on ever selling and it drives good, is reliable, and looks great why not?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,663
Likes: 0
From: DFW TX
Theres no reason for it to still have a salvage title if its been repaired. I used to buy insurance totals and repair them a few years back. When you buy the car from the ins. company it does come with a salvage title usually, but when you repair it, and go register the car with a "rebuilt vehicle affidavit" the DMV issues a "Rebuilt Motor Vehicle Title"
- Make sure you have the car inspected my a third party, independent body shop so you know the true extent of the damage and the quality of the repairs.
- Make sure the car coes with a REBUILT title, not a SALVAGE title. If the title is still salvage, you cannot operate the vehicle legally on public roads.
And finally, yes, its a pain in the ,, to try to sell a car with a branded title. People will scrutinize the car much more than usual even if the repair was done properly and the car drives, and looks perfect.
- Make sure you have the car inspected my a third party, independent body shop so you know the true extent of the damage and the quality of the repairs.
- Make sure the car coes with a REBUILT title, not a SALVAGE title. If the title is still salvage, you cannot operate the vehicle legally on public roads.
And finally, yes, its a pain in the ,, to try to sell a car with a branded title. People will scrutinize the car much more than usual even if the repair was done properly and the car drives, and looks perfect.
Last edited by spin-doktor; Dec 4, 2009 at 02:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 799
Likes: 14
From: Lakewood Ranch FL
Thanks for the valuable info. By the way the car is in your area. Located in Mineola, TX. If you have any info I would appreciate it. I talk to the technician, Tom, and he did seem very knowledgable.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 11
From: Beverly Hills, MI
Theres no reason for it to still have a salvage title if its been repaired. I used to buy insurance totals and repair them a few years back. When you buy the car from the ins. company it does come with a salvage title usually, but when you repair it, and go register the car with a "rebuilt vehicle affidavit" the DMV issues a "Rebuilt Motor Vehicle Title"
- Make sure you have the car inspected my a third party, independent body shop so you know the true extent of the damage and the quality of the repairs.
- Make sure the car coes with a REBUILT title, not a SALVAGE title. If the title is still salvage, you cannot operate the vehicle legally on public roads.
And finally, yes, its a pain in the ,, to try to sell a car with a branded title. People will scrutinize the car much more than usual even if the repair was done properly and the car drives, and looks perfect.
- Make sure you have the car inspected my a third party, independent body shop so you know the true extent of the damage and the quality of the repairs.
- Make sure the car coes with a REBUILT title, not a SALVAGE title. If the title is still salvage, you cannot operate the vehicle legally on public roads.
And finally, yes, its a pain in the ,, to try to sell a car with a branded title. People will scrutinize the car much more than usual even if the repair was done properly and the car drives, and looks perfect.
Very good recommendations.
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,273
Likes: 8,545
From: Rochester, NY
Theres no reason for it to still have a salvage title if its been repaired. I used to buy insurance totals and repair them a few years back. When you buy the car from the ins. company it does come with a salvage title usually, but when you repair it, and go register the car with a "rebuilt vehicle affidavit" the DMV issues a "Rebuilt Motor Vehicle Title"
- Make sure you have the car inspected my a third party, independent body shop so you know the true extent of the damage and the quality of the repairs.
- Make sure the car coes with a REBUILT title, not a SALVAGE title. If the title is still salvage, you cannot operate the vehicle legally on public roads.
And finally, yes, its a pain in the ,, to try to sell a car with a branded title. People will scrutinize the car much more than usual even if the repair was done properly and the car drives, and looks perfect.
- Make sure you have the car inspected my a third party, independent body shop so you know the true extent of the damage and the quality of the repairs.
- Make sure the car coes with a REBUILT title, not a SALVAGE title. If the title is still salvage, you cannot operate the vehicle legally on public roads.
And finally, yes, its a pain in the ,, to try to sell a car with a branded title. People will scrutinize the car much more than usual even if the repair was done properly and the car drives, and looks perfect.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
From: Long Island NY
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Bill
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Pensacola Florida GO GATORS!!! www.rlsebring.com www.c6c7vette.com
St. Jude Donor '17
Its already fixed so the only question is how long the OP plans on keeping the car if it checkes out OK. The longer it is kept the less impact that title has. Look at all of the restored clunkers that bring big bucks at the BJ Auctions. A fair number of those cars were pulled out of junk yards or worse and then restored.
Bill
Bill
Take it from someone who buys, sells and parts out wrecked C6's. I've haven't a hard time yet reselling a rebuilt C6. C5's yes but C6's NO.
Use your own judgment. Look the car over and if it's priced right go for it. I usually get about 10 to 15% under Kelly for mine on a steady basis. I have 2 people waiting on schedule and price for an 08 I am currently rebuilding.
Everybody will have an opinion about a rebuilt car. Use your own discretion.
The Vert in my sig line is an 08 rebuilt "Keeper" for the time being until an 09 or 010 comes along. It's probably a better car than a lot of "Clean Title" Vettes on the road or Track.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: When all is said and done... there is a hell of a lot more said than done. Riverside,Texas
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 0
From: Mukwonago wisconsin
I went through this process a few years back with a car. what a mistake. If you plan to keep it forever,it will make no difference,but if you drive it a year or two, you will probably have a hard time selling it.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 35
From: Vernon Hills IL
Gotta agree with that. If you're the type that keeps your cars for 20 years than the huge hit on resale isn't going to matter to you. If you're just going to drive it for a few years then flip it, I'd look elsewhere for your Corvette.