Value of salvage titled 87 cab

911novice · 05-31-2003, 10:50 PM

Just looking for your opinions on the value of a salvaged titled 87 cab. Car runs and looks good, has normal oil leaks, 3.2/g50 w/120K miles, and conv. top needs to be replaced. Everything else seems to work and it has c2 update. No PPI or leak numbers, owner needs to sell quick but I don't want to be stuck investing big $$ into a car that will never be worth full value.

Feedback is welcome.

speeder · speeder's Garage

$10,000.

Bob's Flat-Six · Bob's Flat-Six's Garage

I think you answered your own question.
I might consider a salvage title on a car that was a clean and well maintained car before it was salvaged but only at a BIG discount.
These cars are exspensive to repair so i'm sure some worthy examples will be totaled in insurance claims. It's possible a salvage titled car might be in better shape than a lot of cars with clean titles.
I just went through this with a Chevy PU I bought new and was totaled but I kept it and repair it myself. It's a nice clean truck today, BUT I knew the vehicle.

If I was buying a my first Porsche I would look for a car that has it's records and was well loved buy it's previous owners and would be willing to pay a premium for that car. A car that's ready to roll and is in excellent cosmedic condition. In fact I would rather have some mechanical issues to deal with than a car that is tattered in appearance. Just my 2 cents

Cheers

Dantilla · 07:55 AM

I have no problem driving a car that has been damaged in the past. Have someone who knows 911 structures look at it, and get a PPI. Then make a low ball offer and see what happens.

Also- Was it just repaired recently, or has it been back on the road for a while? If it was a quick job to turn around and sell, it may not have had the same care as if it was fixed by a guy with intentions of keeping it for the long haul.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

let's see....

Salvage title
needs new top
120K (engine rebuild in the near future?)
No comp/leak numbers (see above)
"C2 update" (sometimes a red flag)

I think Denis is generous at $10K. This could easily be a car you need to sink another $10K into to make it presentable. And in the end you'd still have a salvage title vehicle. That's fine if you want to keep it forever or track it, but forget about resale.

It depends on your circumstances, but if you're looking to get into your first 911, hunt around and buy a good one, not a problem child.

911novice · 06-01-2003, 01:52 PM

I share your thougts and concerns, I just needed to hear them from someone else. I've owned an older 911 for a few years and do most if not all the work myself. This car was actually salvaged the year it was manufactured (87) and has been on the road ever since. It also has about 5K in after market rims and stereo equipt. installed, and I couldn't tell it had been salvaged. It looks and seems to run fine fine, but without a leakdown I'd be taking a big chance. I may be able to get it for 5K but like you said, if it needs an engine rebuild, suspension work, top, clutch, and all the other things we do to our cars I'd be upside down rather quickly.

thanks!

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

well for $5K you could part it out and likely make some money...

HarryD · 06-01-2003, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 911novice
I share your thougts and concerns, I just needed to hear them from someone else. I've owned an older 911 for a few years and do most if not all the work myself. This car was actually salvaged the year it was manufactured (87) and has been on the road ever since. It also has about 5K in after market rims and stereo equipt. installed, and I couldn't tell it had been salvaged. It looks and seems to run fine fine, but without a leakdown I'd be taking a big chance. I may be able to get it for 5K but like you said, if it needs an engine rebuild, suspension work, top, clutch, and all the other things we do to our cars I'd be upside down rather quickly.

thanks!

Frankly, I would not pay more than 50% of what an equivalent non-salvage car is worth due to insurance issues, etc. I would further devalue it for any known problems. The fact it has $5k in wheels and stereo is nice but does not increase the cars value (in my eyes anyway), it just makes it easier to sell.

Bob's Flat-Six · Bob's Flat-Six's Garage

It must have had a lot of damage to be salvaged it's first year ?
But it made it over 100K miles. There are a lot of reasons it could have been totaled ?, it might have been stolen and stripped?

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob's Flat-Six
It must have had a lot of damage to be salvaged it's first year ?
But it made it over 100K miles. There are a lot of reasons it could have been totaled ?, it might have been stolen and stripped?

Exactly. If it was totalled when it was new, that's a lot of damage $$$. I'd certainly want to know what the story is, but for the right price you could not go wrong. Anything under $10Gs and you could part it out and make money, (a lot of hassle though), and for $10G or less it could be a great driver that you don't have to sweat door dings on, it just really depends on real condition. Put it up on a rack and let us know.

FWIW, the motor and G-50 trans are worth more than $5k all day long.

911novice · 06-01-2003, 05:41 PM

that is exactly why I struggled with the decision. I know I could part it out and make my money back but I barely have time to work on mine. I'd end up fixing whatever is wrong and in the long run I'd end up in the hole. The problem is that when you pay almost that much for someone's used engine it's hard to turn town an entire running car that looks better and is newer than mine...ohh, the pain of ownership

b

clevy70911T · clevy70911T's Garage

Don't forget about the pains of trying to sell it if you ever get tired of it or sell it to upgrade to a better 911. I'd never buy a salvaged car again if I wasn't absolutely sure I was going to keep it for a long time.

caliber60 · 06-02-2003, 01:09 PM

Don't buy it. It's not worth it if you are going to keep. I have already spent $6K so far on my 911 in 6 months period. If you have going to bring a car to excellent condition, find a good one. Not the salvage one.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by caliber60
Don't buy it. It's not worth it if you are going to keep. I have already spent $6K so far on my 911 in 6 months period.

egad, what did you have to do? Did you just buy unlucky?

caliber60 · 06-02-2003, 02:21 PM

$1,750 shocks and CV Boots
$1,200 tune up to bring the car back in service after 5 years
$1,100 dents repair
$1,000 New set of Pilot tires
$1,600 New interior and convertible top

There are realistic items. I have not touch the clutch($2,000) or the engine ($6,000-$8,000).