How do the salvage yards find cars?

[Zeke]

OK, I'm not that ignorant. I know the insurance industry makes their damaged goods known to the players. But, how about a non player?

I have given up on the damaged race car idea and am back to seeking a 911. (You knew that wouldn't take long...) I think the best platform for me to start with would be a late 80's Carrera. Enough frontal damage to total it, but repairable, would be ideal if I could get the car cheap enough.

Speaking of cheap, I wonder what the average salvage value for a wrecked Carrera would be if the car were known to run well before the accident. I was hoping someone can tell me under 5K.

Oh, and I'm not in a hurry, but any leads would be appreciated. Interested in coupes only. I'd look at earlier cars, too, but the 3.2 Motronic has my preference at this point.

As an aside, I have a spare 2.4 that is not built yet that could go into an early roller. Just a couple of thoughts for the board. What are your thoughts?

[Cory M]

The insurance companies send it all to auction and the wrecking yards bid on it there.

[tonythetarga]

Hey Zeke,
It might be worth your while to spend half a day on the phone calling insurance claims people and finding out the inside scoop. You want to find an adjuster and pick their brain. You could start with your insurance agent and get a name of someone in claims etc etc.
I restored a 52 K Model Harley about 25 yrs ago and was riding it one day in late 1998 when I was hit. The bike was totalled and I almost was as well, but I ended up buying it back from the insurance company for about .15 on the dollar. I had a s***load of spares and sold it as a package. Just gotta sniff around and be persistent.

[Rich76_911s]

I've often wonder the same thing. Looking around on the web there are sites that you can pay to be part of and then you can search thier data-base. It always seemed like a scam to me so I never tried it.

I find it easier to buy a wrecked car without knowing about it. If you need help with that feel free to PM me, I'm an expert!

Rich

[jkarolyi]

Doubt if a wrecked Carrera would sell for less than $5,000 unless you picked it up at one of these auctions. The engine is worth almost that, not to mention the other salvageable parts.

[rlh930]

This subject was discussed in a thread some time ago and as I recall the answer is that the dismantler pays what the engine is worth; he breaks even when he sells the engine and everything else he sells above that is his profit.

If the wreck was low-mileage the engine would be worth more than $5K, but it's hard to believe a high-miles Carrera in imminent need of a rebuild would be worth that.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Rich76_911s
I've often wonder the same thing. Looking around on the web there are sites that you can pay to be part of and then you can search thier data-base. It always seemed like a scam to me so I never tried it.

I find it easier to buy a wrecked car without knowing about it. If you need help with that feel free to PM me, I'm an expert!

Rich

That's too funny. And, I have looked t at the sites as well. They scare me. I know there are private sites, but I don't qualify.

Jay, your point is noted and you say "unless you picked it up at one of these auctions." Exactly, but I think the auctions are more like silent auctions where the various salvage yards place their bids with the insurance co.

Sure, it's who you know, but isn't everything?

Good info so far, keep it coming. And, I'd like to read the preivous thread if someone finds it before I do.

[jkarolyi]

>Exactly, but I think the auctions are more like silent auctions where the various salvage yards place their bids with the insurance co.

Yeah, that's how I've heard it works too.

I don't think the idea about rebuilding a Carrera wreck would be a sound financial decision. The parts are just worth too much! There's a guy over on the parts for sale board who is parting out a gorgeous 75,000 mile 1984 red cab WITH NO DAMAGE!!! He only wanted the engine out of it (!) Check it out:

Parting out 84 cabriolet

The best money to be made for a guy with your skills is to do rust repair on a really valuable 911 like an S or an E.

I know you've been there/done that though...

[JeremyD]

Zeke - tons of cars out there

Here's one site - https://www.iaai-bid.com/login.aspx

[widebody911]

For a dedicated track car, get a stripped cab or a targa, install a cage and a fiberglass hardtop. I know a couple of people who are doing that right now.

[jac1976]

Having just totalled a Tahoe, I know that my insurance company uses Copart, which is national. You can visit their website http://www.copart.com
which has listings. I believe you have to register ($) to get full access.
Hope this helps.

[jkarolyi]

Interesting cars on the copart site. What does "ACV" stand for? If those are the selling prices that's crazy!

[jac1976]

ACV=Actual Cash Value. A nice little piece of info to have when you are trying to settle with your insurance company. This number varies from region to region depending on the market for the given vehicle.

[304065]

Milt,

Don't fight the market.

With your skillset, you should be searching high and low for a numbers matching basket case '73S which you can make absolutely perfect using your own knowlege and craftsmanship. It's the doing, not the end result, so give yourself time.

A patched-up salvage Carrera will NEVER be worth what you've got into it, and the basket cases are engine donors usually.

Here's another idea: pick a niche, such as the "3.2 into 73T tub mod" and dominate that niche, brand it, the "Zekespeed conversion" so that everyone in the community will know what you are talking about-- the way Dr. Steve does with 3.6 transplants. You would acquire serious kung fu doing the same project more than once and instead of being a bastard, the finished product would have value based on your reputation for quality.

[JeremyD]

You guys - he's done that - got the T-Shirt - I really think he's looking more at something that's a quick fix and drive... I don;t blame him - some of these things end up becoming all consuming.

[greglepore]

The post about copart is correct, they are the largest broker. One of their large NE yards is around the corner from me. You can't buy directly from them without a dealer license, but there are third parties that run services that allow you to bid thru them for a fee-try an ebay search for copart, they sell memberships there. You can also try ridesafely.com, which does both cars and motorcycles.

The problem w/ cars like Carreras is that many folks buy them back from the carrier after they're totalled, so its a small market to begin with, and lots of folks are now into buying and flipping rebuildable wrecks on ebay as a profitmaking activity.

[randywebb]

Ha - no it didn't take long....

Have you decided what level of decreipitude you want? As above, you have the skills and knowledge to take a POS and make it right. There is some ethical lagnaippe you get for saving an old nasty 911 too. Is it worth it to do that again?

And, if not, do you search in any different place for something like that? My thought is that a rust bucket may not be in the insurance 'pool' (?)

You could also scan for ones that other Pelicans decided were too much for them if you want a rusted one.

[Joe Bob]

You find a guy that has a valid sales or salvage license from the DMV....you go with them to the auctions. You bid against every other Tom, Dick and Harry in the business and SOMETIMES you gets lucky.

Other way is to make friends with a body shop owner or tow truck operator and find a Carrera that comes in with no comprehensive coverage.....buy it off the owner. Cash deals.....

[78P930]

How 'bout this one?(no affiliation)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4631133120&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

if that doesn't work here is the item number: Item number: 4631133120

[Joe Bob]

Nice for an east coaster...shipping would be about 2k to CA with it being a roller and the current bendover gas prices.