How to buy a salvage car?

[jjemg]

I have bought 2 87 911s in the last year to convert my porsche fleet from 914s to 911s.
I have plenty of 914 parts to last me and started thinking I need some random parts to keep mine and my wifes car up over the next 20 years or so. I think for me it would be best to find a 87 salvage car and just keep it as a donor. I did a little research and it looks like some kinda shady business with this market. Can anybody steer me in the right direction with a person that can help me find what I am looking for. I am down south on the east coast. Not looking for a flood car. crash or small engine fire more what I am looking for.front end crash....perfect!
Thanks!

[Dantilla]

I've purchased wrecked and stolen/recovered cars from insurance auctions.

[plumb4u2]

I know nothing about the salvage car business but I think you may have a hard time with finding a car like a vintage 911 due to all the dismantlers that snatch these cars quick

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

I know nothing about the salvage car business but I think you may have a hard time with finding a car like a vintage 911 due to all the dismantlers that snatch these cars quick

I've found the opposite- At least at the auctions I've attended, Porsches are so rare that the Porsche crowd does not show up.

The '73 coupe that turned into a 3.2 powered hotrod came from an auction after a minor engine fire. Perfect candidate to toss the whimpy 2.4 aside, and use the 3.2 from a clean, low mileage '87 Targa, also purchased at auction after it was hit hard in the nose.

When the auctioneer stopped at the forlorn-looking '73, he asked the crowd:
"Anybody want it?"
Most people stood silent while me and one other guy offered the only bids.

I race a 944, and at one point had five or six extra cars, all purchased from the auction. Two were complete, and are now race cars, the others used for parts.

[jjemg]

I know nothing about how to get started looking? I guess I need to get up with my local wrecker guys to see about these types of auctions. I was thinking there would be some people specializing in selling salvage cars that someone knows from the board.

[80-911SC]

Having a 914 in my fleet and a 75 and an 80 911 ... and hearing you looking for a donor 911 w front end damage can be a dangerous thing to look for .. soon you will be hearing and thinking the dame thing I do .. 914-6 .. light, power and balance ...

Look around .. a lot of breaker yards around ... but these are as contagious as the 914 ..

Good luck ....

[Matt Monson]

Los Angeles Porsche Dismantlers has a crew of guys who fly around the country attending the major insurance auctions. I am going to disagree that it is not a competitive market.

What kind of parts are you specifically looking for? Personally I think the Pelican Parts classified section would be a better way to keep your cars up and going. The 3.2 Carrera market is red hot right now (see thread discussing it in the Marketplace forum). I think finding a good wreck will be an endeavor in futility.

[scoe911]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Los Angeles Porsche Dismantlers has a crew of guys who fly around the country attending the major insurance auctions. I am going to disagree that it is not a competitive market.

True Matt and their prices reflect this fact glaringly. I would never buy any parts or cars from them. jjemg it's simple. Go ahead and buy the donor car on your own and save some money by cutting out the middle man.