I want to buy a wreck

[Dan Owens]

Okay guys,

Here's the deal, I'm thinking about buying and rebuilding a 911 a buddy has. It's missing a variety of parts but nothing that can't be replaced fairly easily. Fender, some interior parts and misc stuff. Depending on the wreck I find I may want to swap the motor (after rebuild it) going to something a little bigger and newer. Rather than continually going around looking for parts and having them sold out from under me by people that give their word but change their mind when more money is offered after the fact, I thought I'd look into buying a suitable wreck and stripping what I need sell off the rest of the usable parts and scrapping the rest. Anybody able to direct me on the best way to do this. Contact an insurance company, go to a car auction etc? Things to watch out for other than my ignorance? Any help here would be greatly appreciated as I've never done this before.

Dan O

[addictionMS]

only parting out a car is a lot of work, boxing, packaging and shipping takes a lot of effort.

jim

[pjv911]

911 Parts car can get very pricey. Particularly late model one`s. My suggestion is to have fun on ebay aquiring all the parts you need. You could also opt for aftermarket body parts which save weight . Normally if you buy a parts car you could take what you need and sell off all the other parts on ebay resulting with more money than you started, but like previously stated , its alot of work.


Kurt Williams

[Dan Owens]

Thanks guys for the response. I guess I didn't make myself clear enough. I know how much work there is involved in this. I don't want to mess with Ebay as I think it's a pain in my a** bidding on parts and potentially not getting what you want and having to start over again or paying through the nose if it's something you have to have. I believe if you're selling something you decide what it's worth and price it accordingly and stick with that price.

Based on what I have going I think the best approach for me and the situation, buying a wrecked car is the way I want to go. I'm only asking for input on how to go about it that's all. I don't want to buy from an owner I'm looking for the mechanics of buy a "total" from an insurance company or salvage company if that's the outlet I nnedf to go to. Any info on how to go about that specifically is waht I'm looking for. Certainly input on things to watch out for or consider in that scenerio is welcome as well.

Dan O
84 Targa 3.2

[pbs911]

Never done this, but I would imagine that when an insurance company totals a car it goes up for auction. that's what they do when a car is repoed, and I can't imagin an insurance company putting any more effort into a wreck.

[HarryD]

Hi,

When my 912 was totalled, the insurance company sold my car to a salavage yard that they had done business with in the past.

You best bet is to contact a few insurance companies and let them know you are interested. I would also visit a few body shps that specialize in Porsches and let them know you are loking for wrecks, they should be able to steer as well.

[antares]

I have tried to go that way in the past. What I found was the auction houses want you to be a business in order to participate. Junk yard, body shop etc. The insurance companies want you to be a business that they have done business with in the past. I can only conclude that most of this scrutiny is to assure that the general public is not participating due to business relations and legal issues perhaps. But don't stop there continue by creating and securing contacts in the business and you should find your niche.

Antares
fatnwide

[addictionMS]

try talking to LAPorsche, I have bought an entire car from them, it was a pretty good deal and they worked with me and were very fair.

there is a guy on the east coast (to those of us in CA that is anything east of CA, well to me atleast) who I have worked with as well his name is Carman and eamil is autocarsbmw@aol.com, I have bought a 930 suspension from him as well and I think he may be able to source an entire car as well.

Jim

[Dantilla]

I've done it!

Bought a clean '73T with a minor engine fire from an insurance auction.

Bought an low mileage '87 Targa that was hit hard in the nose.

That's the donor for the 3.2, harness, aluminum control arms, Carrera brakes, lots of other bits & pieces.

Awful nice to have the two cars side by side in the garage for a non- mechanic like me.

It takes a while for the right cars to come through an auction. All Porsches are rare, finding two that will do the job requires lots of patience or lots of luck. I had a bit of both.

[hoosierdaddy]

Here is a place to start www.oklahomaforeign.com.
Jim

[Dan Owens]

Dantilla,

Thanks for the response. What department did you talk to at the insurance company or how did you find out about the auction?

Dan O