Salvage title vs "clean title"

[techweenie]

Sometimes, generalizations just don't apply.

Here's a clean title Targa for sale.

[pete3799]

Do they issue a crispy title?

[COLB]

If I can borrow the quote from "What's my Car Worth?":

"On a scale of 1 to 6, with one being a perfect car, and six being only good for parts, this car is a four."


Not.

But rob seems to think it is.

Was it on fire?

[bpu699]

I think salvage cars get a bad rap. Watch enough tv and you see shows where take the biggest piece of crap muscle car chassis, and make it into a 100,000$ custom. Almost every car they start with, should be salvage.

Yet, take a car from the time of car fax on, regardless of current condition, and its a tough sell as a branded vehicle.

Go figure.

[MrBonus]

"Roller" seems misleading. That car isn't rolling anywhere unless you push it sideways down a steep hill.

[willcall]

Same car?
Has wheels this time.

porsche 911

[pors1968]

Now it a low rider .

[dienstuhr]

At first glance I thought the ad said the car had been in a "whorehouse fire". Now THAT would've been a good story.

Cheers

d.

[NYNick]

+1 to bpu…but you have to be very careful.

Local shop bought a 'totaled' 993 from a customer. Right side body work, right side wheel and into the driveline. Fixed it up to perfect. Couldn't sell it worth a damn because of the CARFAX saying Salvage title. That car drove like a dream, looked great and was a steal…if you were never going to sell it.

It went last week for $28k. What a bargain. I almost bought it as my lifetime winter beater.

[Carrera911RSR]

Classic cars, and especially sports cars, are valued on a number of things. History being an important part of that puzzle.

On vehicle's newer than 1981, there are ways to get at least some of the history of the car through Autocheck and Carfax. This can rule out some of the risk of buying a classic car. Why would anyone buy a branded title car over a clean title - especially if there is little difference in the price? In some states, you have to go through extra inspections to even register a salvage titled vehicle.

In my opinion, it is very rare to find a salvaged vehicle that has been repaired properly. Most are repaired cheaply and then flipped.

Just my opinion.

[DeeJayOh]

Originally Posted by Carrera911RSR

Classic cars, and especially sports cars, are valued on a number of things. History being an important part of that puzzle.

On vehicle's newer than 1981, there are ways to get at least some of the history of the car through Autocheck and Carfax. This can rule out some of the risk of buying a classic car. Why would anyone buy a branded title car over a clean title - especially if there is little difference in the price? In some states, you have to go through extra inspections to even register a salvage titled vehicle.

In my opinion, it is very rare to find a salvaged vehicle that has been repaired properly. Most are repaired cheaply and then flipped.

Just my opinion.

It think it really depends on how much insurance the owner had on the car. A simple fender bender can result in $10k repairs on one of these cars. Wasn't too many years ago that amount was enough for a mid-year or an SC to be declared a total loss = salvage title for a car with no real structural damage.

I bet the car in the OP has a "clean" title because it was in storage with no auto insurance policy at the time of the fire. No claim, no write-off, no salvage title.

[wannaporsche]

I have an '80 SC with salvage title...

Obviously, I didn't buy into the stigma of the salvage title... and I've lucked out. I've had some of the best Porsche body guys and mechanics look deep at the car to try and figure out what happened. Thankfully there seems to be nothing 'wrong' with it... In fact it's in great shape. I'm told, 'Nice car'

I would love if the classic car community had an inspection process...something like a PPI... that an owner like me could pay for to have their branded title car 'certified'.

[COLB]

Originally Posted by wannaporsche

I have an '80 SC with salvage title...

Obviously, I didn't buy into the stigma of the salvage title... and I've lucked out. I've had some of the best Porsche body guys and mechanics look deep at the car to try and figure out what happened. Thankfully there seems to be nothing 'wrong' with it... In fact it's in great shape. I'm told, 'Nice car'

I would love if the classic car community had an inspection process...something like a PPI... that an owner like me could pay for to have their branded title car 'certified'.

Not suggesting your car fits this case, but a theft recovery can get a branded title as well -- particularly if the car is recovered after the insurance company has paid the claim.

There could be nothing wrong with the car, and it would still get a "salvage" title. States vary on how they classify cars like this.

I expect there are scads of Porsches that were stolen and salvaged back in the day.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

This car needs to be bought, gotten running, and clear coated "as is" as the ultimate rat rod.

[Icepack]

It's probably one of the victims of this:

Tenant warned about car-cutting business where fire started - Worcester Telegram & Gazette - telegram.com

[pors1968]

Sad storie 17 cars burn for nothing just careless people.

[COLB]

He says he "lost millions".

He had a classic car business with no Insurance? Stupidity tax.

[bpu699]

I do wonder how this will play out in the future...

If you had a duesenberg with a prior salvage title, would it matter?

What about a 356?

My neighbor wrapped a Ferrari Dino around a pole, and had it rebuilt. Its still worth $300k.

I do wonder, if at some point, its just not an issue.

If cars reach stratospheric values, you can fix almost anything.

Bo

[WANNA930]

Some misconceptions about Salvage vehicles.

First States set the guidelines as to what percentage of ACV damages exceed to determine if a vehicle is a Total Loss. It is usually about 65-75% of the vehicles actual cash value. Once again Insurance Co do not set ACV either they use an independent Co to run an evaluation on the car.

Estimators write damages on a computer and it is usually preprogrammed into the software for a flag to come up so they have to run an ACV in order to print their estimate.

There are some exceptions which are called constructive total losses. Here is where the adjuster determines the car cannot be repaired properly even though the damages would not exceed the threshold. Some examples are fire, flood, structural damages, etc. Stolen recovery vehicles that are found after the claim is already paid also usually fall into this category.

The above usually doesn't effect classic cars as most States do not issue titles for these cars.

When you get into $400k Bentleys there are usually 2-3 Insurance Co's involved each writing up to a certain value.

Insurance Co's do not total cars States do.

[COLB]

Prior accident damage and a salvage history -- is always going to be a factor - even on a Duesenberg or Ferrari 275.

If the car has had a no kidding frame off "nut and bolt" restoration to condition 1, it will matter much less, but it still won't be as valuable as an all original body panel condition 1 car.

This may only matter at the margins, and in the concours world where perfection (or originality) is essential.