How do you feel about purchasing a Rebuilt/Salvaged title fj60???

[German Castillo]

I purchased a 1989 fj62 early last year because it was the absolute cleanest I have come across in Nashville. The truck originally came from Texas, so you can imagine it has not rust at all. The paint was also in very good condition. The typical fading and it was dull, so I used the three step 3M product and it brought the paint back to life. The truck looks absolutely amazing in my opinion considering this is my second 60series and having looked at countless original condition 60s. Interior has the typical torn drivers seat, passenger is in great condition as is the back seat. Carpet is as you may imagine. Dirty, but not bad... Im prob going to replace it as some point.. But honestly Im using the truck to go to the park with my boys, lake, fishing, etc.. SO it not really a big deal to me... Recently had the knuckles rebuilt, power windows/mirrors, tailgate.. Ac blows cold and everything else seems to work fine. Ive been enjoying the truck since I purchased. Get lots of attention on the road as you dont see many around Nashville regularly. Truck has about 238k currently. The only downside to the truck in my opinion is the salvaged title of course.. Truck was sold at a salvage auction in Tx due to damage to the drivers side door.. Is kinda funny bc the CARFAX says right side... but the accident is clearly on the left side... I guess if your looking at it from the front it would be right side.. This was clearly a mistake by whoever noted the damage.... So, this is my question to you... Would you spend the same amount on an extremely clean fj62 with a salvaged/rebuilt title vs a not so clean 62 with some rust and perhaps other body issues simply because it has a CLEAN title??? I realize some people will never buy something with such a title simply because of this, but does it really matter at the end of the day.....Its just funny the way insurance and how it just ruins the value of some vehicles... Just curious what your thoughts are.

 

[Camper Dave]

Wow she is a looker!

There are a million opinions on this subject as you well know. The title will make or break some classic cars, but if it is a rare sought after car at the peak of the market loss of value may be minimal. Have you seen the price of a 70s porsche 911????? I just saw a salvaged, wrecked, rusted out frame, and body sell for 8k, the only thing the buyer wanted was the VIN number to place on one he built from the ground up. When approaching a salvaged title vehicle the first thing I research......IS IT SAFE? If it is, I proceed to the following questions:

1) Do you plan on selling it for a profit?
2) Can the title be rebuilt? Some state have this option, but it still has the stigma of once be salvaged?
3) Does the sellers price reflect reality?
3) I say again, Does the sellers price reflect reality?
5) Is this the vehicle you have always wanted? Who gives a damn about the title. Drive it to the wheels fall off, then get some new ones.

Beautiful Rig......Cheers!

 

[German Castillo]

The one on the tailer is before it left from Texas to TN. And the rest of the photos are the some before I did the 3M polishing kit.

 

[German Castillo]

Before I thoroughly cleaned the interior..

 

[German Castillo]

The guy that sold it to me had the drivers side pulled out some.

 

[German Castillo]

Wow she is a looker!

There are a million opinions on this subject as you well know. The title will make or break some classic cars, but if it is a rare sought after car at the peak of the market loss of value may be minimal. Have you seen the price of a 70s porsche 911????? I just saw a salvaged, wrecked, rusted out frame, and body sell for 8k, the only thing the buyer wanted was the VIN number to place on one he built from the ground up. When approaching a salvaged title vehicle the first thing I research......IS IT SAFE? If it is, I proceed to the following questions:

1) Do you plan on selling it for a profit?
2) Can the title be rebuilt? Some state have this option, but it still has the stigma of once be salvaged?
3) Does the sellers price reflect reality?
3) I say again, Does the sellers price reflect reality?
5) Is this the vehicle you have always wanted? Who gives a damn about the title. Drive it to the wheels fall off, then get some new ones.

Beautiful Rig......Cheers!

You have some very valid points! And yes Tennessee registered the car to me as Rebuilt..

I saw a GEM when I first saw the truck! I knew it had potential, especially with the condition of the body and no rust underneath!

 

[Richfj60]

I bought a 62 with a salvage title, wasn't a salvage title where I bought it, but when I looked at the carfax it showed its was salvage. So I knew it before I bought it. PO claimed he didn't know. Hmmm. Anyway, I knew that it had a new frame under it and it looked pretty straight, but hey it has an LS. In retrospect, its not the salvage title I am worried about, its how it was put back together. Mine has some issues and and I was too emotional to walk away.

 

[German Castillo]

I bought a 62 with a salvage title, wasn't a salvage title where I bought it, but when I looked at the carfax it showed its was salvage. So I knew it before I bought it. PO claimed he didn't know. Hmmm. Anyway, I knew that it had a new frame under it and it looked pretty straight, but hey it has an LS. In retrospect, its not the salvage title I am worried about, its how it was put back together. Mine has some issues and and I was too emotional to walk away.

Yea I like to always look ahead of time

 

[Camper Dave]

You have some very valid points! And yes Tennessee registered the car to me as Rebuilt..

I saw a GEM when I first saw the truck! I knew it had potential, especially with the condition of the body and no rust underneath!

You could search on here and set an automatic search on ebay and craigslist to locate another door with matching paint. It may take awhile, but that would complete the exterior finish. I have seen them go from 200-500. The interior is well kept for being a 89. We all know the rust issues, so if the underside is rust free that can be half the battle.

 

[gbogh]

A salvaged/rebuilt title will never bring the same $$$ at sale unless the vehicle is very custom and/or the title status is nothing more than a status associated with a VIN.

 

[teamreno]

I bought one with a rebuilt title. Was in an accident in 2002, front right fender was replaced for sure and I imagine the grille as well but the hood appears to be original. Way I see it, back in 2002 these cars had depreciated so much that nearly any accident could be enough to total it.

Overall, the rest of the rig is in great shape. I bought it from the original owner so I was told the story of what happened, and it was repaired by a very reputable shop here in town.

 

[Gretsch]

I wouldn't mess with a salvage title only because there are too many properly titled examples of these vehicles available. Just the hassle of dealing with it is not for me. Does that mean maybe I miss out on a good deal? Perhaps, but I am OK with that if I don't have to mess with title issues. These days with the value explosion these vehicles are experiencing there are unfortunately for the OP many examples of similar condition trucks available without the attached title problems. I am always interested in the option of selling the vehicle down the line as I tend to get bored with them after awhile so resale is important to me. The stigma that goes with a salvage title for most people will always affect that resale value. I would much rather travel some distance to get a properly titled vehicle than deal with title problems because the vehicle is local to me. But that's just me. HTH.

 

[BlackCat]

I bought one with a rebuilt title. Was in an accident in 2002, front right fender was replaced for sure and I imagine the grille as well but the hood appears to be original. Way I see it, back in 2002 these cars had depreciated so much that nearly any accident could be enough to total it.

Overall, the rest of the rig is in great shape. I bought it from the original owner so I was told the story of what happened, and it was repaired by a very reputable shop here in town.

EXACTLY. I’d buy one in a heartbeat if the seller had pics of the damage that totaled it and it was something minor like a single door replacement or a fender and hood or something. Hell, most of our cruisers have had a panel replaced due to rust over the years and a minor accident isn’t much different IMO.

 

[Whiskerz]

I assume no frame damage. It looks like it just crushed the door and did not even get the rocker. The thing that makes this a dilemma is that insurance has a low value on a lot of older Land Cruisers. So insurance value of a rust free running 60 series may not reflect market price. It does affect resale and keep every picture of the damage even get a copy of the estimate to repair if possible. Look around by VIN and you may find the auction it was sold at. Print that out.

 

[German Castillo]

I assume no frame damage. It looks like it just crushed the door and did not even get the rocker. The thing that makes this a dilemma is that insurance has a low value on a lot of older Land Cruisers. So insurance value of a rust free running 60 series may not reflect market price. It does affect resale and keep every picture of the damage even get a copy of the estimate to repair if possible. Look around by VIN and you may find the auction it was sold at. Print that out.

That’s good information folks! Is it a simple google search of the vin to possibly find the auction it was sold at?

 

[German Castillo]

That’s good information folks! Is it a simple google search of the vin to possibly find the auction it was sold at?

and yes u are right, It only affected the door.

 

[Ocho77]

I'd buy one in a heartbeat, especially that clean. If you're not trying to flip it, it's cheaper to buy one that way for you to use and enjoy. Looks like a beautiful truck! Nice score.

 

[Seth S]

If the truck had been used in a mob hit and bathed in the blood of a family I’d probably shy away from it. But if it was totaled by an insurance company for a dented door because said insurance company vastly undervalued the truck then if have no hesitations in buying it.

 

[Whiskerz]

One more quick thing. Make sure your insurance will cover it with a salvage title. I have a friend who bought a salvage title Mustang and he was dropped by his insurance and 3 other companies as well when they saw it was a salvage title.

 

[cruiserpilot]

So was this thing written off because of the dented door? Seems unlikely.
My biggest fear would be this thing sat for a week or two in salt water from
hurricane flooding. Have you pulled up the carpets? I looked at a car a long time ago,
cool old collector I just liked the look of. It was on a car lot. I started to inspect it carefully
cause something just didn’t seem right. Turns out it had flood damage right up to the glove
box. If I hadn’t got on my back under the dash I’d never have seen it.
As far as value, once it’s passed inspection from salvage title get it appraised by
a reputable appraiser if you are worried. Salvage title will have no effect on
resale once it’s passed inspection so long as you can document the repairs.