My truck is "totaled"...now what?

[dubds10]

Based on repair vs auction & scrap value I'd say you're buy back is closer to $500-800 on it. I can't see it much higher. I'd tell them give me $6000 plus the truck back & then either part it out or rebuild it cheap as a driver & buy a nicer truck from out west lol Or use the $ else where.

[franken]

Not sure why you need to quote, but you may want to ask a frame shop if the frame is bent and the cost to fix it.

[boynton]

Look at my 1970 burn victim in my signature, it has a salvage title, but it is one of the nicest trucks I have ever come across. Also the smashed 1970 LWB has a salvaged title. I sold it for ~7k and showed the new owner the thread before he bought it. As long as the repairs are done correctly a knowledgeable car guy will have no issue with the salvage title. It would make a really good parts truck as well. Either way I think you should keep it.

[dutchmanz]

I tried every route I could and the insurance company was dead set on them totaling out my truck. I'm not happy but as they say, "the check is in the mail." I bought the truck back and I'm going to probably use it to fix another truck. I'm leaving in the morning to go buy a 72 LWB "Highlander" in blue and white. Suppose to be fairly solid truck with just over 100K actual miles. Best of all, factory AIR and tilt. Typical rust for this region but about what I had before, maybe better. I'll pull all the new parts from mine and swap them. Then, I have 2 local guys that want the 71. Fingers Crossed....

[boynton]

I'm glad it is working out. That blue/white is my favorite combo

[kwmech]

Don't sign off on anything until you're satisfied with the end result

[un4gvn!]

At least you're getting money back. My 69 CST396 had over $25.000 in it when my son took it to the local drag strip where it has been many times before. It started to rain and the track was cancelled. My son tried to bring it home in the rain without changing the slicks to street tires. It did a u-turn into the jersey barrier completely destroying the drivers side front end including the frame. Insurance did nothing because it was at the drag strip. It was totaled. Instead of parting it out, I took off all the bad and fixed the frame and dropped another $20,000 in it. This truck has to much family history and sentimental value to just scrap it and have nothing to show for the money. My truck was far worst than yours. Keep it alive.

[boraxman]

^^^^^Ouch!

[smiti7]

Originally Posted by dubds10

$5200 is a good offer for that truck. Personally I'd take the cash minus the buy back on the wreck & part it out or fix it just a cheap truck. Of course argue & try to get more but I think that's a really good offer, at least that's more than market value in my area. Lots of old trucks have rebuilt/salvage titles for various reasons not always a crash so on classics I don't find that match of a price difference.

I second this idea, plus your buy back will be cheap. Probably less than $1000. Now you have, say $4200 and your old truck to do what you want with. I had experience with two totaled vehicles in the past and both times I got the vehicles back and kept the titles and they stayed clear, not salvage. Good luck!

[AMERICAN PICK-UP]

Originally Posted by kwmech

Don't sign off on anything until you're satisfied with the end result

Thats a great idea.. dont sign anything untill the deal is done..

[cypressbog]

Did you buy the Highlander?

[dutchmanz]

Originally Posted by cypressbog

Did you buy the Highlander?

I did. It was rougher than I hoped for but I can make a good truck using both. I'll try to upload a pic or 2 later.

[AWKS1]

Originally Posted by cooperhw

You could take the money and probably buy it back for $500. They don't want it or want to pay to haul it off to the crusher. Fix it back for a dump/home depot runner for cheap. Use the rest of the money for a better platform for a better build if that is your long term goal. JMO

this.

[dutchmanz]

I picked up a bed for the 71 yesterday. I'm going to keep it in one piece and drive it until my son gets his liscense, if he still wants it. I'll fix the 72 Highlander for myself between now and then. I've only got 2 years. It will be here faster than most think. We talked about making it a short bed after my 72 is one the road. He likes the short beds more.

[dutchmanz]

Here a pic of the Highlander when I picked it up. Haven't done a thing to it yet. The weather has not been very cooperative.