1971 Trans Am with salvage title *auction
 

The damage honestly doesn’t look terrible. Maybe a flood car? Is there any way to fix the title?

https://abetter.bid/en/48987470-1971-pontiac-firebird

There is a reconstructed salvage title in CA.My 2006 Silverado was stolen,took wheels tires and radio.Insurance totaled it.I got it back.Their shop put it back together.Had to go to a state brake and light inspector to show safe.I need to go to the DMV to have the vin verified and then it will have a reconstructed salvage title.PITA but have my truck back.Tom

I'd take a chance on it.

There are ways you can title wash it, but ya know, not exactly something you wanna announce to the world.

This is the '71 Trans Am that was at a "buddy's shop" of Richard Rawlings. Somebody crashed into the building causing another car on a lift to fall directly onto the Trans Am.

https://twitter.com/rrrawlings/statu...90495613349892

Unless you are planning some kind of total all original restoration of this exact car then who cares? People by shells for restoration all the time from junk yards etc. If you are driving it you won't care. If you sell it after restoration the buyer will care about the product not the designation. Again if this exact VIN # is important it might be a different story. But probably not. Not having a title might be more of an issue depending on the state. Just a headache.

Looks like it wouldnt be too hard to fix. Having a salvage title will most definitely effect the value, especially of that car. Again to buy, rebuild and drive for yourself, for the right price I would do so in a heartbeat. Would be pretty easy to document WHY it had a salvage title to prospective buyer, but it would still limit the sale. Its a shame the owner of that car 'totaled it' and took the ins. buyout instead of a repair. But, I am sure the shops insurance handled the deal and otherwise the shop would have been on the hook to pony up the bucks for the work.
As to the original question, I dont think there is a way legally to change the title back.

I don't understand how this "salage" stuff really applies to antiques or classics;
I mean, we all know how quick insurance companies are incline to write off vehicles, but I mean, it's a classic, and if it's repaired properly, who really cares that it was previously written off?

I'd wager to bet a great deal of first and second gen Corvettes have been written off in their past, but I have never head of a "salvage title" 1953 Corvette before.

There, I said my bit.

I feel the same way. Most old cars I buy don't even have titles. If one was salvaged, it wouldn't bother me. You'll know right away if the car was fixed properly or not, so the only hang up is a piece of paper.

This 1971 from that site is um....interesting.

https://abetter.bid/en/53970509-1971-pontiac-firebird

...and not so sure about the BIN on this 72 Formula...assuming a reserve?

https://abetter.bid/en/30531911-1972-pontiac-formula

Appreciate the info Tom

Knowing the story behind what happened makes me more inclined to consider it. At least it wasn't washed away into a river during a flood or anything.

Does not look like a nightmare to repair, very similar type deal to the white '71 automatic T/A that several years ago was run through a CoPart Auction in S Nebraska. This was after suffering what appeared to be relatively minor to moderate damage from falling debris from a tornado near Ponca City, OK. That particular 71 T/A was sold new locally, Eischeid Reeder Pontiac. Late tonight will ck my computer records if I have any previous sales data on the current auction '71.

There is no record kept on these old cars . file for a new title as if you lost the orignal. i'm sure the duplicate wont be marked.
salvage cars are sometimes hard to get insurance on or even tags . I my state. state police have to put car on lift and check all over the car for safety issues and stolen parts .

Your branch of DMV must be easier to deal with than mine (also in MD). If a new title is applied for they will search the last one issued, if its marked as salvage they will do the same. My brother had a car in a minor accident but was totalled. He bought it back and paid for the repairs. No police inspection of any kind, he was denied the ability to get full coverage insurance though.

On the car in question, I would def. contact a prospective ins. carrier and get their opinion. It may not be as stringent with classic car ins.

72' Formula
 

Be extremely leery of the 72' for sale as I personally saw this car in CA when it was on Craigslist last month. All I can say is very low grade lip stick on a very ugly pig - terrible rust, even the tops of the fenders were fiberglassed. The mileage was actually closer to 314k. Just trying to avoid serious buyer's remorse.

same car


https://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-Pontia...4AAOSwzQlgCEV7

https://abetter.bid/en/30531911-1972-pontiac-formula

Looking at the Twitter pics, I'd say this is a parts car or (shudder) a rebody candidate. Not only is the roof tweaked but the left side firewall/cowl is way bent. Sure, anything can be bent back with enough time and $$$, but how solid will the car be after it's finished? Not very.