Ok my dad has a 1980 mercedes 300SD. He got into an accident on the way to work a couple weeks ago with an older nissan sentra. Now the insurance is saying that the car is totalled and is offering him about $4000 for the car. Nobody was hurt by the way, thank ________. I do not now how much the repairs would be to fix the car. My question is what to do with the car? My dad is looking into fixing it with some used parts. However I think he should sell the car for parts.The engine was recently rebuilt about 2 years ago. The transmission is original. A mechanic offered him $300 for the car which is what he paid to buy it back from the insurance company. I think $300 is a joke, the wheels alone are almost worth that much. But my dad was told that he cannot use the parts without going through some kind of process since the car was declared totalled. I am ignorant when it comes to this situation and my dad and I would appreciate any help or advice. Thanks in advance.
dads car was totalled
- Thread starter mcrn
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So the car has a salvage title, all you have to do is verify where you got the used parts. Junkyards will give you receipts so you can document when and where you got the parts. Just keep all you receipts so when you get it inspected to get the title changed (from salvage) they can verify the parts. Check the laws in your state about salvage vehicles and what you need to do to get them road worthy again.
The reason they want you to document where you got the parts is that way back when, people would steal cars, strip them of all the parts and just leave the frame. After the frame was recovered, they would buy it back and slap all the parts back on it and then have a legally titled car which they pretty much stole to begin with.
My friend bought a theft recovered vehicle and all he needed to do was get the car up to spec and keep all his receipts to document where he got the parts.
Do some research about the laws, it should be pretty clear and easy to find out.
The reason they want you to document where you got the parts is that way back when, people would steal cars, strip them of all the parts and just leave the frame. After the frame was recovered, they would buy it back and slap all the parts back on it and then have a legally titled car which they pretty much stole to begin with.
My friend bought a theft recovered vehicle and all he needed to do was get the car up to spec and keep all his receipts to document where he got the parts.
Do some research about the laws, it should be pretty clear and easy to find out.
So he was told that he couldn't use parts to fix the car? That's the whole point of buying it from the insurance company..because he wants to fix it and keep it. It doesn't matter what parts he uses...the state of Florida can't dictate that. I think me must have mis-understood. The only change I'm aware of is that he'll have to apply for a salvage title if he intends to fix it and register it with the state.
JHZR2
Staff member
That is a problem... mine was not totaled in so many words (mine is an 83 300D, rear ended by a girl 100% at fault, who caused a 4 car pileup). The car saved my life, and I positioned it right as to minimize injury... all the same, the bodyshop claims its $6500 or so in bamage.
The problem is that people will pay large premiums for these cars if they are kept well and in good condition. If you go to some edmumds or similar website, they will devalue it as if it is a 1980 chevy, and claim it is worth $1500 or something...
The key is to get your hands on a NADA book for antique and classic cars - its a special one that youll need to order - seriously, get the current one, because valuation depends on value at the date of the incident. You can use the online calculator for classic cars to quickly get a value, but its claim will not hold up in court. Determine what age in your state a car must be to be considered a classic, and if the shoe fits, wear it. Grade the vehicle fairly, and if youre over the dollar value that they are offering, FIGHT!
Insurance companies are out to get you, and the lawyer's monopoly will steal a huge chunk of your money... but my experience in owning these cars and getting screwed for being hit and not at all at fault, is that its especially bad in how they treat you with respect to valuation, so you need to state your case.
Use ebay, the NADA guide, any local MB specialists, etc. to state your claim. Be firm and know the facts.
Good luck!
JMH
P.S. Using the NADA classic car price system on their webste, for a 1980 300SD, I get:
Original MSRP: $30,632
Low Retail Average Retail High Retail
$4,700 $7,250 $9,700
TOTAL PRICE $4,700 $7,250 $9,700
I hope this link to the nadaguides site works
The problem is that people will pay large premiums for these cars if they are kept well and in good condition. If you go to some edmumds or similar website, they will devalue it as if it is a 1980 chevy, and claim it is worth $1500 or something...
The key is to get your hands on a NADA book for antique and classic cars - its a special one that youll need to order - seriously, get the current one, because valuation depends on value at the date of the incident. You can use the online calculator for classic cars to quickly get a value, but its claim will not hold up in court. Determine what age in your state a car must be to be considered a classic, and if the shoe fits, wear it. Grade the vehicle fairly, and if youre over the dollar value that they are offering, FIGHT!
Insurance companies are out to get you, and the lawyer's monopoly will steal a huge chunk of your money... but my experience in owning these cars and getting screwed for being hit and not at all at fault, is that its especially bad in how they treat you with respect to valuation, so you need to state your case.
Use ebay, the NADA guide, any local MB specialists, etc. to state your claim. Be firm and know the facts.
Good luck!
JMH
P.S. Using the NADA classic car price system on their webste, for a 1980 300SD, I get:
Original MSRP: $30,632
Low Retail Average Retail High Retail
$4,700 $7,250 $9,700
TOTAL PRICE $4,700 $7,250 $9,700
I hope this link to the nadaguides site works
Last edited:
JHZR2
Staff member
FWIW, when my car got smashed, I was weighing all my options, and asked a good independent MB shop what they'd buy it from me from, given that all the mechanicals and interior were 100%... they said $500.
There is the time component, storage and disposal that need to be considered in harvesting the good parts from a car. Since mechanics can charge the customer for the value added of getting the individual part from a warehouse where someone else did the legwork and is including their fee in the price, there is little incentive for most typical mechanics to use junk cars, unless they need something really specific that they cant get otherwise from a parts house.
JMH
There is the time component, storage and disposal that need to be considered in harvesting the good parts from a car. Since mechanics can charge the customer for the value added of getting the individual part from a warehouse where someone else did the legwork and is including their fee in the price, there is little incentive for most typical mechanics to use junk cars, unless they need something really specific that they cant get otherwise from a parts house.
JMH
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