Totaled 1995 Eagle Talon

[bc88]

A couple weeks ago my Talon was backed into and the insurance company totaled out. Other then the cosmetic damage to the hood and front bumper there is nothing wrong with the car, so i took the $5100 payout and paid the insurance company $400 to keep the salvaged vehicle. I'm now looking at getting a rebuilt title for the car but i'm having trouble getting parts and meeting the inspection requirements. I can't find a replacement front cover or hood anywhere, but i have found aftermarket carbon fiber hood and body kits available for the car, but none of the companies i contacted can provide a certificate of origin with the parts, only a receipt. trying to buy second hand parts is just as bad, no one parting out vehicles wants to go through the hassle of doing a notarized certification of purchase etc... Has anyone else dealt with this before? is there a way around these paper trail requirements for inspection that i'm not aware of? Ohio is the state where the inspection would be done.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[dwb]

They totaled it for a hood and bumper cover? That's eye opening considering they paid out $5100. Must be because parts are NLA.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

It's normal for insurance companies to total 20+ year old vehicles over very simple damage. They normally find it easier to total the car and assume you'll be junking it. I typically don't pay for full coverage or premium protection for this exact reason. I had a 98 Civic get totalled over a trunk that was crashed into. A trunk lid and latch assembly from the junkyard fixed the damage entirely but insurance totalled the car because it was the quick and easy way out for them.

You can get the parts you need from a wide array of places. I'm not sure who would work up the proper documentation though. I'm not even sure how that works, but I bet some research and investigating would allow the average business to print something acceptable. I'm sure they only need a few key pieces of information. If you can find out what information they need, fabricated or not it can be made into a document. If you get my drift.

Consider yourself blessed to get $5100 from an insurance claim for a nearly 30 year old DSM. That's really top dollar and more than I could have guessed. Did you have collector's insurance or pay the premium for a higher stated value?

 

[chrisman287]

Shame you’re not closer. I have a front bumper and hood you can have for free

 

[bc88]

They totaled it for a hood and bumper cover? That's eye opening considering they paid out $5100. Must be because parts are NLA.

NLA was the deciding factor, the estimate was for $3000 which pushed what they called the "75% rule". from what i gathered from the adjuster was once damages reach 75% of car's value it's totaled. with an estimate of $3000 and them not being able to find available OEM replacements they totaled it.

 

[bc88]

It's normal for insurance companies to total 20+ year old vehicles over very simple damage. They normally find it easier to total the car and assume you'll be junking it. I typically don't pay for full coverage or premium protection for this exact reason. I had a 98 Civic get totalled over a trunk that was crashed into. A trunk lid and latch assembly from the junkyard fixed the damage entirely but insurance totalled the car because it was the quick and easy way out for them.

You can get the parts you need from a wide array of places. I'm not sure who would work up the proper documentation though. I'm not even sure how that works, but I bet some research and investigating would allow the average business to print something acceptable. I'm sure they only need a few key pieces of information. If you can find out what information they need, fabricated or not it can be made into a document. If you get my drift.

Consider yourself blessed to get $5100 from an insurance claim for a nearly 30 year old DSM. That's really top dollar and more than I could have guessed. Did you have collector's insurance or pay the premium for a higher stated value?

i only carried liability insurance, but my insurance company was never involved. the lady who hit me was citied and at fault so her insurance company handled everything. their adjuster set max value of my car at around $4200, and that was considering it was rust free, low mile 2 owner car etc... they gave me $4200 for car, then $1300 inconvenience fee, so $5500 minus the $400 to buy it back. i guess i should be happy, i only paid $2000 for it 6 or 7 years ago, but it runs so damn nice and is in such good shape it seems a waste.

 

[bc88]

Shame you’re not closer. I have a front bumper and hood you can have for free

thats where i run into the snag. if i buy used parts from a private seller me and seller need to take title of car it came from and do a receipt in front of notary to certify i'm not using stolen parts. a guy around an hour from me has an eagle he's parting, but no title. so without proof that he's titled owner of car i couldn't use those parts to pass the state inspection for rebuilt title. if i buy a kit the inspection requires "the manufacturer's certificate of origin and a complete parts list of pieces included in kit", which from the couple of companies i talked to they can't provide. so i need to find a way around these requirements, or find a kit that can provide the required documentation.

 

[curt-s]

Have you any pictures with the hood open? The hood is buckled yet appears to be latched still. That could mean the distance from the latch to the firewall changed dramatically.
I would grab a tape measure and do some measurements because you could be in for a lot more work than you think.
This entire area is suspect now

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[97egl]

thats where i run into the snag. if i buy used parts from a private seller me and seller need to take title of car it came from and do a receipt in front of notary to certify i'm not using stolen parts. a guy around an hour from me has an eagle he's parting, but no title. so without proof that he's titled owner of car i couldn't use those parts to pass the state inspection for rebuilt title. if i buy a kit the inspection requires "the manufacturer's certificate of origin and a complete parts list of pieces included in kit", which from the couple of companies i talked to they can't provide. so i need to find a way around these requirements, or find a kit that can provide the required documentation.

Who is asking for documentation? I've replaced body panels on cars for family that lives in ohio and never had to provide any info like that. Hopefully someone from ohio can chime in only memeber I can think of off the top of my head from ohio is @Spleen8urLSX? Any insight on this?

 

[bc88]

Have you any pictures with the hood open? The hood is buckled yet appears to be latched still. That could mean the distance from the latch to the firewall changed dramatically.
I would grab a tape measure and do some measurements because you could be in for a lot more work than you think.
This entire area is suspect now

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

Have you any pictures with the hood open? The hood is buckled yet appears to be latched still. That could mean the distance from the latch to the firewall changed dramatically.
I would grab a tape measure and do some measurements because you could be in for a lot more work than you think.
This entire area is suspect now

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

not the best pictures, but yes, the core is tweaked slightly. i believe once i get the bumper off i can pull it up and out slightly to get it back. the core as you know isn't solid bar, but just shaped sheet metal so it shouldn't but to hard of a pull as long as i'm careful .

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[bc88]

Who is asking for documentation? I've replaced body panels on cars for family that lives in ohio and never had to provide any info like that. Hopefully someone from ohio can chime in only memeber I can think of off the top of my head from ohio is @Spleen8urLSX? Any insight on this?

since the car was totaled it now has a salvage title. in order to be able to get plates once again it must be inspected by the state highway patrol. once it passes inspection the will issue title as rebuilt and it can be plated again. the documentation is required as part of the inspection i guess to insure i'm not using stolen parts or trying to "re-vin" a stolen car using another cars salvage title. there's even a warning at the bottom of the sheet that any parts or vin numbers deemed questionable by inspecting officer are subject to seizure.

 

[curt-s]

not the best pictures, but yes, the core is tweaked slightly. i believe once i get the bumper off i can pull it up and out slightly to get it back. the core as you know isn't solid bar, but just shaped sheet metal so it shouldn't but to hard of a pull as long as i'm careful .

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

Remove the headlights too and check for buckling in the supports. You might need a slide hammer to pull things back into position

 

[dwb]

I guess every state must be different in this regard. I "totaled" a car, got my insurance payment and then bought it back salvaged. Never did I have to re-plate it or do anything to prove it had been rebuilt.

 

[97egl]

since the car was totaled it now has a salvage title. in order to be able to get plates once again it must be inspected by the state highway patrol. once it passes inspection the will issue title as rebuilt and it can be plated again. the documentation is required as part of the inspection i guess to insure i'm not using stolen parts or trying to "re-vin" a stolen car using another cars salvage title. there's even a warning at the bottom of the sheet that any parts or vin numbers deemed questionable by inspecting officer are subject to seizure.

If it were me I'd straighten out the support and flatten the hood out by jumping on it or something. Have them come inspect it and that'll at least get it back on the road. Unless its buckled somewhere on the frame I don't see why it wouldn't pass inspection as it sits unless they want to claim the hood being buckled obstructs your view. Just my .02

 

[jed344]

I own a body shop and have been doing body work for over 15 years. The vehicle is totaled when repairs exceed 75% value. Geico often totals at 50% value. Sometimes they will fix a car up to 100% there is many factors. Regular ins company's find the cars value based off of auction or dealer price. I have been telling people for a few years now that if you own a very nice DSM get hagerty. Yes they require photos and proof of cars condition and you can set the value based off that. My own car is insured for $21,000 guaranteed. I pay around $100 a month and that's for zero deductible. You cannot drive it daily and the car must be stored in a garage when not in use ect. The parts issue is they are no longer made so its very hard to find. The last DSM i redid i was able to find new old stock parts by calling around to auto parts wharehouse's and they found old never used parts covered in dust that where sitting for likely 15 years in some corner. These though are drying up fast too.

 

[ist dwa]

I live I'm OH And got a totaled car retitled once. All I did was schedule an appointment with oshp and brought them the car. They checked basic things like lights, brakes, wind shield etc. They ok the car to be retitled and then you have to go to the bmv and get new title and tags. The title says rebuilt savage across it. Just document pics and the accident so when you sell it they see it was nothing more than a fender bender and not truly totaled.

 

[bc88]

I live I'm OH And got a totaled car retitled once. All I did was schedule an appointment with oshp and brought them the car. They checked basic things like lights, brakes, wind shield etc. They ok the car to be retitled and then you have to go to the bmv and get new title and tags. The title says rebuilt savage across it. Just document pics and the accident so when you sell it they see it was nothing more than a fender bender and not truly totaled.

you didn't have to repair anything for inspection? everything works on my car, lights, horn, the hood is not obstructing line of sight and functions properly. you think it will pass as it is? if i can get it retitled as is would make repairs so much easier without having to worry about getting notarized origin paperwork.

 

[ist dwa]

The car had significant front end damage, wasn't even my car when the wreck occurred. Guy ended up doing a 1ga to 1gb front end swap. I personally didn't fix a thing.

In your case. I would just bang out what you can with a hammer. Could it cause you to fail? Maybe, I dunno, I don't work for OSHP. I'm sure they are used to many small collisions totaling old cars.

 

[jed344]

I am fairly certain this all depends on what state you live in. For instance in Iowa if you total your car, Then buy it back from insurance. Most times the insurance company never even got your tittle and it still keeps a clean title due to this. But if you buy a car from say a insurance auction then it has to pass a inspection when repaired. I over the year's have purchased back car's i own that where total loss and the INS company never got the tittle and they still are clean tittles to this day. A car here that was totaled and repaired and passed gets a rebuilt title normally. They just want to see that structurally it is good again and any safety equipment such as airbags ect are replaced and everything is working again. I have sold cars that did not have working air bag's for instance and always have the new owner sign and understand a disclaimer that they are not operational. This is personal vehicles. The body shop has to be repaired to very strict standards or we could be sued into oblivion.

 

[Tiki2777]

I am fairly certain this all depends on what state you live in. For instance in Iowa if you total your car, Then buy it back from insurance. Most times the insurance company never even got your tittle and it still keeps a clean title due to this. But if you buy a car from say a insurance auction then it has to pass a inspection when repaired. I over the year's have purchased back car's i own that where total loss and the INS company never got the tittle and they still are clean tittles to this day. A car here that was totaled and repaired and passed gets a rebuilt title normally. They just want to see that structurally it is good again and any safety equipment such as airbags ect are replaced and everything is working again. I have sold cars that did not have working air bag's for instance and always have the new owner sign and understand a disclaimer that they are not operational. This is personal vehicles. The body shop has to be repaired to very strict standards or we could be sued into oblivion.

It's the same for Nebraska, you could total a DSM on hail damage alone, get paid out, and move along with your day with a nice check in your pocket. Title never changes status or hands. Of course this is for older vehicles, for new ones there's reasons we have lemon titles, salvage, junk, etc.

 

[Pjj]

i have a friend named Ryan B is is selling this colour 2ga talon awd as a roller if youre interested in swapping shells?

 

[TerminalTalon]

NLA was the deciding factor, the estimate was for $3000 which pushed what they called the "75% rule". from what i gathered from the adjuster was once damages reach 75% of car's value it's totaled. with an estimate of $3000 and them not being able to find available OEM replacements they totaled it.

It’s funny my body guy talks about all the aftermarket junk they want to put on the things he fixes.

 

[jed344]

I also have a buddy with a awd 2g roller for sale. ZERO rust originally texas car. Funny enough its the red DSM from that dude in blue youtube channel reviewed.

 

[bc88]

i have a friend named Ryan B is is selling this colour 2ga talon awd as a roller if youre interested in swapping shells?

where is it located and how much? probably more thinking of repairing mine but it never hurts to consider other options

 

[Pjj]

where is it located and how much? probably more thinking of repairing mine but it never hurts to consider other options

his name is Ryan Bowersox on facebook and hes in PA, tell him PJ sent you