If insurance totals it, I would buy it back and then fix it. However, it would then have a salvage/total loss title.

 

+1^

 

I found it very difficult to get parts to align correctly without professional tools,,, once a body is bent, it just will not straighten back so everything fits properly... so, depends on tools, time, and money...

 

Depends on how bad the damage is. I would personally take it back then sell it on craigslist as a whole.

 

remove the damaged section of the vehicle, and also the opposite side of the vehicle, and measure the length on the damaged side. Measure the other side and see if its the same. Also measure the frame rails to see if the body is tweaked (Top of bumper rails, bottom of bumper rails) If all measurements are pretty much the same, its all repairable damage. If it isn't correct ( More than 1/8" difference ) Then you will need to get the frame / body straightened to fix it.

Sounds to me like its repairable, but without seeing images or knowing measurements I cant say for sure.

 

Do you have any pics?

 

I haven't seen any pics of it yet. SHould hear from insurance this week. I'll get it towed back here and figure out whether it gets parted out or resurrected. I'd hate to see it go- it was about as nice a '97 as there is.

 

some front end damage experience

the front end was pretty chewed up
one headlight out
grill cracked through and through
battery shoved back
fender cover chewed up and through
hood bent but would close

first quote was for 3600
I found a place on line that would sell a fender cover for 69, and paint it to match for 169
I put that on myself

enter a professional body guy
replaced hood latch
fixed and sprayed the hood
replaced the headlight
took out some other divots accumulated around the car
1100

it drives straight and true

hope this helps
br
rich
2000 camry
2010 corolla

 

I still haven't seen the car. It's getting towed bck to my firends shop tomoorow, so I'll take some pics and assess the situation then. I'm hoping I can find a JY fender hood and bumper in the same color. Shouldn't be too hard- it's that damned gold color they all seem to be!

 

FWIW: The Update

Well, it turns out that the car WAS salvageable! The hood, bumper, left fender, headlight and radiator support were crunched. We were able to straighten the radiator support just fine, and bought all new (gasp) Chinese parts. The total expenditure was $1800, parts, painting and labor. I couldn't let a such a good car go for parts.

 

Awesome! Congrats! :clap:

This thread needs some epic pics!

 

I never took any!:headbang:

I will take some of the finished car- I didn't have the paint blended, I didn't think it would wind up looking right anyway, since the gold paint on my '97 has about 100 different chips from Toyota. No matter. When everything was stripped from the car, it was a nice incidental benefit to closely asses the condition of the car. I'm happy to confirm there just is no rust on this Camry- none.

Anyway, the car is an extra right now, my daughter wants to keep her replacement car, so perhaps I'll sell my '91 Mercedes diesel and start driving the Camry again.

 

I never took any!:headbang:

I will take some of the finished car- I didn't have the paint blended, I didn't think it would wind up looking right anyway, since the cold paint on my '97 has about 100 different chips from Toyota. No matter. When everything was stripped from the car, it was a nice incidental benefit to closely asses the condition of the car. I'm happy to confirm there just is no rust on this Camry- none.

Anyway, the car is an extra right now, my daughter wants to keep her replacement car, so perhaps I'll sell my '91 Mercedes diesel and start driving the Camry again.

Sounds like a plan. When I wrecked my last car I just got rid of it because I didn't ever want to see it again. My insurance went up the a--- and now I drive a 97 camry beater car to get around town that I picked up for 1800 last year ...