Originally Posted by GB5andGY8
It’s kind of hard to see in the pics, but the front of both doors wrinkled, it buckled by the driver’s A-pillar, and the inner fender/frame stub/mount deal holding the engine on the driver’s side is tweaked. I think it was this last damage that pushed it over the edge.


That is some significant damage. And as you pull it apart, more will likely show up. Usually, in this kind of situation, if you can do a lot of the work yourself and really, really want to keep the car, then buying it back can work. But if the car has a lot of miles, or if you have to hire too much of the work out, or if there is heavy underlying damage, etc, then it might be best to let it go. Only you can make that call. Just make sure that you understand the full extent of the damage.

Given it's age, there are a lot of those cars in the wrecking yards. But the majority of them are hit in the front, so front end pieces are the scarcest. And in case you didn't already know, sticking replacement parts on is the easy part. Getting the pieces to fit right and get the gaps right (or just acceptable) is the tough part. There will be all kinds of things that won't line up right. And in the end, although you may get it back on the road, it may never be the car it was and you just might not be happy with it.

So having said all that, from someone who does this for a living, with the information you have provided, my opinion is to let it go. Good luck with what ever you decide.


Master, again and still