Another automotive recycling project......updated

[SKR8PN]

Here is my next project! Since we have never owned a convertible, this one is going to be a keeper! Clean, one owner, only 40,000 miles. Very light hit, no frame damage, just a little bit of the inner structure got whacked. Air bags did not deploy. I can't believe they totaled this thing. I also can't believe that whoever took it apart, didn't leave the nuts and bolts IN the car!

 

[big brown horse]

I can't wait to see the finished product!! What kind of car is that?

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Where do you pick up these projects?

How much did you pay for the car?

Keep us updated!

 

[chipmunk]

Wow, that's pretty!

 

[SKR8PN]

It is a 1999 Chrysler Sebring convertible. I am very close friends with the owner and employees of a local automotive recycling yard. He has two buyers whose job is to bid and purchase salvage vehicles for the companies parts inventory. Fortunately, both of the buyers and the owner for that matter, are gear heads who also hate to see a vehicle that could be fairly easily repaired and driven, dismantled just for parts. They have to keep the yard supplied with parts, but they also keep an eye out for clean rebuildables like this Sebring. All this car needs to be able to move under it's own power, is a battery. Everything else is just decoration. The cooling and A/C systems are even intact!

As for price? I bought this car for 2500.00 which includes the parts to repair it. Since a quick search of other reputable Ohio salvage yards for a "left front 3/4 clip, without cooling" turned up nothing, my friends will go back to the auction and buy another wrecked Sebring, so that I can remove the parts I need to complete the blue car. After it is repaired, I will have to have it inspected by the state highway patrol to verify that no stolen parts were used to rebuild it, then I will be issued a "rebuilt salvage" title. It can then be tagged and insured.
Not counting my labor, I should be able to get this drop-top running and driving for around 3 to 3100 dollars,TOTAL CASH INVESTMENT.
NADA value is listed at $5000.00 but I don't build these as an income source, only as a way to save money and not have to have a car payment. Like the Durango, we will probably keep it until the wheels fall off, then scrap it.

 

[FarmerChick]

very cool SKR
convertible will be loads of fun
nice car!!!!!

my neighbor restores cars. He gets them for practically $0 and does the work from junkyard and internet purchases of parts etc. and some of the restores he did were out of this world. He got all his kids great cars for practically no money! If you got that talent, then you can clean up in the car world!!

 

[PamsPride]

NICE! I can't wait to see the finished product!
I wish you lived closer so you could teach my boys some things about car rebuilds! I know nothing, and my DH is not the least bit interested in it....but since your last post (the Durango) I have been talking to them about it and at least opening their minds to the possibilities!!!

 

[SKR8PN]

Just a little update on the convertible project. We have the damaged inner structure cut out and replaced.....

The paint that does not appear to match here, under the hood, is because the factory uses a different base coat under the hood than they do on the outside. We just used the outside color to save a few bucks. You will never see this after everything else is put together and and the hood is closed.

I just left the body shop and he has the hood,bumper cover and fender painted and clear coated. They look GREAT! I will go back up tomorrow and get some update photos. The body work will be completed, and the car "might" be assembled by Sunday evening. We shall see how it goes with the weather. Next step is to a final inspection and the "rebuilt salvage" title issued, and THEN we can start driving it!



I didn't think to get pictures of this BEFORE we took it apart, but....
Here are a couple more pictures of what we had to work with. This is the piece of another convertible that I got for pieces/parts. I am NOT using that front bumper cover, and we decided to also go with a new left front fender so that I am not facing rust issues in the future. The NEW bumper cover is in the background of this second photo, still in it's wrapper. I did use the hood that came with this front clip, because it is fiberglass and in good condition. The rest of the blue car is IMMACULATE for a 10 year old Ohio Car. It would be a shame to put it back together with questionable parts. This front parts clip supplied all the inner structure, the complete air box assembly, hood, grill,driving lights, fender extension, battery tray and ALL the missing nuts and bolts. I still need one headlight assembly for the drivers side. No biggie!
One more thing.........if you notice, we took the car apart at the FACTORY spot welds, and put it back together the same way, so it lost NONE of the original structural integrity. No splices or hacked repairs. Not everyone repairs a total like this, because it takes a lot more time to do it correctly. I don't do this for making a profit, so I can afford to take a little more time to do it right.

 

[big brown horse]

YEA!!!!! Looks good so far! I can't wait to see the finished product!

 

[TanksHill]

Wow!!!