Don't want to salvage! Help!

[1971Lou]

Hi folks,

Unfortunately, I had an engine fire in my 71 bus yesterday. I'm in CA. I definitely want to avoid any salvage of this vehicle. Do any of you have any insight as to if insurance companies always default to salvage, or if you are in the So Cal area, any shops that could evaluate and prove the bus is not salvaged?

Please Help!

1971Lou

[SGKent]

really sorry. To avoid salvage you will have to convince the insurance company it isn't a total loss. Usually they total it and then you can buy it back but then it will get a salvage title. That said, with cars this old it doesn't affect the value except in someone's mind. There are restored aircraft worth millions where all that existed before the restoration was a serial number tag. There are so many cars out there now that have been restored that were in wrecking yards that salvage titles on old cars are common. If someone is going to drive it they are more interested in how it drives than the fine print on the title.

Really sorry about the fire. Fuel line failure?
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[1971Lou]

SGKent,

The fire department didn't make it conclusive, but they did speculate it was the fuel line. I appreciate your feedback, and hope to fight the salvage as best I can.

God Bless!

James

[heimlich]

You'll need to get the whole bus looked at by a professional. Fire can change the properties of steel. The more important parts are any of the frame that were involved in the fire.

If the insurance company declares it a total loss then let them know you want to keep the vehicle. There is nothing wrong with salvage as long as you can get it titled for road use.

Carry a fire extinguisher with you. If you had one carry two next time. You want to get to it before the fire department
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[Abscate]

If you make a claim on your insurance that will be totaled.

If you don’t want a salvage title, don’t claim

There is no reason to avoid a salvage title.
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.ssS!

[1971Lou]

I wanted to update this post with some good news! Insurance accepted a restoration without salvage! If you find the right restorer, it makes all the difference! I highly recommend Shaun at Slow Ride Garage in Hesperia, Ca for any and all restoration needs!

[aeromech]

Good for you but Shaun chose the wrong exhaust. What else is wrong?
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[Cap10323]

[22manybugs]

[brando90gl]

Glad you got your bus back!

I was on the phone with my insurance company last week and was offered “Cherished Salvage Coverage”, I had never heard of it before. Basically in the event of a total loss, you still get paid the agreed upon value of the vehicle and you also get to keep it and they’ll still insure it through the rebuild.

https://www.hagerty.com/insurance/classic-car-insu...e-coverage
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[jtauxe]

Congratulations on getting the bus restored! It looks great.

[1971Lou]

Interesting this Hagerty's 'Cherished' coverage. I'm curious if that gives Hagerty a bit more leeway to call something a total loss. I'll look into it! And yes, there were pea shooters on there before. He did a pure like-for-like restoration. I'm just happy we're back on the road with it!