[John Clay]

My eldest daughter is on a search for an NA Miata. She's looking at one from a dealer in New Hampshire. I don't know that she has the full story, but it has an engine that was replaced with a 60K mile engine and driven 10K miles since then. She was told the car had a salvage title because it sat so long needing a replacement engine. Does that story make any sense? I'll get some more details when I get home.

She's making calls about insuring it. Leeland West said no; she is checking with Hagerty.

As far as Maryland, does anyone have experience regarding inspections/tilte/tags for a salvage titled historic car? Any other considerations?

Thanks.

[zygomatic]

Originally Posted by John Clay

My eldest daughter is on a search for an NA Miata. She's looking at one from a dealer in New Hampshire. I don't know that she has the full story, but it has an engine that was replaced with a 60K mile engine and driven 10K miles since then. She was told the car had a salvage title because it sat so long needing a replacement engine. Does that story make any sense? I'll get some more details when I get home.

She's making calls about insuring it. Leeland West said no; she is checking with Hagerty.

As far as Maryland, does anyone have experience regarding inspections/tilte/tags for a salvage titled historic car? Any other considerations?

Thanks.

No experience with salvage titles in MD, but has your daughter seen the ad in the For Sale section for the '97 Boxster for $6K (with hardtop)? I might err in that direction instead of a mystery box Miata.

[John Clay]

No Boxsters for her. My experience is $6K is a down payment on a Porsche.

[John Clay]

I did get clarification that the salvage was due to a wreck - the shop she's talking to fixes and sells them.

[Patrick3000]

Originally Posted by John Clay

My eldest daughter is on a search for an NA Miata. She's looking at one from a dealer in New Hampshire. I don't know that she has the full story, but it has an engine that was replaced with a 60K mile engine and driven 10K miles since then. She was told the car had a salvage title because it sat so long needing a replacement engine. Does that story make any sense? I'll get some more details when I get home.

She's making calls about insuring it. Leeland West said no; she is checking with Hagerty.

As far as Maryland, does anyone have experience regarding inspections/tilte/tags for a salvage titled historic car? Any other considerations?

Thanks.

A couple of different categories for salvage vs. rebuilt etc.

I would recommend looking at at picture of the title, rebuilt in Maryland is a rubber stamp and the big farm insurance company all access the states doesn’t have an issue with rebuilt titles per my experience.

The bigger issue that I would have is putting my child in a car that was crashed and repaired without direct knowledge of how the car was fixed.

Salvage and/or rebuilt for theft flood and/or paint, I am much more comfortable with but that is just me.

I believe cars 20 years old (na Miata) or older can be registered as historic in Maryland and do not require an inspection. A few years ago Maryland updated the use restrictions on historic tags and I believe that you can be stopped and questioned without probable cause simply for having historic tags. Please do your research.

[Patrick3000]

Nice one here, I love spending your money

https://www.switchcars.com/cars-for-...azda-miata-mx5

[John Clay]

Originally Posted by Patrick3000

Nice one here, I love spending your money

https://www.switchcars.com/cars-for-...azda-miata-mx5

It's not my money you're spending.

Clearly there is safety concerns putting anyone in a 30 year-old car; especially a 2200lbs convertible. Then add the repairs concern. I tried to tell her NA's are so expensive now that she should just get a current generation ND for a little more $. But she's not interested in anything without popup headlights.

Here is the information from the shop's purchase:

https://stat.vin/cars/JM1NA3515N0328396

[Trak Ratt]

I’d pass (on the right hand side if necessary) at speed if necessary! Price isn’t that good!

[Patrick3000]

Originally Posted by John Clay

My eldest daughter is on a search for an NA Miata. She's looking at one from a dealer in New Hampshire. I don't know that she has the full story, but it has an engine that was replaced with a 60K mile engine and driven 10K miles since then. She was told the car had a salvage title because it sat so long needing a replacement engine. Does that story make any sense? I'll get some more details when I get home.

She's making calls about insuring it. Leeland West said no; she is checking with Hagerty.

As far as Maryland, does anyone have experience regarding inspections/tilte/tags for a salvage titled historic car? Any other considerations?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by John Clay

It's not my money you're spending.

Clearly there is safety concerns putting anyone in a 30 year-old car; especially a 2200lbs convertible. Then add the repairs concern. I tried to tell her NA's are so expensive now that she should just get a current generation ND for a little more $. But she's not interested in anything without popup headlights.

Here is the information from the shop's purchase:

https://stat.vin/cars/JM1NA3515N0328396

The ad says PA Certificate of Salvage, this is far more complicated in Maryland. It requires an appointment for inspection and a mandatory tow to the Maryland State police before the car can be registered.

Please do your homework before purchase!

FYI, my limited understanding is that Maine doesn’t require residency for tags on trailers. I have no idea if that applies to old cars too.

Good luck

[zygomatic]

Originally Posted by Patrick3000

FYI, my limited understanding is that Maine doesn’t require residency for tags on trailers. I have no idea if that applies to old cars too.

Good luck

Maine's lenient rules for registering trailers do NOT apply to cars. Otherwise every car in New England would be registered there (MA, CT, NH and RI all have vehicle taxes)