Just because a car is in a crash doesn’t necessarily mean it’s junk or totaled. American throw away much to much stuff that can be fixed or repaired, insurance companies total out cars that should be fixed and government regulations are making it so cars are far too complex to be easily fixed or repaired...too much waste.
Also they don't have to meet EPA or DOT specs in the repair to pass an inspection.
Used cars sold in Northern Arkansas were mostly totaled autos rebuilt in Missouri. Total junk. You could get a nice clean title for a few bucks showing it had never been wrecked.
Ain't it the truth! Top Gear recently did a special called "Sand Job" where they visited Nouakchott, Mauritania. The cars cheerfully driving around in that busy city were beyond trashed out belief.
That’s especially true in countries like Georgia or Russia where labor is not nearly as expensive. Buy a bunch of totalled cars, canibilize some them for parts and employ a bunch of mechanics and viola! You’ve got good cars that now work and have plenty of life left in them. You were probably able to pick up the wrecked cars for pennies on the dollar.
Millions of Toyota and Nissan/Datsun pickup trucks originally sold in the USA end up in Asia, Central America and other places.
This is because they do not care if it has all the pollution controls, air bag and all the other safety gear.
I had several guys that called me to buy my 1988 Toyota pickup in 1999 when I sold it. They did not care if it was rusted out or the frame was broken. As long as it ran.
Yup!