Pre Purchase Inspection for Rebuild Title

fatmatta · Jun 24, 2025

Hi everyone,

I’m in the process of purchasing a 2004 Dodge Viper SRT-10 with a rebuilt title and I’m having a hard time finding someone in the Duluth/Buford, GA area who can perform a proper frame or structural safety inspection before I finalize the deal.

Here’s the situation:

The car is currently located at a dealership in Duluth, GA.
It has a rebuilt title from FL/VA/KY, with the accident reported very early in its life (2005 and around 800 miles and now has 32K)
- Recent Rebuilt title was FL last year
I’ve already lined up a trusted mechanic to do a full pre-purchase inspection (PPI), but they don’t inspect the frame, welds, or substructure, which is what I really want peace of mind on.
I’ve called a number of local body shops and collision centers, including some I-CAR Gold Certified ones, but they’ve either declined or referred me to state salvage programs, which told me that they don't do that since I’m not re-titling it in Georgia.

What I need:

General advice on getting a good understanding of whether the frame/structure is safe and won't be an ongoing issue.
A shop or individual near Duluth/Buford/Atlanta who can do a non-certifying frame inspection — just a professional opinion on whether the car’s structure looks solid and safe.

If anyone in the GA/Atlanta car community has a go-to shop, frame expert, or even a fellow Viper tech who could help, I’d seriously appreciate it. This is the last major step before I schedule transport and finalize the purchase, and drive it 650+ miles home.

Thanks in advance!

— Matt
(Located in Maryland, but coordinating everything remotely)

daveg · Jun 24, 2025

Why don't you just send it over to a frame shop and tell them you want to make sure the frame was pulled correctly / and you want them to check for straightness?

InTheZoneAC · Jun 25, 2025

So the accident reported frame damage? Are we sure it just wasn't costly body/suspension damage?

fatmatta · Jun 25, 2025

Thanks for the advice. I did contact a shop and ask it simply like you put it and they said sure no problem drop it off. Waiting on the results now. All the other shops when I asked for a frame inspection they said we don't do that.

As far as the accident I was unable to find much information at all about it. The Carfax only says hit a divider. It doesn't indicate where the damage was. But the car had under a thousand miles and was under a year old so I assume it had to do significant damage to consider it a salvage title. Mechanic told me 67% of the value of the vehicle and therefore he assumed it had to be frame damage and some significant work needed.

Bonkers · Jun 26, 2025

Where was the Salvage Title first cleared and the
Rebuilt Title issued? If this was all done in Florida
it would have to be a SCREAMING deal, like $20k
or less, for me to even consider it. Florida is
notorious for work-a-rounds on fraudulent title
work... ... That being said, if the car was properly
rebuilt im not sure if youre going to be able to get
anyone to put their name on any documentation
claiming "safe structure." Thats a huge liability for
any business. Its also the gamble you pay with
any rebuilt car, even the ones professionally
restored. You owe it to yourself to drive/fly down
yourself, have the seller put the car on a lift, and
look for yourself, but otherwise i think youre SOL...

fatmatta · Jun 26, 2025

Thank you for the advice. There is a significant discount but not in the 20k range.
The most recent rebuilt title is Florida but it was first rebuilt in Kentucky and later in Virginia.
After I hear back from the frame inspection in getting a full pre purchase inspection at a reputable shop. I assume that between the 2 inspections they should know more then I would if I were to taking a look in a lift right?

Here's the Carfax

https://www.carfax.com/vehiclehistory/ar20/nL54GOk9eaHPcezYIeFqphCWtdojM0hyJU90GEazph90fVBIe-5mKlxMUNXyXQSKrnn2xU1W3a7eQZoISH5zz7IojKILwr6VnkZmrZGb

fatmatta · Jun 26, 2025

Update: The Dealer didn't drop off the car. for the frame inspection. they blamed it on the AI scheduling. I love the car but the shop is not making me feel good about buying a car already with questions related to the history and rebuilt title.

Goggles Pizano · Jun 26, 2025

$35k asking is not really cheap.

fatmatta · Jun 27, 2025

Goggles Pizano said:
$35k asking is not really cheap.

What do you think it's worth? What should I offer?
Frame inspection when well. They said it looked pretty professionally done with reinforcement welding.
I'm getting the pre purchase inspection done next week.

BoondocSaint · Jun 27, 2025

Just some food for thought from a rebuilt title owner. Those years of clean reasonable or low mileage cars are trading hands within 10k of that asking price. A 20 year old car may need freshening up i.e. rubber parts like suspension bushings, hoses, tires, etc. If you have a genuine love of these cars that transends a branded title while keeping the price of entry lower for gen 3...go for it. If it's a car that will trade hands in a few years, the extra premium for a clean example might be the better play. You are on the right track for not trusting "their word" about the car. Most dealers know collectively jack and $#!t about these low production cars. Haggling a fresh set of tires out of the deal is a fair offer if the car checks out.

viperkim · Jun 27, 2025

fatmatta said:
Hi everyone,

I’m in the process of purchasing a 2004 Dodge Viper SRT-10 with a rebuilt title and I’m having a hard time finding someone in the Duluth/Buford, GA area who can perform a proper frame or structural safety inspection before I finalize the deal.

Here’s the situation:

The car is currently located at a dealership in Duluth, GA.

It has a rebuilt title from FL/VA/KY, with the accident reported very early in its life (2005 and around 800 miles and now has 32K)

Recent Rebuilt title was FL last year

I’ve already lined up a trusted mechanic to do a full pre-purchase inspection (PPI), but they don’t inspect the frame, welds, or substructure, which is what I really want peace of mind on.

I’ve called a number of local body shops and collision centers, including some I-CAR Gold Certified ones, but they’ve either declined or referred me to state salvage programs, which told me that they don't do that since I’m not re-titling it in Georgia.

What I need:

General advice on getting a good understanding of whether the frame/structure is safe and won't be an ongoing issue.

A shop or individual near Duluth/Buford/Atlanta who can do a non-certifying frame inspection — just a professional opinion on whether the car’s structure looks solid and safe.

If anyone in the GA/Atlanta car community has a go-to shop, frame expert, or even a fellow Viper tech who could help, I’d seriously appreciate it. This is the last major step before I schedule transport and finalize the purchase, and drive it 650+ miles home.

Thanks in advance!

— Matt
(Located in Maryland, but coordinating everything remotely)

Call all the Dodge dealers. Looking for a Viper tech.

fatmatta · Jun 28, 2025

BoondocSaint said:
Just some food for thought from a rebuilt title owner. Those years of clean reasonable or low mileage cars are trading hands within 10k of that asking price. A 20 year old car may need freshening up i.e. rubber parts like suspension bushings, hoses, tires, etc. If you have a genuine love of these cars that transends a branded title while keeping the price of entry lower for gen 3...go for it. If it's a car that will trade hands in a few years, the extra premium for a clean example might be the better play. You are on the right track for not trusting "their word" about the car. Most dealers know collectively jack and $#!t about these low production cars. Haggling a fresh set of tires out of the deal is a fair offer if the car checks out.

Definitely appreciate the advice. That makes a lot of sense to me. I think I'm going to try to get the price down pretty significant amount. They've been sitting on the vehicle for months now and have been dropping the price regularly. Plus it with it being in Georgia and without a Georgia rebuilt title I think they are pretty desperate on wanting to sell the car soon. Do you have any regrets about buying a rebuilt title vehicle?
I'm not one to buy and sell cars in the short term so my plan would be to hold on to this. I was also thinking with the rebuilt title already dropping the value I could put miles and years on it with very little depreciation. Kind of guilt-free thinking

BoondocSaint · Jun 28, 2025

No regrets on buying the rebuilt car. It is my dream car which is a 2nd gen ACR, so my overall price to value was pretty high on the car. To me it's all about understanding that it is a different type of depreciation. As long as you aren't upside down in the price paid and worth of the car you'll be fine. Just make sure it was put back together correctly, but it sounds like you are doing your due diligence there. It might be hard to get the price down a whole lot more, but there should still be a little wiggle room there. You are spot on about not sweating every mile driven, worst examples of the best cars make the best drivers IMHO. Good luck, hopefully it a turns into a great deal for a great car.

Goggles Pizano · Jun 28, 2025

I would have gone looked at for you last month.

Georgia rebuilt requires pictures of it before the repair, else she don't issue a GA title but not sure on a car that has been registered multiple times in different states.

I would not touch a rebuilt unless it was very cheap. Spend the extra $5-10k and get a cleaner car. If you can't do the extra $5-10k, then the car is not for you

Bonkers · Jun 29, 2025

And just to be clear - im a huge fan of rebuilt and rebuildable
Vipers, but they do come with their own brand of headaches.
For me its the Florida connection that draws the biggest red
flag - $35k is high but isnt terrible. If you told me that this
car was rebuilt by Tator, or Havik, or Sessons, or even a well
known rebuilder in the club, then i would say "if you love the
car... ..." Without knowing the builder or history, youre one
frame crack away from buying a $50,000 Gen3....

99RT10GTS · Jun 30, 2025

Dude, I think you might be buying yourself into a money pit. unless you pick it up for salvage money($27-30K), walk. Buy something nicer and that won't be difficult to sell

fatmatta · Jul 1, 2025

Bonkers said:
And just to be clear - im a huge fan of rebuilt and rebuildable
Vipers, but they do come with their own brand of headaches.
For me its the Florida connection that draws the biggest red
flag - $35k is high but isnt terrible. If you told me that this
car was rebuilt by Tator, or Havik, or Sessons, or even a well
known rebuilder in the club, then i would say "if you love the
car... ..." Without knowing the builder or history, youre one
frame crack away from buying a $50,000 Gen3....

Thanks for the advice. I Love Vipers but, necessarily this one in particular. I just see it as good value but I see your point (and others have said the same) I am not so into the idea of extra headaches.

Florida was the last state the title was rebuilt in but it was originally rebuilt in KY then VA. It was only registered in FL for a few months, do I don't think much history or work done has much to do with FL. As far as the price, I plan to throw out a lower number. Somewhere in the low 30s and today is the pre-purchase inspections (had the frame looked at last week by a different shop). I think they will have a few things they will recommend getting done with I will use a negotiation point.
I think I have grounds to ask for a lower price with the car being in GA and not eligible to be sold in GA
Where would you think is a good price?

2004 Dodge Viper SRT10 Convertible 2D

Silver 2004 Dodge Viper SRT10 Convertible 2D with Black interior for sale in Duluth. Shop Carma Automotive Group for great deals on all our Dodge inventory.

www.carmaautogroup.com

fatmatta · Jul 1, 2025

99RT10GTS said:
Dude, I think you might be buying yourself into a money pit. unless you pick it up for salvage money($27-30K), walk. Buy something nicer and that won't be difficult to sell

I see what you're saying but everything I see is like 20K+ more than this one. As far as resale. I plan to transfer the rebuilt title to MD and from there it should be easier for a future buyer to do the same. Car prices are pretty high here too so I thought it would not be too bad to sell when the time comes. You think I am wrong about that? Thanks in advance for the help

Dan Cragin · Jul 1, 2025

You might contact Archer Racing. I think they are out there and are Viper experts.

fatmatta · Jul 1, 2025

Hi Dan, I think they are in Duluth MN (not GA) but I cannot seem to find much info on them. just some Instagram posts 10 years ago so I might not have the right group. Thanks

Dan Cragin · Jul 1, 2025

Wrong Duluth! Good Luck. Any salvage car needs close inspection. Seen some good ones and really bad ones!

99RT10GTS · Jul 1, 2025

I will sell you a No story 2001 RT/10, 15K clean title car, and drive it up to you at no cost for $45K.

fatmatta · Jul 1, 2025

PPI came back and pretty much said to RUN away. Tires are original on the front?? Near were 9 years old and dry rotted. leaking and low power steering, brake fluid is dirty and appears contaminated due to the swelling of the cap gasket, hood fitment issues. driver side sticks up higher that passenger side, driver door handle sticks out, trim has been glued on driver door trim under steering wheel is broken speaker grille is loose speakers are blown, wiring hanging down over pedals, output shaft seal leaking, Passenger front wheel bearing has play

Pretty much said the brake issues alone could rust the caliper and would be an expensive fix for a Viper.

So I guess its time to start from scratch. THANK YOU ALL for the advice though. My time will come

fatmatta · 2025-07-10T16:20:35-0400

I have a new (Non-Rebuilt title) Viper that I have been looking at and started a new thread asking if the cold start and idle sound normal. any help would be much appreciated https://www.viperclub.org/vca/threa...viper-gen-3-–-does-this-sound-healthy.679874/
Thanks in advance @BoondocSaint @Dan Cragin @Bonkers @daveg

daveg · 2025-07-11T08:42:23-0400

Ouch on the Undercarriage Pic. That would make me run without looking any further.

Pre Purchase Inspection for Rebuild Title

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