It’s not every day you stumble across a McLaren in the middle of a salvage yard.
It’s even rarer that you come across a 720S that’s seemingly in mint condition.
That’s the scenario one YouTuber found himself in, though.
So what’s the story behind the McLaren and how did it end up there?
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The $300,000 supercar was found at a salvage yard in Tampa, Florida.
Apparently, the car was totaled due to a minor crack in its carbon-fiber tub.
Would the McLaren see the light of day again?
In a video posted to YouTube by Samcrac, we find out that the final bid was $228,000, so someone clearly had intentions of fixing it up.
The presence of high-value vehicles like the McLaren at salvage auctions indicates a niche market for luxury project cars.
For example, this YouTuber spent a third of the original cost of Marcus Rashford’s wrecked Rolls-Royce to rebuild it.
What’s more, these brothers who bought a fire-damaged McLaren sight unseen received a message from its ex-owner two days later.
Buying high-value cars at auction
The reason behind a car being totaled, such as the McLaren’s minor crack, highlights how insurance assessments can undervalue vehicles due to policies around salvage titles.
Newly acquired salvage cars like the McLaren face rapid depreciation, raising concerns for future resale value, making them a gamble for buyers.
The video shows other interesting finds, including a burned Corvette and an eclectic mix of project cars.
Many damaged vehicles, including the Corvette C8, show significant potential for restoration.
Is it worth the risk?
It goes without saying, that it’s important for buyers to assess both the costs of repairs and the potential market value post-restoration.
It’s even more important as the impact of recent economic shifts on car values and auction sales points to a changing landscape in the automotive market, particularly for luxury and electric vehicles.
As well as the financial decisions around purchasing salvage vehicles, there’s the emotional impact to take into account – not that that will ever stop the car enthusiast community.
As they say, with risk comes reward.
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