Can I be talked out of this?

So, I live in Saskatchewan. We do things a bit different.

Namely what happens to vehicles after Insurance deems them a Total Loss. You have 2 options, buy it back for 'X' or the car goes up on bids.

Case in point:

1994 Dodge Stealth FWD Manual

It's a silent auction type idea. You enter what you would pay for the item BUT they highest bid isn't necessarily the winner.

What would the hive do? Starting bid price makes it challenge friendly, but the glaring issue is the headlights appear to be roughly the same price as the car...

Should I put a bid in on it?

It looks like the lens is the only part of the headlight that actually needs replacing. Could a shaped sheet of Lexan and a few layers of clear coat do the job?

Well the Vin says it's an RT, which means it has the NA DOHC engine rather than the turd of an SOHC. DOHC motors can push mid 200's at the wheels with just a little work.

Looks like an OEM headlight can be had salvaged off Ebay or LKQ for about 80 dollars.

Drivers side door card isn't bubbling but it looks like the passengers side is.

Fender doesn't look that bad though the hood would need some help.

I'd probably put 600-700 or so on it if you're looking for a terrible yet fun idea. They're wonderful GT type cars.

I am strongly debating a bid on it. 

I have a co worker that will be going past it that can look at it Friday. I have until Tuesday to make a bid. The upside, its only a half hour drive from me.

The only drawback is the safety inspection, that may require a DOT recognized lense. But I did see a few headlights on eBay soooo it can't be all bad... right?

It's easy for me to be talked out of that.  I never liked them, even when they were new.  Either underpowered or overcomplicated, depending on which version, and overweight no matter which.

For the sake of your wallet, I would stay far away from these cars. I have seen lots of money thrown away without these cars ever starting never mind driving, some parts are cheap and a few of them are out of this world. And these cars are heavy for there power, IIRC they come in somewhere around 3500 lbs.

Now if this was a VR4 I might think about it but once again they have some spendy bits.

Paul B

You have the SGI bid thing a wee bit wrong.  The highest bid is definitely the winning bid, unless the bidder turns it down, or doesn't respond for two days.  Then it starts down the list of bidders, each with two days to respond.

Following a total loss, it has to go through a structural and a mechanical inspection.  That eats roughly $400.  Any rust perforation is a structural failure, and has to be repaired properly, with inspection at each stage of repair- So, somebody has to look at it before repair, and at least before bodyfiller or paint.  Crack in the windsheild?  Foggy headlamp lense?  Crack in a tail light?  All are mechanical failure.

If you don't plan to license it, its easy.  if you want it back on the road, it needs to be pretty darn close to perfect.

EDIT:  I just looked at the pics- It was certified in 2015, so that might make the mechanical easier, since the brakes and suspension must have been ok then.  I don't know whether they will make you fix the hood.  Probably depends on whether the inspector is a douche.  If the bumper cover is cut, it may well have to be repaired, and the wrinkle in the rad support will need to be made right.  Any styrofoam under the bumper will need to be right.

Doesn't look bad, if you have a chubby for such things, but make sure the plastic cladding isn't hiding rust.  That might make your life bad.

The weight doesn't bother me, my current project weighs just as much.

It's just one of my "Man I'd love to own one of those cars" probably due to seeing a gorgeous black one when I was 16. Guy had issues getting tires for it in the right size (at the time) so it was parked in his garage. I only saw it because my friend had purchased an air compressor from him and we were there to pick it up. 

For the safety, I do know a shop that is really straight forward for them locally. If it's not safe, its not safe, they don't get too douchey on things just for the sake of being douchey. 

The SGI thing, I had bid on a supra previously, didn't win, but got a phone call 4 days later saying it was mine if I wanted it, but I only had 24 hours to decide.

Coworker is going that way on Friday on his run so he will take a closer look for me. If its worse than pictures show, then its no loss. I don't really NEED it, just kinda WANT it.