After reading another post today, I was wondering about insurance written off kit cars. As we all know, cat C and cat D are pretty easy to get back on the road, and to be honest I wouldn't be overly bothered if a production car had either on it's history. A broken window and a smashed ignition lock is often enough to register as a cat D nowadays, and any repair that includes paint is an almost definite write off.

But I was wondering about the kit car equivalent, and whether I'd feel comfortable. My (possibly mistaken) belief is that a kit car is more likely to be crashed than broken into, and the exposed nature of the car pretty much guarantees at least some sort of structural repair. But would that be enough to consider it safe to put back on the road again? I think I'd be much more wary of a repaired kit car than I would a repaired tin top.

Would any of you consider a cat D or cat C kit car?

I understand what you concerns are, however, I believe that it is easier to check a kit car rather than a tin top for accident damage particularly a seven style as the chassis is clearly visible unlike a monocoque which may have damaged in the floor pan or body sections which is sometimes not noticeable or concealed. Suspension, chassis rails, steering columns are easily accessible and if thoughly examined and found to be undamaged I would certainly consider a group D or C car. If there is damage the price of new parts should be considered, but again it is easier to fit new chassis, suspension parts etc to a kit car.

I'm quite the opposite, at least as far as a 7 is concerned. Once a 7 is stripped to the bare chassis any section is replaceable with correct measurement, build table and decent welding. I think tin tops would be very much more difficult.

As you suggest a lot of cars are not really damaged at all, just robbed. So replacing parts is all that's needed. I had a mate who had the interior of his car eaten by his dog, that would have been enough to write it off. It wasn't however, it was replaced and the dog placed on a car free diet!

if I were in a position to buy a Cat C/D I would be looking to pay the price of the parts that could be transferred to a new chassis and then re-registered through IVA i.e. the Cat C/D becomes the donor of usually some nice parts. If you can repair and re-register for the road I would take that as a bonus.

Again in terms of cost, bear in mind the price of a SH kit is usually about 60% of the price to buy the kit and the parts so the price of the CAT C/D should reflect this.

From what I have seen most kit car damage, particularly sevens, has been one or more of the corners knocked off which also bends the main frame a bit. As said before as it is a tubular welded structure, if done properly, then the affected bits can be chopped out and replaced and alignment of the chassis checked.

Worth noting that once the insurers have paid out on a car it isn't worth as much next time if it all goes pearshaped

*If* its been repaired correctly then ok its worth considering

For me there would have to be a pretty big saving in cost before going for a car that had been paid out on, rather than a normal buy...

Isnt that the first stage of how Duttons turn into pretty much everything else?