It seems like an apple to oranges comparison.
2x 195x Apache trucks. Both in ones possession. Build one good truck from the two especially if one is too far gone since they both can't be on the road. They are basically the same thing w/all parts interchangeable.
A panel van to an El Camino? Not quite the same thing. An El Camino to an El Camino from the same era? As long as you possess the titles to both, what difference would it make? Not an El Camino & station wagon even though the frames are similar. Not an El Camino & 2 or 4 door either....
Here's the thing, and it goes to what
69hurstolds said...
Dmv people cam be pretty dumb when it comes to cars, and always were.
My 1987 suburban was, and is, titled since NEW as a station wagon for body type. But the vin matches, so, I don't care what 'body type' the commonwealth thought it ought to be in 87.
So consider the paper pushing old lady at the dmv. WTF is an el camino anyways?.?.? It's not really a pickup. But it's not really a car either. Certainly not an suv, but it is a utility vehicle of some type. So they likely picked other.
And, some states, when you first register from out of state within a certain age they need to have someone look at a vehicle in person to verify vin and/or odometer.
Now, tell me this. If an elcamino, a bench/2 seater with only front row seats, rolls up with a cap on the back and an open cargo floor, what does it *look* most like? And before you get up in arms about 'removble top' remember in the same era (and earlier) the k5 blazer... the bronco... the brat... all removable fiberglass rear toppers.
So again, in person verifier wouldn't necessarily know that lid was aftermarket. So.
Worry about the vin. It's what the insurance sees and quotes/pays on. Don't worry about "panel" unless thr vin don't match an elcamino vin.
As far as the salvage designator... a total loss in 2004 was a 3" dent on a fender. A total loss in 1990 was major damage. Age matters. It's not necessarily nefarious. I didn't see that info listed anywhere.
Call your insurance. Get in writing via email what their answer is how they will cover and handle a loss. Don't like the answer, then check with a classic insurance, or, choose declared/agreed value depending on whether you want your policy amount to depreciate on payout or not as one usually costs more than the other, but not always. Then shop for insurance that meets your needs
These cars are so old, state records didn't keep up when new.
One of my 83 regals is still on new title. It's been total loss twice. And actually, working on that regal we found where the driver door was hit and fixed. Turns out, Houser Buick had some damage on their lot when a driver jumped the curb and hit their inventory. When we bought the car they didn't want to sell this only lease it. But, money talked, and we were going to walk somewhere else unless we got that car as ordering would take too long. So they sold it. Turns out, seems like they didn't want to sell because they weren't disclosing that damage. We found it nearly 20 years later. You're getting nowhere at that point, and, by then the buick franchise had relocated and it was Mitsubishi anyways.
Suburban had major damage twice including 2 frame pulls. Actually that truck also had a manufacturing defect.... after owning a bit the steering shaft came apart while driving. Turns out on the line they didnt put all the fasteners in they shouldve, or, at least couldnt have more than finger tightened as there were no markings where they ought to have been. That isnt noted anywhere either. Carfax is clean on both. The accidents happened too long ago and the reports weren't digitized.
Point is, you never know. Maybe you find/see old body work, but unless you strip it down you won't find everything. Unless you own or saw in family/friend since New that is. Otherwise, you NEVER know on an old car, and it's why most classic/collector programs don't care. Look at all the $300,000 hemis coming out of salvage yards....
