I crashed and effectively ruined the front of my mint Firebird 3 1/2 years ago. It was so mint, that this left me totally bummed out [for a while], even after replacing it with a very nice GTO.
Fast-foward to yesterday. A recently-placed ad on Craig's List successfully got the old 'Bird sold. Before the buyer arrived, I poured in some fresh fuel, and removed the tarp.

The car had been sitting in the back yard since the accident.

The buyer hooked up a charged battery, and it started right up, and ran without any issues.
The new owner then drove away, literally into the sunset.

I sold the car for parts, but this guy is going to fix it, then twist it back into shape on his dad's frame-straightener machine.

On a side note, I laughed so hard and almost soiled myself when the buyer's cousin locked all the keys in the now-running car. Was like an old Laurel and Hardy movie. They eventually had to pull the door lock to get back in.

So, thanks for all your support and wisdom through the years.

 

Thanks for sharing that with us, interesting story.

 

Take a peek underneath or look in the fender wells of most third gens for a real testament to their quality.

 

I cannot tell if this is a 'dig', but my car never rusted, not even after sitting over a muddy garden for three and one half years.
The thinness of the steel...Well this is another story. The car should not have folded so easily. Matter of fact, the bumper beam survived intact, but the ends of the box frame certainly did not.
And let us not forget the time that the rear shocks flew through their thin towers.
And the tiny split in the sail panel................................