It’s a sad reality that very few people can afford their dream supercar thanks to high asking prices and steep running costs. There is, however, a way to get around the first part. Agencies such as Copart sell significantly damaged supercars in need of repairs for a fraction of the original cost. If you have the skills and a lot of patience, this method could save you a lot of money in the long run. YouTuber Samcrac gives us an insight into the world of salvaging supercars as he attempts to rebuild a totalled 2010 Audi R8.
While the exterior only has a few minor dents and scratches, the car was written off by an insurance company due to serious undercarriage damage. First-generation Audi R8s typically command around $80,000, but the YouTuber paid less than half the car’s value for the wrecked R8 at a salvage auction. Eventually, the owner fired up the R8’s 4.2-liter V8, which is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox, before taking it out for a test drive to assess the mechanics.
Disassembling the car later revealed the frame between the interior and the trunk is broken, which is where several components such as the battery and ABS module are located. Repairing it will require the aluminium to be welded and lined up precisely. It’s not going to be an easy job, but the hard labour should be worth it in the long run as Samcrac believes it’s “probably the cheapest Audi R8 in the world.” We're keen to see how the supercar salvage progresses. No doubt we'll find out in future videos.
