A-body help needed for my 65 Barracuda

Beautiful car. I agree that the damage may be terminal since I expect the floor pan crumpled to allow the quarter panels to bend that much. However, the uni-body shell is probably only ~30% of the value. Look at all the good parts you still have. Even the trunk and rear lights appear spared. If you believe the Desert King resto show on TV, your back glass alone is worth $2500.

It wouldn't be too hard to transfer your parts to a new shell. Most guys end up taking almost everything off anyway when restoring a car, and you would skip the laborious de-rust, re-paint, "find rare trim" steps. Just start with a good rust-free shell from CA or AZ and spray rust inhibitor in all nooks and crannys. You appear to be a tech grad, so should be simple, much easier than building a rambling wreck. (I spent 4 yrs there slaving on a Phd those ***'s cheated me out of).

You need to know the tricks when dealing with insurance companies. My Newport has been totalled ~3 times now. Last time was after a deer ran into the passenger door. I just drive to the estimate shop they suggest, the estimators shake their heads and report "can't fix it". The insurance decides to total it, thinking "old car, few hundred dollars", so now "it is just a question of price". I help them out by digging up "comparables" from Hemming's etc. You might use the absurd asking prices on craigslist or, even better, send a video from Mechams auto auctions. The insurance lady doesn't know that the 2-door 413 "comparable" might be worth more than my base 383 4-door. Last time, we agreed on $3500 I recall. To save them hassle, I offer to buy it back for $700. I end up with a check for ~$2700, buy a door for $150, repaint and done. If you think just clueless CA companies, two times were in Atlanta, and various insurance companies.