I haven't been able to do much lately because I've been waiting on the bumper. I didn't want to put the fender and all the other stuff in that area on just to take it off again when I bring the fender and bumper to a shop 45min away for paint. The bumper is likely arriving tomorrow, and assuming I can get it painted before christmas, the car should be put together by the new year. Then I have to get a structural inspection to change the title from salvage to rebuilt and safety, e-test etc. After that I have the whole winter to clean it up properly and look forward to driving it in the spring.
I managed to track down the PO. A very nice older gentlemen who said it was about a 5mph collision. He mentioned he would send me all the records he had for it as well. He said he wanted to keep it but the damage estimate got really high (19k) and the insurance gave him a really good pay out. Apparently the biggest reason for the high estimate was that there was a small piece of plastic that was broken off on the blue plug that powers the projector. I've looked at it and it in no way affects its function or keeps it from being firmly secured to the car. Nevertheless, they were going to replace the whole wiring harness which would have costed 6k. A new headlight up here is about 3k, and then add dealer prices for the rad/condensor assembly and all its associated parts and a bumper and fender. Add to that paint and labour and it all makes sense now.
Oh, and the PO said he replaced it with a newer 650 convertible but that he still much prefers the way the boxster drives
