haha, that terrible scenario actually ended up working out well.

Had a 1996 Ram Air Trans Am w/ only 60k miles, I had just paid it off about 2-months prior. Car burned, was a total loss. Got $9,900 and kept the car from insurance. Then sold the car as-is for $3,500.
Then bought a 1995 T/A w/ 124k miles for $4,000 and took the rest of the money and built the CMC car.

Drove the 1995 T/A for almost 6-years and sold it with 187k miles for $3,000.