From what I have seen, 'Cat C' can be given to vehicles that can have a bent wheel and wing, right up to my mates Zetec-S when he bought it. We both didn't realise just how much work his car would need as it only looked like a front end, but it was cheaper than buying a second hand 3 owner car with 80.000 miles on the clock. (His had 1 owner and 20.000 miles)
Anyway, we ended up straightening 2 slightly bent chassis legs, replacing a front panel, front crossmember, 2 wings, headlamps, bumper, grille, air con pipes, radiator, o/s driveshaft and hub assembly, o/s & n/s front legs, lower wishbones and stabilizer bars, front engine/suspension crossmember, rear stub axles, rear beam axle, 1 side skirt, and 3 wheels & tyres. Oh it also needed a repair on the o/s/r quarter panel and a rear bumper. It was painted on both sides, & front.
All that damage, and it was quite servere, they didn't categorize it as a 'Cat B' :roll: I wouldn't dismiss buying a Cat C write off if it has been repaired correctly, but you shouldn't be paying top 'book price' for it :wink: