I bought my '92 Camaro in 2005 with a salvage title because it had damage to the bumpers, door, and fender from a minor accident. 100% legal to drive after inspection, which was mandatory after the previous owner wrecked and "totaled" it out. The biggest downside to a salvage is resale value which I didn't give a shit about because I barely paid anything for the car. Insurance doesn't cost any more than a car with a clear title. Nine years later and now over 240k miles, the car still runs strong.
In summary, if it's a super cheap beater you don't invest a lot in, don't be scared off just because it's a salvage title