I have a customer that has a 3rd gen that wants me to get rid of with no title, he wants me to part out but i would rather keep it as a shell to get rid of and keep the engine to myself. do you think there is any interest from anyone in a near mint car with no title? If so any idea what i could get whole and parted out? i will have pics of car at end of week for all to see but it truly is an amazing car.

 

I would assume its stolen....

 

^ Like he said, unless you know that customer personally and the cars history, I wouldn't touch it.

There is no reason why a car shouldn't have a title or be able to get one, unless A. It's illegally in the possession of someone, or B. There's a bank lien on the car

The only legit reason to not have a title that I've personally seen, is that for some reason the bank has the title, but has signed off on you keeping the car because it's in a condition in which they don't want it. Which here is not the case since you said the car is in excellent conditions.

 

The story goes like this, the present owner bought it from the original owner several years ago but never had the original owner transfer the title cause he had to do some work on it to get the engine running right, when he was finished rebuilding the engine he called the guy to go transfer the title and the guy told him he to basically pound sand and he doesn't want anything to do with the car. So now the current owner just wants it gone and wants to cut his losses. He has put over 15k in the engine from the receipts i have seen so i cant possibly believe the car was stolen or any thing illegal was done.
Its not too hard to check on the vin to be absolutely sure that it is in fact not STOLEN. I will do a vin check as soon as the car shows and if it comes up with any leans or such i will wash my hands of it and report the car, I run an honest business and don't need anything stupid tarnishing my business.

 

First I would verify that it has not been stolen. https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck

Then, purchase the car with a bill of sale to create a paper trail in case there is ever an issue.

You could potentially make more parting it out, but that is going to take a lot of time and effort. It all depends if you want to get money out of it quick or not. Selling it as-is without a title will be hard since it is essentially only good for parts or for someone that wants to make a track only car.

 

If I were you I'd check the regulations of the DMV needed to get a car titled in your state.

If you can't find any way, and the previous owner doesn't want to sign off on it, then I'd say buy whatever parts you want from the guy, and tell him you can't do anything with the car itself. It's nearly impossible to find someone to take a car without a title, unless you get lucky and find someone that wants a track only car.

I just don't know who in their right mind would buy a car from someone and not have them sign the title away. Even if you don't register it, at least have the guy sign the title and give it to you.

BTW: At least here in florida, you don't need an actual title if it's a private owner sale. You can use a generic bill of sale signed by both parties and then apply for a new title.

 

This is an easy one, go to the last registered DMV and ask them to run a vin check for LIENS because you have a vehicle that has no title and you would like to possess ownership.

DMV will lead you to the right direction, if it has a lien the bank will want the car asap but you can request to take over the loan and work it out with the bank.

 

DMV doesn't always help. I bought my 3rd gen from a shop that was in your exact situation with no title. DMV told me I was SOL. I found a towing company the did abandoned titles. He did all the paper work and i had it tagged and registered in 45 days and $175. Not much to abandoned titles, as others have said a hot check is run as well as ads in the paper.

 

YOU get in contact with the person the current owner bought it from and explain the situation. You want to buy the car and the only way you can get possession of it is if he signs the title. If you explain that all it will take is his signature, I see no reason why he would be such an *** about this.

Also be prepared to provide proof that the vehicle was not road worthy since the last time it was registered otherwise you'll be paying an assload in back taxes.

edit: at least that's how nebraska does it where we have to pay certain taxes on the vehicle every year

 

if you have a customer then you have a shop correct? put a mechanic's lien on it, you can get a title pretty easily that way too.