Hmmm, I guess it's late for this, but my advice would have
been to leave it and make a BIG fuss about getting your
deposit back. Mention your cop friend, or that you're
willing to go to small claims court to get your deposit back.
I don't know what terms you gave the the deposit on, but:
1) No floorboard and incomplete motor is not 'complete'
2) Major rust holes in the body is not 'good condition'
3) If the seller doesn't have a title they may not be legally
able to sell the car (probably depends on the state). If it has
been on their property a long time, they can legally do a
lien (sp ?) sale but there are specific procedures that go
with this. If it is lien saled, you can use the lien sale
paperwork to get a new title.
Of course if you gave them $375 on a verbal agreement, getting
it back it might be a rough proposition.
But on to the current situation. You should be able to get a
new title. Contact your local DMV and be prepared to wade through
some red tape. Or, buy another spit that is totally destroyed,
and use its title (this will most likely be a 'salvage' title,
which might reduce the value if you ever sell the car).
You can order replacement comm. numbers. As far as I know, this is
legal, since they cannot say what parts you can use to repair your car.
You can replace your engine, chassis and tub without getting a new
title.
BTW: I am not a lawyer, nor an expert in these matters.
Bill Miller wrote:
>
> I bought a very early 71 spit in missouri. I was told that it was complete,
> and not that bad of shape. Well when I got there, it was in a lot worse
> shape than I expected! Rot in rear wings, NO floorboards, motor incomplete
> (though "SAH tuned") and frozen, and unfortunately NO TITLE! At least the
> frame was solid and it had a restorable hardtop. Well, I tried to back out
> do to "no title" and they would not return my deposit. Several agruments
> later, I wound up taking it home with a signed, complete, bill of sale for
> just the deposit ($375) but no title. I had a cop friend run the commission
> number and the vehicle was not stolen. Do any of you have a clue how to get
> a title, or is this poor spit going to be a parts donor only. A friend at
> work suggested Hemmings, but I can't find anything in the latest copy. I
> hate to part out a "restorable" spit, but what can you do without a title??
>
> Bill
--
Reed Mideke rmideke@interbase.com
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