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« on: November 14, 2023, 08:08:31 AM »
The final chapter of my title saga. This 1964 1/2 Convertible with a 260 V8, power steering and automatic transmission was just too good of a deal for me to pass up. It is an original Skylight Blue with Medium blue standard interior. It is an unbelievably rust free mostly unmolested "barn find" (I know people hate this term as I do but do not know a better way to describe it). I did a tremendous amount of research and found the car was not listed on any stolen vehicle reports or salvaged vehicle reports. These would have been deal killers for getting a title for the car.
I petitioned 3 states for registration records including Maryland where I live, Pennsylvania where I purchased the car and Nevada because it had a Nevada plate on the front. All came up negative for previous registrations.
I then proceeded to file a case in courts against the DMV for a "court ordered title" (Writ of conventional Mandamus). It was a pretty simple process that cost me $165 to file the case and then another $60 to have the sheriff serve the papers to the DMV.
The DMV filed a motion to the courts for photos of the VIN which I happily supplied.
I just received a letter in the mail from the DMV stating the car has never been registered in any of the 50 states and therefore they are going to issue me a title.
I really do not understand why it was never registered in the US. I can only come up with 2 guesses. One, some states may not go back 60 years with their records, or two it was a Mexican car? It just seems way too rust free to be a Canadian car? I do know the original DSO was Buffalo whatever that means? The car was extremely dusty underneath with cacked up dust/grime around the engine, transmission and front suspension.
Needless to say I am very relieved. I took a bit of a gamble but with the research I did and the condition of the car I felt it was a reasonable risk. Now I can enjoy the process of bringing the car back to life. Great retirement project for when I retire in 5 or so years.
Corey Bowcutt