Found a steal on a 72 SWB..but no title!

[tdave00]

As the title states I found a steal on a 72 SWB. It has a 350 with automatic trans. I have just seen pics so far, so not 100% sure of the condition. Was told it was normal rust in the rockers and floor. We'll see.

I can go look at it anytime, but I am a little leary of the "no title" situation. He said it's his brothers truck and he has left the state. I am checking the TN DMV website right now and they have a form for abandoned vehicles. Is my best bet to let the the brother (the guy selling it) file the form for abandoned vehicle and get a title? Have you guys had any experience with this?

I am almost tempted to just buy it and figure it out later. He has it listed for $1k, but said the least he would take is $800. I am thinking of offering him $600 in consideration of the title situation.

[Sport/Truck]

No title can equal big trouble. Sure you can buy it cheap….but you’ll have lots more into it later. If it ever came up stolen you’ll loose.
See what you can do at the DMV to make this legal first.
s/t

[72swb_327stroker_?]

unless you plan to use it as a parts vehicle, i wouldnt jump into it just yet!
figure out what you can do first.... contact the dmv in your state and find out how much the reg will be, and if you can register it....this should be figured into part of your total buying costs...

[tdave00]

Thanks for the info guys. I tried calling the DMV but they are closed today. Will call back tomorrow. I might go look at the truck tonight and find out more about the situation. I know if I could get the out of state owner to sign a power of attorney for the vehicle then I could take care of the registration and such, but I didn't want to go into all that on the phone and sound too eager .
http://www.tennessee.gov/revenue/for...ofattorney.pdf

I am about to pee in my pants. I am so excited to find a deal like this on a SWB. I just hope it's not a dud. I really don't think this guy knows what he has.

[griesel72]

i would buy it, even if you can't get a title, you could use the frame and bed to make another truck(that hopefully had a decent cab) a short bed

David

[powell72]

Buy it, worst case you part it out. The bed could be worth $600 by itself.

[special-K]

I don`t know your situation,but I`d buy it and worry about the title later.You can always find a junker with a title.I would make sure it isn`t stolen before trying to title it as that truck,though.It`s perfect for a combine two into one job.I`m building a truck from all parts and I`m just using a title and vin-plate from a scrapped truck.

[HavinSomeFun]

Buy it and make sure you get a bill of sale with the VIN number on it. Also make sure the VIN tag is place.

[magsnubby]

While it's very tempting to just hand him the cash and tow it home, I would contact the owner before i even considered buying it, even for parts. It MIGHT be his brothers truck, but are you sure the brother actually wants to sell it? Maybe the seller just "Wants that POS outta my yard".

Better to be cautious than have the sheriff show up at your door.

[dieselarmy13]

I would buy it in a heartbeat, but my ol' man would call me a dumb@ss. Just something to think about.

By the way, I usually don't listen to him!

[franky69c10]

buy it....

[Shane]

Buy it ... get a Bill of Sale that references the VIN number WITH his brother's signature.

[Sport/Truck]

Originally Posted by magsnubby

While it's very tempting to just hand him the cash and tow it home, I would contact the owner before i even considered buying it, even for parts. It MIGHT be his brothers truck, but are you sure the brother actually wants to sell it? Maybe the seller just "Wants that POS outta my yard".

Better to be cautious than have the sheriff show up at your door.

Originally Posted by Shane

Buy it ... get a Bill of Sale that references the VIN number WITH his brother's signature.

Sounds like a good idea to me.
If you don't get the owners signatures w/vin etc. and the police show up with the truck all in peaces, you'll make the news as being a chop shop. - which is a felony! Your lawyer bills are going to cost more than you would have saved....

Do everything to cover your A$$.
s/t

[Chevyman680063]

I'm not sure what kind of laws your state has but when I bought my '63 back in '03 it did not have a title. All I had to do was get the guy to write up a bill of sale with his name saying that he sold a '63 Chevy pickup to me for the price we agreed on with the date. I can't remember if the VIN# was on the paper but the VIN plate was still in the truck. Contacted insurance company before I picked it up and got them to fax me a copy of the insurance card for the truck and they said if I was pulled over since it didn't have a license plate to show the cop the copy of the insurance card and the bill of sale. I do agree though that you should check with your DMV if you're not sure.

[tdave00]

Well, I went and looked at the truck tonight. It has severe rust in the rockers, floor and cab corners. The passenger side bed panel is beat all to crap as well. The other body panels are in good enough shape.

It will also need front and rear bumbers, a tailgate, and a passenger side wheel well/inner fender. It has factory air and the 350 is factory. I took a cell phone picture of the sticker inside the glove box but it didn't turn out because it was dark.

I probably won't offer over $500 for this truck because it would probably be easier to find a decent longbed and chop it up into a shortbed. It's worth restoring but I was hoping it would be in a little better shape.

The guy wasn't home, but I did talk to his wife and she said they were still in contact with the brother/owner and it would be no problem to fax him the power of attorney and have it faxed back.

[LockDoc]

-
If the title was in the brothers name and he just can't find it he should be able to get a duplicate title and just sign it over to you.... That is the way it works in Iowa anyway.

LockDoc

[QKENUF4U]

buy it, take out the old vin plate and rivet yours in place (ya i know they use "special" rivets but how many DMV guys actually know that)

[HeavyD]

Has to be worth that in parts alone..I would buy it.

[tdave00]

I'll let you guys know more later. Gonna go look at it tonight.

Are those wire wheels worth anything? They will definitely not be staying on it if I buy it.

[ratrod67]

Originally Posted by tdave00

Are those wire wheels worth anything? They will definitely not be staying on it if I buy it.

If you get the truck and sell the wires cheap let me know.

[special-K]

Some lowrider will buy them for a couple bucks.They like to rust,so I`d look close at them.

[meathead95]

i have been trying to buy this also but i couldnt get him to return my calls

[tdave00]

i have been trying to buy this also but i couldnt get him to return my calls

Well, I guess I better be getting all over this then . I'll let you know if I am not interested in it.

If you get the truck and sell the wires cheap let me know.

Will do.

[hilljob26]

these deals dont come around every day,i mean really,how hard is it to put on a vin plate.people swap cabs and stuff all the time

[Huck]

So, if my truck was ripped off by some A-hole and he decided to put it on Craig's list and sell it claiming it was his brothers who moved away etc. All you guys would buy my stolen truck!!!!! NICE!!!!
I wouldn't touch that truck unless the seller could prove some form of legal ownership and or legal documentation allowing him to sell it.
THINK ABOUT IT---to many of our trucks are stolen and re-sold or parted out by the A-holes out there.