Craigslist truck find...is it worth it??

[CC69Rat]

That could be a neat old truck man, and the price is right. Without looking at it (rust in the pans, etc... ? ) you could part it for more than $1600. I'd bet $1400 might buy it? But still I think an oportunity is there to research it before you walk away. If there's an old tag receipt somewhere as I mentioned .. The DMV likes those in TN. It shows ownership and previous registration (of course) then the Bill of Sale, notary, licensed dealer appraisal, Sherrifs Dept 'hot list' sign off, etc. If you really want the truck you could safely work it out IMO. It's just going to take some work.

[Red68]

Went and looked at the truck a few minutes ago. Good solid truck, rocker panels look good, AC cab, grill and bumper in the bed, bed is in good shape, engine bay looks clean. Interior is decent, seat is there but cushion is shot.

I asked him about the title. He said he bought it from a friend a few years ago, he talked to his friend about the title and he said his ex wife probably has it and wasnt sure he could get the title. I told him I would be interested in it if he can get the title. I helped him write down the vin # and he was going to check with the DMV tomorrow about filing for a lost title and let me know.

[Hubscrub]

good luck man, if it's meant to be it will

[CC69Rat]

If his friend had an old tag receipt and/or registration you could do the bill of sale as if you bought it from him. This takes the CL guy out of the picture. If he never registered it in his name it will spell problems for you if you try to say you bought it from him.

Just curious if the truck as running / driven when his friend had it? It's cool that he still has contact options for the guy he got it from.

[Transformula]

Don't forget that here in Texas you could do a bonded title. It takes about an hour or 2 of footwork on your part, but you can have a title show up in the mail in 3 weeks! They check to see if it comes up stolen when you apply. Check out the TxDot website for the details. I did this on my 85 shortwide when the seller could not produce a title. After 3 years, you can drop the bond and have it fully titled in your name only. You still even have the option to sell the truck if you ever want to.

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by Transformula

Don't forget that here in Texas you could do a bonded title. It takes about an hour or 2 of footwork on your part, but you can have a title show up in the mail in 3 weeks! They check to see if it comes up stolen when you apply. Check out the TxDot website for the details. I did this on my 85 shortwide when the seller could not produce a title. After 3 years, you can drop the bond and have it fully titled in your name only. You still even have the option to sell the truck if you ever want to.

I have gone the bonded title route in Texas as well... Good info but you forgot a couple of details:

1. You will need to ge tthe vehicle appraised, which any car dealer can do, but will charge you. I had to pay $100 (!)

2. The "bond" in the "bonded title" costs as well. You will have to purchase a surety bond from someone who specializes in vehicle bonds. The fee is a percentage of the value that the vehicle is appraised at.

I forget the details, but I bought a '62 Comet SS and had to get a bonded title. It cost me around $300-400 additional to get the title.

[MARKDTN]

In Tennessee you can get an Artisans title. You contact previous title holder, check for liens, then it goes in the paper. After that you can get a clean title. It is a little more complicated that that, but that is the basics of it.

[BB72CHEVKT]

I would buy it if I wanted it. The title is not that bad here in TX. My wife got a title on my MIL's Nash Metropolitan so she could transfer it to an IL title. In IL you have to have a title.

[truckdude239]

if he bought it from a friend his friend can apply for a duplicate title then sign it over to the friend then to you or to you dierectly