I have titled several cars/trucks in Texas using the "Assembled Vehicle" form. Two things here that might be difficult or unappealing to you; it takes time to make at least one trip to Carrollton, time to take it to a certified scale for weight, more time for notorized bills on the frame/body/engine, time to find a law officer to sign the form that he witnessed the vin number, a picture, short statement on why your building it, and time to fill out all the forms (10). With the time factor aside the title comes back as the current year. The last year for the LaSalle was 1940 but I have one running around that shows to be an ASSEMBLED 1993 model. Fortunately Texas doen't make you put all the safety/emissions stuff as on one that was MANUFACTURED in the current year. The forms are free, your bank will notorize for you, the law officer doesn't charge anything, and the only out of pocket is for the certified scale--5 to 10 bucks. Once done the vehicle is totally yours, no relative can claim it. A shorter method is to take it to a car pound and give the pound owner a tip to buy it back at a sheriff's auction. That pound receipt is the gold standard, it cancells ALL claims against the vehicle and guarantees a title but you must trust the owner because if someone else puts in the high bid it's gone. The Collin County Sheriff's auctions are on a monthly schedule. The final method is to have your repair shop make a bill up on it and file a mechainics lien against it. This is super strong and legal, even an IRS claim takes a back seat to a mechanics lien.
