The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Found em. Now how to title em?

Hello all,

Newbie here in need of some help/advice. I have located two (2) '46 (I believe) Chevy farm trucks (a 1 1/2-ton and a 2-ton) that have been sitting in a barn for the past 25 years. They are in remarkably good shape and the 90 year-old man who has them is willing to sell them to me CHEAP. Problem is, he has no idea where the titles are after all these years and the I.D. tags on both trucks are M.I.A. I live in Ohio and it seems the DMV requires a "VIN " to replace lost titles. I can read the serial numbers on the engine blocks easy enough though. Are there any other places on these trucks (frame maybe) where a "VIN" can be found that can help me get the titles done? I hate to let these go as they still run and drive. The 2-ton has a nice flat bed on it while the other has a stake body, along with a couple factory options (De-Lux heater and defroster fan) plus I found a 3rd cab (I.D. tag IS present on that one), front clip, engine and 4-speed trans sitting in one of the lofts! The old feller is willing to part with everything for $350.00!!!!

I've never dealt with anything without a title present and the missing I.D. tags seem to be really complicating things.

Any help/info/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Brian

Assuming they were last titled by him, you can have him apply for duplicate titles. This is done at your county title office in Ohio. Check it out on the ODPS website.


Those engine numbers are likely the "VIN" number as titled as there were no true VIN numbers back then.

Thanks. The gentleman tried to file for duplicate titles yesterday. Answer he got was "they aren't in the system", basically because the system wasn't around the last time he bought tags for em! LOL. The 2-ton was last tagged in 1980 and the 1 1/2-ton in '87. They said they need the VIN to track the trucks down. He tells them the I.D. tags with the numbers fell off probably 30 years ago. They say "then there's nothing we can do, sorry".

He apologized to me for them, saying they were young and maybe didn't know the procedures. Of course, to a 90 year old man, 65 is young, LOL

Give them the Engine number and see if they can track it that way. States used the engine numbers up to 1955 for the VIN number. If theses are original engines, they should show up, and they 80's is not that long ago!

No other number will be found on the truck, the ID tags really don't help either, they only had the model and build number which wasn't used anywhere on the title.

Stay with it even if you have to go the head office at the capital, someone will find them.

Joe

Have you dug under the seats and such looking for an old registration document? Is there an old license plate on either of them?

There are old license plates on both trucks. We took them off, wrote down the engine serial numbers and headed down to the local State highway Patrol post. Figured if anyone could trace a plate number, it would be the Patrol, right? Wrong. The trooper was courteous and tried to shed some light on our problem, but we came out bust again. Seems if someone can't find info with a mouse and a keyboard in this state, that info will be lost forever!

He did suggest the county courthouse and gave us their number. Guess we'll try that Monday.

This seems like a lot of hoop-jumping just to get some duplicate titles made up and the old guy willing to part with these trucks is getting aggravated with the whole affair.

I'm in Louisiana. I bought a truck from another state. It was registed in a third state. It was owned by a family trust. If I'd known what a problem it was going to be just to transfer the title to my name I would have walked away from the deal. I won't bore you with the details of what I had to do and what I had to have to transfer the title but when it was all done and the over I happened to mention to a friend what a hassle it all was. The friend is the city judge of our small town. He told me that I should have told him about it in the beginning and all I would have had to do was get him to issue the dmv some type of court order, ordering that they transfer registration/title to me.
I also hear on this site about companies that you can buy a title from, legally.
Either way, don't let those two go to the junkyard! Get 'em and then get the titles.
Jacques

Keep going to DMV they WILL have a record of them from 80 and 87. They had a system of some sort, maybe not computer, but paper archives for sure. But you have to give them a real number to look up. Also they should be able to look up a name. At most DMV's you have to find the right teller!! who is nice and having a good day. It's a rough job sometimes and they are under paid. Can't pass up $350 if you have a place to store them. Also ask them about a bonded title. That's real funny in this case, because in a bonded title you send a letter to the last known owner of record. No record? How do you do that then? Don't know. Of course you need to ask that, "what do I do in this state to get a title for a vehicle with lost title and you have no record?" The bottom line is if you know when they were last titled is seems like you have the key to finding the title thru the license plate number. If he ran over a pedestrian with one of those trucks and someone got the plate number, they would be at his house/farm in 10 minutes. Stay with DMV, police can not give out any info. DMV has his registration and title info, stay with DMV!

Bond title is the route you will mostly have to take. I am in the same boat. Cost a bit more to go the bonded title route, but it will be your only real option since you seem to have exhausted the other avenues. Check around you area, there are probably individuals that will do all the paper/leg work for you for about $100 or so.

I would grab them for $350 and then worry about titling them later. As long as you have a valid bill of sale, you can't be accused of stealing them. However, I would not begin restoration until you figure out how you are going to title them.

A few days ago, in a thread called "Bill of sale-Minnesota", I outlined the process I had to go through to get a bonded title. But, as mentioned in that thread:

1. That was in Minnesota, and
2. That was a long time ago.

Your situation may or may not be similar, and your results may vary.

Do what crenwelge said.

diseldude03... its a big IF but if you can get the old dude to be paitent and help you just a little I think HE is the key here since he owns the trucks. I would hope the senario would go something like this.
The old guy goes down to the DMV, show his ID and tells them he wants a duplicate title as he lost his. I think this will open up a better window of communication at the DMV. Once he gets duplicate title then he can sign them over to you.

IF you both live in Ohio, with the titles, no one will even go out to check the vin #. Once titled in your name you could later go tell the DMV your vin tag has "fell off" somewhere and you need whatever it is that they provide in this case. At least that is some "version" of the truth and there is no criminal violation.
Hope this gives you some ideas but I know how state DMV's can be.

stressing a 90 year old man and having him get [censored] is counterproductive.
your going to lose a good deal by dragging him around everywhere.
just buy the trucks, and try to title them under lost titles and use engine serial tags for vin.
at that price its your problem, not his.
if you can't title them, then part them out, you win either way.

Try a different DMV office or employee. A license plate number will be on file somewhere. You just haven't found the right person or department yet.

John

That is what we did first. The gentleman went to the title dept (by himself) and told them he lost the titles to his old trucks and he would like duplicate titles for them. The lady typed his name into the computer, told him there was no longer any record of the vehicles, there was nothing she could do and sent him on his way. Frankly, I'm sure she was just being lazy and didn't feel she should have to actually go the extra mile and do her job and the old guy isn't very confrontational anymore.

Think I may call the title dept Monday and ask to speak to the person in charge, explain the situation and see where that takes us. I am not 90 years old and have no problem with confrontation, lol.

If that doesn't get me anywhere, I'll call the State office in Columbus.

You're in Ohio, right? Google State of Ohio BMV and you'll see information about how to obtain a Duplicate Title. The weblink says that only the registered owner of the vehicle can do it but you can help the old man by doing all the research. This phone number was give (614) 752-7671 for information on obtaining titles in Ohio. Unfortunately, there is no obvious process described for obtaining a title when a vehicle is off of the registry. You probably should call that number and get the facts. Here, in California it's relatively easy to retitle a car that has not been registered in over five years and is off the registry. I've done it maybe six or seven times in the last ten years. Good luck.

Have been in the restoration business for many years so have learned a few ins and outs of title problems. First, GET A POWER OF ATTORNEY from the old gentleman so he doesn't have to do any running around and heaven forbid, he passes, you are free of another quagmire. Explain this POA is for the vehicles only, not any of his other possessions. Alabama used to issue a title on a bill of sale only if the vehicle was over 15 or so years old. Some other states have gotten antsy about Alabama titles. A bit pricey ($300) but very good is Tuesdee Knight's Auto Titles in Gun Barrel City, Texas Ph 903 887 2285. Her card reads 99.9 percent success. A bonded title will have the same VIN problem as the state but call and discuss the situation and check on a total/partial refund if they can't help. As a last resort you CAN get a title from Texas but it will list both trucks as 2010 assembled motor vehicles. I've only had to do this on a 1938 LaSalle and a 1934 Auburn. Nothing was said about either having to have all the clean air equipment. It's a ten step process: 1.Notorized Bill of Sale for motor (I know it's engine)
2.Notorized Bill of Sale for frame
3.Notorized Bill of sale for body
4.Pencil tracing of body and motor# if applicable(it's not)
5.Certified weight certificate
6.Form 61-A Application for registration of rebuilt motor vehicle
7.Form 30 Application for Texas Title
8.Photograph of vehicle
9.Form 68-A Police Officer verification (see below)
10.Standard of safety affidavit

They issue you a number to attach to the vehicle and the police officer verifies it is attached. I explain that his signature means ONLY that the number is correct and not whether there is any legal problem since they are rightfully concerned about signing a form they may have never seen before. This is also printed on the form. Friends can "sell" you the engine/body/frame and go to a Notary with you. All of this could be done from Ohio with one glitch---the safety inspection form.

POA power of attorney, that is the best advice given yet. Way to go Coilover!

I agree that a power of attorney for motor vehicles only is the easiest way if the gentleman understands it. However, you must remember that a power of attorney ceases when a person passes and the executor of the estate is the person who can sell assets of the estate.

I've considered the POA option and it very well my be used. Good part is one of my best friends, Andy, is this gentleman's 3rd cousin (or something along those lines) and it is through Andy and his brother that I got to meet "Cousin Eugene" and his trucks. Andy and his brother run the guy's 100+ acre farm and look in on him every day.

Andy is also looking for ways to get these trucks titled and sold as the sooner they leave, the sooner he can get more of the farm equipment under the roof. Seeing as how Andy already keeps a watchful eye on Cousin Eugene, and has for many years, I see no reason why Eugene wouldn't jump at the chance to make Andy his POA to speed this ball rolling a bit faster. I'll mention it to Andy when I see him at work tonight. Good idea.

I think it is all too much trouble for you and you should just let me come buy them and I'll worry bout the titles. lol

I bought a Scout a few years ago with no title and only a Bill of Sale.

Found this ad for "The Title Man"

sent him a copy of the bill of sale, filled out his form (seller, buyer, adresses, vin number, millage, ect) and the money for his fee of a 68 model

about a month later he sends me a title, lisence plates, and registration for the state of Main ( I live in Texas)

I go to the court house and transfer the Main title to a Texas Title. as if I just moved here from Main

only 2 problems I see is

1. you have no vin number. - not sure if this is "legal" but you can find someone with another truck or 2 and take their vin plates if the trucks are headed to scrap or so far gone that they are in pieces or are junk that will never be reported "stolen"

2. when I transfered my titled from Main to Texas, the lady on the other side of the window at the courthouse went to school with my dad and knew that we never lived in Main. she asked how I got the title registered in MY name at a MAIN adress, all i could do was wink and say I just moved here. ( I was 17 at the time so the situation was kinda funny)


I'm still not even sure that my truck is legally titled now, but the state of Texas thinks it is and I have insurance and inspection so it works.lol

This route is a couple $100's and you never REALLY feel legal, but it does work.

I agree with them about POA especially if your buddy can be in on it for you.

just my .02