[TR] Fell into a TR3a deal that I could not refuse

[Rye Livingston]

In California,  my son heard about a 1963 Austin Healey Sprite that was abandon in a parking lot, and it's in decent shape with good interior and a new cloth top.  

Planning to lay claim to it as an abandon vehicle, I brought this up at one of my Triumph Club meetings, and one member told me about a company here in the San Jose area called Auto Registrar, listed as a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.  For about $120 they came to my garage and inspected the vehicle for the VIN #, then ran a historical search which was a national wide search.  Very interestingly there is no record of this car ever being registered in the US, so our best guess it it came from Canada.  This company processed the paper work and the DMV sent my son a title for the car.  You may have a similar agency in your state.

Over the past year my son has gone through everything, engine is solid with good compression and it's been upgraded to 1275 too.  It should be ready for the road in a few more weeks.

Rye
PH: 530-FIND-RYE

On Aug 28, 2018, at 08:00 PM, TERRY SMITH <terryrs at comcast.net> wrote:

Hi, Chris.  I believe States differ on their approach.  I had something similar in NH with a car that had sat from 1975 to 2004 in someone's shed.  All paper work was gone.  I got a bill of sale from the estate and that was good enough for a car of that vintage, for the DMV to issue a license in New Hampshire.  I seem to remember stories from others about how it's not that easy in some other States.  My only experience with North Carolina was when I bought my 2002 Tacoma there a few years back (wanted the old vintage Tacoma but not one that had been driven in New England winters).  By coincidence the seller's wife ran the local DMV office.  Apparently North Carolina contracts those offices out, at least to some extent.  Otherwise, not much help from me on that account.

Does anyone know whether an automatic VIN check is made against any stolen car database when a license like this is being applied for?

Terry Smith, '59 TR3A
New Hamsphire
On August 28, 2018 at 12:40 PM Chris Simo <ccsimonsen at gmail.com> wrote: 

I hope I don't regret this.....

I was put in contact with a gentleman with 2 TR3a projects that he feels he will never finish.  They come with the parts he had been accumulating including an OD and various tools, hoists, etc. 

One is completely disassembled and in boxes.  Frame was restored but that is it.  no floors and body is in two pieces front half from one car and rear half from another.....  Paint is ratty and tatty. new floor pans and sills come with it. 

The other is still on frame but fenders and doors are inside the car.  Paint ratty and tatty as well -- dont' know about the chrome....

Cars are out of state and my triumph club friends are going to make a road trip with me to retrieve the cars and the parts that he had purchased to restore one of them.

Based on the condition of the cars,  I doubt very seriously if they were stolen,   but one never knows. 

I'm not super worried about the physical condition of the cars,  I think I have seen worse and recovered.....    If they are beyond repair upon receipt,  the parts, OD, and body panels cover what I'm paying.

Here's the rub.

He no longer has the titles for the cars and they were not in his name.  I'd like to make these runners vs parting them out.  he was able to find a bill of sale for one,  but titles tend to override those...

Do I simply call the DMV and ask to run the VIN numbers  or is there a more involved process?  I'm in north Carolina.

Any suggestions on  the best course of action here?   

Thanks

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