Buying corvette with no title???

[Dick G.]

Can some of you share your knowledge about this subject. Story: This car has been apart for 35 years. Also, the owner says the TRIM and VIN tags are removed but he has new rivets. Stolen?? OK, Supposedly, the frame is not rusty. If so, how difficult will it be to see the frame stampings and see if they jive with the VIN tag? Maybe one of those black flexible scopes for running into a wall to look at plumbing or whatever or like the doctor runs up your KAZOO to look for pollups/kooties? Or a frashlight and mirror. If one finds the numbers and they jive, who should I call to check if it has been stolen? Please advise and share your experience. Thanks Dick Gutman 13180

[Jay G.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

If the car is in your state. I'd contact Both the DMV and State Police. Ask about the availablity to have state inspection run thru a visual check. Frame Nos. by kick-up on drivers side. Then they will run it through their CX for stolen or any "Unusual History". Salvage title etc. All ck's out good to go. Course contigent upon owner agreeing to FULL inspections. He or she doesn't. Run away.

[Tom H.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

Run !!!!!!!


Sorry for the short response, but that deal sounds like a nightmare to me.

[Dick G.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

The car is out of state. I will call my DMV tomorrow and quiz them. What possible reason is there to remove the VIN and TRIM tags? Thanks DG

[Harry S.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

What state is it in. I live in NH and it's a non-title state for older cars, I think over 15 years old. Not a problem here. But I guess a "is it stolen check" is a good check!

[David K.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

Dick, I just went through this with a motorcycle. Now, I am here in Ohio. Ohio says that there is no way that they will issue me a title for it. A bill of sale from the seller, does not constitute his right to possess it or to transfer ownership. A person selling the Brooklyn Bridge, can give you a bill of sale, but it does not mean they have the right to possession or to transfer ownership. The more questions I asked, the more I knew I didn't want this. One of the amswers is, the vehicle had a title, where is it? If they lost it, they can apply for a lost title and then all will be good. But according to them, for me to even have possession of the vehicle, even in pieces, could constitue me operating a chop shop and land me in jail. Ohio's stand on this, is it is illegal, if the seller cannot give you a title or cannot secure a title, if it were lost. If you buy it, I would not sleep very well if I lived in Ohio, it may force me to hire an attorney to defend myself. Good luck.

[Steven S.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

No good reasons to remove data plates from a perfectly good vehicle, could have just been a dumb move 35 years ago if he is telling the truth. The real question would be what was his story as to the missing title?

[Steven C.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

If there was ever a word I did not think I would read on the tech board it is KAZOO. Well, I imagine if you live long enough anything is possible.

As David indicated, most states (if not all) will allow the seller to apply for a replacement/duplicate title. Dick, are you saying the trim/VIN tags are original tags but you are unclear if they are original to this car? The fact that they have been removed would give me cause for concern.

[Brad M.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

There were several states that did not issue titles prior to certain years (as indicated above for NH, I think). I think Georgia and Alabama may be two such states.

I know that Connecticut did not issue titles prior to around 1980. I purchased a 72 vette from there which never had a title and was able to get an Indiana title for it with bill of sale and having the seller fill out certain Indiana DMV required forms.

So basically, the title may not have been lost, it might have just never existed.

[Terry M.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

I believe Mass is another state where cars older than dirt don't need a title, or at one time didn't need a title.

[Terry M.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

If there was ever a word I did not think I would read on the tech board it is KAZOO. Well, I imagine if you live long enough anything is possible.

Gee I see KAZOO bands all the time in parades around here in the summer time. We have a lot of fun at these events. Toot Toot

[Anthony M.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

There are many states which did not issue titles for vehicles that were built prior to the state going to a title system. New York where I live did not go to titles until 1974. You can not get a NY title for a vehicle built before 1974 even if you have an out of state title. I bought my 70 in 2000 off a transferable registration (pink slip) and was issued a transferable registration not a title. I would certainly think that any state that doesn't issue titles for vehicles would have some form of ownership documentation like the New York transferable registration. Your seller should be able to go to the DMV where the vehicle was last recorded and secure a duplicate of this documentation unless of course he does not have the right to ownership.

[Chris E.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

Dick,
You asked "what possible reason would someone remove the VIN and trim tags"? Well, there have been a lot of "created" big block or rare option cars out there. Here's how it might work.

Let's say you have a real big block motor and VIN tag, but the color combination isn't desireable. Let's say you also get a good body with the right color on it and correct trim tag.

You put the motor and VIN tag into the good body with the right trim tag and color, and SHAZAM! You've got a 427 435 horse red convertible. Fortunately, most of those become apparent after some careful inspection of the date codes between the motor and the body.

Does that help?

[Bruce B.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

I bought a 54 Corvette from a guy in Connecticut about 15 years ago and prior to purchasing I spoke to the Ohio BMV. They advised me that CT had no titles prior to around 1970. All I needed was to have a bill of sale( no notary stamp required).
Got the car, had a out of state inspection done to verify the VIN (the inspector was younger then the car and had no clue what is was), took the Bill of sale and inspection paper to the Title Bureau and got the title with no problems.
Each state is different so talk to your BMV and then make your buying decision.

[William C.]

Re: Buying corvette with no title???

Don't know about your state Dick, but here in Ohio, showing up for a (Manditory) out of state vehicle inspection without a VIN and Trim Tag firmly attached would result in the car being immediately impounded. Also, if the car is from the era prior to the mid-65 use of the rosette vin tag rivits, don't expect to not have to do some educating with the officer. Nolands book can help there as he documents the change to the rosette style in mid-65, but the last one of these I heard about the cops had the car for a couple of years before the guy got it back, I don't know what the legal fees were.