That sick feeling

Aarons Air · Jul 21, 2021

I recently bought an old 78 truck to flip. When i bought it, ( like an idiot) i didn't confirm the vin # on title matched the vin # on truck,,, and they don't match. I called the previous owner- left voicemail. Then called the ohio state patrol, to ask if they would check to see if it were stolen. They said they couldn't do that. Then they referred me to the salvage dept. Possibly onto the bmv. I feel like an idiot. I guess, technically, i can't even part it out, since it's not mine. I assume, mine is a beer can, or toyota by now. Do i have any practical legal standing to fight with ?

pnora · Jul 21, 2021

Where are you getting the VIN off of on the truck?

Aarons Air · Jul 21, 2021

pnora said:
Where are you getting the VIN off of on the truck?

Its a 78 f150. Back then, they had a sticker with vin on the drivers door jam, and a riveted tag on drivers door. Both of those match, but they are not a match with the title.

68383GTS · Jul 21, 2021

I would go beat on his front door.

metaldad · Jul 21, 2021

damn!
went thru something similar.
looked at a 71 rr. thing was sweet
just about to shake hands on the deal, i asked to examine the title.
vin didnt match. apparently, somehow, the build sequence # off the fender tag was used as the 'vin' on the title.
didnt buy. walked away from the deal.
asking local dmv a 'what if'. reply was for the local pd to inspect, issue documentation, for dmv to 'fix' title.
local po replied no can do. nothing to prove its not a stolen vehicle.
hope you can rescind that deal.

Dan64 · Jul 21, 2021

It depends on your state but maybe you could apply for a lost title to match the vin numbers on the truck itself?. That way you would know if it was really stolen. If those numbers come back good you should be ok?. Good luck with it,i'm hoping to turns out ok for ya.

Bighouse · Jul 21, 2021

Try selling it with no paperwork

Or you could look into title company’s- I’ve never used them, just heard of it. Got a friend with a shop?- maybe a lien?

just some ideas

pnora · Jul 21, 2021

Go to your local DMV and have them run the VIN. If your lucky you might be able to locate the previous owner and get a title applied for.

69L48Z27 · Jul 21, 2021

See if there are any hidden. VINs or other tags with partials. For some reason they put tags on doors. Doors are easy to hit and get a new on from the salvage yard back in the 80’s. Might be the right truck, just another door.

Aarons Air · Jul 21, 2021

pnora said:
Go to your local DMV and have them run the VIN. If your lucky you might be able to locate the previous owner and get a title applied for.

The previous owner, is the man i bought it from. His name is on the title. I've been to his house, when i first looked at the truck. Him & his teenage son towed the truck to my house.

Aarons Air · Jul 21, 2021

69L48Z27 said:
See if there are any hidden. VINs or other tags with partials. For some reason they put tags on doors. Doors are easy to hit and get a new on from the salvage yard back in the 80’s. Might be the right truck, just another door.

The vin # on door and jam match.

Bighouse · Jul 21, 2021

Maybe they have more than one 1978 F150 and gave you the wrong title??

Or previously sold another and have that person your title?

Aarons Air · Jul 21, 2021

Bighouse said:
Maybe they have more than one 1978 F150 and gave you the wrong title??

Or previously sold another and have that person your title?

Possible. Maybe they had a parts donor truck too.

69L48Z27 · Jul 21, 2021

Aarons Air said:
The vin # on door and jam match.

Oh sorry, missed the jam part. Is the title for the same truck other than the VIN sequence?

Bighouse · Jul 21, 2021

Aarons Air said:
Possible. Maybe they had a parts donor truck too.

I’d get over there and bang on the door!

Aarons Air · Jul 21, 2021

69L48Z27 said:
Oh sorry, missed the jam part. Is the title for the same truck other than the VIN sequence?

I think - no.

69L48Z27 said:
Oh sorry, missed the jam part. Is the title for the same truck other than the VIN sequence?

That seems unclear, in a sense. The title says 78, but the headlights are square. Most, not all, but most 78's had round headlights. These are square. The door jam sticker says, manu date march of 79. The title is for a 78

747mopar · Jul 21, 2021

Aarons Air said:
Its a 78 f150. Back then, they had a sticker with vin on the drivers door jam, and a riveted tag on drivers door. Both of those match, but they are not a match with the title.

I had a 78 myself, had to replace the door.. to young to even think about VIN's and drove it that way for years without ever batting an eye. Funny thing is I got pulled over in it with expired tags where they towed it to the impound yard, never even looked at it. Never did understand putting it on the door?

Aarons Air · Jul 21, 2021

747mopar said:
I had a 78 myself, had to replace the door.. to young to even think about VIN's and drove it that way for years without ever batting an eye. Funny thing is I got pulled over in it with expired tags where they towed it to the impound yard, never even looked at it. Never did understand putting it on the door?

Yes - seems like an odd place, and the jam stickers make repaints noticable.

towtruckAl · Jul 21, 2021

Bought a louisville roll off once and was caught at scales with wrong no on the dam door , spent a hour explaining to the officers the door had been changed somewhere in its past life . they let me go . but any proper shop should move no to new door, anyway check both no for leins .

Kern Dog · Jul 21, 2021

Bighouse said:
I’d get over there and bang on the daughter

That sick feeling

Well-Known Member

FBBO Gold Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

FBBO Gold Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Life is full of turns. Build your car to handle.

Similar threads