Looking for Owner history

[canyncarvr]

In the mid '90s or so I sold a 440 '69 Charger to Chuck Hoffman...a local guy who restored old mopars. It ran, but the 727 was bad. I did not have the time nor money to fix it. I was told later that Hoffman chose NOT to restore the car, it being a one each Charger, not an R/T, not an HP, nothing special. He did have a '69 Charger on a steel pole in his front yard. I was told that was my car. ...don't recall where I heard that. It was a Duke's of Hazard orange. So maybe I sold him a lawn ornament.

That's a sad story. I sold a '68 Charger to the same guy at the same time.

Tonight, I get a call from a guy in Las Vegas that says he now owns the car but has only a picture of the title. That's how he found me. He's looking to sell the car but has only a picture of the title...that still has my name and old address on it. He does have a bill of sale from the guy HE bought it from supposedly about four years ago.

Chuck Hoffman died AFAIK.

It's altogether fishy that after all this time the title was not transferred between I have no idea HOW many 'owners'. I have requested vehicle records for that VIN.

The point of this post: Does anyone here happen to be familiar with Chuck Hoffman? Maybe he has a kid that works on Mopars now?

If this turns out to be legit, I'll help the guy get a title, but I need to know a whole lot more about how this '69 that I sold for $1,000 was sold two years ago for $60,000.

I suppose I could get a duplicate title...and repossess the car. That's what you leave yourself open to when 'ya don't do the paperwork...and buy a car with no title.

JK. That would be a rotten thing to do.

Thanks for any suggestions/input.

 

[71RRHI]

Has he set you pictures of the car, with the vin tag attached to the car?
Maybe all he has is a vin tag, and a picture of the old title. If you help him get a title, and transfered to his name. Now he has a valid title and Vin that he can attach to a shell and sell, for more money than without. Or worse case, it could be swapped onto a stolen charger, and sold. I would recommend you be very cautious. Something doesn't sound right.

 

[R413]

Chuck Hoffman was alive at the end of August 2025. He didn't look or act unwell. But he is 80 + years old

You can e ail him at this link. Hoffman's Winners Circle Contact Page

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Chuck & Linda are awesome people, their son who runs the business is Todd....

 

[canyncarvr]

Has he set you pictures of the car, with the vin tag attached to the car?
Maybe all he has is a vin tag, and a picture of the old title. If you help him get a title, and transfered to his name. Now he has a valid title and Vin that he can attach to a shell and sell, for more money than without. Or worse case, it could be swapped onto a stolen charger, and sold. I would recommend you be very cautious. Something doesn't sound right.

I asked for a VIN pic and a pic of the car. Yes. Something doesn't sound right.

Chuck Hoffman was alive at the end of August 2025. He didn't look or act unwell. But he is 80 + years old

You can e ail him at this link. Hoffman's Winners Circle Contact Page

THAT is invaluable information!!! Thank you. I did see a reference elsewhere to 'a' Chuck Hoffman, but he was into chebby's...didn't think it could be the same guy.

Thanks a TON!

IF this all turns out to be legit, I certainly will do whatever I can to help the guy out. Why he bought the thing with no valid title, I have NO idea.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I asked for a VIN pic and a pic of the car. Yes. Something doesn't sound right.



THAT is invaluable information!!! Thank you. I did see a reference elsewhere to 'a' Chuck Hoffman, but he was into chebby's...didn't think it could be the same guy.

Thanks a TON!

IF this all turns out to be legit, I certainly will do whatever I can to help the guy out. Why he bought the thing with no valid title, I have NO idea.

I'vebought plenty of cars with no valid title... But I've never paid more than a few hundred bucks for a car without a title.... Here in California it's possible to get a title, gotta jump through a few hoops but it's not to difficult... But I wouldn't risk any serious $$$$...

 

[Jerry Hall]

I've bought cars with and without titles. A title on pre 74 cars isn't needed in Alabama. If a car I have has a title and I sell it, the title goes with the car. If the car I have doesn't have a title and I sell it, I provide a Alabama registration and a copy of Alabama's title law, which will give the new owner a way to obtain a title.

 

[70 sublime]

I sold a 68 Camaro convertible 25 years ago that was not much left but fixable if you bought most of the new metal
5 Years ago a guy came back that said he had the car now and wanted to get it fixed but the paper ownership was no longer with the car but it was still in my name
I went and got my title printed off again at the DMV and signed it for him to get the car in his name
It was only a camaro so I did not care
Said he will come back with it and take me for a ride someday

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I sold a 68 Camaro convertible 25 years ago that was not much left but fixable if you bought most of the new metal
5 Years ago a guy came back that said he had the car now and wanted to get it fixed but the paper ownership was no longer with the car but it was still in my name
I went and got my title printed off again at the DMV and signed it for him to get the car in his name
It was only a camaro so I did not care
Said he will come back with it and take me for a ride someday

Little follow through on his part would be nice....

 

[WS23U1]

I wouldn't do it. You could set yourself up for jail time.

 

[70 sublime]

If the ownership for the vin is in your name and you get the paper ownership printed out again for the new person you have done nothing wrong
If the new person is doing something fishy with the vin tag well it is all on them as the car you sold was yours and what happens after sold you have no control over

 

[canyncarvr]

If the ownership for the vin is in your name and you get the paper ownership printed out again for the new person you have done nothing wrong
If the new person is doing something fishy with the vin tag well it is all on them as the car you sold was yours and what happens after sold you have no control over

If it is still in my name, I am liable for everything that car does...according to Oregon. The reality of that, of course, would be a matter of judicial enforcement.

After I sold it, there was a new 'law' passed that allowed sellers to notify DMV that a car had been sold. THAT relieved the seller of any liability whether the buyer transferred ownership via getting a new title or not. That regulation was not around back then.

My concern is that something IS fishy, that someone that might actually own the car would have a problem if someone ELSE shows up with a title to it. The guy that called me 'identified' as a retired soccer player, one that is internationally known. There is a wiki page about him. THAT is fishy, too.

 

[kreauto]

I traded a titled dirt bike in at a long time dealer a few years back. Fast forward a few years from that transaction and I get a call from the police that my bike that I traded in years before was impounded after causing damage that they now want me the owner of record to pay for. I politely told them that I hadn’t owned that bike for a couple years. They didn’t care. I took the damage paperwork after making copies that they sent me to the dealer and said I don’t care how he fixes it but it better get fixed and I need confirmation that it is or I will be contacting the authorities to put him in jail because I have the proof receipts that I sold the bike to him. Apparently who he sold it to didn’t care if they had a title so he never transferred it out of my name. Never heard another word thank God. So yes they can come back on you.