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Classic car was sold and re-registered without owner's consent.

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terry333

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

So im going to write the facts in the case to the best of my knowledge so far. So I left my vehicle, a 1969 Chevy Chevelle SS project custom car, at
the residence of a long time family friend, which was agreed upon by both f us. I was in the process of moving, and had no garage to store the car, so he told
me to leave the car in his driveway and it was fine there, while I was
without a garage. There were no agreements to pay for storage or
anything, just a friend helping a friend. Id been working on the car
for almost ten years, and it was finally almost finished, but needed a
few more things to be finished before it ran. So he and I would work
on the car occasionally on the weekends, and again, everything seemed
fine in regards to its being there. The car ended up being at his
house for over a year in total. Around March of this year, I began
trying r to contact him to talk about getting the car out and running
for the upcoming Hot August Nights in Reno. I received no response to
calls or texts, or even writtten letters. I could see the car at his
house still though, and I wasnt about to "steal" my own car from
someone else's property. I finally received a response via text saying
that nothing of mine was at his house and to stop
calling,texting,writing.That the car was lien sold legally and
legitimately. I went to DMV to see if it was true, and I was told that
the vehicle had new plates and a different registered owner as of May
24, 2009. The police department also told me there was nothing they
could do, because technically the car wasnt stolen. I have seen no
paperwork of lien sale, nor had I even heard anything about a pending
lien sale. I can produce phone records from me attempting to call him
while the car was still in his possession, obviously before the car's
sale. I never signed any paperwork agreeing to pay him for any
storage/service, and never received any notice of intent to sell the
car. I have recipts and pictures of the vehicle. The receipts total
approx $45,000 thats not considering the thousands of hours of work.
The car was brand new best of the best parts from bumper to bumper.
Fuel injection, supercharger, 4 wheel disc brakes,TVs, 900 horsepower
motor, fully custom street car. I loved that car more than anything,
and its pretty obvious that nobody would ever "abandone" a car like
that. I would've picked it up in a second if I ever heard that he
didnt want the car there. I contacted an attorney, and was told that
it would be at least $6,000 to get a retainer. Without legal help, I
pretty much discovered that I have no hope. So I've pretty much
somehow legally lost my car, and because I cant afford the attorney,
I'll have to just live with it. This car is the love of my life and the fruit of my labor, and I really cant just sit back and accept this injustice. Can somebody please offer some help?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
 


racer72

Senior Member
None of the above matters except, where is your title to the car with your name on it as the legal owner?
 

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
If he followed the proper procedures for taking title to an abandoned vehicle then it's his car...
 

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