Looks to be in very nice shape and with just a little bit of work, should be a nice car. I'll bet the title issue could be fairly easily resolved if the previous owner is contactable. Most likely, you'd need a copy of the death certificate, but it may turn out to be more of a paperwork hassle than one might think. I'd throw some wsw's and the factory wheel covers back on as soon as I got it.
.....and a gas tank at least by the sounds of it, a steering column, brakes. No description on the interior but seller says "was using it for work but have a truck now" No papers/title thing all ways turns me off. I've experienced similar with sellers over the years "claiming" ... "This is all you have to do, it's easy" I even once said to a seller on my island, "Will if it's so easy and haste free, get it done and I won't OBO as your ad says, I'll just pay you your asking price cash in hand the same day you bring me papers/title"...... .... You would be surprised at how many sellers shy away.
When I was trying to purchase a certain 77 Custom Cruiser from a certain station wagon "aficionado" in Houston last year, the seller described the title (which was not in his name) as having "a white out spot where it was assigned wrong". My research indicated that, in Texas: [FONT="]If a Seller is not the Registered Owner on the front of the title (if the Driver's License of the Registered Owner can't be produced) then an Altered Title (a title with white-out on it) is no longer usable. Only a Registered Owner can obtain a Lost Title. In order for a Buyer to title a car in their name without a Title a "Surety Bond" or "Bonded Title" is required. I heard quotes ranging from $250 to $450 in addition to the usual costs associated with transferring a Perfect Title.[/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]Further, without a Bill of Sale from a Registered Owner/Seller, it is not possible to title a vehicle older than 25 years without declaring a minimum Sale Price of $4,000, taxed by the State @ 6.25% = $250 in taxes.[/FONT]
The original seller should have had it transferred into "The Estate Of", then it would have been easy to establish ownership from there, as the Executor/Executrix would have been able to sign it over. Failing that, I don't have a clue how one would go about fixing this mess!
In Michigan it is a bonded title as well. When I looked into it previously, it was $100 per year for 3 years and if the title was contested in that time you could potentially lose the car and title money. That car also looks like it has had major cosmetic (or worse) damage down almost the entire passenger's side of the car. And it appears there are rust issues in the corners of the doors and fenders. If that is the case, probably more in the quarters as well. I'd be leery about what you can't see in the pictures (like the interior...)
Yes, it does have a thick/mud/bondo look to it....rear quarter especially just does not like rite at all
