obtaining a salvage title?

[CHEV66JB]

Does anyone know where I can look online or other for a salvage title for a '59? Anyone else gone through this type of research?

Thanks,

CHEV66JB

 

[iron cross]

go to your Sec of State.

 

[CHEV66JB]

Re:

Thanks Iron Cross-

Do I simply tell them what I am looking to do and they will know where to go from there? Is this something you've had to do in the past?


Regards,

CHEV66JB

 

[Motion 1]

Salvage Title

I would first call the local Tag agency. They should have forms or can steer you to the agency that is in charge of that. Every State has different requirments to accomplish this but the tag office should be knowlegable about just how to accomplish it.

But first of all - BE VERY sure that the parts you have all have a detailed or traceable recieipt. Especially the frame and body tub and or the motor block. Frames can be a problem if the car was ever stolen and recovered in its past. I would highly recomend that you have a local police officer run a check of the S/N for you. Once the parts are all put together and you find out that one was stolen somewhere back down the line before you paid good money for it. The police will impound your project and it is hell to get it back. Don't ask how I know all this.... (Frown)

The Tub is not as big a problem just be sure that you have a good reciept for it and they will assign a new S/N to be attached in the original place. This happens to stolen cars that have their S/N's removed or altered and then recovered.

I ran a body shop years ago and went through this myself.

 

[CHEV66JB]

Re:

Thanks for the info, Motion One-

Right now, the only parts that I have are the front and rear clip, but I have the business card of the person who sold me the front clip and I have just emailed him for a receipt.

As for the rear clip, it was a private seller a few months back, and I'll have to see if he can draft something up for me. I don't really have anything with an S/N at this time. I am actually on the hunt for a frame presently, and would hope to have a title to come along with it, but am just preparing for the worst case scenario. When you mention a "Tag Agency", I am not familiar with one of these in the area- Could you possibly be a bit more specific as to how I would track one down in the area?

Thanks again for the advice, sorry you had to learn by the means you did 8^[ That's usually me, thus the reason why I'm doing my homework now 8^]


CHEV66JB

 

[Tom Bryant]

I agree with the above posts wholehartedly. You need to be sure you have your ducks in a row if you are going to get a state assigned serial number for the purpose of titling your car as an assembled vehicle. This is the same process for guys building street rods and kit cars. However some of the more expensive custom bodys and chassis now are supplied with manufacturer's certificates of origin like a new car would have. You aren't really looking for a salvage title here.

One other avenue to a clear title is to buy a cowl section or partial car that still has the serial number plate on it. Even better if the owner has a clear title to that serial number. A Corvette salvage yard may have the same item with a salvage title to go with it. States have different requirements to get a salvage title converted back to a regular title and many states now have a class of title that will always show that the car was rebuilt. Usually it requires an inspection to verify that the car has been properly rebuilt.

Obviously the best deal is to buy a cowl or partial car, probably from a private individual, with a clear title and even better if it is setting on the frame it was built with (even if the frame needs repair). Now you don't have to worry about having a reciept for everything because you can transfer the title to your name and it's the same as if it were a complete drivable car when you bought it. Pl;us you now own a Corvette and not an assembled vehicle built from a mass of Corvette parts. Your car will always be worth more if it has a clear Corvette title and correct serial nymber plate..

In either case before handing over money take the serial number from the cowl and the frame, if different, to your local police and have them run a NATB check on it. That's the National Auto Theft Bureau run by the FBI. Any car reported stolen in the USA should show up there.

Good luck,

 

[CHEV66JB]

Re:

Thanks for the heads up, Tom- I'd much rather get an original '59 VIN than an assembled car version, for obvious reasons.. I have been looking around online but have not seen any cowl sections for sale lately- If anyone happens to know of someone selling that section with a VIN attached, please feel free to email me at jmbiii@yahoo.com

Or, if you know of anyplace I can look online aside from the usual Vettefinders, ChevyTalk, or here, please feel free to email or post the links.

Everyone here is such a big help in getting my car back together!

Regards,

CHEV66JB

 

[Tom Bryant]

Checkout Mary Jo's Corvettes . She is the place for solid axle stuff. Also look into the Portal at the top of the page. Some of the Salvage yards and old Corvette businesses like J&D have been around for years and parted out a lot of cars. They may be able to help.. Also watch the Corvette parts section of Hemmings Motor News. All sorts od stuff shows up there.

Tom