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Chris;
...an interesting situation...
I would expect that an ancient derelict that you have been offered would not be in any kind of condition that would arouse questions of ownership or suspicions of theft (as a new car in a chop shop could easily), so a written bill of sale by the person offering it to you (whose property you are going to clear it from), stating it was his to sell (or abandoned on his property) and that he had no written title and that no identifying numbers could be found on the chassis, should be enough to transfer ownership...any claims of ownership by third parties who come forth (which is pretty unlikely itself if the seller has been honest with you, and if he hasn't, you can make it the sellers problem) would have to be proven by them...and how would THEY do this if YOU cant find any numbers) ...after all...since it will be parted out (and never again be registered with the mind-numb-robots DMV) it's not really a car, but more a parts bed...I think maybe you're being overly cautious here...I'd proceed if it was me...I wouldn't feel like I was doing anything wrong, and if someone was to come along and claim I had, the burden of proof (and it's expense) would be on them wouldn't it?...besides, were only talking about a couple hundred dollars here aren't we...?
I once saw them hauling two derelict Model Ts out of the Badlands in South Dakota on a flatbed, after they had unearthed them (apparently maybe getaway cars hidden there a long time ago, a favorite disappearing trick of outlaws I was told...but who really knows for sure)...maybe Model Ts have a way of identifying the chassis (or engine) which remains over time, but its unlikely that the previous owner is going to come forth and claim ownership after the cars are restored and at a show somewhere or even before they are restored...but what will the guys who dug them out do to establish their ownership?...claim salvage rights?...claim they mined them as iron ore which happened to be in the shape of a car? I wonder what they will do when they try to register these cars with the mind-numb-robots at DMV when they can't produce a title? This situation must come up all the time...
Cheers
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