[Vwdiesel] title/abandoned car question

[Shalyn Shourds]

Well, it's not strictly VW related, but it is Diesel related.  I have a
1965 Mercedes 190D stored in Indiana (I'm in Texas) that I am going to
bring down to rebuild here in a month or so.  Totally not worth it
financially, but I'm sure you all know how that goes and why I'm doing
it anyways.  My brother in law found, in a local junkyard in a little
tiny town (pop. 30) nearby, a similar car that may be in better shape
than mine.  Guy at the junkyard only wants $200, so I'm in the process
of sending up a cheque right now.  Now, the question.  He came into the
car because over a year ago, someone abandoned the car at a third
party's house.  The third party got tired of trying to get it moved and
so called up this junkyard owner who hauled the car off.  Apparently, he
"forgot" to see about the title.  I don't really forsee any issues if I
just pull parts off of it, but if the body's in better shape than the
one I already have, I'd like to be able to use it and not have any
problems with the VIN showing up bad.  My luck, I'd spend a bunch of
money on the car and the owner would show up and report the car stolen
or something.  Just to complicate it a little more, the car was
registered in a third state--Kentucky.

Anyone  know anything about abandoned cars, lost titles, etc.?  I figure
that with the age the cars we love are getting, these are more and more
pertinent questions.

Much appreciated.

-Shalyn

'85 Jetta TD
'65 190D in bushel basket form