1965 Stolen Bus Stolen From Spokane - Missing for 35 years.

[Malokin Martin]

Originally sold to third party for non-payment at shop?

[chickengeorge]

If somebody is getting paid to drive it, it's a bus.

That's a van.

[big wavos]

pretty sure I saw this bus pulling into the parking lot at the last so cal treffen, my favorite busses by far and I remember commenting to someone how often do you see such a nice sunroof standard. So I think this one has been in the community for a while. Glad to see it will be going up for auction.

[Skate]

This is a cool story. I was born in spokane, 1975. The bus had been missing for a year already.. crazy.
_________________
~~~~~~> LEE <~~~~~~

AIRKEWLD
SBS NUMBER FOURTEEN 58.5

[woodslat]

Too bad they can't hang the fucker who stole it in 74. He's probably still in jail on unrelated charges anyway.

[Braukuche]

In the local San Diego paper a few months back they had a story about an old woman who's father bought her a '60s Mustang back in the late '60s. Car was titled and everything. She was contacted by the DMV that the car was listed as stolen. She was told the car would have to be returned to the original owner. When he was contacted the old guy, who was still alive, told her she could keep it. I don't imagine the guy who reported that bus stolen back in the '70s will be so forgiving.

[hugheseum]

lets not forget how much a vw bus in the 1970s was worth........i doubt there was any value over $800.......its also unlikely the original owner is a bus enthusiest....these were just cheap throwaway cars
_________________
Have a great day!

[luckystiff]

one of the articles says Allstate paid off the $2500 claim on it when stolen. so i'm guessing they figured it was worth more than $800. i'd bet either way this bus will be up for auction be it via Allstate or if it gets handed back to the og owner and then he/she auctions it. the thing that gets me is i could swear that for a car to leave the docks bound for another country the paperwork had to be intact and clear. i've never sent one overseas but from past inquiries on stuff i've sold overseas buyers usually asked about that right off the top. maybe it's in who you know or what the country of destination is...ken....
_________________
ITMC
Secret Service

[mr. warehouse]

[luckystiff]

i think alot of states are now running national checks on anything coming in from outside of the state it's being registered in now. either that or it's in the process of happening. i remember reading a bit about it a few years ago. i know titling anything from NC from another state is a big ordeal nowdays...ken....
_________________
ITMC
Secret Service

[UZI]

[Rustforlife]

IMHO, I think the records should never be cleared on stolen vehicles, unless it is recovered. What if the theft victim only had basic insurance without full coverage?

[smoothfinishes]

We had a similar non VW issue on a vehicle a while back. And I would guess the same outcome will happen in this case. This is how it should work out:

The OG owner was paid off on the VW back in '74 and since it wasnt recovered in 30 days it was now declared a total loss. The OG owner then signed off on the title and handed it over to the insurance company. The OG owner no longer owns the bus. Allstate does.

The vehicle was never located until now. However it has been completely restored. If the current owner, who I am guessing sold it overseas on a clean title(otherwise it never would have went to port), has paperwork proving where they bought it and for how much. Along with all the receipts from what they have into it. They should then be able to buy the vehicle from the insurance company at the value they would have received from the vehicle had it been recovered prior to be restored. Also known as ACV.

My guess is the current owner, if they have a title, will be able to buy the vehicle back from the Allstate at a value determined from pre-restoration pictures or documents.

Thats how it worked for us.

Insurance companies have a website you can use for free to check VIN's to see if they are stolen. They keep better track than LEDS or DMV's. They have more at stake $$$$$$$.

[smoothfinishes]

Heres the site:

https://www.nicb.org/cps/rde/xchg/nicb/hs.xsl/vincheck.html

Allstate is probably exaggerating the fact they will reunite the vehicle with the OG owner to generate publicity.

[velvetgreen]

wonder what it looked like before they restored it

[woodslat]

[arthurnugen]

[williamblanda]

[Dave24]

Wonder how many other stolen buses (and cars) make it out un-detected?... I read last year about a seziure at the port of long beach of containers of stolen vehichles. A ferrari, 2 brand new land cruisers, a defender, and 3-4 others... all destined for Colombia.



*edit* Colombia not columbia

[Sambafraser]

Hey I think it is great. If you have ever had a VW stolen you always wonder what happens to it.
I just think this is funny as there are so many people from the UK/Holland/Belgium rapeing the world of VW's. Hey just look at the classifieds here at Samba. The import companies in Europe don't do it for charity do they.
Look at the chain of events, punter paid Dutch importers for VW, importers said "We can have it restored in the US as the dollar is so cheap". Punter said to importers " OK!". Importers put their slice on the pie. The inevitable cheque book restoration starts as the guy is stiched up as it is on the other side of the world.
Phone call from the importers saying "We will have it to you in 6 weeks it is on the ship so we just need to finalise payments".
Then the phone call a few days later from the importers.."We might have a few issues clearing customs"