This ever happened to you?

[type1guy]

Found a cool looking beetle, called asked many questions, got more pics, drove several hundred miles to see/buy, but the pan numbers didn't match the title. I was ready to lay down the cash until the numbers were checked. This is the third time I have come across this. Do you all check the numbers when buying too? Hope so......
Mike
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1972 SB Marina Blue, "Mr. Beetle" (sold)
1972 Standard Baja, "Jack the Dripper"

[VW_Buggsy]

Of course I check numbers. They never tell you the numbers don't match or match the title until you get there, even if you ask. Then when you get there it's always "oh my i never noticed that before, shucks". Then, "oh that's not a big deal anyway it's super easy to get titles for these cars." great, if it's so easy call me back when you've got the title fixed

If the title numbers don't match the pan it's a walk away situation unless it's a split or an oval or something really special... which hasn't come up for me in recent history. Title issues can be corrected but most of the time it's not worth the hassle. If the title matches the pan but the body had no numbers or different numbers that might be okay depending on the car, and it's price point. Oh, and local laws i guess, it's usually chassis number that matters for titling regs.

Like my most recent is a 74 body on a 71 chassis but with the clear title for the 71 VIN. The car was fairly solid and my goal for it was a beater/driver, and the price was fair for that whole situation so no harm no foul. However the seller did not tell me this in advance and I'm convinced they had no intention of telling me had I not discovered it myself pre-sale. It was billed and presented as a 71 in the ad and by the seller and that tidbit helped drop the price another couple hundred on an already reasonably priced ride when it came time to haggle.

Anyway some kind of title nonsense is really common with the old Volkswagens.

[subhuman]

or even worse, when someone tells you the car has been in storage, "great" condition, og fenders, hood, deck, motor, trans, etc. the vw in question was a 56 oval. get there, and yeah, it was in storage, outside, no tarp. pans had fallen out, cancer 8 inches up from the pans, looked like someone used the roof for a trampoline! after i finally got the bonnet open, you could see through the dash, i mean rust, to the trunk, broken windshield. anyway, no title, wrong fenders, deck, hood, motor, trans, etc. guy was asking 2500$ i offered 500$, and walked away, waste of a day!
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63 restomod build
http://s431.photobucket.com/albums/qq37/johnnysubhuman/?albumview=slideshow

you can have everything you want, just don't want so much!

"the wrong way always seems the more reasonable."
george moore

1963 type1
2002 Subaru Wrx

never argue with an idiot, they will only drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!
Mark Twain

[60ragtop]

yes, it happens quite often. be glad you checked.
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Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[gt1953]

The first thing I check even before starting the car is title and pan numbers. On the later models, you have dash VIN tag and behind the spare tire. If there is any doubt I just walk.
Not worth my hassle as there are to many of them out there to buy.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[sixfootdan]

[Helfen]

I ask the owner first before making the trip. If he says everything matches I give it a go, if when I get there there is something a miss I walk, because I know he's dishonest from the get go.

[Q-Dog]

My policy is no title, no deal. No exceptions. I call first and ask. If it is unclear I don't bother. I just don't want the hassle.

And I transfer it into my name before I do any work to it.
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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[cdennisg]

A matching title adds $500 or more the price of any vehicle. Anything without a title, I consider it as parts value only.

Good thing you checked the #'s before going to far on the deal. It is one of the first things I check when buying a vehicle.
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nothing

[WD-40]

A related issue, an easy 80%+ of the cars I have looked at in the past few years have had skip titles. I'm sure the outrageous registration fees in Wisconsin have something to do with it... but it's one of those things where it either goes through OK, or it's a PITA... and you won't know which way it's going until you make that trip to the DMV after the purchase.
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"The new Volkswagen 1303. We've made so many improvements, they're beginning to show."

[cdennisg]

What is a "skip title"?
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nothing

[73sports]

I gonna guess that means the person you are buying the car from never bothered to transfer the title form the person they got the car from, so you get a signed title from someone you've never met.
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I will never lie, but sometimes the truth changes.

Central Jersey VW Society

[WD-40]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[cdennisg]

I highly doubt I will ever have need to title a CT vehicle in my name. I was obviously speaking of states that require titles, such as those where I live and intend to stay.

I have, however bought a vehicle from British Columbia. Canada does not issue titles (at least they didn't 10-12 years ago) only Certificate for Registration Insurance. I brought this into the DMV, and they said no way. I convinced them to send it in to the state division as usual, and two weeks later I had my title.
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nothing

[skills@eurocarsplus]

^^^^

a lot of these dmv workers have no clue about out of state stuff. it is a pain in the tic tac's for sure but sometimes you have to play the game
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[cdennisg]

[Q-Dog]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

well, how many other states are a non title state for 25+ year old cars?

it can't be possible that Connecticut is the only one
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[cdennisg]