Abandoned car Q....

[aquaknight]

There this asolutely stunning 72 Olds 442 (I think, maybe just just a Cutlass) that's abandoned along the road to my house (actually 1.7 miles from my house). It's parked on the road side of a ditch (facing backwards), on the other side of the ditch (drainage runoff area) is a house with a couple acres of land. So I'm guessing it's on public property.
Does anyone the legalities of how I can legally acquire this car? I sifted through most of google pages (yahoo and wiki responses), the obivous response is to write down the VIN and plate # and go through the DMV to contact the owner of the vehicle and see if the vehicle is reported stolen or been involved with a crime. If that turns up fruitless but the car is clean, pretty much the only thing you can do, is if its on your property, charge a 'parking space fee,' then go to the court/dmv and put a lien on the car, then file for lost title of the car. If the car's not on your property (public), the city/county will probablty tow the car when they get around to it, and eventually put it to au¢tion. However, if the car's nice (which this one is), they almost never make it to au¢tion, and probably either end up as an officer son's car, or the tow truck driver's car.

Is most of that correct?
Honestly, I found it yesterday, and I'm really surprised it was still there this morning. If anyone has a trailer, it would take about 30 seconds to load it up. I really would hate to think of the abuse this next owner is probably going to give it (esp. the one brash enough to steal teh car), instead of the loving home we could give it. However, obviously grand theft auto, is not a charge I want.

 

[el guapo]

So are you willing to pay for the car or just looking to get a "GREAT DEAL" on a car on the side of the road ?

 

[noah's nemo]

hopefully you can make it look like this.The olds 442 was my first car as a teenager.
then came winter a tree and well you probably know the rest.Its my mission to one day get another!!Where do u live?
Nevermind i see your in florida..

 

[noah's nemo]

Like you said above....Take the vin #,try to track down ownership and see if they'll sell it to you.Or me lol

 

[lovethesea]

that has to be someones!! A 442........is a needle in a haystack. My husband would trade all of us for a 442 W-30 numbers matching. We have a 71 Cutlass convert numbers match in our garage.

 

[aquaknight]

Originally Posted by EL GUAPO
http:///forum/post/2803274
So are you willing to pay for the car or just looking to get a "GREAT DEAL" on a car on the side of the road ?
Definitely think leaning towards that "Great Deal." Not really in the position myself to pay $20k cash for a car, and most auto loans have to be for a modern car (1995+ now I think?). I suppose if I did track the owner down, someone in my family would be interested, my brother is currently restoring a 72 Chevelle, that has stalled a bit, or my dad hasn't had a 'play' car since we were born.
I guess, I'm just thinking that someone is going to a 'great deal.' Some yahoo that works for the towing company, or some jerk that deals with the police auctions, and just thinking/wondering how, if that someone could be me, instead, who would actually appreciate the car.
Going to stop by and get all the #'s tonight if it's still there.

 

[lovethesea]

if that is a 442 numbers match, protecto-plate etc. and in good condition it will be worth 30k plus.
We have been offered 20k for ours.

 

[el guapo]

ITs tough man you could always hook it up and tow it home . Put an add in the paper that it was abandoned . Then if nobody claims it you could apply for a salvage title . Just don't hide it in the back of your house or anything wild .

 

[aquaknight]

I'm not sure if that's an option. If the car was involved with a crime or anything of the like, moving/tempering with the car, would be a serious offense? Or what would be the difference in just taking a neighbor's car while his on vacation or something, then claiming it as abandoned and retitle it in my name?
Though, from then on, if I did take it, probably won't apply for a salvage, just buy a $500 beater, and swap VINs, claiming I restored that beater instead. Though this quite of the whole gray area of legailities now

 

[saltn00b]

yea, people switch VINs but its not the sorta thing you want to go posting about on public forums. i like el guapo's idea. that way it is in your possession. people dont necessarily check those things. you can also call the police from someone else's cell and ask them what the procedure is without telling them who you are, where you live and where and what the car is. (so they dont decide to send out the collection team for themselves) just say something like "what is the procedure for abandoned vehicles? if i would like to salvage it etc...

 

[aquaknight]

The only thing is that moving it to my house, probably would raise a few eyebrows. A community with my house a bit into the development, what would be the odds they decided to just 'park the car' on our driveway? Cause I think just parking it on the curb in front of the house, would still put it on public space (the street).
Also, it's not exactly like it's down some unpopulated road either, it's just past a fairly busy 'T' intersection. Which is the other thing I'm thinking, is that I can't possibly be the only one thinking of legal ways to get the car. I mean, if it was really that easy, you couldn't leave your car for a movie in the parking lot. It would be considered abandoned, and towed somewhere else? Then if someone put in a claim they found the car on X and Y address, then I report I 'found' it at my house, I'm sure someone can put 2 and 2 together, maybe?

 

[grue]

Not advocating you break any Law! I know the old lady would be pissed if a car ended up on your lawn one night. It would be an outrage as the damage was done to the fence and lawn. Call the police and have the vehical removed from your property. Place a lien against the offending vehical. If the car was used in a crime the owners insurance would pay for the damage done to the fence and lawn. If it is adboned you may have a chance to claim it. Yes you would have to pay storage and towing fees. Probly end up costing 2k. Again do not break any laws. Just an ideal that floated thru my head.
Grue

 

[stdreb27]

In texas you can leave your car for 48 hrs on the side of the road (unless otherwise posted). So it isn't "fare game' on the side of the road for a day.

 

[el guapo]

I have bought vehicles from tow yards . Find out which yard its going to and then go by and tell the owner you'll make it worth it to him to hold it for you when it comes up for sale .

 

[aquaknight]

Gone when I got home. Only thing left was markings in the grass from some large object, a trailer door, or a tow truck ramp.....

 

[el guapo]

Sometimes you just have to let the hard to reach chips go .