[MustangMan79]

I'm sure everyone has heard about the Judy Smongesky story where she owned a '65 mustang for 38 years after it was reported stolen.

Well I may be facing a very similiar problem. I have owned my '66 Mustang 2+2 since 1995 (14yrs), and now that I am trying to register it in NC I have been told it was stolen in Washington DC in 1970 (39yrs ago)!! I am alittle puzzled though by this news because of all the questions: Why was the car resistered, tagged, and titled in VA in 1995? Why was I able to title the car in MD twice (once by me and the other by my mother)? Why when stopped by Police for spinning tires (in MD) didn't the VIN come back stolen? Why have I been able to insure the car under two different companies (Erie and Hagerty's) and it was not reported stolen?

Something is just not adding up here and I'm worried that I might lose my car. The car has just gone through a 4 yr restoration at a very high cost. I am continuing to do my own research but some feedback from fellow Mustangers would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!!!!

[mikemaxx15]

Im sure you will keep the car and the mess will be sorted out!

[nigel]

Welcome to the site. Things will work out. They might of been a misread on the vin or a misprint on the title.

[dodgestang]

Check to make sure your VIN didn't change during restoration?

Ohh and just an interesting thing for others to think about.....how much money did you save by not carrying current registration and insurance on the car while it was in for 4 years restorations versus now that you are trying to reregister a car that hasn't been registered on the road in several years and has a more intense title scrutiny and you will have whatever costs and headaches are associated with that problem now....

Hopefully it will work out for the best for who ever is the legal owner of the car....which might be you.

[05horse]

welcome and goodluck

in GA cars older than 1980 dont require a title, in ohio they do.... try explaining that one to the DMV...

[MustangMan79]

Thanks for the support!!! I am sure the VIN didn't change during the restoration, since I did all the work myself. And I have the same VIN number on 5 locations on the car; one on the left fender apron, 2 on the right fender apron (hidden by fender), body buck tag, and door tag. The car was under Hagerty's during the restorations, so there are no periods where it was not insured. I'm really hoping that the inspector has typed the VIN wrong.

[05horse]

show proof of previous entitlement and insurance coverage

[Jay H 237]

You'll have to stay in contact with the DMV and maybe have the police check into it as I see two possibilities as to why it never showed up stolen before (1995 registration and prior).

Both scenerios I can think of hinge on the fact that in 1970 computer records weren't done/available.

1. Someone at the NC DMV is going through and putting the paper records into the computer system, including thefts, and they mis-typed the VIN. The VIN (yours) is flagged as stolen but really isn't.

2. The paper records weren't in the computer system in the early 90s so the car didn't show up as stolen back then. The records have since been added, the VIN had been flagged as stolen and now came up as stolen when you just tried to register it.


I would ask to see if you can get a copy of the original police report from the theft in 1970 to look at the VIN yourself on that report. The police are the ones who can help you here, I doubt the DMV will have the actual report. The police will be able to contact the jurisdiction on where the theft was reported and someone at that department should be able to dig through the paper theft records for the original report and fax you a copy.

If the car is in fact stolen:

Now a theft is considered a "total loss" and if the person who had the car had theft coverage on the car and took the payment then the car would technically belong to the insurance company that paid out the claim. The insurance company could take the car back or you may be able to reach a deal with them. If the owner didn't have insurance or chose not to accept a claim check then the car would still belong to that person. That person (if still alive) could ask for the car back or you may reach a deal with them too.


Lastly, if the car is stolen then they will likely try to trace the car backwards asking who you bought the car from and contacting that person and finding out where they got it and how long they had it before sold to you.

[andrewmp6]

You need to let a cop run your vin and see if its really stolen or a typo.My friend bought a 85 cutlass no title so he tagged it as a 86 cutlass he use to own.He drove the car 3 years pulled over many times.Long story short the car was stolen the owner of it found it and called the cops.

[Calponycarsmike]

Something sounds way off here...