Chrysler 300 ???

[Pistol Pete]

Mechanic's lien!

Add up a reasonable fee for the storage, and file the paperwork.

Send a bill certified mail to the last known address of the owner.

Also send any required notices as per your state regulations/statutes.

They will likely not be able to afford 25 years of storage at, for example $50 a month, which would be $15,000, and if they don't respond in a set ammount of time, and you have proof of the lien statute and that you followed the law and copies of the postal receips, the mechanic's lien allows you to "dispose" of the property, or depending on your state laws, get a title or other proof of ownership in your name.

This is the way to go regardless of what you decide to do. God forbid if you should fully restore the car and try to sell it only to have the original owner show up at the last minute to claim it. Unlikely ? Sure, but it's not a chance I would take. Secure the rights to the vehicle first, then proceed.

The people on this site will point you in the right direction as to it's worth.
http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/category-view.asp

 

[trimmer]

Here are a few pictures of how this car actually appears today wasting away in my woods. I had to move it back there because folks were pestering the day lights out of me, so out of sight out of mind. Although you can not tell from the photos I do have every piece of this car except the old 6 volt battery. All the hub caps and the complete air cleaners and all the chrome and interior. If y'all can not live without one of these after I do some more homework we can talk.

 

[Lowhound]

Treat that thing like a stray dog. If you feed it,its yours. I dont think the owner is comin back.

 

[Budnicks]

I say "Get that thing off the ground & out of the woods NOW"... before it's just another pile of rust, wasting away to nothing, if it already hasn't... It's going to be pretty damn hard enough, to find "any kind of parts", for such a rare car already...

 

[furyfrank]

I say "Get that thing off the ground & out of the woods NOW"... before it's just another pile of rust, wasting away to nothing, if it already hasn't... It's going to be pretty damn hard enough, to find "any kind of parts", for such a rare car already...

Actually there are stll alot of them around, but like you said get it off the ground and out of the woods. The longer it sits the more it gets ruin. I would have never waited that long with the car, because I know its value. Where I live being dry sitting is not a great problem. How long has it been sitting on the ground ?

 

[Photon440]

When is the last time you had any contact with the owner? Did they pay for anything at all up front? Did they think that it would be finished after 25 years? How much work did you do to it before deciding that the owner was a deadbeat and it was a waste of your time?

Besides the weathering, it actually looks pretty straight on the outside. Hows the inside looking?

-=Photon440=-

 

[Al K]

Trimmer;PLEASE get that car off the ground. It means avoiding a floor and/or trunk(floor) replacement down the road,should you acquire it-AND WE HOPE YOU DO!!! Lots of good advice so far.

 

[tpodwdog]

as far as " rights to ownership"...i believe that an abandon car after such and such a period of time belongs to the person that had it in their posession the longest....and being that you were supposed to restore it 25 years ago, and the owner hasnt been seen or heard from since to discuss the cars well being, ...ITS YOUR CAR.

check the statute of limitations in your state and see what it says......thennnnnn

then try to get a title for it....thennnnnnnnn....RESTORE IT!

 

[trimmer]

Trimmer;PLEASE get that car off the ground. It means avoiding a floor and/or trunk(floor) replacement down the road,should you acquire it-AND WE HOPE YOU DO!!! Lots of good advice so far.

I know it looks like it in the pictures but it really is not touching or sitting on the ground.

All this great advice is getting all those old rusty gears in my brain turning again. Although still quite squeaky the light bulb is just starting to flicker a little.

There is still a lot of hope for this fine ride.

 

[SPAULDO]

I've got parts for it!!!!

Just bought up a storage unit that has a good share of old Chrysler 300 parts,if you so decide to keep and restore this car look me up if missing anything!

 

[Photon440]

Just bought up a storage unit that has a good share of old Chrysler 300 parts,if you so decide to keep and restore this car look me up if missing anything!

Are you filming an episode of 'Storage Wars'?

 

[trimmer]

Just bought up a storage unit that has a good share of old Chrysler 300 parts,if you so decide to keep and restore this car look me up if missing anything!

Thanks Spauldo I think I still have all the parts, but you never know what you might need. I'd be interested in knowing what parts you have available.

 

[TorqueChap]

Trimmer, cool car. The 1955 Chrysler 300 was the first factory vehicle to produce 300hp due to its hemi heads. This car was the first in a special line of Chrysler letter cars that spanned from 1955-1965. First, get 'er out of the dirt to try to save the floor pans and chassis. Second, feel free to send me over a pic or rubbing of the VIN and I can decode it for you. The car's red color is neat as most were white or black. Questions about whether the car had any power options such as power windows or power seats or factory AC (very rare). Given how far gone the car is, it might be worth more in parts as a restoration in the current economy can quickly put someone under water. I've got two letter cars ('64 and '65) so I'm treading carefully on that front right now. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to have me research the car further.

 

[Moparmagic1992]

http://chrysler300club.com/

^^^^Very good letter car website, very helpful people to.

 

[furyfrank]

I will say this about restorations, if you look around or able to do some of the work yourself, you can keep the cost down, I have done it in the past. Some people that restore think they are gold but a guy down the street will do the same job for alot less. And if the car sat for so long you are not in a rush to do it.

 

[b-star69]

BUILD IT! A couple of years ago troy terpanyan (not sure about spelling)built one that was totaly sick.

 

[Basket case]

if that is the orangish one, I agree it was sick, and not in a good way. but we all have our likes. that's what makes this a great hobby.

 

[Lowhound]

If you decide to start on it,what direction were you thinkin? Original? Restomod? Whatever you decide it will look great.

 

[bluefury]

procedure.....

then try to get a title for it....thennnnnnnnn....RESTORE IT![/QUOTE]


In Alabama cars 1972 and older are not issued a title. Usually a previous regestration and a dated and signed bill of sale are required to transfer ownership
In a case of an abandoned car such as this I think filing a mechanic's lein will yield a vehicle regestration after a one month waiting period. A physical inspection of the vehicles VIN by a police officer will also be required.

 

[trimmer]

http://chrysler300club.com/

^^^^Very good letter car website, very helpful people to.

Thanks Moparmagic lots of good info. on that site.