Is it dangerous to buy an old car on a written bill of sale with no title? Well, here is your chance to find out! This 1966 notchback Mustang is located in Chichester, Pennsylvania and is listed here on Craigslist for $5,000. We appreciate AMXBrian for submitting this tip. The seller states that the car comes with about 90% of the parts to restore it. This car has been in the same family since 1997 and came from the factory with a straight 6 cylinder engine and a C4 automatic transmission.
The car is said to run and drive. In 1966, the 200 cubic inch straight 6 cylinder engine produced 120 horsepower and was an economy option compared to the K code 289 cubic inch V8 that produced 271 horsepower. The radiator has a little surface rust but the engine compartment looks good. The body looks to have some rust eating through the paint in several places. The seller states that the sale includes new sheet metal for the rear quarters, tail panel, trunk drop-offs, rear valance, wheel wells, core support, front valance, shock tower sides, and floorboard.
The red interior looks to be in pretty good shape. The automatic shifter sticking up through the carpet reminds me of a friend’s 1966 Mustang in high school. He had the same engine and transmission and we would kid him about the lack of power. He told us that his car was a “pleasure mobile not a drag racer!” All I know is that it was pretty good on gas and we would empty the change in our pockets to put gas in it back in the early 1980’s.
So this little red on red Mustang seems reasonably priced if you have the stomach for a restoration. Many of you know what that is like once you dig into a car like this and the costs add up. I would be a little nervous about buying a car without a title but let us know if you have ever had a bad experience due to no title or if getting a bonded title has worked out.
Just saw the Bullitt Mustang cross the block at Mecum for $3,400,000. WOW!
That’s crazy for that movie car!! But this little 6 cylinder looks to be in driver quality and might be bought right!!!
Be careful of the missing title. The State of PA knows who owns it. That may or may not be the seller. It’s easy to get a replacement title here, just go to a Notary with the VIN and (hopefully) some old registration cards or license plates, and for (usually) under $100 you can get a title in a month or so. If the current owner on the title is deceased, their family can come up with a death certificate and get a title if they want to.
If you don’t do that, you could find out that somebody else legally owns it. There have been cars in divorces and estate problems that were sold on a bill of sale and somebody else ended up owning it. Don’t spend any money on it until you know for sure who really owns it.
PA does not know who owns it because the car is in NH. NH DOES not issue titles for cars older than year 2000 .if you have a title great but it is not needed a bill of sale and a previous registration. Is all you need you can register the car .NH will not give you a title for a car or truck or motorcycle or motorhome made before year 2000.
I forgot to say that the registered owner has to apply for a replacement title. Nobody else can do it except maybe a close relative with a death certificate if the owner isn’t with us anymore. The current owner doesn’t appear to be a family member, so that could be a serious problem.
Twenty years ago there were people (I think in Alabama) who specialized in getting titles for cars like this. The last time I knew they were out of that business. Several people on here have mentioned states in New England that will take a bill or sale, give you some paperwork, and send it back so it looks like it went through their state and your state will issue a title. If you can’t confirm who has a real title for the car, anything you do like that can leave you with a restored car that somebody else owns.
“It’s easy to get a replacement”
Your idea of easy sounds like juggling 5 balls with each ball in a different town and one ball buried 6 feet under. Been there, done that. It’s never easy.
Carl, Sometimes it works out. It’s easy if you can find the person listed on the title and persuade them to show up at the Notary with a valid ID and sign some forms. Then you need the VIN plate witnessed by the Notary or a State Inspection Mechanic. Other than that, what could possibly go wrong? Other than EVERYTHING . . . . .
I did it once and it worked out. But my Step Mother was a very sharp Notary, knew the owner of the car, and got it done without a problem. But that’s a unique situation and my advice for everybody is “Be really careful of the bill or sale” stuff, or you could get screwed big time.
Almost bought one like this when they were new, wish I had.
That’s not surface rust on the radiator.
It’s the brass from the top tank.
There is a big problem with the bill of sale etc, interesting how cars can get to be exported and when they get to the wharf and check is done it turns out the car was stolen 20 years ago and the new owner lucks out of their car. I have heard of this happening a number of times so I think you would need to do the proper searches etc before pouring money into any car now days.
The title should not be a problem if they have the old owners registration in their name. I bought a car in Connecticut with a bill of sale and imported it into Canada with the bill of sale and previous owners registration. Both US export and Canadian import control at the border understood that Connecticut did not issue titles for classics and there were no problems.
Looking at the pictures, I’m wondering why all of the spare body panels were purchased. The only rust I see on the body is in the passenger side quarter panel. The rest of the body looks good in the pictures. Of course a look at the underside would be very helpful.