AFAIK autocheck/carfax only have databases for 17digit VINS, i.e. vehicles from around 1981 and newer.  Old busses are SOL.

If the State of California issued a "clean title" on a stolen vehicle, they must be somewhat at fault.....how come the feds have access to a database of old stolen vehicles but the state DMV does not?   Does not make sense at all....this means you can re-title an old stolen vehicle and drive it forever in the US with a clean title....at least until you try to export it.   All state DMVs should query the federal database of stolen vehicles whenever transfer of registration occurs...especially without a physical title in hand which must have happened at some point.

Buyer should sue the CA DMV, good luck suing them though....

BTW, the bus is up to $27k pre-bidding at copart.com, auction not even started yet.,,

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From:         mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Reply-To:     mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Date:          Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:59:36 -0800

>I guess the buyer should have used a service such as this one. I wonder
>if buyers of GoWesty price level Vanagons do so.
>
>http://www.autocheck.com/consumers/product-features/titleguard/coverage.do
>
>It is an imperfect world. Sometimes somebody has to lose out.
>Governments are imperfect as well. Maybe we should all take up a
>collection for the poor disappointed buyer, wherever he is. I'm not serious.
>
>Mark
>