All this talk about clear titles got me thinking. My registration slips
over the years have always listed the banks name, even though I paid it
off in 1991. So, I go to my files, and sure enough I have the pink slip
and lien release from the bank all nice and notarized and stamped and
everything. I never sent it back to the DMV! I'm not too good at buying
and selling cars I guess - we keep them for years.

So, my question is, what are the chances the CA DMV will accept my 19 year
old paperwork? The bank still exists too, btw.

Walter
85 Vanagon in San Diego

On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:02:47 -0700, Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM> wrote:

>Craig, before I spent even another dollar on this Vanagon, I'd get a
>title for it.  I bought one in a similar condition and it took three
>years to get a clear title. And it was not stolen. It belonged to a
>bank that no longer existed. Times two. The bank that owned it was
>acquired then THAT bank was acquired. Tough to get a release of
>interest when the bank can't find the title or the loan papers. (And
>the location of the original bank was a hole in the ground where the
>new civic center was being built.... In another state.)
>
>Good luck Craig.  Glad you have the metal.  Worst case, you can get a
>titled 2wd van and move the Syncro stuff over.
>
>Jim