David,

In publication such as Hemmings, there are ads for businesses (like your
friend of a friend) that can recover a lost title.  As I understand it,
they operate in a state that has easy rules for recovering a lost title.
 They take your VIN and get the vehicle titled locally and then sell the
vehicle to you for $1.  You can then transfer the title to your state.
 These businesses are legitimate, but operate within the limits of their
own state laws.  So, if you were sure that no one will claim the vehicle at
a later date (keep your receipt), then this may be a good plan.  I think
that the cost is less than $100.

Besides folks like you, restorers of old cars often use this service.

In Arizona, where I live, it is expensive to recover a lost title, but the
law has an interesting provision for owners of storage facilities and
mechanics.  I'm sure that you've heard of the term "mechanic's lien."  Well
that process can be used to re-title a car, even if the owner refuses to
 turn over the title.  Now, it seems like you've stored the vanagon for
long enough to make your own claim of a "mechanic's lien."  The conditions
for that would be your own state law, and not Texas.

Good luck.

Mike  '84 GL  '58 Isetta

----------
From:   David Hunt[SMTP:DAVIDTHEKM@AOL.COM]
Reply To:       DAVIDTHEKM@AOL.COM
Sent:   Thursday, September 16, 1999 4:17 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        A Cautionary Tale on Titles

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