So, I'm always on the hunt for projects. Not that I have the time to ever do anything with them. I've recently seen quite a few viable projects that have no title. This begs the question, how much trouble is it really to build something with no title? I've read all the regs on how to go about titling. I'm just curious if anyone here has ever actually gone down this road, and if so how much trouble was it?

That I can answer. I haven't done it but I'm about to start the process. Because the car I'm building isn't in running, driving condition, I have to get a "Rebuilders Title".

1st- get a VIN inspection by the state patrol. I just scheduled mine. If there is no VIN or the car is made from several cars, it will get a Colorado assigned VIN. Sounds like the more paperwork you have, the better. I have a bunch of stuff, like an old Oregon title, but the VIN was the motor number, not the body number, and that motor is long gone.

2nd- get an appraisal of the car in non running order. Any car dealer can do this.

3rd- post a nonrefundable bond to the state for 2x the appraised value. I just called and I was quoted $100 for any bond amount up to $7000. This is so if someone comes back to the state and proves it was their car, they get the bond money.

Now you can apply for your Rebuilder Title. A car with a rebuilder title can't be registered or driven.

Once the car is in running, driving condition, get a new VIN inspection from state patrol. Then you can apply for a clean title, and register & drive the car.

or if you are working on an early bronco, cant you just find a glove box with the vin and title for a few hundred dollars?

I'll update this thread as I attempt to get my rebuilder title. I have my VIN inspection scheduled for May 29, the guy only comes to Gunni 1x each month.

I wouldn't think you'll have a problem with your Bronco, and the Galaxy situation sounds like exactly what I'm going to do.

The PO of my 69 drilled the tag off the glove box door and mounted it on the top of the dash. The vin inspector didn't even care when I registered. Probably could have been taped to the window for all he cared.

I'm guessing you guys are right about the diligence of the VIN inspector. I've brought 2 cars here from out of state and had to do VIN inspections for titles. But those inspections were not with state patrol, local city cops did those inspections. They were pretty casual.

This inspection may be a little more thorough. The inspector said we might push the car out of my storage unit for the inspection, despite me telling him he can actually access the VIN code on the door frame inside the unit. Hopefully he won't though, it took 5 guys to push it in because of the slope of the entrance. He didn't mention what else he might want to look at. Also, for the final VIN inspection for the clear title, you have to provide VIN of all cars used to rebuild the car. I'm sure that is to prevent re-titling stolen cars.

I've done the VIN inspection once on my KTM when I built it up a few years ago, with a city cop it was 2 seconds and the tag was riveted in place, I'm guessing the guy who makes a once a month trip to west slope will be more difficult. I've also let the state issue a VIN for my bronco trailer when I built it, that was even easier, I just signed that document stating I built it and walked out with a title.

Good luck....... been there tried that.

So, when you say "tried that", I assume it didn't work out? If not, can you elaborate?

we built Daniels mustang on a wrecked car with a salvage title. all we had to do was take it to the state patrol and they did the vin check, also had to stamp "built fro salvage" on the door jamb.

the patrol officer spent maybe 50 seconds looking at the vin on the inner fender, just one of the places it is and about the easiest to forge, and that was it.

No - we did not have to provide any other titles or vin#s. Just the one on the salvage title car.

VIN is inspected!!!!! No problemo. The State Trooper was very cool. I'm lucky the car looks unmolested & original, and doesn't look like its been pieced together. So I think that helped speed things along, and put any questions he might have had to rest. He pointed at the trunk lid and said, "It even has a license plate holder & light."

He asked to see the VIN. I opened the passenger door and showed him. He said "That is where it should be".

He asked a couple questions;

"Have you done this before with other vehicles?" - No, this is my first.

"How did you end up with this car?" - Told him the story, as I know it, of how it ended up in Gunnison. Showed him my 1972 Oregon title with the missing engine VIN, the "Bill of Sale" to my friend in 1989, and the "BOS" from my friend to me last year.

"Why are you doing this?" - I'm a glutton for punishment. (He laughed) Actually, I've wanted to do a hot rod for years, and my friend offered me the car, after he inherited several antique cars and realized he'd never redo this one. I pointed at my Bronco, told him I'm a gearhead, and I think he understood.

Finally, he asked "Can you prove it is a 1939". I showed him my notes that I've accumulated from the internet. Told him, based on my info, it was built in LA (Detroit is where most were built), and showed him the range of LA built 39 VINs, and that mine fell within that range. These notes were scribbled on the back of a manila envelope that I'm keeping all my paperwork in. Nothing official, but he said that was good enough. So there.

It took him maybe 15 minutes to fill out his paperwork. Cost $20.00.

Now I've sent pics to my friend at the Chevy dealership, he's going to whip up an appraisal. I also spoke to my insurance agent, he said after the appraisal, he can get a bond in less than 24 hours usually.

Congrats! That's good news!

Got my appraisal and "ordered" my bond. I should have it Monday. I'll be filing for my Rebuilder Title as soon as I get my bond.

One great thing about living in a small town, the DMV is not a horror show. It will only take me a couple minutes, there rarely is a line, and the employees all kinda know you. I always renew my tags in person, I don't even consider mailing it in. When I went in to get info on doing getting this title, the lady was happy to print off a complete check list & info packet for me. Even took a few minutes to explain it to me. Really.

Took all my paperwork to the county clerk/DMV and filed it on 6/3.

Got my "Rebuilder Title" today.

Hopefully the transition to real title will go as smoothly.

Don't hold your breath, that will be a while.

Nice, I know I'll be bookmarking this thread for future use.