Abandoned 57 F-100 (what should one do?)

[budDynabuick]

Hey all. A guy I know took poession of a 57 F-100 in the spring of 94 from a guy he knows to get the truck ready for paint. RThy guy hireing to have the truck done said he was doing it to repay a debt that he owes to his boss at work. It has now been two years since my buddy has heard from this guy. My buddy found out the other day that the guy in question has now moved 150 miles away!!!This guy owes my buddy no monies as he has been paid for work done. But this behemoth of a truck takes up half of his garage! My friend (and myself) feel that there is not even a boss involved but that the truck actually belongs to the guy having the work done. We don't know why he would do that though, but the mystery boss has never been around to even see the truck. We also know that the truck was parked for two years at another place (not the owners house). I told my buddy it sounded fishy from the out-set but since the guy paid cash my buddy took the truck (which I would have as wellLOL). What are his options here? He knows he could just push it out in the street (he really doesn't to do that).This is a very nice truck as the cab is ready for paint. My friend wouldn't mind the truck taking up half of his garage if he owned it. He can't get a hold of the guy and the guy will not contact him and the truck has become a big pain in the butt for this guy. By the way, the guy (not the mystery owner) inspected the cab work (2 years ago) and loved it...said he would be back shortly with mo money. THis is even more strange seeing as how the guy does not even owe any money! I would love to hear some thoughts/ideas as maybe some have gone through this. Could my friend take the truck? At any rate , I will let you folks how this thing plays out. As always, thanks. I hope this is co-herent.

Keith

[Guest John Chapman]

Response assumes that the vehicle is loceated in Michigan. See the following links. I'd suggest a call/visit to the local DMV to find out what needs to be done.

http://www.michigan.gov/treasury

MI DVM - Abandoned Vehicles

Cheers,

JMC

[budDynabuick]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Response assumes that the vehicle is loceated in Michigan. See the following links. I'd suggest a call/visit to the local DMV to find out what needs to be done.

http://www.michigan.gov/treasury

MI DVM - Abandoned Vehicles

Cheers,

JMC </div></div>

Thanks for the suggestion (should have stated that I know about the DMV LOL) and my buddy will indeed do that when the time comes but what my friend would really like is some insight as to what may be involved and how this thing could turn out. Anybody else have any thoughts/experiences with something like this? Would appreciate any insight on this. Thanks.

Keith

[jscheib]

Does it also depend if your friend has a state licensed repair shop, or is this a personal endeavor? I think there are different laws that may apply regarding time held. If licensed, he owes "storage space" money, for the time he is holding the car, I think (this could be the same if a repair shop or personal "side-line" body work. Either way, space is space and he should get about $100/month for inside storage, unclaimed. But likely there is no written contract.

Just my opinion, not a "legal" one. Good luck!

John

[budDynabuick]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does it also depend if your friend has a state licensed repair shop, or is this a personal endeavor? I think there are different laws that may apply regarding time held. If licensed, he owes "storage space" money, for the time he is holding the car, I think (this could be the same if a repair shop or personal "side-line" body work. Either way, space is space and he should get about $100/month for inside storage, unclaimed. But likely there is no written contract.

Just my opinion, not a "legal" one. Good luck!

John </div></div>

Thanks John. Not looking for "legal" advice but in this day I understand the disclaimer LOL.My friend is going to contact this guys mutual friends and tell them to get in contact with him. We found out this guy (we will call him Dan) was in town a couple weeks ago for a funeral. If this guy doesn't contact my friend soon, I think he is so fed-up he is just going to push it down the street. There is no contract and my friend did the work in his garage so he doesn't really want to involve the authorities (plus he likes to handle his own problems). My friend just told me he got a cell number for the guy in question. He called it and asked for dan. The guy that answered said his name is Kevin and that the cell used to be Dan's but it is his now LOL. My friend swares it was Dan that answered. My friend told the guy that answered that he sounded like Dan, but the guy denied it. My friend told the guy to give Dan a message. To be continued........... Any more oppinions (not legal advice) would be appreciated.

Keith

[budDynabuick]

For those following this thread, my friend just

got a call from the guy in question and the guy gave

his word that he would be over Sunday with some

money. The guy was VERY apologetic (you know,working to

much, busy blah,blah,blah. For two years?lol)The guy is "known"

as a notorious bullshitter!!) The strange thing is, this guy

has money. to be ...............

[RICK YOUNG]

It sounds to me like there is woman involved. My guess is he had to pay for a washer/dryer/dishwasher before he brought the truck home.

RY

[Mike Cullen]

This smells kind of nasty, you may be storing either A: a stolen or "undocumented" truck. or B: you may be hiding personal property from the taxman, divorce court, bankruptcy proceedings or something. If you have a friendly cop, ask him to run the serial number to see if it's stolen. A vehicle being stashed away for that length of time, with a color change, a mystery owner.... That would make me real nervous. You may be able to get legal title for it via the DMV if it isn't listed as stolen. Check your state's laws concerning abandoned personal property. The "Kevin vs Dan" situation also raises a red flag, for me anyway.

[64BuickCat]

I agree, it is a sardine can on the manifold...