Cool. He gets his car back. Sucks. That poor woman that ended up being out a bunch of money because she didn't know it was stolen. Forged paperwork is a bitch. Moral? Be really careful when you are buying a car.
I'd like to know more about this. Statute of Limitations and all. The woman, the dealer that sold it to her. I'd think that the dealer would be holding the empty bag of $. At least, it should get traced back as far as records go and all persons reimbursed. Bet a lot of people would get really good memories if they had to start paying back $$.
That would depend on Califonia law since that is where the crime occured. My memory is a little rusty but in NY after 7 or 8 years the theif can't be charged for stealing a car, but I'm sure all claims of "ownership" after the theft are invalid since the car was sold illegally and true ownership defaults to the actual owner at the time of theft. If something is stolen from you it doesn't mean that you don't own it anymore. You still have legal claim to ownership.
Unless your stolen car was insured and a theft claim was paid. In that case, your insurance company owns the car. Nice return on an insurer's investment.
Goes to show you never know. I remember a story about a Corvette ('56 I think) that was found trying to be imported to Canada after being stolen for more than 25 years. So there is hope for all of us that have had cars ripped off. Just keep on looking....
That T-Bird is going back to it's original owner, a retired cop up in Northern California. I guess it wasn't insured for theft but the guy is really thrilled to get it back, he is the owner of a small automotive shop since his retirement. Cool ending to the story, and I guess the lady that was trying to register it is now attempting to recoup her $$$.
The same thing happened in Seattle a few years ago with a 55 Chev that had been stolen in the late 60's or very early 70's, and the original owner got it back too.
Years ago a friend had his 289 cobra stolen. Insurance paid him for it. years later a Cop stopped a guy in Oakland Calif. the driver tried to pass it off as a Austin Healey (this was before all the cobra kit cars) he was busted and my friend got to buy it back for salvage price $500.00 I'm sure he still has the car
That was one of the top stories on the local news last night....................must have been a slow news day.
A buddy of mine had a POS 68 Triumph Bonny stolen and it was recovered three years later and the thieves had cafed it out real beautiful like.
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