Getting a title for an abandoned vehicle?

[Black89XR7]

A couple of months ago I purchased a white 89 xr7 from a local junkyard to use as parts to fix mine up. The owner of the junkyard told me that we could only use it as parts and there is no title for it, he also told me that it was abandoned in a parking lot and they went and got it and it had been in their junkyard for about 3 years.

I had a carfax run on the vin and it says when it was shipped in 89, then it says 7/10/2003 the registration was issued or renewed a new owner reported, then it says 7/15/2003 title issued or updated and exempt from odometer reporting, registered as commercial vehicle title #770070114017844. The carfax show the 2 listings after it was shipped were in beaufort, south carolina. The odometer reads about 100k miles.

After looking over the body is in really good shape. My black 89 xr7 is pretty rusty and will need floorboards, rocker panels, and quarter panel patches. I am thinking about taking the drivetrain and interior from my black 89 xr7 and putting them into the white 89 xr7 i got from the junkyard. The only issue with this would be that i do not have a title. So my question is what would i have to do to acquire a title for this car?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Travis

[the-big-e]

Swap out the dashes.....

[Black89XR7]

I was planning on swapping the dash because the white xr7 has blue interior(and has been exposed to the weather) and my black xr7 has grey interior. But the vin plate is on the dash...i was thinking it was on the firewall? And even if i did that the vin from the other car would still be all over? I just dont want to do anything that is going to get me in trouble thats all.

[txsc]

The VIN tag isn't attached to the dash pad, it's attached to a body tab adjacent to the dash pad, and visible through the windshield. Swapping the dashes will do nothing. Not to mention the certification label, or the other hidden VIN places on the body. Plus, this is illegal, and if you're caught, the car will be seized and destroyed. And you'll have fines, etc. to deal with it. I reccommend against swapping VIN's. You're better off trying to get a title for the salvage yard car.

JD

[Ottoparts]

Not sure of your local laws. The lady that gave me my exploder filed bankruptcy on it (therefore no title). I let it sit on my property for 30 days and then filed a mechanic's lean on it. Stating that the previous owner abandoned it on my property after they were informed how much it would cost them to repair. I sent the paperwork in between 45 to 60 days I had a new legal title for it.

[Mike8675309]

Most states have some method of "remanufacturing" a vehicle that you don't have a title for, or the title is lost. For example, I have a motorcycle purchased from a estate. No title was found. I can apply for a title for the vehicle as a reparable. As long as I license the vehicle within 12 months of the application, I can get a clear title to it.

[garsc]

Call your states Department of Motor Vehicles or Highway Patrol they can direct you to what you can and cant do in your state. Every state has different laws and regulations concerning lost titles. Some states are relatively easy some are nearly impossable.