Hey Everyone, it's been a long time since I had a reason to post a question, but after half an hour searching I feel I need to ask one.

Back story: There is a 60s 200D Fintail with tags from '97 abandoned in a "neighborhood" near Placerville, CO and I have been driving by it for the last 4 summers, each time leaving a note on the car asking someone to call me about it. 4 years and no phone calls. The car sits on the side of the driveway that connects a bunch of cabins and singlewides and I seem to think no one in the 'hood owns it, or knows who owns it, since my notes disappear and each time I state that I'll pay cash and have it towed away ASAP. It's not like the car is parked in a driveway or front yard..it sits out by the mailboxes next to the highway. The car is unlocked and I have spent some time inspecting the thing, and despite being out in the snow for ages it has VERY LITTLE RUST!!! It just breaks my heart to see it dying there exposed to the elements and I think it would be an easy resto job to get it out and about again. Even if the engine is shot, I have a donor standing by (my 66 200D). My family has a spread in Ouray, CO which is about 30 minutes down the road from where the car is. We have a huge garage and I can already see that Finnie on stands, getting worked over.

-Does anyone have advice on finding out the last registered owner's info? -Can I call the local police/sheriff and claim that it is parked on the right of way (since I think it just might be....)? Then have it towed?
-Any ideas of getting the car out of there using unorthodox methods? Social engineering ideas, anything?

Your thoughts, experiences, and ideas are most appreciated.

Cheers,
John

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1966 200D Fintail. "Flossie" 151k Dying a slow death.
2008 ML320 CDI 32k "Waiting for a name"

I'd definitely see if you can track down the last registered owner of the car, the DMV might be of some help. Then send them a certified note (that way you know that it was delivered) and wait for a response. If there is no response or address listed then call whomever has jurisdiction and inquire about the nusiance removal idea you discussed, beware though. Sometimes when government tows a car it goes straight to the junkyard with no chance of you aquiring it. Have you tried asking around the area?

I know you are just itching for that car, but be patient, good things usually come to thoes who are.

__________________
". . .back before accountants designed cars"

-Current Stable-
'78 MB 450SL-C 107.024.12.020783 #3840 <Kayleen>
'85 FORD F250 6.9L Diesel <Allison>
'98 Lexus ES300 <Rachel>
Long Gone...
'74 Chevy G10...........................'99 GMC Yukon 4X4
'83 Chevy Suburban 6.2 diesel .....'99 SAAB 9-5
'90 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS............. '01 Chevy Tahoe
'98 Nissan Altima .......................'02 MB ML320
'88 Chevy Suburban V2500 4X4 6.2 diesel

Someone must know something about it. Is their any paperwork in the glove box?

Knock on doors of the closest houses, hopefully you will find an old lady, they usualy know everything about everyone in the neighborhood.

Cops won't run the plates, but if your good friends sometimes things might happen.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

PM me with the license number and the VIN, I'll see what can be done.

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

I went through this exact same thing last summer for a '78 Scirocco Champagne Edition.

Car was sitting in a field for about 9 years. Semi-minor rust, full race suspension yada yada. Anyway. After about 6 notes, I decide to goto the county DMV. They run the plates and get an address. Address no longer exists. So I goto the county Tax Auditor and give them the approximate address of lot. They find it, and for $2, I got the name and address of the property owner.

Lot is full of Fieros and Dodge Daytonas. Anyway. I goto the address listed of the property owner. After two tries I finally get him and ask if he got any of my notes. (I was also asking about the Fieros along with the Rocco.) Anyway, he cuts me off and says he's not interested in selling his fieros. He was about to close the door, then I say, what about the 'Rocco? (It was my only TRUE intention of aquisition.) He stops. "Meh, $50?" I try not freak out. We arrange to meet the next day and he has the title in hand. I bring my truck, and within 20 minutes had myself a Gem.

So, be tenacious. It can work out. If the DMV is a bust, try Tax Auditor. I'm in Texas, so our rules might be a little different, but its worth a shot. And the good thing is, it was all legal and easy.

good advice all around.

i am hesitant to go poking around people's houses/trailers because there are tons of dogs and 'no trespassing' signs. my plan is to swing by it again this week around 5pm or so...as folks are getting home from work. hopefully i can find a cheery human with some information and not a 30-30 pointed in my direction.

in any case, i'm getting the VIN and plate no's and sending them along to strelnik. hatterasguy i checked the glove...it's empty. the only thing in the car is an old dr. pepper can.

AND i'll be sure to take some pics!

cheers!
John

__________________
1966 200D Fintail. "Flossie" 151k Dying a slow death.
2008 ML320 CDI 32k "Waiting for a name"

If all else fails....

Tow it home and put a mechanics lien on it. If you cannot find the true owner then no one will fight the lien. This would be a last resort. It's a little shady but it's better then letting it get crushed. If anyone really cared about it then it would not be sitting somewhere rotting away.

__________________
08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

I don't know if its worth the legal trouble of essentialy steeling it. I mean this isn't a 300SL Gullwing. It sounds like a pretty bad area, some nut job might own it and it might be his prized car.

Someone in the neighborhood must know about it. Who owns the property that its sitting on? Property records are public, finding the owner is cake. The address is usualy good because if the city isn't getting paid taxes they are taking it.


If all else fails make a big plywood sign, and put it in the front of the car. "I want to buy this car, will remove, if you know anything call #....." I'd use a full sheet, and drive some stakes into the ground to hold it..

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

have you had much of chance to get underneath it? check floors and frame rails.

__________________
RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

____________________________
FACEBOOK: PANZER450

Been two days. Any luck?

Pics please!

__________________
1993 W124 300D 2.5L Turbo, OM602.962
2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, 2.4L DOHC
2002 Ford Explorer, 4.0L SOHC
2005 Toyota Prius, 1.5L

http://www.fuelly.com/sig-us/40601.png

BE CAREFUL-- you are now trespassing and the guy can attempt to charge you with grand theft auto, just to squeeze some money out of you.

If he's a dirt bag, and he threatens that, and he doesn't have a gun, tell him if he tries anything, you'll tell the cops about his meth lab..then leave.

Lots of these guys have them and think no one knows. You may lose the car for a while, but you'll be able to leave safe and sound.

Sooner or later he'll get busted for something and leave. Then go back and get the car through vehicle impound.
---

On the other hand, he might sell if he's NOT a dirt bag, just a recluse.

Play it cool, and don't do anything rash. It might be a nice car but there are others out there too. They's find you. It's karma , lol.

s

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

today my awesome friend ann and i had planned to run around the amphitheater in ouray...but it rained all day. so we took the 45 minutes and paid a visit to the specimen i've had my eyes on for a few years. i found some paperwork under the passenger seat, one receipt for a clutch in 94 and another one for a compression check and odds and ends in 1989. i knocked on some doors (since i had my uber hottie friend ann with me) and was met with a denizen of the 'hood who told me "angela, the landlord, really wants to sell that car." i left her a note on her front door.

as far as i can tell, the car hasn't moved in 15 years. i pulled up the rubber on the floors and there is some surface rust, but nothing punching through like on my '66 fintail. all 4 tires are flat and shot, but the rig is totally straight. all original and in super shape against the neglect. here are some pics.













thoughts, opinions, wisdom, experience. i have never resurrected a car before. your guidance is most appreciated.

cheers!
JW

__________________
1966 200D Fintail. "Flossie" 151k Dying a slow death.
2008 ML320 CDI 32k "Waiting for a name"

If he really does have a meth lab, you just gave him a motive to shoot you.

__________________
CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

My thought is a picture of Ann with the car would have been nice.

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss