Originally Posted by Jim B.

Someone bought it. It's an '80, and the little red "3" sticker in the window is a California temporary tag that expired 3/31. It also is a HUGE red flag to me.

Those tags are given when title/registration are "in progress" and there are difficulties in securing a clear title even when registration fees are paid.
It could mean many things, uncleared liens, not conforming to emission laws,
any number of problems needing to be cleared up. The stickers are issued at the California local DMV's discretion, and they are good for 3 months at a time.

It still has the German plates on it too, so it's conceivable vehicle may be subject to the gray market importation process whichis VERY expensive - sometimes $6000-$10,000 and 6 months or more, depending on whether there were retests, competency of the registered importer.

May be nothing, but then again, if it can't pass the DOT/EPA modifications, it's possible the car might have to be forfeited, or destroyed. That would be a shame. The ebay buyer mentioned nothing about it, so the winning bidder, especially if he is in California, better have done his due diligence before he bid on the vehicle.

There might indeed be NO US title on it yet. That is a high hurdle indeed to surmount. It might be at this moment, entirely illegal to drive it in any of the 50 states. I don't know, just wondering.