2nd time around, a strange tale

[mrmustang]

2nd time around, or fate telling me I made the wrong decision.
A truly strange tale, due to no fault of the buyer, nor myself, 0034 is back in my garage.
Seller went to swap SC title in to his name, only to be told that the title has been flagged for investigation. A call to me yesterday morning had me scratching my head for the 11 hour drive back to SC from the northeast. Late in to last night I gathered information of the car dating all the way back to it's order and build in 2019, presenting this information to my local DMV office this morning before being taken care of by a truly wonderful supervisor.
Said supervisor called the state office to get to the bottom of this, then printed out a "for internal use only" document. This document shows that the same VIN issued to 0034 , based on the MSO being submitted to the California MVS offices and duly assigned SB100 label on the firewall by the original owner. Title was processed and delivered to first owner, who then moved to Maryland late last year. At that time the California title was submitted to the Maryland DMV for a new title and registration in that state. This is where things now take a turn. Seller, through a broker, sells me 0034 and I then submit Maryland paperwork for new title and registration here in SC. Title printed on the spot, new registration and plate handed to me to be placed on the car, a truly smooth transaction by my local state run DMV office, life is good.........Flash forward to yesterday, when the buyer submits paperwork, only to find out that the title is under scrutiny. Todays internal paperwork shows in 2001 and again in 2003, a 1964 Lotus's paperwork was submitted for title and registration in Maryland, woth the same VIN as 0034..Maryland DMV does not show the California title being submitted for the start of the 1st owners fiasco, but does admit that no other paperwork is noted in the computer other than the title/registration request, title and registration printed same day, which is, in itself, a question they have to answer internally as there should be more for either transaction....Coincidence, or a typo in the paperwork has yet to be decided, it could be 2 weeks, it could be 6-12 months, buyer (no fault of his), requests a refund, I grab my truck and trailer, head to the bank, and produce said refund. Drive to the buyers home and load up the car, spares, and all paperwork for the ride home. 5+ hour round trip, not including the 1 hour round trip to the bank at the buyers home to fix a typo of my own. 5pm I unload at the house, put 0034 back in he garage, and settle in for the night. I await some type of communication from the DMV here in SC, at the very least, a call from the state police to verify the VIN on the frame and firewall.

So, is this fate, a 2nd chance to right a wrong, is someone looking down from above and saying "schmuck, you were not supposed to sell this car" Was it fate that 0034 originally had a Holley Sniper installed, the same that SWMBO had just purchased for me as a surprise early birthday gift.

We may never know, but tomorrow or Thursday, 0034 will once again have a set of valid plates, and a registration in my name, and perhaps give me a 2nd chance to not make the same mistake again.

Bill S.

[Tommy]

I greatly admire your attitude in the face of trying circumstances.

[tkb289]

Bill,

Quite a tale and no doubt you will figure out what to do next. You did the right thing by providing the buyer a refund and by the time paperwork is figured out, you will have most likely decided which Cobra to keep and which Cobra to sell ... or just keep them both ??

Decisions ... decisions.

- Tim

[eschaider]

Painful and somehow California has finger prints in/on this saga ...

[EM-0785]

A man of action and integrity. Nice comeback, literally. Brent

[Harpoon PV2]

Bill, it sounds like the Cobra gods might be telling you something! Cheers, Dennis

[PDUB]

Amazing! Simply amazing! Your calm is amazing, as well, Bill!

[1795]

Bill,

It must be fate. Hopefully all of us will behave in the same manner as you if the same circumstances were to befall us.

Well,, back to square one.....

Take care,

Jim

[Alfa02]

Bill, as my Father would say "You're a Gentleman and a Scholar" Cheers Tom.

[mrmustang]

Thank you all for the kind words, my intent of this thread was not for a pat on the back, just to document this event moving forward as we await whatever findings Maryland and South Carolina can come up with. Just in case this occurs again.

Originally Posted by eschaider

Painful and somehow California has finger prints in/on this saga ...

This is not on California at all, but the state of Maryland, who, at this time, appears to believe the car was not transferred in from California at all, but titled initially there. They have no records of the car coming from California, thus part of the issue at hand.

Bill S.

[twobjshelbys]

You are going to try to resolve this though? Otherwise it will be a problem later. Will the buyer still be interested in the car provided you can get it all sorted out?

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

You are going to try to resolve this though? Otherwise it will be a problem later. Will the buyer still be interested in the car provided you can get it all sorted out?

Waiting on the results of "investigation", I will be the last to know, I'm sure.

Not certain I'll want to sell, looking back at my original plans to possibly add the FIA style rollbar (body does not need to come off, but tig welding of the mounts will need to be done), and add the Sniper EFI system back on, since the car was was originally set up for it, all plumbing and fittings are still there.

Bill S.

[msinc]

I can pretty much guarantee you that, when all is said and done, it was Maryland that messed up this entire thing. If you could see what we have trying to run the DMV here you would have zero problems understanding why I say this. It is ridiculous. All I can say is best of luck, you are going to need it. M

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Waiting on the results of "investigation", I will be the last to know, I'm sure.

Not certain I'll want to sell, looking back at my original plans to possibly add the FIA style rollbar (body does not need to come off, but tig welding of the mounts will need to be done), and add the Sniper EFI system back on, since the car was was originally set up for it, all plumbing and fittings are still there.

Bill S.

Take care of it. Better to do it now instead of later by someone else without all of the history especially if it's left to your estate. I've got lots of things they'll have to take care of too It's like building inspectors - leave them something to make them think they're valuable. But not too difficult or they curse you.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Take care of it. Better to do it now instead of later by someone else without all of the history especially if it's left to your estate. I've got lots of things they'll have to take care of too It's like building inspectors - leave them something to make them think they're valuable. But not too difficult or they curse you.

Already on it, awaiting the only piece of the puzzle that I'm missing, and that is a copy of the original MSO. I emailed Hillbank asking them for a photocopy from their records. Once that is in hand, I've got a complete history from cradle to present, with no gaps. My plan is to them send packets to both investigation divisions via certified mail. Once they have that information in hand, they can take the appropriate action and investigate the "64 Lotus" in Maryland, or ad an exemption to the car titled in my name, here in SC. Or they can issue a new VIN to the nonconforming Lotus, since mine is manufacturer provided, and accepted as such in all 50 states.

Bill S.

[RodKnock]

You would think with that write-up, you were getting paid by the hour like Patrick.

"Knowing you" (the online version) Bill, I'm sure you'll have it all back in order in no time.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

You would think with that write-up, you were getting paid by the hour like Patrick.

"Knowing you" (the online version) Bill, I'm sure you'll have it all back in order in no time.

Now that I have a copy of the original MSO in hand, as well as the original sales invoices to show cradle to present for car and drivetrain, without any mysterious gaps, I cannot see where they would have an issue vs adding a note in their system. Although, the guys at Hillbanks, upon hearing I am in SC, thought I might be better off with a SC assigned VIN and 1963 "vintage" title assignment , as that is how they treat these cars here. For now, I prefer to not rock that boat.

Bill S.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

.... the buyer submits paperwork, only to find out that the title is under scrutiny.....

That's a scary story, Bill. Bad enough for you, and it was potentially worse for the buyer.
I am sure he/she was very thankful for your prompt and very appropriate response to the situation.

So, back to the "two Cobra" situation again

Cheers!
Glen

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by xb-60

So, back to the "two Cobra" situation again

Cheers!
Glen

" I try to get out, but they keep pulling me back in...."

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

" I try to get out, but they keep pulling me back in...."

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My head hurts, someone save me from myself.

For sale-289 ERA FIA Cobra $78,500


Bill S.