|
|
Posted by Don Blair [69.88.38.158] on Thursday, November 04, 2010 at 19:46:57 :
In Reply to: Re: buyer beware....military vehicles without a title posted by Fleabag [96.60.220.17] on Thursday, November 04, 2010 at 18:34:29 :
I live in Maryland and I experienced a twist of this age-old problem. I had a clean title and no VIN plate anywhere on the vehicle. 40 years ago when it was first brought into Maryland from Virginia they used to hand you the VIN plate to mount yourself. Not anymore. In order to get a new VIN I had to physically bring my 1941 WC-6 to Glen Burnie to an inspection garage
that is only open for this sort of business 3 hours a week on Tuesdays from 9:00-12:00.
When we got there on time, they told me that even though I had a title, without the original VIN (MD issued) they couldn't issue a replacement. I told him if I had it, I wouldn't be there in front of him. He
said I was probably screwed but would check the old, stored archives on microfiche in the basement of the MVA building. He sent someone off with every number he could find:
frame, body, engine. He said if anything matched the original paperwork, I'd be in good shape and would get the plate. If not, he could do nothing, I'd have to take the vehicle back to Hagerstown, appear before a judge to seek a writ of mandamus and then wait for the MVA to agree to issue a new VIN and then I'd have to bring it back to him for the plate. Praise the Lord. A long wait in the hot sun and he re-appeared with 40 year-old papers. The engine serial number matched, so I got the plate. In Maryland, LE will not come to your home. Glen Burnie is the only place in the entire
state that does this sort of thing and only 3 hours a week. Make sure those titles and VIN's are good. I thought since I had a clean, Maryland title there would be so much of a problem and there wouldn't have been even if I sold it someone in state, but it was headed for and currently resides in Panama City, Florida in the Bob Stopka
Collection.It's a good thing he noticed the missing VIN while it was still in Maryland and not after he got it down to FL. At least it all turned out fine.