Got a question regarding older stolen cars

[John Brown]

Had a friend that came up with a simular situation. He went to look at a car and wrote down all the vin info and such. He had his insurance agent run the vin (vin on car didn't match title) and found it had been stolen like 20 years before (in 1968). Thief was too scared to drive it or part it out, but thought it was safe to sell 20+ years later with a title from another car. It was found just the way it had been stolen. The short story is that the insurance company had paid the original owner all but the deductable, which meant the original owner still had a legal claim to ownership of the car. Friend got a good lawyer and bought out original owners position in the car (not cheap!). After about a year of court action friend finally got the car after paying the insurance company what the judge determied was owed them for their investment. Now friend owns a 10,000 mile 67 Vette, 427/435.