I picked up a 1980 Subaru last week for free. "No keys but there is title" the ad read, after getting home I realized they gave me a title for an 84 Subaru, I called them back to let them know and give them a chance to find the proper title. It has been sitting since '93
I freed the lock cylinder from the column and pulled the switch from the back of it and was able to energize the electrical system with my house key. I pulled off the air cleaner and the carb was corroded pretty bad so I shot it full of carb cleaner and got most of the linkage freed up, poured some gas down it's throat, turned my house key a few times and after a few sputters it comes to life and runs damn smooth. I found a rebuildable carb for $20.00 plus postage and the rebuild kits are around $20.00. As we all know free is usually a euphemism for "your gonna have to do some bull#$%* work to get it" and this case was no different. After dragging a broke down snow blower half way across their property, nearly killing my self lifting the tongue of small albeit loaded trailer up onto some wood blocks so it could be hitched to a truck. And then hauling a crate of wood scraps out of the way the car was finally clear enough to back a tow truck in. Needless to say I was a little torqued when the title didn't match up, I called the woman posted the ad and let her know what was up, she wanted me to bring the title back and give her the vin so she could match it up to a title. I told her I was out money($65.00) for the tow and had a sore back and she signed a title over to me, and to call me when she found the other title.
I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt but I'm not just handing over the title until I have the proper one in my hand. If the correct title doesn't materialize I'll rattle their cage and threaten to take possession of the 84 Subaru. What would you guys do in this situation?
