I'd have taken the LTD also....if it is actually NYC property after they tag it, you're probably saving the taxpayers money by keeping it out of the auction system. It would have to be hauled off, stored for a while, inventoried, then hauled to auction, and a rusty hunk like that prolly only brings $10 or $20, so the city isn't going to come close to recovering the expense of removal or the wages of the various city handlers. It's a little easier out here, as long as you get a bill of sale from a "previous owner" (whether or not any money actually changes hands), you can apply for a lost title, which involves sending a registered letter to the last PO explaining that you have purchased the car and need their signature on the enclosed form. If the registered letter comes back undeliverable, it's as good as a previous title, or the PO fills out the form and sends it back to you. Kinda unlikely the PO would try to squeeze you for bucks, since either they or another purchaser farther down the line, abandonded it and no one really wants to claim the possible liability of storage fees or some such. it is also fairly easy to put a storage lein on something like that that is actually abandonded on your property, or property under your control.
