Well let's see... start by filing a police report, get an attorney

 

I did- the police say it’s a civil issue because he’s willing to give the frame and body back- so it’s not stolen. I’m $2400 into an attorney right now

 

Have you filed a stolen vehicle report with your local police dept?

 

Sell it to the shop owner, It may be worth a lot to him, since he won't have to go to jail then.

 

At the very least get the body and frame back, then sue for the rest.

Years ago when I was in college I had a shop put a head gasket in a TR7. They said they put the gasket in but it didn't fix the head gasket leak problem. I spoke with an attorney on campus and he said pay them and get the car back, and after that look to get the funds back. Ultimately the shop refunded my money.

 

Title is kind of worthless without the vehicle. Like was already mentioned, get the body and frame back first. Then come up with a plan.

Is the shop owner looking for money, payment for work performed on your car, and that's why you haven't gotten the car out yet?

 

Yes I have title to a 1980 Harley (stolen). Pretty much useless.

 

Curious what shop is involved in this situation if you don't mind me asking.

 

Central Kentucky

 

Don't mind me asking, but there has to be more to this issue than what the OP is posting? A shop owner being handed a car for restoration and in turn removes the workable parts to fix his own? There has to be some paperwork/estimates to support your case plus photos that indicate missing parts?

 

There’s a lot to the story- I do have a contract and a lot of photos. He knows the law and how much he can get away with. The police department is lazy and is booking everything under a ‘civil issue’. My lawer tells me that I will certainly win though

 

Scary.....I would get what you can back and file a lawsuit for "REPLACEMENT VALUE"...As above, I hope you have pics from before it went in.

 

Is the VIN still on the body?

 

That would be my question as well. And the hidden ones

 

Would also be interested in where you are located (city, state)? A theft charge is possible if you can show parts you own were removed and deprived you, even if temporarily, the use of your property, and were used by another without an agreement. Police Officers will often define these incidents as civil problems because prosecutors do, but pushing a position of wanting to go a criminal path may give you leverage. Good lesson in making sure a restoration shop is reputable.

 

After everything is settled as much as can be expected call your cousin Vinney from New Jersey to pay him a visit!

 

You could call the Consumer Protection Agency in your state, they should be able to give advise

 

Comes back to the VIN. If removed and placed on his car it is yours.

 

Post this person's business so no one else has a similar issue.

 

My first thought is absolutely post the name of the business. My second thought is your lawyer may have advised against doing so. But man, my interest is peaked on this deal. Good luck and please keep us informed how this thing closes.

 

Good advice given. Hope it works out for you. I have a title to a 1957 Chevy Belaire 2 door hardtop that was stolen from me back in 1971. It just went POOF! Don't really know why I still have the title anymore. Silly, I guess.

 

Not silly if it goes POOF! and reappears.

 

If you file a police report as stolen, and report it to the dmv as stolen, I suppose you can move forward. But you still don’t get your car back restored. Take a friend or 2 to his shop and record everything he says. Then go record what your car had on it when you dropped off. Go to his car and record what was yours that’s now on his. If he says to not go in the shop, go anyway. If he threatens to call the police, tell him to go ahead and do it. Record it start to finish, without stopping, (You can always fast forward past the dead spots) and I’m sure his reactions and comments will support your claim. Video evidence doesn’t lie, and your lawyer or any judge will most likely side with you. It sucks there are people like this in business.

 

I don't know if you can report a car as "stolen" when you and the restoration shop have a written agreement and you brought/sent the car to his shop. But like any others here, I think something smells fishy. On your dated and signed written agreement does it state specifically what's to be done to your car, and whether or not the shop had the right to keep any replaced or removed specific parts that fell under the terms of the agreement? IOW, if you specified you wanted it converted to a RS and you wanted a cowl hood... and he kept the old grill shell and hood, are you complaining because the take-offs are valuable and could have been re-sold? Did the car have a motor and drivetrain when it went in, was it drivable? What parts were removed, do you have a list? Did you contract for a complete or partial restoration and was there a time frame associated with the agreement? Is the problem that if you take back the car before they are finished with the "restoration" it voids the contract? If you want to keep the shop name secret, you could still post the agreement and use a utility to blur out the shop location and contact info.