Towing Issues: Towing recovery of sold vehicle, west covina police, friend bout

Question
I had sold my beautiful car to a friend bout 1.5 yr's ago and he then sold it to another party thereafter. The registration was the only thing that had ever been changed, never the title (legal owner). I found this out by receiving a notice yesterday stating that the vehicle was in an impound yard and I was still the legal owner to the car. We had signed the pink slip free and clear over to the last person that my friend had sold it to, my friend had never even done the pink slip paperwork when he had purchased it from me. My question is can I go and get this car if this lady doesnt have any intentions of recovering the vehicle since Im still the legal owner to the car and we contact her and she signs over the title and responsibilities? I live in southern california. The car is in a tow yard in baldwin park. I have to have the west covina police give me the release papers first.

Answer
Well I imagine that if you could get the title to the vehicle you can redeem the vehicle after you get the release and pay any fees. But is the vehicle really worth it ??? That would that depend on the condition and the towing and storage bill...

Or you could hopefully get DMV to provide a release of liability on your part since you sold the vehicle (I am taking it you do not have paperwork showing you sold it)

I wish I could provide a solid answer here, but I have heard that it is hard to get either the release or to actually pick up the vehicle in cases like this (I have had this kind of question before)