Triumph Repair: Title replacement in TN, vin number, shape design

Question
I saw that you answered a Title question and finished by saying you are in TN...I'm hoping you can help as that's where I am considering purchasing a car with no title.

The car is a 1959 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 (I know it isn't a Triumph...sorry).  It is at a local car lot and the guy selling it doesn't have a matching title.  I've been to the DMV and they suggest I have the "Dealership" do a title search.  The car lot is a mud lot with about 20 or so cars on it...the guy isn't capable of doing a title search.  I've looked on Carfax and they only deal with autos that have a 17 digit VIN...this car, if I'm looking at the right number only has 9.

The DMV says I need to trace down the last state that the car was titled in.  How can I do that?

Others have suggested that I pay a title company to generate the documents I need to get the car titled.  Are these guys legitimate and what are the drawbacks?

I love the shape/design of the car and hate to pass it up over a paperwork issue, but I don't want to purchase the car only to find that there is no hope of attaining a title.

Thanks for any help.

Dennis.

Answer
Hi Dennis,
In TN you can apply for a labor and storage lean title through the DMV. First find out how long the lot had the car and if they will supply a bill of sale with the vin number on it. If they had the car for any length of time, they can apply for a title or they can pass that storage bill on to you and thus you can apply for it. I have not done it yet (but need to soon as I have a car in the same situation) I have been told there are two methods and this is one of them. Go back to the car lot and find out how long they had the car and then go to the DMV and tell them the lot had the car for xxx time and will assign you the storage bill and you want the procedure to file for a storage bill on an abandon car. If the car has a tag that helps and you need the vin number. I am told you just have to run an ad in your local paper for a specified time and you can apply for a title.
As I said I will have to do the same soon so I will e-mail you the exact procedure as soon as I do it. Send your e-mail address to me and I will e-mail you the procedure. fitzcharlesh@bellsouth.net
Howard