Stolen VW microbus turns up 35 years later

As a result of an outbound operation at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials seized a 1965 Volkswagen Bus which was reported stolen in Spokane, WA more than 35 years ago.

[Don Diller]

Dude:

I'm in if this goes up for sale. Looks like a righteous restoration. Click on the photo for more detail. Also, take a look at the reflection in the passenger side.

Man, it's a dishonor to park this beauty next to that burned out hulk.

[bz in rb]

I don't get it... if the original owner filed a claim (and presumably got paid) then the insurance company would get the vehicle even if the original owner could be identified.

And why aren't the restorers and previous people who have owned this car suspects. If they filed the transfer of title, this car would come up as stolen. If they didn't transfer the title they are not properly registering the car.

I don't understand why we can't nail the people who broke the law.

[Vic]

35 years? Gotta be a paper trail on this thing.

[been there]

bz in rb wrote:

I don't get it... if the original owner filed a claim (and presumably got paid) then the insurance company would get the vehicle even if the original owner could be identified.
And why aren't the restorers and previous people who have owned this car suspects. If they filed the transfer of title, this car would come up as stolen. If they didn't transfer the title they are not properly registering the car.
I don't understand why we can't nail the people who broke the law.

they will announce arrests at the DMV where this took place. In other words they will figure out where the shinanigans took place.

[dubya]

pretty sure 35 years is WELL beyond the statute of limitations for a stolen vehicle lol. Allstate will probably auction it off and put the $ back in their general fund. they already paid out the claim on it to the original owner, thereby "buying" the vehicle.

[Vic]

dubya wrote:

pretty sure 35 years is WELL beyond the statute of limitations for a stolen vehicle lol. Allstate will probably auction it off and put the $ back in their general fund. they already paid out the claim on it to the original owner, thereby "buying" the vehicle.

Off topic and kind of a dumb question: If Allstate auctions it off for more then they paid the original owner, who gets the money?

[bz in rb]

Vic wrote:

<quoted text> Off topic and kind of a dumb question: If Allstate auctions it off for more then they paid the original owner, who gets the money?

It is Allstate's money as far as I can figure. As above poster mentioned... they in essence bought the car from the original owner 35 years ago. Even if the car is worth more today, you have to realize Allstate went without that money for 35 years. Tack on 35 years of interest and you are probably not too far off today's value.

[Don Diller]

A $2,500 payout in 1974 translates to roughly $11,000.00 today.
Allstate is going to make a bundle on this one.

[rsharbor]

I have dibs ! Been looking for a 65' for years, especially in this shape. Let me know !

[total fiasco]

This brings back memories, I used to do pan jobs these puppies, you know what I'm saying

[Bruce]

Groovy man!

[Gert]

"It's too early to tell what will become of the vehicle itself," Klapthor said.

how about giving it back to the person from whom it was stolen...but no, you know why?

the value, and the govt will sell it and keep the money.

[John]

I once worked on a case defending allstate in an insurance bad faith case that went to trial.

i can tell you all without breaking my confidentiality agreement that you ARE NOT in good hands, with allstate.

[Wow]

follow a POS like that over the grapevine and tell me how neat it is. I used to chuck apples at them as I blew by them in the 70s. Those things are the biggest POS on the highway ever.

[Wow]

bz in rb wrote:

I don't understand why we can't nail the people who broke the law.

Just think of O.J., clearer now?

[Zibby Bear]

Its about time they opened their eyes this has been going on for years and 1000s of stolen cars are shipped out this way.

[Dont Be Stupid]

The bad part of this story is that the guy in Europe that paid for this vehicle is not getting his money back, the shop that restored it got paid, but will not face prosecution for receiving stolen property, and Allstate will sell it and keep the money.

The European should have bought a CarFax report before he sent the money.

[dfp21]

Don't think I've ever seen one of those before that wasn't on fire on the side of the highway.

[Vic]

dfp21 wrote:

Don't think I've ever seen one of those before that wasn't on fire on the side of the highway.

They were air cooled with engine in the back so they did burst into flames from time to time. They were very reliable though and very easy to fix, you swap out the engine in about two hours.

[dumb and dumber]

Oh dear, what a waste of inspection resources on a conceded loss of long ago.

Now, it's lose lose lose. The guy in Europe doesn't get the car, the restoration shop is out of the money it spent to refurbish, and the original owner may not even be alive or want it back!

sounds awesome.