about a year ago I bought a 73 914. The plan was to strip it sell the goodies and build some kind of SCCA track car or hack it and build a dune buggy, my most current plan was to title it and put it back on the road but I have hit a dead end (note earlier I wanted to race it title wasn’t really in my plans) the car has changed hands a few times with an open title we will call first owner D1... D1 sold to D2 in North Carolina who had the car for 20 years in a barn in Florida that sold to D3 that let the car sit in a ditch and lost title who sold it to me D4... car is still in FL with a bill of sale no title and D2 doesn’t have info of D1 because the sale was 20 years ago and I’ve tried a title search. How far up shit creek am I obtaining a title and making this thing road legal... thank you in advance.

Go to the DMV and find out what your options are.

DMV says contact original owner, location unknown. other options I ran through my head are find solid roller, or figure out "kit car" title work

All states are a bit different, but you should be able to bond the car and get a title. It costs a bit, but should be worth it. Colorado requires a bond that is twice the value of the car. If you have a bill of sale you should be okay. Check with your DMV to ask about a bonded title. What kind of condition is it in? Are all the VIN numbers readable and do they match?

Solid advice.

In Washington, I would pay $60 to have the State Patrol inspect the car so I could get a "temporary" 3 year title in my name. If no one claims the vehicle in those 3 years, you get it put in your name for good.

Just ask what they need you to do.

Sold car to a buddy in GA to get a bonded title and bought it back, working on FL title work, thank you.