Claiming Abandoned Cars???

The Aussie

Was speaking to my neighbour the other day when he told me of a abandoned house that backs onto his family/parents house in west cork that has two old cars in a shed out the back of the abandoned house, the small shed collapsed last year with the two cars inside still, "one is a old morris of some description and the other is the same shaped roof but bigger than the morris" (my neighbours description not mine).

So the question is if there is a legal way of claiming these cars, that is if they are worth claiming at all, (i have not seen them myself but they are certainly still there) how would i go about it, there has been no one seen at the house since the old woman passed away 8 years ago, any ideas would be good. cheers.


Anthony.

junkyard

It might be worth contacting a local auctioneer, they can check with the land registry to see who owns the property and contact the owner that way.

carchaeologist

Are they really worth the hassle?By the sound of it they are just spares cars?

The Aussie

carchaeologist wrote: »

Are they really worth the hassle?By the sound of it they are just spares cars?

Dont know, as stated i dont know their condition and my neighbour knows as much about cars as i do computer programming, so until i sight them myself i wont make that call. i dont even know what the second car is.

junkyard, have sent off an email, might not hear back for a good few days but thats a first step i would not have thaught of so cheers mate.


Anthony.

carchaeologist

Cool..will be interesting to hear what you get back..nothing like a bit of carchaeology...

The Aussie

yeh i hope to get down next weekend, would the number plates (if still attached) help in giving a name and last reg and so on, will be worth the hour+ drive just to see what cars they are, once drove 12 hours from brisbane to see a car, ended up being a singer 4AB pretty poor nick but great score anyway.


Anthony.

bijapos

If one is a Morris (you mean minor, right?) then the "bigger" one could be a Morris Oxford.

Regards the owner, ask the neighbours. In the country its usually that simple. They should know who inherited the house and possessions, person could still be living local, so its worth a shot. Sounds interesting either way.

carchaeologist

The Aussie wrote: »

yeh i hope to get down next weekend, would the number plates (if still attached) help in giving a name and last reg and so on, will be worth the hour+ drive just to see what cars they are, once drove 12 hours from brisbane to see a car, ended up being a singer 4AB pretty poor nick but great score anyway.


Anthony.

Yep,get the reg plates anyway,theres a couple of lads on here into that kind of thing.:)

The Aussie

bijapos wrote: »

If one is a Morris (you mean minor, right?) then the "bigger" one could be a Morris Oxford.

Regards the owner, ask the neighbours.

yes its a morris minor, Oxford could be the other one?

My neighbours at the moment in Donoughmore grew up alongside side the abandoned house in west cork, his parents are still there, they all even went off to the funeral 8 years ago, they spoke to the local post man (he knows everyones business) during the week to see about it, any government body i could approach.

carchaeologist

This is the oxford.


And the minor.

They do look quite similar,though the minor in the pic is an early splitscreen one,the later models (the 1000) have a front like this.


I suppose the best thing to do is go and see what condition the cars are in,and if they are worth trying to get your hands on?

G Luxel

bijapos wrote: »

Regards the owner, ask the neighbours. In the country its usually that simple. QUOTE]

In my own experience, asking the neighbours usually got replies of

"What do you want that for?:rolleyes:, its only a crock" and lots of giggling.
"are u mad?" etc and regard us car collectors as eccentric...but at least we are interested in our hobbies, compared to those who have no interests
at all and are just plain negative towards something you want to save.

245

G Luxel wrote: »

In my own experience, asking the neighbours usually got replies of

"What do you want that for?:rolleyes:, its only a crock" and lots of giggling.
"are u mad?" etc and regard us car collectors as eccentric...but at least we are interested in our hobbies, compared to those who have no interests
at all and are just plain negative towards something you want to save.

In my experience, it depends on what you drive - pull up in something registered in the current year and you're in trouble. Leave a '70's Volvo in full view (Cortina or Escort will probably do instead) and you'll make real progress. (A detailed GAA knowledge can also help, although I fail miserably there). Most elderly neighbours are contrary, so a courteous enquiry followed by a polite acceptance of their initial dismissal, usually results in much follow up info. Its automotive poker really.

2cv

The Aussie wrote: »

would the number plates (if still attached) help in giving a name and last reg and so on,anyway.

YOu could try the local garda station. If you explain the situation and the gard is willing, you could get the info there. I once bought a car in Waterford, a Citroen Dyane, 427 KI, with no logbook. To get the name of the last registered owner, i just asked my local garda station and they confirmed name and address.

If the plates are no longer on the car, you might still find an old tax disk in the car, which will have the reg number on it as well.