[Charley Lillard]

That's OK. The current owner really was trying to help but now I'm getting the feeling that you are wanting to get the car back and not just seeking closure. The current owner has no problem with giving the car up if you can produce valid ownership etc. Right now all you are doing casting a cloud over his ownership of the car. He bought the car from a licensed and bonded dealer so he either has recourse against the dealer or at some point he will probably have to legally contact you to either substantiate your ownership or stop pursuing it.

Somehow Leroy Funk got a valid title to the car in 1984. Someone probably had valid title in order to sell it to him. If your Mom would have reported it stolen you would have no problem. It apparently wasn't worth reporting stolen when it was worth maybe 2K max but now it is more like 200K.