Heir of FIL '78 Corvette Pace Car - Etiquette/ Dilemma

[speedracing944]

I am sad to announce the passing of my Father-in-law who was a wonderful man, raised 4 kids and was a father to me as well. He thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors, boiling maple syrup, hunting, fishing or walking in the woods. I enjoyed nearly 20 years of his friendship.

My Father-in-law has always had a love for cars and grew up in an amazing household where Corvettes were the normal vehicle to drive amongst many other beauties including original Jag XKEs. Through all the time I knew my Father-in-law he had a '78 Corvette Pace Car which hardly ran and never drove. It sat in the corner of the garage without a cover for years and was covered in a inch of dust. The last couple years we started to work on the car with the goal in mind so he could enjoy driving the car during the remaining years of his retirement. This past spring time I was able to get the car's engine to fire up the first time in 12 years although it was running pretty rough. We continued to work on the car over the summer, tuning and detailing. The car still needed brake work, exhaust work tires and interior work before being drivable.

A little more than a month ago he went into the hospital and was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Before finding out the diagnosis I worked feverishly on the car to make it road worthy so I could bring him home from the hospital in the car. I knew he would be thrilled. I took pictures of the car rolling out of the garage under its own power and driving up and down the driveway, the first time in over 12 years. I showed him the pictures and movies in the hospital and clewed him in on the plan. His reply "This means more to me than you will ever know."

He passed away about a week later as the cancer progressed very rapidly. Rest in Peace.

I was notified by my Mother-in-law that it was his wish for me to have the Corvette.

My question is how do I approach this with my MIL? She has always behaved strangely with regards to vehicle ownership. My SIL has "purchased" cars in the past from my MIL but never received the title. When my SIL went to study in France for a year my MIL sold "her" car. My wife and I purchased a Mazda from my MIL and she was absolutely shocked we demanded the title to the car. In addition she is a highly emotional and you can never get a straight answer from her. She always deflects or changes the subject when a semi-sensitive topic is brought up. If an issue is pushed she will have emotional outbursts which are highly abrasive. I can't count how many times we have had to pack up the kids and leave in the middle of the night due to these outbursts.

I feel she is dancing around the subject but I am unsure of how approach the situation. What is the proper etiquette in dealing with this type of situation?

My plan for the car is to continue fixing it up to show quality, take it to shows, drive it on Sundays and make the car available to the other 3 siblings to use for weekend jaunts. I know all 3 would be very respectful of the car and not foolhardy.






Speedy

[KFC911]

That's a great story Speedy. Under the circumstances, I don't think I would even bring up the title issue with your MIL...just go ahead with your plans for the car...good luck!

Ps: A "family car" in honor of your FIL...

[Steve Carlton]

I don't follow the logic of KC's reply. Why put a bunch of time and effort into a car that you'll likely never own or could get sold out from under you? Unless that car has really low miles or is well along to being restored, it can't be worth too much as-is. Why bury yourself in it? I'd ask for the title as often as the MIL can handle it and not put in any effort until you get it. Or maybe ask the estate attorney?

I applaud your intentions and efforts while the FIL was alive and your intentions for the family to use the car after you restore it. The MIL sounds like a whack-job and deal breaker, unfortunately.

[billybek]

First, sorry to hear of your father in laws passing.

If it is in the will that you are to receive this car, I would ask for the title before spending any more time and money on it. You may come home one day to find it sold.

It might not be a bad idea to move the car and just let some time pass before bringing up the subject. Perhaps you could claim you need the title to register it as a classic??

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

I don't follow the logic of KC's reply... .

Logic? We don't need no stinkin' logic...particularly when a MIL is involved . What I meant was not even bring up the issue with the MIL in her (I presume) present state of mind. Now whether Speedy just "walks away from the car" or continues with the restoration (and sharing it with the family) is his call. I've simply "walked away" from more...and probably will again. I do get where you're coming from though...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

I don't follow the logic of KC's reply. Why put a bunch of time and effort into a car that you'll likely never own or could get sold out from under you? Unless that car has really low miles or is well along to being restored, it can't be worth too much as-is. Why bury yourself in it? I'd ask for the title as often as the MIL can handle it and not put in any effort until you get it. Or maybe ask the estate attorney?

I applaud your intentions and efforts while the FIL was alive and your intentions for the family to use the car after you restore it. The MIL sounds like a whack-job and deal breaker, unfortunately.

This. Especially as the son in law. Weird and bad things can happen with possessions when someone dies, I'm watching it now with my family after my grandfather died. My advice is to lay low for a while, let her get past his loss before you bring up the title issue. If the MIL is cool with it you could stick the car in your garage and tinker, but I wouldn't waste my time on a resto just yet.

[KFC911]

Speedy, I forgot to offer my condolances to you and the family in my posts...Steve and Matt are much wiser than I...they offer sound advice! But whatever you do, don't bring up the title issue this soon after your FIL's passing...that probably won't go over well with the MIL imo. Good luck!

[LWJ]

Yes. Condolences. Your FIL sounds like a cool guy. Good that you had that.

As for the title? After you take possession, you might just say you need title for insurance?

Good luck! This could get weird.

Larry

[Laneco]

It sounds like the physical possession of the car won't be too hard as you've had it, got it, been working on it etc.

The title is the issue...

Tell your MIL that you want to get a set of custom license plates to commemorate your father-in-law and his incredible gift to you. That it would really mean alot to you, as if your father-in-law was your constant co-driver (which he is by the way). To do that, you need the title.

This car and the situation lends itself well to some nice custom plate. Your FIL sounds like a great guy - funny you seem to take after him.

Hope that helps.

angela

[Rednine11]

I ran into the same situation with a 68 Z28 ( 302 car ) MIL&FIL
When I asked for the title before taking the car I got nowhere. I left the car and dropped it. I refuse to put put tens of thousands of dollars into a car who's title is in someone Else's name. They did not understand my perspective.

[jcommin]

Speedy, Sorry for your loss. Money, estates, wills bring out the absolute worst in people. If you have nothing in writing, aren't an heir, not blood family, I would lay low.

Someone will look at this as classic car worth more than it is, Are you willing to risk a family fight over it? Go slow.

[RANDY P]

"unless you want to pay for the insurance, parking tickets, tags etc. etc it has to be under my name....."

Safest bet is to have your wife straighten her out. She can say things to her you will never get away with.

It's a woman thing.

rjp

[speedracing944]

Thanks for the replies. The car has 48,000 miles since it has been sitting most of its life. In addition the car was originally purchased by my Grandfather-in-law brand new, where it was driven and then sold to my Father-in-law. Every record was kept including letters to GM from GIL ribbing them about the poor quality control on the car. It has unique family history.

The value of the car is of no matter as it will not be sold under my watch. I would remain the keeper of the car which would be handed down to one of our kids.

My MIL suggested transporting my FIL ashes back home after the service January 20th but the car needs a little more work before that, tires (still has the original tires), carb throttle plate not closing all the way resulting in 1300 rpm warm idle, registration and insurance.

Yes I do have the fear of investing countless man hours and money into the car only to have it sold out from underneath us. She has mentioned selling other family heirlooms, ones made by hand by Great Great Grandfathers.

I could flatbed the car to my place to continue to work on it on my spare time.

Speedy

[azasadny]

So sorry to hear about your father-in-law's passing. We had similar flakey family issues when my grandfather passed. If you don't have the title, the car isn't yours, plain and simple. How can you insure and register the car in your name without the title? Does she want (need) $? Is she holding out until you make her an offer of cash for the car? I'm guessing that is what she wants as she's probably concerned about not having enough $ now that her husband is gone. Just my .02 worth...

[speeder]

That's an absolutely mucked-up situation. Wish I had some great advice but I don't. You're not dealing with a rational person so any normal protocol probably would not work.

I completely agree with others that the car is absolutely not yours w/o the title. I suppose there is nothing to lose by just asking her straight up what she means by, "he wanted you to have the car". As in, "I own it now?" Explain to her that the title is the one and only document of ownership and that the car is still hers w/o it. No exceptions to this. Tell her that you don't care if she wants to keep it but if it's yours you need the signed title.

An exception would be if yours is one of those states where older cars do not require a title. You could take possession of the car, register it in your name and establish ownership and possibly title w/o her ever being the wiser. Play dumb if it ever comes up. Yeah, that's what I would do. She sounds like a real piece of work, sorry about that...

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Laneco

It sounds like the physical possession of the car won't be too hard as you've had it, got it, been working on it etc.

The title is the issue...

Tell your MIL that you want to get a set of custom license plates to commemorate your father-in-law and his incredible gift to you. That it would really mean alot to you, as if your father-in-law was your constant co-driver (which he is by the way). To do that, you need the title.

This car and the situation lends itself well to some nice custom plate. Your FIL sounds like a great guy - funny you seem to take after him.

Hope that helps.

angela

Brilliant!

[azasadny]

I've had three automobiles "pulled out from underneath me" in similar situations. Each time, the person died and had told me they wanted me to "have the car" and when I asked the family, I was told "the car's sold, too bad"... without giving me a chance to make a decent offer for it, I didn't expect the car for nothing... Don't waste time here, your MIL will sell the car to the 1st person who flashes cash, I'm guessing...

[speedracing944]

I have researched the title transfer protocol in Wisconsin. There is a simple 1 page form which only requires the spouses signature which releases the title.

My thought is to ask upfront with the form in hand ready for a signature. Her response should clearly show her intentions.

Speedy

[Baz]

Condolences on your FIL's passing.

What are the chances your MIL will soon follow? Would this enable the title to pass to you? Might be one way to achieve the goal....

[speeder]

Originally Posted by speedracing944

I have researched the title transfer protocol in Wisconsin. There is a simple 1 page form which only requires the spouses signature which releases the title.

My thought is to ask upfront with the form in hand ready for a signature. Her response should clearly show her intentions.

Speedy

This is the best advice. Don't waste time doing anything else. If she balks, just let it go completely and don't do any work on the car until you own it. Just thank your lucky stars that it's not a '73 Carrera RS or a MB Gullwing.