Hopefully it works out.
Maybe he is just stuck on arrangements or in a pickle of some sort.
I had a similar situation with a clunker I sold years ago.
Cops told me to leave it parked on public property in front of my house and then report it as abandoned.
The cops had it towed and I had my parking spot back. (I didn't want to be the bad guy so they said let us be the bad guy)
Never heard from the buyer again. If I had, the police report protected my butt.
Here is something that might motivate him.
BTW, you don't need to collect on this but registering gives you options should you ever get stuck with it and want to do something about it. IN the meantime you might be liable for any damage to it while it is in your possession.
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Advise him that you will be charging and make out bills
(See a lawyer and the storage and liens act).
If one day the amount exceeds the value of the car, claim it and end the nonsense.
Local towing companies here charge up to $300.00 per day to store because they are not in the storage business.
Summarizing the law to claim a car:
You have to show the 3 registered letters or newspaper adds that you did make an effort to contact owner, then create an affidavit and have it notarized (The license bureau people can often notorize it for you).
Here is a sample of the licence bureau affidavit as well (for Ontario).
