Purchasing a car from a private seller. Nightmare.

I bought a mechanics lien sale truck, title wasnt in his name (PO's) but it was signed over and he wasn't even required to smog it as it wasn't his truck registration wise! In CA that seems so wrong....anyway, $100 later for an NOS carb, $40 for an EGR and 3 failed smog checks at $35 a piece later and it was all mine, bent frame and all....FAIL! I still got it and its a great running beater truck. ask Mr. Robinson about what a front clip frame rail costs.